by Anne Mather
“I have known dozens of women in my time,” he muttered, “and they are all alike in that they are greedy and selfish. You must be the same!”
Julie stood up too, angry herself now, and before he could prevent, it she slapped his face. “If I could get back home without your assistance I would!” she stormed at him, aware of the red marks appearing on his cheek where her fingers had stung.
“Believe me,” he replied icily, “I have no desire to take you.”
“Then don’t!”
Without a backward glance, Julie climbed the bank of the dunes to the shingle on the top where the Cadillac was parked. She knew how to drive. She had once been learning back home in England, but had never attempted to take a test. But she had watched Manuel driving this car and she knew it was automatic and would present no obvious problems.
With impulsive decision, she slid into the car and pressed the starter. The engine roared to life and putting it into forward gear she pressed down heavily on the pedal.
As she did so, she saw Manuel leaping up the bank. He had realized her intention almost as soon as she had realized it herself, but he was just a moment too late. The Cadillac almost sprang forward, and she was a hundred yards down the road before she realized it. She glanced in the mirror and saw Manuel standing watching her with a kind of grim determination on his face, and she shivered. Why was it she always made him so furious in this way? Why did he think he could treat her like some cheap hussy?
Making another decision, she drove straight to San Francisco, and the hospital. She parked the Cadillac in its earlier position and then she quickly disappeared before anyone recognized her. A touring cab took her back to Ben’s house and she breathed a sigh of relief as she paid him off.
CHAPTER TEN
TWO days later Julie went to the hospital again. When she first arrived home after her encounter with Manuel she swore to herself that she would never go back there again, but two days later when Ben took Samantha and the baby to the house of a colleague for the day Julie was left without any plans, and a whole day in which to amuse herself.
So she went, prepared to explain the whole story to Felipe if it should be necessary. She loathed intrigue, and it was not in her nature to be deceitful. But as it happened Felipe was operating when she arrived at the hospital and she was able to work all morning without incident. She wondered though whether Manuel had relayed their contretemps to his brother, and how he had explained that he knew her, Julie.
Felipe appeared after lunch, when Julie was having her lunch with Sister Moran in her office. He looked a little tired as though he had been working too hard, and Julie felt compassionately concerned for him.
“Sit down,” she said, standing up as she had finished her meal. “I ought to be getting back.”
“No, don’t go.” Felipe’s eyes sought hers.
Sister Moran looked from one to the other of them. “Well, I’m going, anyway,” she said, smiling. “Are you having lunch, Doctor?”
“Not just now,” replied Felipe, smiling at the woman, and she nodded and left the room.
Felipe looked at Julie, and then sighed and sat down. “Well?” he said.
Julie flushed. “Well what?”
“Did you have a good time with Manuel?”
“Don’t you know?”
“No. Manuel doesn’t regale me with his exploits. I’d be interested to know how the Cadillac found its way back to the car-park, though. It’s still there.”
“Oh, is it?” Julie tried to look unconcerned.
“Yes. But I can see you aren’t keen to tell me, so I won’t force you.” He sighed again. “How on earth did you get to know Manuel?”
Julie explained a few of the details.
“I see. And of course Manuel likes beautiful women around him.” Felipe sounded a trifle sardonic.
“I’m not beautiful,” protested Julie, her cheeks burning. “It was nothing. Just a couple of dates, that’s all.”
“Is it? And yet he was so goddamned mad when he came here and found you. I wonder why? He doesn’t usually give a damn what happens after …” His voice trailed away. “I ought to have known. You’re not a girl like that. Anyway, forget it. Let’s start from here, right?”
“All right.” Julie was relieved.
“Manuel did tell me something, though,” went on Felipe. “He said yesterday that you were staying with Benedict Barlow and his wife – is that right?”
Julie stared at him. “How did he find that out?”
