Free Take the Money: Romantic Suspense in Costa Rica by Lucia Sinn

after the trauma of last night and the meeting at the bank, such effusiveness was like a balm to her jagged nerves.
    “Is it all right if I sit at the bar and have a Coke?” she asked. She didn’t want another beer, but knew a customer ordering a soft drink wouldn’t be too profitable.
    “Sure can, honey.” Nellie went behind the bar, got a can from the refrigerator, popped open the lid and set the Coke in front of Julie. “You’re from the U.S, right?”
    “That’s right.” 
    “What part?”
    “Midwest.  Indiana, to be exact.” Julie was bracing herself for the next logical question.  She was going to be asked her name and she needed to decide what it was.  Instead, a young girl rushed out from the kitchen and began speaking rapidly in Spanish.  Nellie leaned forward to listen. From the puzzled look that came across her face, Julie knew Nellie was struggling to understand what the girl was saying. Without thinking, Julie said, “I can speak Spanish, if that would help.”
    Nellie shot Julie an exasperated look. “Tell her she can’t be off tonight, even if it is her nephew’s birthday.  I’ll never be able to serve the dinner crowd if she doesn’t stay.”
    “Don’t you have anyone else to call in?”
    Nellie’s eyes watered. “I’m just trying to put together a staff.  Only been here a month.  I’m beginning to think I made a mistake.”
    Julie looked around, counting tables. “You mean it’s only you and her to wait on customers?”
    “Oh, no.  I have a chef, and a couple of waiters.  But it’s not enough to get me through.  On the other hand, if I make this girl angry, she’s liable to quit.”
    “I know how to wait tables,” Julie said. “Would you be interested in some temporary part time help?”
    “Would I?  My God, would you be willing to stick around for awhile?”
    “Just for a few days, maybe.”
    Nellie stepped back and closed her eyes, mumbling to herself.
    “What did you say?” Julie asked.
    “I’m saying thank you, God.”  Nellie answered. “When can you start?”
    “First, do you want me to tell this young woman she can go?”
    “Sure.  That is, if you’re willing to be back here in a few hours.” Julie told the girl everything was settled then looked at her watch.  One o’clock.  “I have some errands to run,” she said.  “And I need to find a cheap place to stay.”
    “I can tell you where I’m staying,” Nellie said.  “But it’s not too fancy.”
    “As long as it’s clean and safe.”
    Nellie said, “It’s on San Jose Blvd., on the street behind the Gran Hotel.  And they even serve breakfast.  It’s called La Casa Verde.  I guess it’s as safe as anyplace; the owner packs a pistol.”
    “I’ve never seen a city with so many armed men,” Julie said.  “I thought Costa Rica was supposed to be a peaceful country.”
    “It is a peaceful country; they don’t even have a militia. They tell me rape and murder is rare.  But you can see the people are poor, plus all the Nicaraguan’s milling around.  There’s a lot of theft.”
    Julie tightened her grip on her backpack. “I don’t have much for anyone to steal.” 
    “You’re smarter than most women from the States,” Nellie said. They walk around flashing diamonds and expensive jewelry.  It’s not at all uncommon for a gold chain to be pulled off someone’s neck.  I’ve even heard about earrings being yanked out of women’s ears.”
    “Yikes.  That would hurt.”
    “Yeah.  And it’s a bloody mess, too.  Literally.” 
    “But there seem to be a lot of Americans here.  Especially around the Cariari where I stayed last night.”
    “The Cariari?”  Nellie arched an eyebrow, then looked Julie up and down, taking in her cheap cotton clothes from the mall. “Pretty classy spot.  That’s the neighborhood where the well-heeled retirees from the States hang out, playing golf and taking advantage of low cost housing and help.”
    “Too classy for me,”