I’m alone in bed when I wake up. The album is gone and there’s a note on the pillow that is short and to the point.
Carlo will be here at 9 and your entertainment at 10.
A cell phone rests beside the note, and I’m able to check the time by pressing the Home button. It’s a new phone so I check the contacts. Only one number is there and I know it’s the phone Moon gave me. It’s a little after eight in the morning. I have no idea what to wear, so I choose beige shorts and a white tank top. After Dr. Santos leaves, I’ll wash my hair in a full shower. To hell with the sink. My headache is gone. I have body aches, but I won’t need pain meds.
I wash my face and do my best not to cringe at what I see staring back at me in the mirror. My bruises are multicolored and I look worse than I did yesterday, if that’s possible. The only consolation is that the swelling is down around the bandage that covers the stitches. There’s a knock on the bedroom door, and I exit the bathroom as Gabriella carries in a tray.
“You eat before El Doctor arrives,” she tells me in stilted English. She doesn’t appear impressed with my miraculous recovery and by that I mean being up and walking around.
“I’d be happy to go downstairs and eat.”
“You stay,” she commands and rests the tray on the nightstand. She leaves the room without looking back.
There’s a glass of water and one of orange juice. A metal room service-type cover is over a large plate. I lift it and breathe in huevos rancheros. It looks delicious. I pull the thin cotton bedspread over the sheet, adjust the pillows, situate myself, and dig into the eggs, corn tortillas, rice, and beans. It’s to die for and I gobble almost half before I’m able to slow down. I’m trying my best to figure out a way to save the uneaten food for later, when Gabriella knocks on the door and enters.
She shakes her head and reaches for the plate. “El Doctor is downstairs. He will come up.” The rest of her words are in Spanish, and I think she’s unhappy that I didn’t finish a meal made for two or three grown men.
“Gracias. The huevos rancheros were wonderful.” By the tightening of her lips it’s obvious she’s not the least bit impressed with my three words of Spanish.
I receive another spiel in Spanish and pick “stupid white girl” out of the mix. Gabriella is not my biggest fan, and I bite my lip so I don’t laugh. As a cop, you learn very quickly that some people just don’t like you. I got over that while working the streets and I can get over Gabriella’s dislike too. She’s the least of my current problems.
She carries the tray away and I jump up so I can brush my teeth. Dr. Santos knocks and waits for me to open the door before he enters.
“The improvement appears to be everywhere but your face, Miss Kinlock.”
I smile. “I’ve had enough honesty in the last twenty-four hours to last a lifetime. I need you to lie to me from here on out.”
He laughs. It’s nothing like Moon’s. This is a man who laughs often. “I shall do my best to mix truth with lies and keep that smile on your face. Now, please lie down so I may examine you.”
He follows me to the bed and I lie down. “Any dizziness?” he asks.
“No, none since waking up about an hour ago.” I wince a bit as he pulls off the bandage.
“This will be tender for a few more days. I will leave the bandage off and give you a few waterproof transparent dressings so you are able to shower.” He carefully touches the skin surrounding the sutures. He’s gentle and it doesn’t hurt.
All I can think about is a shower. “Are you married?” I ask him. “I’m single and will make you a lovely bride once my hair is washed.”
He laughs again and talks while checking my eyes with a small light. “Yes, I am married, and my wife would not like to share our home. I graciously pass on your generous offer. I will check your shoulder now.”
“Okay, so I guess the honeymoon is over.”
“I like you, Miss Kinlock. You will be good for Captar.”
The name throws me for a moment until I realize he must mean Moon. “What does captar mean in English?”
“My pardon, señorita. Captar is catch.”
It comes back to me. Catch Xavier Moon. That’s Moon’s full name. I heard it in class but couldn’t remember. Chase the moon and catch the moon. His parents were romantics.
“What has you worried, Miss Kinlock?” The doctor is peering at me with concern.
“I’m not worried, just maybe a little sad. Moon told me of his brother, Chase.”
Dr. Santos’ smile disappears. “He was a special child. You must value what el jefe has shared with you. He is not an easy man to know and even less so to understand why he does the things he does.”
“El jefe?” I’ve heard the term but have no idea what it means.
“Forgive me twice. El jefe means ‘the boss or chief.’ He takes care of his people and from what I’ve seen, you are now one of his people. Value his loyalty; he is a man with many faces.” His hands move to my shoulder and he begins rotating the joint. Another slight wince escapes me.
“No change?”
“It only hurts when I move it or someone tries to twist it off,” I reply deadpan.
A twinkle replaces the solemn look in his dark eyes. “Then I would say don’t move it and don’t allow anyone to twist it off.”
“Your bedside manner is flawless, Dr. Santos.”
He grins and then looks away. When he turns back, his cheeks are tinged red. “I do not have these conversations, because my patients are children.” He clears his throat. “It is your decision if you wish to return to sexual activity.”
Oh my hell, this is priceless. “Did you tell Moon that I couldn’t?” I laugh.
Merriment enters Santos’ eyes and they actually sparkle. “I have never before examined a woman in Captar’s bed and I wanted to be sure he did not cause you further injury. Even good men tend to think with their sexual organs when a lovely woman is involved.”
Poor Moon. He tried very hard to abide by the doctor’s orders. I definitely received the best end of the deal. “Is Moon a good man, Dr. Santos?” There’s a wistfulness in my voice that I can’t help.
Dr. Santos stares at me for a long time before answering. “The best, Miss Kinlock. Captar is the best of men.” He places the penlight in his bag and removes a card. “I will leave you now.” He hands it to me. “Do not hesitate to call me if you have headaches or your shoulder does not improve.”
“Thank you, Dr. Santos.”
“You are most welcome, Miss Kinlock.”
I check my phone after Santos walks from the room. I have thirty minutes until my visitor arrives. I’m extremely curious about who Moon has invited. I cover my stitches with one of the clear bandages Dr. Santos left me. I can’t even express how good it feels to wash my hair. Moon’s shampoo and conditioner smell heavenly, and I now know that it isn’t cologne he wears that makes him smell so good. I allow the shower to spray over my body while I wash the rest of me. I’m also using Moon’s razor and shaving all the parts that have grown furry.
The cell phone is ringing when I walk out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my head. I’m holding the towel in place because the weight is pulling on my stitches. I answer the phone and Moon’s voice makes me smile. “Is Carlo gone?”
His question isn’t sexy in the slightest. So why am I suddenly breathless? “He’s gone and I just finished taking a shower and washing my hair.”
He makes a slight humming noise into the phone. “What are you wearing?” His voice has dropped, and we’re on the same page.
“A towel... around my hair.”
“Your hair?” He takes a deep breath. “What about the rest of you?”
“Too bad you’re not here to check me out yourself. I’m heading back into the bathroom to use your lotion on my skin. All my skin, very slowly so I don’t miss anywhere.”
His heavier breathing turns into a quiet moan. “You’re killing me.” He’s silent for a moment. “I wanted to talk to you before Danit
a arrives.” My sexual teasing stops and I go on instant alert at the woman’s name. Not that I recognize the name. “Do me a favor and give her a chance,” Moon requests.
No, this isn’t good. “Moon.” I’m trying to stay calm and not give the thoughts rushing through my head a chance to propagate.
“Gotta go, baby. I’ll see you this evening.”
He hangs up on me. No more sexual teasing or answering my biggest question: Who the hell is Danita?