At six o’clock, she decided to call it a week. She was ahead of schedule, and her brain felt mushy. As she was shutting down her laptop, Alfonso entered the library with a glass of cherimoya juice that he left on her desk.
“Thank you. That’s so kind,” she said. “Has everyone gone for the weekend?”
“Yes, Miss, everyone except security.”
Lann always left the monastery heavily guarded. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of the treasures he kept inside or for his safety. The kidnapping of wealthy businessmen for ransom was an unfortunate crime in this part of the world. On the other hand, maybe he was involved in something illegal. It wasn’t the first time she considered the possibility, but like an ostrich, she buried her head in the sand.
“Have you heard from Lann?” she asked.
“Sir called this morning, Miss. He asked if you were well cared for.”
Disappointment surged through her. He hadn’t asked to speak to her. She forced a smile. “You take good care of me.” A thought occurred to her. “Alfonso, Lann won’t be back until Monday. Why don’t you take the weekend off? I can look after myself.”
His eyes widened. “I’ve never missed a day of duty in my life, Miss.”
When he turned for the door, she said, “Lann said you’ve been in his service for a long time.”
He paused. “Many years, Miss.”
“Do you ever take time off?”
“Sir will only reside here for a month or two every year. When he’s not here, it’s my job to take care of his home, but I do have a lot of free time then.”
“Oh.”
The knowledge came as a shock. After this month, Lann would be off to wherever it was he went for his business, his work, his life, and she’d still be here, but he wouldn’t return for another year. By then, she’d have left Santiago. They’d never see each other again.
“So, this is like holiday house,” she said.
“Exactly, Miss.”
“If this is his holiday house, then where is home?”
“Why, New York of course, Miss.”
He’d said it as if she should’ve known, but Lann had never mentioned that to her.
Alfonso inclined his head. “If there is nothing else, Miss.”
“No. Thank you.”
She watched him leave. Suddenly, she felt inexplicably sad. Horribly depressed. So lonely. It had to be because she was all by herself on a Friday night. Missing Lann. Feeling uncertain. Excluded.
Stop it, Kat.
What she needed was to celebrate her week’s hard work. She changed into her bikini and swam a few laps. Lann had an excellent selection of music, but he preferred classical, and what she needed was something livelier to lift her spirits.
She connected her phone to Lann’s central music system and chose an album she liked. Then she poured herself a Pisco Sour, and sipped it in the sun by the pool. Slowly, she felt the energy seep back into her brain. Her mind had been busy, but not her body. With the music and the drink, her mood lifted, and when she was bored with swimming and bronzing, she prepared a light dinner. If she’d asked, Alfonso would’ve done it, but she needed the distraction.
She missed Diana. Maybe she was free. Lann had said she could invite her friends over. She dialed her roommate from her solitary place setting at the table in the kitchen.
“Hey, stranger,” Diana exclaimed. “I miss you.”
“Me too. In fact, I was wondering if you’d like to come over. We can invent cocktail recipes and watch funny movies.”
“Where’s Mr. Tall, Blond, and Mysterious?”
“He’s on a business trip and not due back until Monday.”
“I was planning on going out, but why don’t you join me?”
“What did you have in mind?” Kat asked.
“Music. I feel like dancing. Remember that tango bar in Bella Vista? I can get us in.”
“That sounds good. Give me the address and I’ll meet you there.”
Kat took special care with her appearance. All week, she’d dressed in comfortable lounge pants and T-shirts, but tonight she wanted to feel like a woman again. She chose a turquoise dress covered in sequins and rounded the outfit off with her midnight blue heels. Applying her makeup, she went for smoky eyeshadow and daring red lipstick. She styled her naturally wavy hair into more obedient curls. When she was done, she dabbed her favorite perfume on her wrists, and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The dress had a high neck and a low back, the fabric draping softly over the crests of her hips, showing off the diamante detail on the elastic of her thong. She dropped the keys for the front door in her purse. She didn’t want to have to wake Alfonso by buzzing if she came back late. Then she dialed a taxi and slipped out the side door to wait in the street. She definitely didn’t want Lann’s guards to tail her all night.