“I think you were absolutely right,” Alexander Mendeneres said seriously, a twinkle in his eyes.
“Did you see Bismarck? Is he not the most fantastic cat you ever saw? Dani says he is a tomcat and he goes on the prowl every couple of days. He has a girlfriend in the next empty lot.”
Dani suddenly choked on a mouthful of smoke.
“Any tomcat worth his salt has to have a girlfriend, wouldn’t you agree, Miss Arnold?” Alexander Mendeneres asked, his eyes still twinkling.
“Absolutely, Mr. Mendeneres,” Dani agreed. Both knew the statement for what it was.
“Is it time for Batman yet?” Maria asked. Dani glanced at her watch and nodded.
“Sit quietly, Maria. Miss Arnold and I have something to discuss. Perhaps we could talk in your beautiful kitchen? Maria has told me how lovely it is.”
“All right,” Dani agreed, leading the way to the small, compact kitchen. She was suddenly glad that she had cleaned it so thoroughly and that she had polished the faucet to a gleaming shine. Like he was really going to notice. She had to wonder if this elegant, handsome man had ever stepped foot inside a real kitchen. Alexander Mendeneres quietly closed the door behind him. Dani looked at it pointedly.
“Rest assured, Miss Arnold, you have nothing to fear from me. My attentions are most honorable,” he smiled.
Dani blew a stray wisp of hair from her cheek. So much for your intentions, but what about mine? She squelched the thought immediately. He was, after all, a stranger. What in the world was coming over her? She smiled, “I just wondered what could be so important that you didn’t want Maria to hear.” She looked into the mocking eyes and said quietly, “You seem to have a poor opinion of me. Why is that?”
“On the contrary, I think most highly of you. That is why I am here. To put it simply, I need your help.”
“My help! How can I help you?”
“I would like to ask you to care for my daughter for a while.”
“What?” Dani shouted. That does it, she thought. The first dynamic man she had met in ages and all he wanted was for her to care for his daughter. God, why did he keep looking at her like that? His eyes made her want to help him but, at the same time, they irked her. What was it about this man?
“Naturally, I will pay you. My child seems to adore you. And,” the added hastily, “she made a point of asking for you.”
“Now, wait just a minute. My responsibility ended with your daughter the minute you took her through that doorway. Besides, I have a job. I know hardly anything about children. Surely you can find someone more . . . more adequate?”
Alexander Mendeneres looked at the tall girl. His eyes narrowed at her reluctance. He knew she would eventually come around. Why did she have to go through this rigmarole? Or would she? Could he be mistaken? Well he was a man and she was a woman, an attractive woman. He moved a step nearer and looked down into her soft eyes. “Miss Arnold,” he pleaded huskily, “I need your help desperately, and Maria needs you.”
Dani looked into the dark eyes and felt as if she were drowning. She clenched her teeth. I’m behaving like a schoolkid who’s got her eyes on the good-looking math teacher.
She couldn’t refuse. She knew that if she did, she would never see him again, and she did want to see him again. In fact, somehow it seemed like the most important thing in her life, to see this tall, dark, handsome, arrogant man again. “I have a feeling we do things differently here in America than you do in Argentina. I have to think about it,” she said breathlessly, not wanting him to think she was too eager.
The dark eyes seemed satisfied, and yet the smile that touched his lips was absent from them.
“If I can arrange for you to take a leave of absence from your firm and pay you double the wage you receive now, would you consider it?”
“I don’t understand any of this. Why me?”
“My daughter is my whole life and I want to be assured that she is well taken care of. I think you are the person to do this.”
Dani looked at the handsome man in front of her. Suddenly, he looked like a man at the end of his rope. His dark eyes held worry; tiny beads of perspiration formed above his upper lip.
“Why?” Dani asked bluntly. “Just tell me why. And spare me the snow job in case you were contemplating one. In case you don’t know what a snow—”
Alexander Mendeneres interrupted her. “I’m fully aware of what a snow job is and no, I won’t give you one. Now I see what my daughter means about your language. She said you speak divinely.” Suddenly he laughed. “It is Maria’s dearest wish to learn as much American slang as possible. You must teach her, Miss Arnold. This way she can teach her friend, Anna, on our return to Argentina. Now, as to why I wish this matter settled . . .” he said masterfully.
