hotels would be limited to a height of 4 stories. That way, home owners in the hotel area would still have their view of the sea.”
“Guess you’ve noticed this hotel has 5 stories.” I parked in my usual spot.
“Right!” Somewhere in the legal maneuvering, the building contractor slipped in a zinger that made it okay for the covered ground-level parking area not to count as the hotel’s first floor. But counting the parking area, there are a total of 5 floors. When citizens growled that the hotel blocked their ocean view, the builder laughed and waved his contract at them. Very sneaky.”
“That must have happened years before Dad bought the hotel.”
“True. But I’m pointing out that it happened. And the same thing is happening to what remains of our working waters.”
“I’m glad Dad had no part in that bit of underhandedness.” I cut the motor, noting that Dolly had left her bike propped on its kickstand nearby. Finding a parking place on the island is such a hassle that Dolly refuses to own a car. She bikes everywhere, so far without mishap.
“I’m starving, Kane.”
Kane laughed. “It’s too late for lunch and too early for dinner. Want to settle for a sandwich beside the pool? We’ll call it lunner.”
We strolled toward the pool gate before we stopped, realizing our faded jeans and tees would stand out like barnacles on a boat hull in this crowd of sleek-bodied sun bathers in their bikinis and low-rise briefs. “Okay, but maybe we need to change into more appropriate attire.”
For a few moments we stood at the pool gate, listening to shouting kids, watching them splash water onto lounges bearing ladies who had no intention of getting wet. We grinned as the women flailed their arms and tried to protect their pricey hair-dos. Even from this distance, I inhaled mingled aromas of hairspray and coconut-scented sunscreen.
“On second thought, why don’t we go to my suite, order from room service, and eat on my balcony? Food. Privacy. Sunshine. What more could we want?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“On third thought, why don’t I toss a fresh fruit salad, pour us some iced tea, and order hot garlic toast from room service?”
“Sounds even better. How can I help?”
“You can pour our iced-tea and help carry stuff to the balcony, okay?” Before we took the elevator upstairs, I picked a banana, an orange, and some mint leaves from our private garden near the pool. In only a few moments we sat on the balcony munching on the tangy fruit salad and the soothing flavor of the garlic toast. Although we took care not to sit near the balcony railing or make ourselves visible to the revelers in the pool below we enjoyed hearing them shouting, splashing, and having fun.
When I looked into Kane’s eyes, he must have guessed what I was about the say.
“Don’t expect any more news about the murder from me, Rafa. I’ve told you all I know—all I’ve heard. Diego must have had an enemy we’re unaware of.”
“Who’s his next of kin other than Pablo?”
“You know more about Diego’s family than I do.”
I shook my head. “I’m guessing any other relatives live in Cuba.”
“Think a jealous relative paddled here in the dark of night to off him?”
“Don’t know what to think. I wonder. Was he wealthy—wealthy enough to make his next of kin interested in a quick inheritance?”
“You think Pablo might have murdered him?”
“I’ve no idea. But it’s a thought. Didn’t someone say they heard Diego and Pablo arguing about money?”
“I heard them argue several times. The gist of it being that Diego thought Pablo should give up his beach-bumming ways and find a steady job.”
“A job in addition to playing here in the combo?”
“Of course. The combo job’s a great way to earn a little extra pay, but it’s by no means self-supporting—not on this tourist’s paradise of rip-off prices.”
“Strange that Pablo chose this week to do a disappearing act. If he expected
“Guess you’ve noticed this hotel has 5 stories.” I parked in my usual spot.
“Right!” Somewhere in the legal maneuvering, the building contractor slipped in a zinger that made it okay for the covered ground-level parking area not to count as the hotel’s first floor. But counting the parking area, there are a total of 5 floors. When citizens growled that the hotel blocked their ocean view, the builder laughed and waved his contract at them. Very sneaky.”
“That must have happened years before Dad bought the hotel.”
“True. But I’m pointing out that it happened. And the same thing is happening to what remains of our working waters.”
“I’m glad Dad had no part in that bit of underhandedness.” I cut the motor, noting that Dolly had left her bike propped on its kickstand nearby. Finding a parking place on the island is such a hassle that Dolly refuses to own a car. She bikes everywhere, so far without mishap.
“I’m starving, Kane.”
Kane laughed. “It’s too late for lunch and too early for dinner. Want to settle for a sandwich beside the pool? We’ll call it lunner.”
We strolled toward the pool gate before we stopped, realizing our faded jeans and tees would stand out like barnacles on a boat hull in this crowd of sleek-bodied sun bathers in their bikinis and low-rise briefs. “Okay, but maybe we need to change into more appropriate attire.”
For a few moments we stood at the pool gate, listening to shouting kids, watching them splash water onto lounges bearing ladies who had no intention of getting wet. We grinned as the women flailed their arms and tried to protect their pricey hair-dos. Even from this distance, I inhaled mingled aromas of hairspray and coconut-scented sunscreen.
“On second thought, why don’t we go to my suite, order from room service, and eat on my balcony? Food. Privacy. Sunshine. What more could we want?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“On third thought, why don’t I toss a fresh fruit salad, pour us some iced tea, and order hot garlic toast from room service?”
“Sounds even better. How can I help?”
“You can pour our iced-tea and help carry stuff to the balcony, okay?” Before we took the elevator upstairs, I picked a banana, an orange, and some mint leaves from our private garden near the pool. In only a few moments we sat on the balcony munching on the tangy fruit salad and the soothing flavor of the garlic toast. Although we took care not to sit near the balcony railing or make ourselves visible to the revelers in the pool below we enjoyed hearing them shouting, splashing, and having fun.
When I looked into Kane’s eyes, he must have guessed what I was about the say.
“Don’t expect any more news about the murder from me, Rafa. I’ve told you all I know—all I’ve heard. Diego must have had an enemy we’re unaware of.”
“Who’s his next of kin other than Pablo?”
“You know more about Diego’s family than I do.”
I shook my head. “I’m guessing any other relatives live in Cuba.”
“Think a jealous relative paddled here in the dark of night to off him?”
“Don’t know what to think. I wonder. Was he wealthy—wealthy enough to make his next of kin interested in a quick inheritance?”
“You think Pablo might have murdered him?”
“I’ve no idea. But it’s a thought. Didn’t someone say they heard Diego and Pablo arguing about money?”
“I heard them argue several times. The gist of it being that Diego thought Pablo should give up his beach-bumming ways and find a steady job.”
“A job in addition to playing here in the combo?”
“Of course. The combo job’s a great way to earn a little extra pay, but it’s by no means self-supporting—not on this tourist’s paradise of rip-off prices.”
“Strange that Pablo chose this week to do a disappearing act. If he expected
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