“And I look forward to meeting the man who could win your heart,” Krista said. “He’s an extraordinarily lucky man.”
They flew in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts, the only sound that of the engines whining in perfect synchronicity as they sliced through the air.
“Okay, time for the next step,” Zach said when they’d been under way for an hour and a half.
Getting to his feet, he made his way forward to the cockpit.
“Everything okay back there?” the pilot asked.
“Fine,” Zach replied, enjoying what he was seeing. “But we’ve changed our minds about Quito. We’d like to go to the Caymans instead,” he said, holding out a wad of money. “Here’s $5, 000. We’re trying to avoid a jealous husband. I’m sure you understand.”
“George Town, Grand Cayman it is,” the pilot said as he took the wad of bills. “Another two hours, give or take.”
It was dark when they finally landed at George Town/Owen Roberts Airport. As they passed through passport control, Zach asked which was the best place to stay when he informed the immigration agent that they hadn’t any reservations when asked where they were staying.
“I’ve always thought that the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa on 7 Mile Beach is the best,” the agent informed him. “It’s only a 10-minute cab ride.”
They found a taxi and 10 minutes later they were at the front desk of the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa.
“Do you have a reservation?” the mocha-complected woman behind the desk asked.
“I’m sorry, we don’t,” Zach replied.
“We’re quite full right now,” the woman explained. “This is high season. We have only a single vacancy, a 1-bedroom bungalow on the beach, but it only sleeps 2, though it does have a sofa bed. It’s $2, 000 a night.”
“That sounds perfect,” Susan said.
“How long will you be staying with us?” the woman asked.
“A few days, maybe a week,” Zach replied.
“I’ll need a credit card, please,” she said.
Zach looked sideways at Susan when she produced a black VISA card with Cayman National Bank in light-grey letters across the top.
“Do you have any luggage?” she asked.
“No,” Zach replied
“The restaurants close in an hour,” she said. “Would you like to be shown to your bungalow?”
“Actually, we’d love to eat,” Krista said. “We can go to the room afterwards.”
“We have several restaurants,” the woman explained. “Ave and Avecita are our finest restaurants, and there’s also Coccoloba, which is on the beach and less formal.”
“Coccoloba sounds perfect,” Krista said.
The ocean breeze filled Coccoloba as they sat down, breathing a collective sigh of relief. When the server approached, Krista ordered a pitcher of golden margueritas.
“Nice menu,” Krista said as she perused it. “Simple, which means that they probably do a great job with what’s on it.”
“Why don’t you order for all of us,” Susan suggested.
Which she did when the server returned with the pitcher of golden margueritas, ordering grouper ceviche, chicken quesadilla, smoked chicken tacos, shrimp tostadas, quinoa salad with carrots, kale, pistachios, queso fresco, and dried cranberries with a lemon-herb vinaigrette and topped with grilled mahi-mahi. By the time the food began to arrive, they had finished the pitcher of margueritas and Krista ordered another.
“I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” Susan said as they ate.
“Me, too,” Krista agreed. “I was really getting sick of being cooped up like that, as much fun as you two are.”
“I just thank my lucky stars that it was the two of you who found me, saved me,” Susan said.
“I think that we can safely stay here until we hear something definitive from Manaus about the identification of the victims in that building,” Zach said. “When that happens, then we’ll consider our options.”
“I need to go to the bank first thing in the morning,” Susan said. “And I’d like to do some clothes shopping, for all of us.”
“You don’t have to do that, Susan,” Krista said.
“I know, that’s why it’ll be so much fun,” Susan said, smiling.
They went back to reception after eating and were finally shown to their beachfront bungalow, a cozy, airy apartment with a fully-stocked bar and a refrigerator with several different beers, wines, and various bottled waters. The bedroom had a large, king-sized bed which faced the ocean.
“Thanks, this is great,” Zach said, handing the bellhop a $20 bill, resisting the urge to smile at the look on his face.
“This bed is plenty big for the three of us,” Krista said, not seeing the surprised look on the bellhop who had shown them to the room as he left.
“Why did you tip him $20 just for showing us to the room?” Susan asked.
“Because he’ll tell the others,” Zach replied. “They’ll all know about the man who checked in with two gorgeous women. Now they’ll also know that he tips well. We’ll get 10-star service for an investment of $20.”
“How on earth do you think of such things?” Krista asked, laughing as she stripped. “Like the whole plan to get here.”
“I guess it comes from playing Go,” Zach replied.
“Go?” Susan asked as she, too, undressed.
“A game of strategy,” Zach explained. “It dates back some 2500 years. It makes you think of possibilities, the ramifications of any particular move.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’ve done a great job,” Krista said, heading towards the bathroom, followed by Susan, then Zach after he undressed, needing more time because of his leg.
“Oh, this is so nice,” Susan sighed, sandwiched between Zach and Krista, their hands all over her body as they washed her, followed by Krista in the middle, and then finally Zach, who they attempted to keep his leg dry, though they failed miserably.