Life in the Danger Zone

by Patricia B Tighe

  Jacques began telling Sophie about a small town in France; Nick stirred his drink with a straw, and Alexis angled toward me. “Sam says you live in Texas too.”

  “Yeah, near Dallas.” Across the table, Marie murmured something to Sam while twirling a strand of hair in her fingers. I looked away. The warm air under the umbrella suddenly felt too thick to breathe. I took a hair tie out of my purse and then twisted my hair into a messy bun to get it off my neck.

  “That’s cool,” Alexis said.

  I zipped my purse closed and looked up to Sam’s intense gaze. What was up with that? His mouth curved in a half smile, and he slowly tapped his fingers on the tabletop. Heat raced into my face. Dang it. Why did I have to blush at every little thing? I had no idea what that smile meant, especially since he turned his attention back to Marie.

  “I thought about going to school in Texas,” Alexis said. “You know, because it’d be fun to be near Sam and his parents, but finances said you must go to school in Indiana, so that’s where I’ll start my sophomore year in—” she frowned “—about six weeks.”

  Sam tossed a wadded-up napkin at her. “Worst excuse ever. I still think you could’ve made it work.”

  “What’s done is done,” she said. “Besides, I like it there.” She lowered her voice. “My dad will take us on vacation, but he wouldn’t cough up tuition for the first year of college. He says he wants to make sure we’re serious about school. So I had to work for it.”

  “That doesn’t sound fun,” I said.

  Sam glanced from one of us to the other as though trying to figure out what we were saying. He opened his mouth, but then Marie motioned to the water bottle, and he handed it over.

  “It wasn’t bad,” Alexis continued. “I’d already saved up from working as a barista, and it was easy enough to find the same kind of work at college.”

  “Baristas are some of my favorite people,” I said.

  “You’re a coffee lover?” she asked.

  “Oh, yeah. In fact, I wish I’d had more time this morning to just sit on the deck and savor my latte.”

  “But an early morning excursion thwarted your plan.”

  I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Yes.”

  Marie moved her hand close to where Sam’s rested on the table, then said something and giggled. I turned away and focused on Alexis’s brown curls dancing in the breeze near her shoulders. Sam and Marie were giving me a headache. “So, what’re you majoring in?”

  “For now, pre-law,” Alexis said. “I might change later if something more compelling appeals to me.” She grinned, and for just a second, looked a lot like Sam. “Just don’t tell my dad. It would drive him crazy to hear that.”

  I laughed. “Isn’t that our job as daughters?”

  “Good point, but there are some things he’s better off not knowing.” She took a swallow of her soda. “So what do you like to do?”

  It felt like someone was watching me, so I idly gazed over at Sam and Marie. She was talking to Clio, but sure enough, he was leaning his elbows on the table and studying me. My pulse sped up. “I read,” I said to Alexis. “A lot. Boring, right? I love mysteries. My mom does too, so we share books, talk about them, watch old movies that are mysteries.” I pressed fingers to my cheek. “Did I just say the word mystery six times?”

  Alexis laughed. “No, but close.”

  The waiter arrived with our food, giving me something else to focus on besides Marie and Sam flirting. Talking to Alexis had been great but wasn’t a big enough distraction to what was happening across the table. Plates of pasta, pizza, and calzones were passed around, and the combined scents of garlic and cheese filled the air. I picked up my fork with a sense of determination. I would attack this fettuccine alfredo. I would not listen to Marie’s throaty laughter or Sam’s deep-voiced murmurings.

  So much for a romantic adventure on the high seas. I really should ignore Lindsey’s challenge. Last night as I lay in bed, I’d read her card over and over. I practically had it memorized. First, she apologized again for being stupid enough to get grounded. Next, she tried to gain sympathy by reminding me of how boring her week at home would be. And finally, she issued the challenge:

  Pretend I’m there with you. Do something every day you’d never do at home. And I don’t mean visiting some tourist sight you’ve never seen before—of course you’re going to do that. Just step out of your comfort zone. Be impulsive. And a little bit dangerous.

