She looked down at me with a smirk as I drew level with her.
‘Where are we going?’ I asked.
‘We are going to get a coffee,’ she said. ‘And this time you will finish your coffee.’ I don’t want it to end up in my lap again.’
The last thing I wanted was to sit outside a cafe in clear view of local law enforcement. ‘I don’t want a coffee. I want my bag back, and I want it now.’
Adelita swung around and fixed me with a venomous look. ‘That is enough from you. You will not get your bag back until you have told me what you know. We are going to sit down and discuss this in a civilised manner.’ She continued walking.
‘I’ll tell you what’s not civilised,’ I said. ‘Assaulting people for information, that’s what.’
She refused to say another word to me until we’d sat down at a cafe near the market and ordered coffee. I fidgeted nervously, imagining I were being watched, but everyone was going about their business. There was no sign of any police.
‘OK, now talk,’ Adelita said.
‘What do you need me for now? You’ve already stolen my story.’
‘You have been busy today. And you just spent a long time in that apartment. I know you have found out more, and you are going to tell me.’
I remained silent for just long enough that she started to look uncomfortable, then took a slow, deliberate sip of my coffee. ‘I find it hard to believe that a local television station in Barcelona wants you to cover a story about a Scottish musician. You said yourself that he’s a second-rate celebrity. I don’t think you’re telling me everything.’
She made a great show of getting out her silver cigarette case and lighting up before she looked back at me. ‘You are very naive, Ms Burrowes. If I break this story, I can sell it to television networks and newspapers across the world. Even gossip magazines.’
‘So let me get this straight. You followed me here, you robbed me, and now you’re blackmailing me to get my story so you can undercut me and sell it?’
She blew a stream of smoke from the side of her mouth. ‘That is the business if you want to be a freelance journalist.’
I scowled. ‘Well then, I’m sure you’re an accomplished enough journalist to find out the rest of the story by yourself.’
‘I saw you speaking with Ford yesterday. It is obvious that you have a—how do you say?—relationship with this man. I think we could work well together.’
She was right. I may not be as experienced as she was, but I was already a step ahead. If I found him again, I was sure I could get him to talk. And I was equally sure he’d never talk to someone like Adelita.
I stood up. ‘Sorry, Adelita, but I don’t think we’ll be doing business.’
‘Then you will not get your bag back.’
‘Don’t need it,’ I said breezily. ‘I’ve got a replacement passport in the works already. Catch you later, Adelita.’
I started moving away and she grabbed my arm. Her expression was cool, but there was a hint of desperation in her eyes. ‘I will share the profits with you.’
I laughed. ‘You haven’t exactly proven yourself trustworthy.’
‘I have contacts in every city in Europe. I could help you. Tell me what you know, and together we will make far more money than you could on your own.’
If she’d suggested this two days ago I might have been tempted. I was tempted. She was certainly a far smoother operator than me, with a lot more experience. And making a lot of money would help me keep my house.
But someone as ruthless as her—someone who would use her contacts to have me mugged—was hardly going to live up to her word. It was far more likely she would fleece me of my information then leave me out of the picture altogether.
‘Sorry, Adelita,’ I said. ‘I’ll be going now.’
‘I will find you again!’ she hissed. ‘I will follow you!’
‘Not in those stilettos you won’t.’ Then I grabbed my bag and yanked it with all my strength, almost pulling her off her chair, until she let go. I sprinted away across the piazza in my trusty sneakers, leaving her sitting alone at the table in her suit and heels.
I ran for a few blocks before slowing to a walk. My confidence was soaring after the morning’s performances. I was possibly being chased by police, and I probably hadn’t seen the last of Adelita, but I’d foiled her plans and got my bag back, and I was feeling pretty damn good. And I had Ford’s notebook, which I’d almost forgotten about. I felt in my back pocket to reassure myself it was still there.
Adelita had levelled the score for a while there, but I was back on top.
I was striding up the hallway to my room when Nick’s door opened a short way and he poked his head out. The ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign was still on the doorhandle.
‘Morning,’ he said.
‘Hello,’ I said coolly. ‘Got company?’
‘Actually, I’m just not dressed.’ He swung the door open all the way to reveal the full length of his almost-naked body.
‘None of my business who you sleep with.’ I tried to avoid staring at his pecs and looked instead at the bed, which was rumpled and messy and only made me more flustered.
‘I haven’t slept with anyone, Burrowes.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Liar.’
‘How would you know, anyway?’
‘I heard her in here last night.’
A middle-aged cleaning woman passed us in the hallway. She looked openly at Nick’s body and tittered to herself before moving on.
‘Were
