Free Deadly Journey by Declan Conner Page B

pleasure senses in an otherwise blocked nose. Stony Face, the guard,
rose from his chair and unfastened the shutters, throwing them open to a burst
of light that made me squint. Reaching over to the nightstand, I picked up the
photo of Mary and the kids by the edges. Their innocent smiles gave me warmth
and comfort. Distracted as the maid arrived at my bedside, I replaced the photo
against the lamp stand, positioned so I could see their happy faces.
    ‘Buenos días, Señor Rawlings.’
    ‘Good morning...err?’
    ‘Leandra.’
    Her smile was infectious.
    ‘You can call me Kurt.’ I returned the
smile.
    ‘Please eat. You need to build up your
strength.’
    Stony Face stepped forward and grabbed her
wrist as she was about to place a steel knife and fork on the tray.
    ‘ Idiota. Tenador de plastico .’
    Releasing his grip, he raised a hand in the
gesture of a backhanded slap. Leandra stood akimbo and gave him a petulant
stare before she cut the bacon into portions. She smiled directly into my eyes,
as if she were trying to tell me something. Swivelling on a heel, she turned
and scuttled from the room, taking the steel knife and fork with her.
    The aroma of the food made it impossible to
resist, and I delicately picked up a piece of the bacon between my thumb and
forefinger. Dropping the bacon into my mouth, I savoured the salty flavour,
wanting to make every chew count. Leandra returned and handed me a plastic
fork.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.  ‘He was afraid you
would use the utensils as a weapon.’
    ‘No problem.’
    Stony’s perception was right. It was the
first thought that had come to mind when I saw them in her hands.
    ‘Señor Perez has arranged for his doctor to
visit you. He will arrive in the next fifteen minutes,’ Leandra said. Her smile
continued to radiate warmth as she poured a cup of coffee. ‘Is there anything
else I can get you?’ she asked.
    I thought about Perez’s prints on the
picture for when I escaped. I knew we didn’t have them in his file.
    ‘Yeah, I could do with a small picture
frame for my photograph.’
    ‘That’s easy. I have one spare in my
bedroom. I’ll get it for you later.’
    ‘What’s the itinerary after the doctor?’
    ‘Itinerary?’
    ‘Sorry... plan.’
    ‘Ah, I understand. They have a full day
planned for you to relax at the poolside. Maybe you can watch some television,
or read a book? The film has been cancelled until the wounds on your face heal.’
    I tried not to let my disappointment show
at the delay of them sending the ransom note to confirm I was alive. So far,
Perez had been true to his word. I hoped it would stay that way.
    ‘I’ve left you some boxer shorts and a
towel on the bedside cabinet. When you’ve finished with the doctor, I’ll see
you at the pool.’
    Leandra turned with a twirl, and in her
usual unfazed manner, she stepped lightly out of the room, her skirt swaying to
the wiggle of her backside. Damn if I didn’t think she was flirting with me.
    No sooner had I devoured the breakfast than
the doctor arrived. Hardly an advertisement for his trade, he was sweating
profusely, wiping his brow with his handkerchief and gasping from his arduous
struggle at dragging his grossly overweight body up the stairway. He finally
caught his breath and waddled over to the bed, launching his case onto the
mattress as if he had levered a ton of weight from his grasp. Leandra returned
and placed the picture frame on the nightstand. The doctor gestured for her to
remove the bed sheet, while he opened his case and took out a stethoscope.
    ‘Help him undress,’ he said, looking at
Leandra.
    She must have seen the panic in my eyes at
having no underwear.
    ‘I think I can manage, thank you.’
    The warmth in my cheeks told me I was
blushing. Leandra winked, held up her hands in a form of acceptance and with a
wry smile. She took hold of the breakfast cart and pushed it out of the
bedroom, snickering as she went.
    She seemed like a good kid. I