by Curry, Edna
"True. But if Jeff says you're trustworthy, then I'm sure you are. And you know enough about computers to understand most of what is said if you should hear them being discussed. We just need to get a handle on who might be selling our company's secrets. The industry is changing so rapidly that a few months head start on producing a product can mean the difference between success and failure. I know everyone's buzzing about this, but I need to know if anything unexpected or unusual is said."
"I see." She moved back into his arms as the band struck up a waltz. "I'll certainly try."
"I knew we could count on you. You're okay, Diane. In fact, you remind me of Jeff's mother. She had the same quiet way of putting a body at ease, yet at the same time she had a temper, too. Jeff says you do, too."
Diane missed a step. How much had Jeff told his father, anyway? She glanced around for a change of subject. Like Jeff's mother, indeed!
"Will you be returning home early because of this emergency?"
"Oh, no. Our associates can handle it. But I am sending Arlene home in the morning. She'll call me if I'm needed."
"Then Jeff is staying, too? What about his special project?"
"Jeff's part in that is done, now. And I can't tell you how important his help was," Vince said.
He's not telling me everything, she thought, disappointed. I'm still the outsider who can't be trusted. Will I ever be more?
"Look at that cute little boy," She exclaimed, changing the subject. The little fellow in costume who had played the guitar earlier was climbing over the iron railings dividing the tables, showing off for the people he was talking to.
"He's a natural ham," Vince agreed. "He'll probably join his parents in show business when he grows up."
Sandy cut in on them then, and she reluctantly let him lead her through another fast polka. He was still in a foul mood and when she dared to glance at Cathy at their table, she saw that Cathy was frowning too. Vince took Cathy out on the floor then, and Diane lost them in the crowd.
Sandy held her much too closely, and smelled strongly of liquor and sweat. No wonder Cathy was angry with him, she thought. How did she put up with this?
"Come on, Babe, how about a little kiss?"
"You're drunk, Sandy." She avoided his mouth, and a very wet kiss landed on her temple. She shuddered in disgust.
"So what? So are most of the rest of the people here."
"Well, I'm not."
"Don't be such a party pooper. You're supposed to be our guide, aren't you? Show me a good time."
"Not in that sense." She tried to loosen his grip, but succeeded only in bring a scowl to his face.
Suddenly he was jerked away and Jeff's angry voice ordered him to go sit down. Diane was so relieved she stumbled. Then Jeff's arms were around her, righting her until she could match her step to his long legs. She closed her eyes and sighed, murmuring her thanks against his chest in relief. They danced in silence for a few minutes and then she decided she must know some answers before he disappeared again.
"Jeff," she began when her breathing returned to a more manageable pace, "I must talk to you. Have you seen the papers? About Banning Corporation being blamed for the virus?" But of course he had. Why was she asking questions for which she already knew the answer?
"Yes," Jeff said, his face carefully blank. "Father and I have been going over details with Arlene. She's going back tomorrow to give the press a statement."
"You're not going back yourselves?"
"No. It's not necessary. There's nothing more we can do. We left capable people in charge. There's no need to spoil everyone's trip."
"But the Errington's left immediately. They were sure you and your father would, too."
"So I heard. They were mistaken." Jeff's voice was carefully neutral.
Once again Diane got a definite feeling of being told a half-truth. She said no more.
The music stopped and he reluctantly let her go as everyone went back to their tables.
"I'll see you later. I have to finish talking to father and Arlene. You do understand, Diane?"
"Of course." Of course she did. She had been dismissed. Blood was thicker than water, and his father and Banning Corporation would always come first. Even though he claimed they didn't get along.
She went to sit with the Christensens, to avoid any further dances with Sandy, but felt his eyes on her as she danced with several others. Luckily, she had no lack of partners, even if most of the men there were old enough to be her father.
The evening seemed to drag for Diane after that. She danced and talked and she tried to look happy. She was, after all, supposed to circulate, and see that everyone had a good time, and, she reminded herself, was now also supposed to be keeping her ears open for any mutinous comments about Banning Corporation. Not that anyone was likely to say anything where she might overhear them anyway.
But when people had had too much to drink, you never knew; someone might get careless.
But the only man who Diane wanted to ask her to dance again didn't. He was busy with a red-head in a very low cut dress, and he seemed to have forgotten she existed.
She was glad when, at last, Pedro announced that the vans were there to take them back to the hotel.
They passed the word from table to table that it was time to go, and the crowd moved outdoors.
Diane and Pedro counted heads as the vans filled up with laughing people, some of them now very drunk. Diane thought wryly that she could have almost told anyone ahead of time who would be still fairly sober and who would be tipsy. She was beginning to sort out the individuals in her group.
They were six people short in the last van. Diane knew that Jeff and Arlene were among the missing and asked Pedro to go back inside to get them. She simply couldn't face them now.
Tears stung her eyes as she sat in the darkened van, listening to the gushing chatter of the other couples agreeing that it had been a really super evening.