“My visit here in the United States concerns a religious article that has been in my family for centuries. It has been stolen. I have reason to believe that my wife, Valerie, is the culprit. She brought it into the United States, and it has come to my attention just recently that she has a buyer for this article. I only discovered a few days ago that a transaction was planned. That, by the way, is one of the reasons for my wining and dining, as you so quaintly put it. My wife hates me,” he said simply, his eyes reflecting his pain. “She knows that I love our daughter more than anything on this earth, and she’ll try to take Maria and threaten to harm her if I try to find the scrolls. But I must get them back—and I will have to use the child as bait to try and smoke Valerie out of her hiding place. And you, Miss Arnold, are needed to see that nothing happens to her. My wife is . . . evil. I realize this must sound melodramatic to you. Believe me, it isn’t meant that way at all. If Valerie manages to get her hands on Maria, I can only promise you it will be the child’s undoing. At times, I think my wife verges on the insane. Maria must never, I repeat, never be allowed to fall into Valerie’s hands. I am trusting you to see that this never happens. At the same time, I must ask you to trust me.”
“You would use your own child as bait in this . . . this affair?”
“I have no other choice, Miss Arnold. I must do this. Do you think for one minute that I enjoy it?”
Dani felt a wave of disgust and revulsion wash over her. “How can you? What kind of father are you?” she asked in outrage. Alexander Mendeneres stood quietly, his gaze fixed on Dani’s angry face.
“This sounds worse than any of the crazy, mixed-up plots that come across my desk every day,” Dani sputtered. “If I say no, what happens to Maria?”
“I planned to ask Alicia Weverly to care for her. For some reason, Maria is violently opposed to the idea. She wants you. Will you do it, Miss Arnold?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Mendeneres, but I don’t think I can help you.” Still put out by the curt treatment he had given her, Dani felt sore and wounded. “I live a very different life from the one Maria is used to. I like your daughter, Mr. Mendeneres—really I do—but I know next to nothing about caring for little children. Surely there must be someone else. I just don’t feel qualified to take on the responsibility. I’m sorry. And another thing: I have worked very hard to get where I am now in my job—I can’t just pick up without notice and leave. It’s not fair to my boss.”
A muscle twitched in Alexander Mendeneres’s cheek. He had to convince this strange girl to take on the care of his daughter. Suddenly, he knew that no one else would do. Now he knew why his daughter was so fond of her. For the most part, he had always found that he could trust Maria’s judgement. Somehow he had to convince this tall, beautiful girl in the faded blue jeans that she needed him as much as he needed her. She was just what Maria needed. He would pay her anything she wanted. Still, the money hadn’t impressed her. She must have some kind of weak spot. He simply had to find it.
“Do you read the papers, Miss Arnold?”
“Yes, of course,” Dani said, puzzled.
“Then you must be aware of the upheaval and the religious struggle that is going on in my country?” At Dani’s nod, he con
tinued. “The item my wife stole is priceless and a matter of salvation to my people. Simply put, it is a matter of faith.” The man looked at Dani with, what was it, hope, fear? Dani could put no name to the emotion that crossed the handsome face. She looked into his eyes and then looked deeper—there was no fanatic glitter in his eyes like the zealots she had seen on 42nd Street.
Still, she hesitated. Did she want to be burdened with a child to take charge of day and night? She wasn’t really a swinging single, but she did have her moments. She would definitely be tied down. On the other hand, she needed a vacation and it would be a good chance for her to start her cookbook. He had said money was no object: she could take the child and go to Glen Garden for a few weeks, open the house and light the fieldstone fireplace and settle in for a while. She could see it now. She would be trying out new recipes in the large, homey kitchen. Maria would be in the living room, in front of the roaring fire playing with Bismarck. Once more she looked at the tall, muscular man in front of her. She stared at him, making no commitment.
