A short while later, Ana came out of the Comisaria with a smile on her face and headed across the plaza to the hotel, the desired information safely in her possession. Back at the hotel she sat down in a lobby chair and dug out her phone, deciding to call Ben rather than text him. The call went to voicemail. She left a message, figuring he must be in the ICU checking on Valerie. On her way to the elevator she heard the familiar alert of an arriving text message. Ben told her to stay put, that he was on his way back to the hotel. Her short response said she would be in her room.
It had been a restless night, and after carrying out her assignment at the Comisaria Ana felt drained. She flopped down on the bed to wait for Ben, pulled a pillow under her head and decided to close her eyes— just for a minute. The next thing she heard was Ben’s voice.
“Ana… Ana… are you feeling okay?”
She snapped awake and saw him leaning over her. “I’m fine. Can’t believe I dozed off.”
“I can believe it. It’ll take some time before we recover from everything.” Ben sat down in a chair near the bed and asked, “So, what did you find out?” As she got up to retrieve the information, he added, “And by the way, good job.”
“All in a day’s work.” She pulled a folded piece of paper out of her bag and handed it to him. He opened it and read what was written.
“This is only her address and telephone number… but that’s probably all we need. There’s no way to tell if that’s a mobile or residential phone number.”
“Doesn’t really matter,” Ana said, looking at him and waiting to hear about whatever plan he was hatching.
“Before I call I need to decide what I can do for her that would really mean something. And Dad wants to be involved.” Ben threw his head back and stared at the ceiling, rummaging through his thoughts, hoping for inspiration.
“Well, she has kids,” Ana said. “And you said you can tell she works long hours to keep her family going.”
“And…?”
“I think the only significant thing to do would be financial.”
Ben nodded in agreement. “Maybe if she had a little money to keep the kids in school, she wouldn’t have to work quite as hard. I don’t know how many there are, or their ages.”
“You could just ask.”
Ben felt a bit silly, not applying his own logic, but didn’t say anything. After another short conversation on the subject it was decided that a trust for their education expenses would be of the most help. They would have liked a way to give her everything, but it was doubtful a woman like Annunciata would take it. He expected resistance to any interference. At least he hoped she wouldn’t see it that way.
Ana suggested that for the time being he should just telephone to say thank you and let her know how right she was to go to the police. She hoped he could summon enough rusty Spanish to carry it off. During the conversation he could ask about the children, their ages—casual things. Ben decided that he would proceed to make arrangements with his attorney when he was back in England. She would receive a formal notification of the terms, written in Spanish, and a personal letter from him with further thanks. He hoped that would be the most tactful way to handle it. Face to face, she might feel awkward. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel inferior in any way by offering her money. It wasn’t intended as a reward, only a gesture of appreciation. He hoped she would see it that way. The letter would make that clear. However, he was intent upon sending her some personal gift—perhaps for Christmas. He was frustrated that there seemed to be no way to give cash to such a proud woman. And that was what she needed most.
Ben’s decision energized him and he jumped up from the chair, winced a little from the sore ribs, and then pulled Ana up from where she was sitting. He embraced her, quickly planting a kiss on her unsuspecting lips. The spell was broken by the buzz of his phone. They were to meet at eight for dinner in the hotel restaurant. Ana knew he was anxious to see Olivia outside a hospital setting.
* * *
Hugh tapped his fingers on the table, impatient for Olivia to make a choice from the menu. She admonished her father, saying it was hard to decide, that everything looked good. Paris joined in by telling him in her own way that he could relax now. She surprised everyone by using the word ‘chill’ when addressing him. Then she reminded Hugh of how hungry their daughter had been while detained. He apologized and instructed everyone to order and let Olivia go last. A half hour later they were tucked into their dinner and the conversation was quite cheerful, considering.
Coffee was served, and a short lapse in their chatter gave Paris the opening she had been waiting for. “Ben, your father and I, Olivia too, feel that you should take some time away before you return to London.” She waited to see his initial reaction before continuing. “Spain is a beautiful country. Go and make some good memories.”
Hugh chimed in and said, “Ana, wasn’t your grandmother from Spain, somewhere in the south.”
Surprised, Ana said, “Andalusia… But how did you know that? I don’t remember mentioning it. Did Ben tell you?”
Ben looked at his father quizzically while Ana tried to remember if she had even told Ben that little detail of her background. She believed she had not. Of course Ben’s father knew everything about her roots. Interpol had done a background check on Ana, and Hugh had clearly put his foot in it with that comment. He looked at his wife, who just shook her