Diane was amazed at how many people there were on the streets, considering that it was well after midnight. Puerto Vallarta evidently came alive at night. Many of the people were young locals, walking arm in arm. Someone was singing loudly across the street, and somewhere a baby was crying. Apparently there were apartments nearby.
But she would definitely not like to be out alone on the streets now, for all their guide's talk the other day of how crime-free their town was. She shivered and hugged her white lace shawl closer around her. It definitely was still a warm evening, but she felt very alone. I'm like a baby with a security blanket, she scolded herself.
Pedro came back out and told the driver to go.
"We go," he grinned at her. "The others say they will take a taxi later. They wish to party more. Not to worry!"
Certainly she wouldn't worry. That sick feeling in her stomach wasn't worry.
Diane let herself into her room and slipped into her nightgown and went to bed.
But she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Finally she got back up and stood at her window.
She opened the window, needing some fresh air. The maid always closed it whenever she left her room. A mosquito bit her arm, and she slapped it absently, smiling.
Perhaps it was those rare mosquitoes that the maid was trying to keep out by closing the windows at every chance.
That maid should visit Minnesota or Wisconsin, then she might appreciate her almost bug-free environment. She didn't know how lucky she was!
The surf rolled relentlessly in, sending its soothing sounds echoing up to her against the hotel. The lovely landscaped hotel grounds lay invitingly below her, lit by moonlight and the hotel's floodlights.
On impulse, she threw off her nightgown and put on her bikini and cover-up robe, grabbing a towel from the bathroom.
She let herself out of her room and went down through the now almost empty lobby and out to the pool.
A light wind swayed the palm trees, sending shadows across the pool. She left her towel and robe on a lounge chair and slipped in
to the water which was still very warm from the heat of the sun during the day.
She swam laps until she was tired, letting the exercise ease the tensions of the evening out of her.
At last she turned over on her back to float a bit.
Suddenly she felt a firm grip on her arm and she was pulled under the water.
She struggled frantically, trying to get her head above water to scream.
A hand clamped over her mouth, then another arm went around her body, the hand closing familiarly over her breast.
She twisted as they surfaced, happy to breathe again, at least.
"Be quiet, and I'll let go."
The hand left her mouth, and he turned her around in his arms to face him.
"Sandy!" she gasped.
He kept her tightly in his grasp, then lowered his face to kiss her. His liquor-laden breath filled her nostrils as she struggled with him.
"Yeah, it's me. Just Ole Sandy. Relax, I won't hurt you. Just want to play a little. I saw you from my window, and came down to join you."
"Let me go! I'll tell Cathy. Please let me go."
"Come on, give Sandy a kiss. Don't be such a prude."
"Let me go!"
"Come on, I know you want to play. You just don't want anyone to see you. Cathy's already asleep. She won't know. Give ole Sandy a nice kiss, now."
She turned her head frantically, coughing from the water she'd swallowed in her surprise when he'd grabbed her. But he was too strong for her, and held her tightly as she fought him.
She swallowed her fear. She must think, not panic. He wouldn't dare actually rape her, right here in the open, would he? Not even drunk.
She must get free, yet for Cathy's sake and the rest of the people on the tour, she must not make a scene. How could this happen? It was her own fault for coming out here alone at night. How could she have been so foolish?
She shuddered as his wet mouth roamed over her breast, just above the skimpy top of her bikini. He was a very strong man, and determined to make up for her insult in getting away from him earlier in the evening.
"Thought you were too good for ole Sandy, didn't you? Well, there's no good ole Jeff to cut in and take you away from me now, is there, huh?"
She struggled in vain, trying her best to hurt him enough to break his grip, but she was tiring. "Let me go!"
"Jeff thinks he has exclusive rights to the best of everything, doesn't he? First he hogs all the software rights, now all the prettiest girls. Well, it's my turn, now."
He pushed down her bikini strap, and settled his mouth lower. She squirmed and shuddered with disgust.
"Come on, now, don't fight ole Sandy." he panted. "You give out nicely for Jeff, don't you?"
"What do you mean?" she gasped.
"I mean, I know he was in your room the other night. How else could he know what you and Mrs. Christensen said on the phone? I was there when he came to our room to pick up the clothes for you. Don't deny it. Give Sandy a little, too. Share the pretty favors, eh?"
She brought her knee up between his legs as hard as she could, but with his arms so tightly around her, he felt her move, and pulled back enough to make it ineffective. He was much too strong for her and she couldn't break his grip.
Tears began to roll down her face as she fought him. She sank her teeth into his bare shoulder as hard as she could, and squirmed in his powerful grip.
Then she heard an angry growl and a rough hand tore her from his grasp. She was free!
She heard a resounding thud, and a grunt of pain.
She fell backwards and thrashed wildly attempting to right herself, and get away from the men who were splashing and struggling in the water.
Gasping for breath, she quickly put distance between them and herself. She reached the side of the pool, grasped the edge of the pool and pulled up her bikini top.
She looked back to see Jeff pulling a limp Sandy out of the water. She gaped at him in surprise and relief as he rolled Sandy unceremoniously onto the cement patio and came over to help her climb out of the pool.
"You okay?"
She nodded, still shaking. "He's just drunk."