Alexander watched the doubt fade from the girl’s face. He would give it one last chance.
“Very well, Miss Arnold. I can see that my offer does not tempt you. I am truly sorry, for myself as well as Maria. I am afraid that I have taken up enough of your time.” He looked at the watch on his wrist and then into Dani’s eyes. “It is late. I’ll have to take Maria to friends and, although they are busy people, I am certain that their maids will care for her. I have several contacts that I must make this evening. Thank you again,” he said wistfully. Dani almost groaned aloud at his tone. Men! He belonged to the ninety-seven percent all right. The thought of Maria being tended to by an impersonal servant who, more than likely, would consider the child an inconvenience to say the least, flashed through Dani’s mind.
“OK, OK, Mr. Mendeneres. I’ll do it. Let me be the first to tell you that wistfulness does not become you. Let’s face it, you appealed to my basic instincts. You knew that I would keep Maria.”
Becoming businesslike, now that his daughter’s welfare was provided for, he said, “I don’t know how long this arrangement will be. It could be a week; it could be as long as two months. Whatever, you will be well paid.” He reached into his inside jacket and withdrew a sheaf of bills and placed them on the table. “This should cover any of your needs for the time being. I have already taken the liberty of seeing to your leave of absence. Everything was settled as of five p.m. this afternoon.”
“What?” Dani screeched, her face contorting in rage. “How dare you interfere in my personal affairs! How dare you!”
“Miss Arnold, I told you I am a desperate man. I did what I thought was right and I have no time for recriminations now. You have agreed to the arrangements. One of my servants will arrive with Maria’s luggage within the hour,” he said briskly, his tone a shade colder than his eyes.
“You mean it isn’t out in the hall?” Dani asked snidely. “Somehow I thought you came prepared for any and all things.”
The man smiled with his mouth transforming his face to someone quite likeable. At that split second, he fell into the three percent bracket. Dani shivered as he extended his hand. At his touch, she felt a delicious tingle ripple down her spine until she looked into his frozen eyes. The delicious ripple coursed into a wave of abject fear.
She had never seen such eyes, but she could top that; she had never met such a man. How could one be attracted and fearful—all at the same time?
With trembling hands, she slid the bolt and slipped the chain into the brackets. A faint scent of the man’s cologne seemed to hover near the door. She felt dizzy and light-headed. Was this man her destiny?
Six
When the ten o’clock news came on, Dani shooed Maria to the bathroom. “Do a good job now; I want to see those teeth sparkle.”
“OK, Dani,” the child cried happily.
“I hope I did the right thing,” Dani muttered to herself. She really couldn’t have allowed the child to be placed in the care of a maid, even though it would only be a temporary measure. Damn the man, he had conned her, pure and simple. There was no doubt in her mind that she had been conned by an expert. She cringed as she remembered the wistful tone. Well, it’s too late now. She said she would do it and she never went back on her word. Plus she liked the child.
Maria returned and grimaced, showing sparkling teeth. “Did I do a good job?” she asked anxiously.
Dani smiled. “Yep, let’s see your nails and ears. OK, you check out Al. Now I showed you how to make up the bed, so hop to it.”
A week passed quickly with only one phone call from Alexander. Stash dropped by several times. Maria adored the bearded giant. Stash teased her unmercifully about growing up so he could marry her. Maria was beside herself with happiness as he twirled her in the air, at the same time teaching her his favorite slang phrases. When the colossal man left the small apartment, it seemed too quiet and empty. She didn’t know why, but she had a bad feeling that she was being lulled into a false sense of security. When the feeling threatened to engulf her, she would take Maria window-shopping and to various playgrounds. They made many trips to the library—Dani to do research for her cookbook, Maria to raid the children’s section. Maria made notes from the new American slang dictionary. They ate gourmet meals and both added a few pounds. The evenings were spent watching television and sending out for pizza, which Maria adored. Bismarck also took a liking to the stringy cheese.