“Manuel finds out anything he wants to know,” remarked Felipe dryly. “I imagine he asked Ben, and knowing Ben as I’ve come to I should think he would be unable to evade the issue. Anyway, Manuel is an adept at drawing people.” He laughed. “Metaphorically speaking, of course!”
“I see. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t want Manuel to know I was here. I should hate him to think I was following him.”
Felipe seemed to understand this. At any rate he did not continue questioning her, and she was relieved. She went home later in the afternoon to find Samantha and Ben had not yet returned.
It was a wonderful evening, the sun a glory of red and gold in their wide windows. The sun looked like molten liquid on the horizon while its brilliance shaded to pinks and blues overhead.
Mrs. Sparks had left after breakfast so Julie had to prepare her own meal. She bathed first, and changed into a slim-fitting dress of a golden-coloured Crimplene, with a scooped-out neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves.
Then she merely toasted herself a snack under the grill, not feeling any desire for a heavier meal. It was while she was drinking coffee on the patio that she heard the car draw up to the front of the house. Expecting it to be Samantha and Ben, Julie walked through to the hall. Through the fluted glass panelling of the door, she could see the car was a light-coloured Cadillac; obviously not Ben’s.
Her heart thumped. Was it Manuel? Was that why he had been asking about her whereabouts? Because he had some idea of finding her, and talking to her. And what better time than when she was alone? He would know that Ben was visiting the Merediths today. Ben had been out at Cyprus Lake the previous day, and knowing Ben he would not have kept it to himself.
She pondered whether she should pretend to be out, but then scrapped the idea. Far better to see him here without creating a scene in public.
But when she opened the door she saw it was not Manuel, but Felipe. Felipe, looking worn and tired, as though he was incredibly weary, which was not at all like him. Felipe loved his work, and seemed tireless in pursuit of the health of his patients.
Julie invited him in, and said: “Heavens, Felipe, what’s wrong?”
Felipe followed her into the wide lounge and at her request flung himself into a low armchair. He unfastened his collar and ran a weary hand through his hair. Then he looked at her.
“Did you know that Teresa was having her operation today?”
“No!” Julie felt the first twinges of anxiety touch her heart. “You never mentioned it.” She frowned. “And as I haven’t been to the hospital for the last couple of days I seem to have lost touch. I saw Teresa this morning, but she didn’t say anything.”
“No,” said Felipe heavily, “she wouldn’t. Although she was a brave little thing in some ways, the thought of the actual surgery involved scared her, I think.”
Julie pressed a hand to her throat. “You’re talking in the past tense,” she ejaculated, her eyes wide and concerned. “What has happened? What’s wrong?”
“Simply, Teresa is no longer at the hospital. Her father came this afternoon and took her away.”
“Took her away?” echoed Julie incredulously. “Why?”
“God knows! She had already been prepared for the operation, and was in no fit state to be moved from anywhere. I wanted to call the police, but I was afraid the publicity which was bound to evolve would hurt the child tremendously.”
“But how could he do such a thing?”
“
I have my suspicions.” Felipe shook his head, and feeling in his pocket pulled out some cigarettes and lit one absently. “You see, all along the identity of Teresa’s benefactor had been a bone of contention between us. The child’s father, while not caring a jot for his daughter, knew that if he could find out this man’s identity, he would be able to make enormous sums of money from the press by offering the details of the situation to them. At least, that’s what’s in the back of his mind.”
“How awful! And do you think he’s found this out now?”
“No, I shouldn’t think so. But once the operation is over, all the human interest in Teresa’s suffering would fall apart, particularly if she recovered completely and there was no chance of any sympathy-begging photographs appearing in the papers.”
“I think that’s terrible,” exclaimed Julie, feeling sick. “And… and the man… Teresa’s benefactor… it’s Manuel, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right,” said Felipe, shrugging, “and Manuel is not a man to welcome that kind of publicity, whatever you may personally think of him.”
“I know.” Julie had no doubts on that score. “So? What happens now?”