  Right. Easy for her to say. She lived for that. But I didn’t. I was perfectly happy in my quiet, shy existence. I spun fettuccine around the tines of my fork. Wasn’t I?

  Laughter rolled among the group as Jacques finished a story about touring through Ireland and a run-in with a bunch of sheep. I smiled. I couldn’t laugh with them; I’d only been half listening. I was so ready to be back on the ship. To spend some time alone. I just had to get through the next hour or more as we finished lunch and traveled to where the ship was docked in Rovinj.

  By the time lunch was over, my shoulder muscles felt like I had a metal bar running through them. If I had to hear Marie giggle one more time, I’d shoot lasers out of my eyes. So when Clio rose and said she and Nick had a ten-minute errand to run, I treated it as an excuse to move away from the group. I went inside the restaurant and used the tiny bathroom, then wandered out across the plaza into the warm sunshine.

  Two little girls jumped up and down on the seven steps leading to the church’s entry, while a young woman sat below them next to a baby in a stroller. The whole scene was happy and lighthearted, but I was still having trouble getting out of my funk. Not even the sun could relax the tightness in my shoulders. A walk might help, though.

  The rest of my group loitered beside the café, waiting for whoever was still in the restroom. I didn’t see Sam or Marie anywhere. They were probably off together somewhere. Hurray.

  I strode off across the plaza with an excuse ready in case anyone asked—I wanted to look at the shops across the square. But as I approached, an alley off to the left hinted at blue ocean in the distance. I didn’t even hesitate. A quick look at the sea was just what I needed. Something calming. Something bigger than my silly jealousy.

  The narrow path widened as I descended toward a grassy park with benches facing the ocean. It was like I’d stepped into a different world. No one was around. Other than the chirping of birds and the wind rustling the trees, quiet reigned. I inhaled and exhaled a long breath. My shoulder muscles loosened a fraction.

  The buildings behind the shops on the square looked like people’s homes. Bright orange flowers cascaded from balconies. Low cement walls topped by three feet of decorative wrought iron enclosed beautiful sloping gardens. I followed the path around the rear of the gardens, figuring I could wander for about three minutes in one direction before I had to head back.

  A sudden angry male voice broke across the silence. I froze. It had come from ahead, but no one was there. Then came a low voice, quieter, more placating. These people must be in one of the backyards. At first, I thought they were speaking Italian, but not enough words sounded familiar. Probably Croatian.

  Guess I should head back. I didn’t want to interrupt a personal argument. It wasn’t my business. The angry voice ground across words like the guy wanted to chew nails.

  “Ah!” the other person said. A high distressing sound. Definitely female.

  Was someone being hurt? Should I do something? Adrenaline shot through me, and my pulse sped up. What could I do? Nothing sounded like a physical fight was happening. Just the man’s gravelly voice, now even louder.

  It really, really wasn’t my business. I didn’t even know what they were saying. It could be completely innocent. I bit my lip. No. I could feel all the way down to my toes that it wasn’t. But how could I help? I glanced around the park. Still empty of people. Except me, of course.

  Maybe I could make enough noise that they’d realize someone was here. That would probably stop the a
rgument. At least temporarily.

  The man shouted one short word, then launched into a rant. I doubted they could hear me if I set off a bomb out here. I wanted to swing around and march right back up the path and into the plaza, but I still couldn’t make myself move—like I’d become a section of that decorative wrought iron, encased in cement.

  Another agonized female sound. And just like that, I shifted into action. I had to know what was happening. I tiptoed forward until I reached the trailing branches of a bush that hung over one wall. I peeked around it, and my heart jumped into my throat. It was Clio!

  She stood there like a slumped statue, a balding man practically in her face, gripping her forearm as though he wanted to tear it off, still spitting words at her. Even through the wrought iron, I could see the pleading look on her face. But she wasn’t saying anything. And where was Nick? Was he inside that house? Or was he close by, watching the whole thing go down?

