The Killings Begin by Pay Bradley

Author:Pay, Bradley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bradley Pay
Published: 2022-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

April 2007

Vacation in Seville

Seville, Spain

Mari paused under the arches on her parents’ spacious veranda and admired the afternoon sunlight dancing across the pool’s surface. She sighed—it was warm for April, but not quite warm enough to swim yet. And besides, there were other things she had to do that day. She stepped off the terrace.

As she meandered along the gravel path, through the garden to her casita, the final satsumas on the tree near the fountain caught her eye. Mari walked over to pick a few. It’s so unusual to still have any of these left by this time of year, she thought as she put them inside the hat she was carrying. They’ll be a nice treat for breakfast tomorrow.

She paused again to watch her friend, working away at the bistro table on the sunny patio outside the casita. Gia’s sketchbook was propped on her lap, a pencil in her hand and her notepad open on the table in front of her. Her sunglasses had slid down and were perched on the end of her nose. She was completely engrossed in her work, moving her hands as she read to herself in a quiet murmur, glancing back and forth from her notes to her drawings. Without breaking focus, she stretched out one long leg, pointed her toes, circled her foot and then repeated it with the other. Mari was amazed at Gia’s ability to concentrate, to shut the world out so completely.

I’d be sitting here watching all the bees and butterflies, listening to the fountain, anything but concentrating on schoolwork, thought Mari.

She laughed. “I hope I’ve given you enough time and I can tempt you to share this wine with me.” She moved Gia’s notepad a little and set a bottle on the table.

Gia jumped in surprise, and her sketchbook fell to the ground. “I didn’t even hear you come up.” She shoved her sunglasses back up on her nose, stretched her hands high over her head and shook out the kinks and then rubbed her eyes. “I’ve been working for hours already. I could really use a break. A glass—or two,” she grinned, “sounds wonderful.” She bent over to pick up her sketchbook and stacked it and the notebook to one side.

Gia squinted up at Mari, one hand over her eyes. “You look marvelous. Did you do something to your hair? It’s amazing! When you stand in the sunshine like that, the red is so fiery. I love it!”

“Thanks. I didn’t do anything though. You know how I feel about coloring my hair. It’s probably just the sunshine. By the way, my dad’s been spying on you,” Mari chuckled. “He said you looked a bit sunburned from your excursion this morning and sitting out here in the sun for so long, so I grabbed this for you.” She held out the hat and then laughed again. “Wait, let me take those.” She removed the fruit and held it in her hand.

“He’s always looking out for me.” Gia

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