The false sense of security disappeared when Nick from the pizza parlor delivered the fourth set of pizzas during the week. Dani shivered as she recalled his words: “Miss Arnold, do you know those two men who keep hanging around outside the building?” When she had said no, Nick looked even more worried. “They offered me five dollars to let them deliver the pizzas. One of them said he was an old boyfriend of yours, and it was a joke. They just don’t look like your type, Miss Arnold—you got more class. Anyhow, I couldn’t picture you getting together with some guy that wore a gold earring.”
Dani pretended to be puzzled and laughed it off. But she had told Nick that if it happened again, she would call the police.
Locking the door and settling Maria down with her pizza, Dani went into the bedroom and pulled aside the drapes. She looked down onto the bleak street and watched Nick cross over to the pizza van. As Nick pulled away from the curb, she saw two men emerge from a parked car. Cautiously, she stepped back, holding the drapes in still fingers as she continued to watch. She trembled when she saw the two faceless forms glance toward her apartment windows. Were they the same two men that had been there the night of Maria’s arrival, that day outside the church? Damn! She had meant to speak to the child’s father but had forgotten. Watching a moment or two longer, she finally gave up her vigil when the men once again entered the waiting car. Dani knew that from where the car was parked they had a clear view of her apartment doorway.
Dani rejoined the child and sat nibbling cold pizza thoughtfully. She didn’t recall if that same car had been parked in the same spot during the day. Tomorrow, she would have to pay attention. Should she call the police? And report what? That two men were sitting in a parked car outside her apartment? They would tell her that she read too many of the manuscripts that came across her desk. She shrugged and told herself that it was Maria’s father’s responsibility. Still, she had assumed care of the child, so it was now her problem. And, she added nastily, this cherished father had only seen fit to call once. Some adoring father, she snorted. As a substitute duenna, she was doing a heck of a lot better.
Three more days passed as Dani constantly watched from the window. The car appeared to change. By day it was a dark maroon, beat-up Mustang. By night, it was a Chevy Nova, equally beat up. During the day, there was only one occupant in the car. In the evening, there were two. So far all they appeared to do was sit and watch the building. It was clear to Dani that they were waiting. She wished she knew what they were waiting for.
Dani and Maria left the c
hurch to strains of soft organ music. Amidst the throng of parishioners on the front steps, Maria grasped Dani’s hand and pulled her toward the street. “Hurry up, Dani, hurry up. Can I run ahead for the Sunday papers and the jelly donuts? I’ll be careful and I’ll wait for you on the steps of the apartment.” Dani considered for a moment. She watched the busy street and saw nothing out of the ordinary. The two suspicious-looking men were nowhere to be seen.
“All right, honey.” Carefully, Dani counted out money and gave it to Maria. “Stop in the deli and get me a box of rice and that’s all. No goodies. You should get seventeen cents change, so you can get two pieces of bubblegum. No more. And,” Dani said firmly, “you don’t chew it till after lunch.”
“Right on,” Maria giggled, skipping away.
There was a brisk chill in the air and Dani quickened her step. When she reached the deli, she peered through the plate glass. Maria was standing in line, patiently waiting her turn. Dani looked up and down the street. Seeing nothing to alarm her, she continued to her apartment. Still, she was anxious. But surely nothing could happen to the child on a bright Sunday morning with throngs of people on the street, some going to the newsstand, others to the bakery.
What’s for dinner? Perhaps a spicy shrimp Creole.
Dani de-veined the shrimp as she peered at the recipe with one eye. Her preparations completed, she poured herself a cup of fragrant coffee and sat down to type some notes.
The phone pealed and she reached for it with one hand, turning the computer switch to the off position with the other.
Bismarck emerged from the basket at the sound of the ringing phone. Stretching luxuriously, he looked around his domain haughtily and leaped with practiced expertise onto the kitchen chair. He eyed the plump pink shrimp craftily and then turned to his mistress. The tabletop was forbidden territory as he had found, to his discomfort, on more than one occasion. Still, he studied the plump shrimp. To be quick as lightning was the key. With one leap, he was on the table scattering papers, getting one paw tangled in the electric cord, and yet he was still inches from the bowl of shrimp.
The Future Scrolls Page 7