"Drunk or sober, he'll hear about this in the morning. Come on."
"Just leave him there?"
"He's okay. He'll come to in a minute and go back to his room. You can check from your window if you're worried." His eyes narrowed. "Or weren't you trying to get away?"
"Oh! I hate you!" she stormed at him. How could he think that she had encouraged Sandy? She grabbed her cover-up and towel and almost ran up the steps into the hotel. He caught up with her easily in the hallway, and stepped into the elevator with her.
She glared at him, shivering now from reaction, fright, and the evaporation of water from her body. She rubbed her legs and arms with her towel, hoping he wouldn't notice how much she was shaking, and refusing to look at him.
He walked beside her to her room, taking such angry long strides that she had trouble keeping up with him.
By the time they reached her door, her temper had cooled enough so that she realized that she hadn't even thanked him for rescuing her.
She opened her door with the key in her pocket, then turned to tell him so. But he pushed her inside and shut the door. His face looked like a thundercloud.
"Now tell me just what the hell you think you were doing out there at this time of night? How many drinks did you have at that party, anyway?"
"Of all the...!" she sputtered. "I'm not drunk. I just went for a swim because I couldn't sleep. I thought it would be safe here at the hotel."
"But then the party got out of hand, is that it?"
She stared at him. He thought she'd gone out there with Sandy.
"I went swimming alone. He said he saw me from his window."
"Oh." His face softened a bit as he absorbed that. "I'm sorry. I should have known you better than to think that."
"He obviously doesn't." She shuddered. "He knew you were in my room the other night because you picked up those clothes from Cathy for me. He assumed we were having an affair and said I should 'share the favors.'"
Her face flamed as she said it and she looked away, not daring to see his reaction to that idea.
"Do you want me to report it to the police?"
"No, please, I just want to forget it."
"All right. I'm not sure about their jurisdiction over problems between our own people, anyway." He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, a frown creasing his brow, then asked, "How will this sound to Anne if he makes a stink about me hitting him?"
"He wouldn't dare. He won't want Cathy or the Christensens to even know he was out there. He was in the wrong. Why are you trying to blame me? Rape is always the woman's fault for being attractive, is that it?"
He frowned. "Don't pull the old double standard on me. I wasn't blaming you. I was just trying to assess where this leaves us tomorrow."
She sent him a glare. "He'll pretend it never happened."
"If we're lucky," he amended. Then he grinned and added, "If he can explain a bruised jaw."
"And a black and blue bite on his shoulder." She giggled.
Suddenly her knees felt rubbery and she sat down weakly on her bed. It had been a very long day.
He bent down and kissed the top of her head. For a panicky moment she was afraid he would try to make love to her again. And at this moment, she couldn't bear the thought. Then he straightened and said, "You'd better get some sleep. I'll see you at breakfast."
"Jeff?" She couldn't let him go yet.
"Yes?" he paused at her door.
"Thanks for rescuing me."
His face cleared. "Always pleased to save a damsel in distress," he quipped.
"I mean it."
"So do I." His voice softened. "Get out of that wet bathing suit before you catch pneumonia. Goodnight." He went out.
She felt a curious sense of loss. She hadn't even asked how he had happened to see them out there.
He had probably just
been getting back to the hotel with Arlene. At least she hadn't been there to watch Diane's humiliation. She could just imagine Arlene's superior smile if she had been. Arlene would certainly never get herself into that kind of situation. Diane couldn't imagine the prim and proper Arlene ever going swimming alone at night.
Diane shuddered and slipped out of her wet suit. She took a hot shower, soaping herself over and over, trying to scrub away the memory of Sandy's repulsive hands and lips on her.
Then she put her nightgown on and went to the window to look down at the pool. She saw with relief that Sandy was no longer lying there. Evidently he had not been too drunk or too hurt to get himself back to his room.
She shivered, cold in spite of the hot shower.
How was she going to face Cathy in the morning?
Chapter 13
She dressed with care the next morning, though as far as she knew there was little on the agenda for the day. But perfect grooming, however casual the outfit, had always been one of the ways she bolstered her courage when she felt low.
And heaven knew her courage needed the boost this morning.
She went down to breakfast with trepidation. She looked about furtively, but didn't see Sandy or Cathy.
She shook herself angrily. She was acting as if she was the guilty one instead of Sandy, for Pete’s sake. Get hold of yourself. He's the one who should be ashamed to see you this morning, not the other way round. She straightened her shoulders determinedly, but the knot stayed in her stomach, nonetheless.
It was a gorgeous, sunshiny morning, as usual. The air was already warm, and filled with the scent of flowers.
As she walked across the patio and down the lovely flower-lined path to the outdoor restaurant, Jeff got up from the lounge chair by the pool where he'd obviously been waiting for her and stepped out to meet her.
She smiled at him gratefully, not wanting to admit how much she needed his support to face the day. She tried not to look at the pool as they passed it.
Breakfast passed pleasantly, though Diane had trouble eating much. Gradually the knot in her stomach eased.
As they finished their coffee, Esther and Harry Christensen came by their table to chat.
