No Exit by Ridge King

Author:Ridge King [King, Ridge]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elsinore Press
Published: 2020-12-13T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

“The stairs or the elevator, honey?” asked Governor St. Clair as he and Sofia left the master suite on the southwest corner of the second floor offering an unpanelled view of downtown Miami in the distance.

“I think the stairs, Sam. I feel much better today.”

He took her arm and led her out of their bedroom into the drawing room and out into the open-air promenade that led around the rooms of the second floor to the grand staircase on the other side.

“I see you had lunch with Ramona today.”

“Yes. We finished just before your chopper landed.”

“You tell her?”

“No,” Sofia lied. “I just hadn’t seen her in a long time and we needed to catch up.” She didn’t see any need to tell Sam what she and Ramona talked about. He would find out in good time.

“Rafael’s back and he told Jack he’d be in port for three days unless an emergency sends them out again.”

“Then we’ll have to tell them. Maybe tomorrow at breakfast.”

They came to the high wide marble staircase with a straight shot down to the Great Hall. No landings, just a majestic graceful drop to the ground floor.

“It’s awful to think that Henry Flagler fell down these same steps in 1913.”

“And died because of it. I’m mindful of the old man every single time I get to the top of these steps.”

“Speak to Jack tonight,” she said as they started down. “Tell him we want to see him tomorrow if he can manage it for breakfast, but not with Babe. If she’s still at his house, we can get the boys together later in the day.”

“All right.” Sam held the rail as he went down. “You know, we still have to meet those doctors at the university tomorrow.”

“Sam, let’s not go over this again. We’re going to go ahead with the radiation, but stop short of the chemo, OK.”

“OK. Whatever you want.”

“That’s what I want.”

“OK.”

“One other thing I want,” she said.

“What’s that, my little sweet pea?”

“I want this dinner to go off without a hitch.”

“I know,” he laughed. “The words were barely out of my mouth before I realized what I’d said. We’ll cross our fingers,” Sam said as they reached the bottom.

Waiting for them were Rafael and Santiago.

Rafael, out of uniform and wearing a dark suit, rushed up and gave his mother a kiss and a big hug. He shook hands with Sam.

“Oh, darling,” said Sofia, “you look so handsome.” She stroked his black hair slicked back over his head.

“And you, Mother? Are you feeling better?”

“Oh, much, much better.”

“Most of your guests are in the Blue Onyx Room, Governor,” said Santiago, standing to the side.

“Thanks, Santi. Let’s get a drink. We’re gonna need it before the night’s out.”

Santiago led the way to the Blue Onyx Room but on the way they passed the elevator just as the doors opened. Mrs. Pearson, taking those tentative baby steps the very old often do, hobbled out, her arm firmly grasping Agent Rodriguez’s elbow.

“Well, well,” Sam said. “I’ll take over from here, Carlos.

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