Chapter 21
Shifting his eyes from side-to-side, Gonzales’ appeared like he really didn’t want to answer Gaines’ question.
“Well? … Answer me. Why should my mother-in-law be in danger? You’re not thinking about stealing her jewelry, are you?”
Gonzales raised a single eyebrow. “Steal from you? Please don’t insult me, Mr. Davis. Even though I work with the black market, I do have a reputation to maintain. … You did think highly enough of us to contact me, didn’t you?”
Gaines’ face slightly reddened with embarrassment, and he glanced downward toward the car seat.
“Yes, I did. … But?”
“But what?” Gonzales forcefully crossed his arms as he tapped his left foot.
“Is Victoria actually in danger?”
Gonzales quickly smiled in reply. “Mr. Davis. Any stranger passing through Little Havana places his or her life in danger. And the fact that you’re a rico americano only increases it.”
Me - a rich American? Gaines gazed upward, before diverting his attention back onto Victoria.
“I need to be there,” Victoria said, interrupting them. “After all, this gold jewelry is mine, and I’m the only who can decide what’s a decent price for it.”
Gonzales turned to stare in her direction, and grunted. Persistent bitch.
“Okay then. If you must. Just give me a minute, so I can assure her safety.”
Gaines and Victoria watched as Gonzales started to head toward the rear of the convenient store - And it was obvious that he wasn’t in any hurry.
“What’s he doing?” Victoria asked, when Gonzales unexpectedly came to a halt near the back corner of the painted block building.
Gaines shook his head to indicate he didn’t know. “He’s obviously talking to someone. But to who, I don’t know.”
Victoria frowned.
“More and more I'm getting the impression; we'd best leave,” Gaines said after a couple of minutes. “After all, we can always sell your jewelry at the flea market, and two to one, we’d get a better price for it if we did.”
“It’s possible,” Victoria answered, though her lips remained pursed. “But there’s no guarantee we’d be able to rent a booth this weekend, nor any way of knowing if we’d sell enough to purchase an airline ticket.”
Gaines stopped to think for a couple of seconds. “Would you prefer trying to sell your stuff at a pawn shop then?”
A single crease formed in the middle of Victoria’s forehead, and she indicated she didn’t.
“No. I don’t think I’d get enough. Even if they offered ten percent of what the gold is actually worth, it probably wouldn’t be sufficient to buy Maria a ticket should she decide to go with me.”
“You're planning on having Maria go with you?” Gaines' mouth dropped. “I didn’t think she knew about Rudolf’s illness yet.”
Victoria hesitated, while continuing to watch what Gonzales was up to. “She doesn’t – unless you or Lisa told her. But I’ve got a feeling that when she does find out; she'll want to go.”
Gaines' expression turned grim. “Do you think that’d be a wise thing to do?”
Victoria shook her head.
“No, I don’t. Even though Maria deeply cares for her father and is head over heels in love with José, I do believe the long-term benefits she’d receive by staying and completing her degree here would outweigh anything gained by returning.”
Gaines nodded his understanding, but appeared to be puzzled. “I didn’t know Maria was planning on getting a B.A. here. The last time we spoke, she said she’d be returning to Arica with you soon after finishing the spring semester.”
Victoria smiled. “I know. That’s exactly what I lead her to believe, as well. … You see, even though I like José and know he might make a decent husband for her someday; I've been hoping she would follow Lisa’s lead and fall in love with an American, and decide to stay.”
Gaines chuckled at his mother-in-law’s underhandedness.