saying?”
“Yes, I have. I was just processing a
few things. Just trying to figure Julia’s motive out.”
“Well, let’s put it aside for now.
Everything seems to be under control. If something breaks, Peter’s people or
Angus will get in touch with us. Let’s enjoy our mini-vacation before we have
to get back in the trenches.”
“Agreed.”
That’s exactly what we did for the next
precious days we had alone together, just the three of us. I took Amadeus and
Elizabeth on day outings, using one of Greg’s four-wheelers. Elizabeth loved
the bouncing around, giggling the entire time.
It was a teary farewell the morning we
left Patagonia. We promised Greg and Mary we would be back for a longer stay as
soon as we could manage the time. Amadeus was hooked on this paradise at the
other end of the world.
The small jet touched down in Santiago
and as planned we checked into the Crowne Plaza early in the afternoon. After
settling in, the three of us went sightseeing. Santiago is nestled in the
center of Chile with the Andes rising in the background. Amadeus was enthralled
with the beauty of the country, and our short stay gave him just enough of a
taste to make him understand why I had come here in the first place.
The following morning, we were headed
back to Seattle, and whatever awaited.
Chapter Seven
Zara
I was taking an armful of clothes to the
laundry room off the kitchen. Amadeus always came home off the road with a ton
of dirty clothes. This time, however, it made me wonder if laundry services had
even been offered during the tour. On top of Amadeus’s I had all of mine and
Elizabeth’s to do as well. I had just turned on the washer when Amadeus
appeared at the doorway.
“Zara, I need some paper and a pen.
Better yet, you take this call and get all the information from Red.”
He handed me his cell phone. I looked at
him curiously as his face was as white as a blank piece of paper. I rushed into
the bedroom and found a notebook, as Red gave me information that sickened me
as well.
Red, as well as the other guys on the
crew, had some of their money sent home once or twice a month to their wives so
they could pay bills and maintain life at home. That had gone on like
clockwork. No problems there. However, when Red’s wife had gone to the bank to
cash the last check Julia had given Red, she was horrified to find out the
account had been closed.
I took down all the information from Red
regarding who his wife talked to at the bank. She had been smart enough to ask
to speak with a manager after the check had been declined.
“Red, if you have access to a scanner, I
also need you to email me a copy of the front and back of that check, along
with the stub. Then put that check away somewhere safe.”
“Sure thing, Zara. But what are we
supposed to do now? Sue and I were counting on that money.”
“I know,” I replied. I really did and
what I saw in my mind’s eye terrified me. “It’s Saturday, and there’s not a lot
we can do before Monday I’m afraid. But you can be sure that between now and
Monday we’ll know more, and hopefully we can get this mess straightened out
completely.” I glanced at Amadeus, who was watching me. I shrugged my
shoulders. I didn’t know what else to say.
“What about Amadeus and Angus?” Red
asked. “Did she screw them as well?”
“Oh, yes. Damien, too, it seems. But don’t
worry, we’re on it. If you talk with anyone else, have them do the same thing
as I’ve asked you to and let them know we’re trying to get to the bottom of
this. I’m sorry, Red, that I don’t have anything better to say.”
“I’m not blaming you guys. Just do what
you can. I’ll get that stuff to you, and I’ll handle the other guys as I hear
from them. I’ll be looking to hear from you or Amadeus Monday then.”
“Okay, Red. One of us will be in touch.”
I powered down the phone. Amadeus and I
needed to discuss this and digest just what we might be facing. It
“Yes, I have. I was just processing a
few things. Just trying to figure Julia’s motive out.”
“Well, let’s put it aside for now.
Everything seems to be under control. If something breaks, Peter’s people or
Angus will get in touch with us. Let’s enjoy our mini-vacation before we have
to get back in the trenches.”
“Agreed.”
That’s exactly what we did for the next
precious days we had alone together, just the three of us. I took Amadeus and
Elizabeth on day outings, using one of Greg’s four-wheelers. Elizabeth loved
the bouncing around, giggling the entire time.
It was a teary farewell the morning we
left Patagonia. We promised Greg and Mary we would be back for a longer stay as
soon as we could manage the time. Amadeus was hooked on this paradise at the
other end of the world.
The small jet touched down in Santiago
and as planned we checked into the Crowne Plaza early in the afternoon. After
settling in, the three of us went sightseeing. Santiago is nestled in the
center of Chile with the Andes rising in the background. Amadeus was enthralled
with the beauty of the country, and our short stay gave him just enough of a
taste to make him understand why I had come here in the first place.
The following morning, we were headed
back to Seattle, and whatever awaited.
Chapter Seven
Zara
I was taking an armful of clothes to the
laundry room off the kitchen. Amadeus always came home off the road with a ton
of dirty clothes. This time, however, it made me wonder if laundry services had
even been offered during the tour. On top of Amadeus’s I had all of mine and
Elizabeth’s to do as well. I had just turned on the washer when Amadeus
appeared at the doorway.
“Zara, I need some paper and a pen.
Better yet, you take this call and get all the information from Red.”
He handed me his cell phone. I looked at
him curiously as his face was as white as a blank piece of paper. I rushed into
the bedroom and found a notebook, as Red gave me information that sickened me
as well.
Red, as well as the other guys on the
crew, had some of their money sent home once or twice a month to their wives so
they could pay bills and maintain life at home. That had gone on like
clockwork. No problems there. However, when Red’s wife had gone to the bank to
cash the last check Julia had given Red, she was horrified to find out the
account had been closed.
I took down all the information from Red
regarding who his wife talked to at the bank. She had been smart enough to ask
to speak with a manager after the check had been declined.
“Red, if you have access to a scanner, I
also need you to email me a copy of the front and back of that check, along
with the stub. Then put that check away somewhere safe.”
“Sure thing, Zara. But what are we
supposed to do now? Sue and I were counting on that money.”
“I know,” I replied. I really did and
what I saw in my mind’s eye terrified me. “It’s Saturday, and there’s not a lot
we can do before Monday I’m afraid. But you can be sure that between now and
Monday we’ll know more, and hopefully we can get this mess straightened out
completely.” I glanced at Amadeus, who was watching me. I shrugged my
shoulders. I didn’t know what else to say.
“What about Amadeus and Angus?” Red
asked. “Did she screw them as well?”
“Oh, yes. Damien, too, it seems. But don’t
worry, we’re on it. If you talk with anyone else, have them do the same thing
as I’ve asked you to and let them know we’re trying to get to the bottom of
this. I’m sorry, Red, that I don’t have anything better to say.”
“I’m not blaming you guys. Just do what
you can. I’ll get that stuff to you, and I’ll handle the other guys as I hear
from them. I’ll be looking to hear from you or Amadeus Monday then.”
“Okay, Red. One of us will be in touch.”
I powered down the phone. Amadeus and I
needed to discuss this and digest just what we might be facing. It
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