“Well, there are various things that could happen. Teresa’s father might make the story public anyway, twisting everything to his own ends, and alternatively he could turn the other way. He has no fatherly feelings towards Teresa. He doesn’t care whether she gets better or not. He could make some sort of trouble by denying his consent to the operation, and his own rescue of his daughter from our clutches, something like that.”
“But that’s ridiculous! Who would believe that? I mean, there’s nothing to support it, and besides, you were going to cure Teresa.”
“My dear Julie, you’re a sweet, naïve child, but you have absolutely no idea of the devious methods some pressmen use to get a good story. Anyway, I shall have to think about it, and go and see Teresa’s father myself, and try and sort out this mess.”
Julie felt helpless to assist. She fumed when she thought of Teresa in the clutches of someone who cared so little for her that he would deprive her of her one chance of being a normal healthy little girl.
Felipe studied her thoughtfully for a moment. “Tell me about you and Manuel, Julie,” he said, surprisingly.
Julie’s eyes were astonished. “I… I’ve told you,” she stammered. “There’s nothing more to tell.”
“Yes, there is.”
Julie shook her head. “Don’t try unravelling my problems,” she answered lightly. “You have enough of your own.”
Felipe drew on his cigarette. “Okay, where are Ben and his wife?”
“At some professor’s house. Meredith, I believe they said.”
“Oh, yes, I know him,” Felipe nodded, and for a while there was silence in the room as darkness fell, enveloping them in its warm stillness. A swish of tyres on the drive outside assaulted their relaxed senses.
“Samantha and Ben,” said Julie.
“Do you mind? That I’m here, I mean.”
“Of course not. You know Ben already, and you’ll like Sam. She’s great fun.”
Julie walked to the door to open it, switching on the lights as she went, dispelling the intimacy of a few moments ago.
The tall figure on the threshold banished the remains of her tranquillity.
“Manuel!” she gasped disbelievingly.
Felipe sprang to his feet, but not soon enough, for Manuel walked straight past Julie into the lounge, his eyes taking in in one sweeping glance the scene he had just interrupted. The glasses on the side table, the cigarette ends smouldering in the tray, and the absence of lights he had witnessed on his way up the drive; lights which had just been switched on.
Julie closed the door and followed him. She put her hands behind her back so that he could not see them trembling, and said:
“To what do we owe the honour of this visit?” in a little cold voice.
Manuel ignored her, his expression hard and cold as he stared at his brother.
“What the hell are you doing here, Felipe?” he muttured savagely. “Surely you can’t be discussing work with all the lights out?”
Felipe half-smiled, but Julie was furious. “How dare you ask what we were doing?” she exclaimed. “Felipe is welcome here. You are not!”
Again Manuel ignored her. “I want to see Julie alone,” he said to his brother, his voice, low and commanding, brooking no argument. “Would you mind?” Heavy saracasm now.
Felipe rose to his feet. “I have no intention of leaving here while you are in this mood,” he replied smoothly. “However, I will relieve you of my presence for a few moments. I’m hot and sticky and I’d like to wash up if Julie doesn’t mind.”
Julie looked at him desperately. “That’s not necessary, Felipe,” she said awkwardly. “Anything Manuel has to say to me can be said here and now.”
Felipe shook his head. “Relax, honey. I’m only in the bathroom. Now, if you’ll show me where it is. …”
Julie directed him and then returned reluctantly to the lounge. Manuel was standing on the patio, staring out over the ocean. The surging waters of the Pacific were moon-stroked now, wide and untamed.
“Well,” she said briefly, “what is it?”
“You know perfectly well why I am here,” he accused her angrily. “I came this morning, but no one was at home. I only found out where you lived yesterday.”
“So I gather.” Julie sounded more assured than she felt. Inside she was in a turmoil.
Manuel lit a cigarette, and stared at her intently. “Do you realize you might have killed yourself in that car?”