  My whole body began to shake. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before. But that was nothing compared to what was happening to Clio. I had to do something. “Hey,” I said, so quietly that it sounded more like a puff of air. I forced myself to step out of the protection of the trailing branches. “Hey,” I croaked.

  They both started, the man releasing Clio and taking a step backward. Her expression changed from pleading to terrified in half a second. His, on the other hand, was like granite. He glared at me and stepped closer, his stocky body poised like he was about to leap over the wall.

  Behind his back, Clio waved a hand and tried to smile. “Everything’s fine. I’ll be back in a few moments. You can go back to the square.” Her voice sounded completely composed—as if this kind of crap happened every day. Did it? “Go on,” she said.

  The man walked closer, rested his fingers against the wrought iron, and peered through a diamond-shape, studying me like he was memorizing my face. Ice ran down my spine, and I backed up. I was out of my depth here, but the argument seemed to be over. For now, anyway.

  “Rose!” Sam’s shout snapped the wire of tension that enclosed the three of us.

  I swung around. Sam was jogging up the path about fifty feet away. “What’re you doing?” he called out. “We need to meet Clio in a few minutes.”

  I wanted to yell that she was right here, but words wouldn’t come. My entire back prickled, and I looked over my shoulder. Clio and the man were walking toward the house, the man close to her ear as though he were whispering.

  Sam’s footsteps stopped. I faced him. He stood with hands on his hips, his breathing loud. “What’s going on? It’s hard to chase someone in flip-flops, you know.”

  His teasing tone wrapped me in a blanket of normal, yet I still couldn’t speak. I tried to clear my throat, but it sounded like a groan.

  Sam frowned. “Hey, you okay?” He came closer and dipped his head to look me in the eye. My sunglasses made that impossible. He started to lift the frames with his fingers but stopped, staring behind me. “Is that Clio?” he whispered.

  “Yeah,” I whispered. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “What happened? Did she see you?”

  I moved past him, heading back to the plaza. I couldn’t shake the sense that staying by that house was about to be dangerous for both of us. Sam caught up with me. “Rose?”

  “I’ll tell you later.” I stumbled, and he caught my elbow.

  “Why not now?” he asked, keeping in step with me, his flip-flops snapping against the concrete.

  Because I’m freaking confused. It felt like I was making too big a deal of it.

  He tugged on my elbow. “Rose, wait.”

  Six

  Sam

  Rose stopped, not meeting my gaze. Her face was as white as the sheets my mom cut up to dress me as a ghost for Halloween when I was little. Plus, Rose looked lost, as if she’d just found out there was no Santa Claus. Or in keeping with the Halloween theme, no Great Pumpkin.

  Agh. Why was I thinking stupid stuff when this girl was upset? I needed to focus. Figure out a way to help, because I hated the look on her face.

  I released her elbow. “Take a deep breath. You’re obviously freaked out. Tell me.”

  She shook her head briefly.

  “Come on. If you go back to the plaza looking like this, everybody’s gonna want to know what’s wrong. Then you’ll have them in your face instead of just me. Wouldn’t it be easier to let it out now? You don’t want people to think I made you cry, do you?”

  She raised an eyebrow in a look that said my argument was flimsy but started talking. “I was just wandering around to pass the time when I heard an argument. That guy back there was yelling at Clio.” She slid her sunglasses off, rubbed her temple with two fingers, and gazed up with watery eyes. “He hurt her, Sam. He was twisting her arm. I didn’t know what to do.” She turned away and ran the back of her hand across her eyes. “I couldn’t even tell what they were saying. It was in Croatian or something.”

  Man, I wanted to hug her. I didn’t understand this situation, but I wanted to help. I just wasn’t sure the best way to do that. I went for a brief touch on the shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay. There wasn’t anything you could do. It was probably some kind of family argument. I bet Clio has relatives all up and down the coastline.”

  “A family argument where someone gets physically hurt?”

  “Haven’t you ever hit your brother or sister? Even accidentally?”

