Something in Vallarta by Robert Richter

Author:Robert Richter
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1579622976
Publisher: The Permenant Press

Chapter Seven

Not long after sunrise Juan Carlos’ wife, Antonia, scraping tortilla dough from her fingers, shuffled out of her kitchen with a bowl of cold beans, an omelette full of tomatoes and peppers, and set them before me on the bar. She gravely encouraged me to eat, leaning across the counter to confide her reliability in keeping me in good health. “You working for a gringo son of a bitch. Chuy and Juan Carlos both tell me. You eat for strength. Antonia’s food will keep you strong. De nada, for nothing.” It was a mother’s reassurance, and I knew she’d hide me under a table or behind the bar if need be.

I said thanks but that I thought I would be done that day and I could go back to Lo De Marcos. The room and the breakfast cost me ten pesos—still the best deal in town.

I took a bus down to the main station and called Finch. It was early and I hoped I’d get him out of bed and start his day off with inconvenience and lies. He answered into the crackling line after the first ring, “Yeah, talk to me.”

“Waters again, Mr. Finch.”

“So waddaya find out?”

“He’s a prof named Dr. Frank Chambers. University of Arizona. Doing some kind of study on ruins in San Bias. I talked to him some, and he seemed like an asshole to me. Average academic hotshot jerk.” That part was true enough. “He’s been there a couple months, but his work’s about done. He’ll be out of Mexico and back at books in Tucson in another week or so. That’s what he said, and it was hard enough to get that out of him. He didn’t have any use for me. I wasn’t his type of buddy. I don’t see that he’s any different than any other guy Yancy’s picked up before. A distraction who will be gone in a week or so.”

“Did he know who you were when you talked to him?”

“No.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I didn’t tell him anything. He didn’t want anything to do with me, and the feeling was mutual. He’s just another version of a gringo on a lark in Mexico. I can’t see that he’d be anything she’d be interested in for long.” That felt like a true statement, too.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right, Waters. Tail her one more time, man, and I think I’ll be damn well convinced.”

“Not again,” I moaned.

“One more time.”

“What’s the point? And if she meets him again, what are you going to do? I’m not going to help you hurt someone. The other day you sounded crazy-mad. You have to work out your relationships without me getting involved anymore.” I couldn’t believe I was saying such things to this guy, like Mr. Sincere.

“I was mad, I admit. But we got things worked out. I ain’t gonna hurt nobody. Look, I’m lettin’ her go again. Up to Tepic. If she sees this guy, fine. I don’t care if she fucks his eyes out. But she also works for Film-Arts Productions.

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