“I can drive.”
“Not a car with mine’s capabilities,” he replied impatiently. “God, when I saw you jerk off down the road, I hardly dared consider the consequences.”
“Well, as you can see, everything turned out beautifully. I didn’t even scratch it, did I?”
“I don’t give a damn whether you did or not,” he ground out.
“How did you get back?”
“I hitched a ride. Felipe told me where the car ended up.” He drew on his cigarette deeply. “I did not tell him the whole story, but I expect you found it amusing to do so.”
“I did not!” Julie was indignant. “Anyway, I suppose I should apologize for acting the way I did. It was very childish.”
“You invariably are,” he said cuttingly.
“Well! You treat me like a… a …” She halted, unable to say the words.
“Leave it. I know exactly how I treat you,” he muttered.
“Doesn’t it disturb you to know how objectionable you are?” she asked, stung by his tone.
“Not often.”
Julie turned away. Even like this the attraction between them was uppermost in her mind, and she thrust it away angrily. Why should this man have such a hold over her? A man, moreover, who was only amusing himself with her, and using her to possibly arouse Dolores Arriviera’s jealousy.
Then he astounded her. “Come to Cyprus Lake.”
The complete unexpectedness of the request caused Julie to stare at him in amazement. She stiffened her shoulders. “No, thank you.”
He shrugged. “Don’t you find the prospect interesting?”
“Of course I do,” replied Julie honestly. “Ben’s talked a lot about the place. But that’s hardly relevant, is it?”
“Why? Are you scared to come? Look, I’m having a party in a few days’ time; come then. I’ll send Ben and Samantha an invitation. You could come with them, and Felipe, of course.”
“I think not.” Julie turned away from him.
She felt him move and felt the warmth of his breath against the back of her neck. His hard fingers gripped her shoulders, drawing her back against him, and she felt the muscular strength of his body against hers. His voice was harsh as he muttered: “God help me, Julie, why do I want you?”
Julie could hardly resist the compelling magnetism of his voice, but when he twisted her round to face hi
m and bent his head she moved jerkily out of his arms when he was momentarily off guard.
“Don’t touch me,” she said, in a tortured voice.
Manuel shook his head. “At times I could kill you!” he said vehemently.
“Well, why did you come here?” she asked, shivering. “You know you and I have nothing more to say to one another. I don’t intend to have an affair with you no matter who you are! I suppose you think I should be flattered by your attentions… well, I’m not!”
“Shut up!” he said violently.
“I won’t shut up,” said Julie, shaking a little, but Felipe came back at that moment, and she was able to move away from Manuel and light herself a cigarette.
“So,” said Manuel. “And perhaps, my fine brother, you can tell me now why you are here.”
Felipe shrugged. “I should have told you anyway, Manuel. Teresa’s father has taken her away from the hospital. This afternoon… when she was in no fit state to be moved. She had been prepared for surgery …”
Manuel uttered an angry expletive in Spanish, and smote the palm of one hand with his fist. “Why? Why?”
Felipe explained the reasons as he saw them, and Manuel paced about angrily, smoking a cheroot, and frowning deeply. It gave Julie time to gather her scattered senses. She was barely conscious of the conversation which ensued between the brothers, so disturbed did she feel, and it was with relief that she heard Manuel say he was leaving.
Felipe saw him to the door, and then he said he should go too.
“Must you?” asked Julie regretfully. “Sam and Ben may not be back for ages.”
“There is work to be done,” replied Felipe kindly. “And I must see whether anything can be done about the child. Manuel is in a mood to take affairs into his own hands, and should he do so someone else should be there to help him. He is intensely concerned in Teresa’s affairs, and wishes to see her walking normally as soon as possible.”
“Don’t we all?” echoed Julie fervently. Then she hesitated. “Felipe!”
He looked at her. “Yes?”
“Do you think Manuel loves Dolores Arriviera?”