  Rose looked at me like I was something foul she’d just stepped in. “Maybe when I was four years old.” She walked on, and I fell into step beside her. “This wasn’t anything like that,” she continued quietly. “These were two adults. And one was threatening the other.”

  Threatening? Really? That sounded a little over the top. “Okay, but we don’t know the whole story, do we? It might be serious. Or it might be just a random bit of family weirdness.”

  Her golden brown eyes seemed huge as she gazed up at me. “You really think so?”

  Was it a lie if I only half believed it? “Absolutely. Let’s just ask Clio after we meet up.”

  “How the heck can I do that? ‘Hey, Clio, who was that guy, and why did he act like he wanted to punch your lights out?’”

  I smiled. “No, I think you should be way more subtle. Something like: ‘Hey, Clio, is your family filled with maniacs?’”

  She huffed out a laugh and slid her sunglasses back on. “Too subtle. How about: ‘Hey, I saw what happened. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve signed you up for taekwondo lessons.’”

  I tried to lift one eyebrow but failed. “That’s kind of pushy, don’t you think?”

  “You’re probably right. I’ll just tell her I’ve called the police.”

  We slowed our pace on the incline toward the plaza. “I bet you money she’ll offer you some sort of explanation. You won’t have to ask her anything.”

  “I sure hope so, because the whole thing was super weird.”

  She was starting to look lost again. I jiggled her shoulder. “Hey, you did everything you could. Let’s see what Clio has to say.”

  “’Kay,” she said.

  We reentered the plaza. Our group still waited on the stairs to the church, Nick leaping up and down the steps like a six-year-old. What was it with that kid? Sometimes he acted way younger than thirteen. But then other times he’d study people like he was figuring out exactly what made them tick. Kind of creepy.

  Clio waved us all together, and everybody gathered around her. She didn’t look any worse for wear. No swollen eyes like she’d been crying or upset. Not a strand of her short auburn hair out of place. But a red blotch that looked like a thumb pad stood out on her left forearm. I bet she had similar marks on the other side of her arm. Rose hadn’t been exaggerating.

  “It’s time to go,” Clio said in a business-like tone. “Our van should be waiting for us by the harbor in the next couple of minutes, so please head back toward the basilica.” She motioned for us to
walk on. Jacques and Sophie led the way, while the others fell slowly into place. I could feel Marie’s eyes on me, but I was too curious about Clio to listen to Marie flirt in three-word sentences. After a moment, she shrugged and followed the others.

  Good. Now I could hear the story firsthand. Or make that secondhand. Because while I’d been ignoring Marie, Clio had taken Rose aside. Out of earshot. Clio smiled, a sincere look on her face as she spoke. She didn’t gesture, didn’t do anything to bring attention to her arm. I could only see Rose’s back, so other than her stiff posture, there was no way to tell what she was thinking. She nodded a couple of times, the hair on the back of her head bobbing with the movement.

  I edged away so that it wouldn’t be so obvious that I wanted to eavesdrop. Finally, Clio breezed past me, hurrying to get to the front of the group. I turned to wait for Rose, who looked thoughtful.

  “Well?” I asked when she reached me.

  Rose lowered her sunglasses over her eyes. “Let’s keep walking.” We started after the others, while she spoke quietly beside me. “The guy was supposedly her cousin. He’d had too much beer at lunch and was angry that she’d forgotten to buy a certain perfume while she was in Venice. Apparently, there’s some vendor they use who sells the stuff at a discounted rate. And now the cousin doesn’t have the anniversary gift he’d needed for his wife.”

  “Huh. Sounds simple enough.”

  Rose frowned.

  “But you don’t believe it, do you?”

  “No.” She stared off at a shop where decapitated legless mannequins wearing bikinis were arranged on a counter. “It probably seems stupid, but it just doesn’t feel right.”

  Now what should I say to that? I was a big believer in following your gut, but in this instance, what was the point? The Clio situation was over and done with. “Yeah, she might not be telling you the truth because it’s too embarrassing or something.”