Cat took a deep breath. “Well, when I arrived, the show had already started. I stood and watched.”
“Did you see Denny?”
“Who?”
“Denny, my, ah... associate.”
“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure,” Cat replied.
“Of course not,” Prince said, almost to himself.
“Did you do anything else while you were at the discotheque?”
Cat shrugged. It seemed best to stick as close to the truth as possible. “I went to the men’s room.”
“For how long?”
“A couple of minutes, I guess. As long as it took.”
“Was anyone else in the men’s room?”
“No... wait, a man came in as I was leaving.”
“Describe him, please.”
“Well, I didn’t pay him much attention. I just brushed past him on the way out.”
“Whatever you can remember.”
“Youngish, shorter than I, sandy hair, moderately long. I’m afraid that’s the best I can do.”
“Did you speak to him, or he to you?”
“No.”
“What did you do when you left the men’s room?”
“I went back and watched the performance.”
“At what point in the show was this?”
“Well, there were two men and a woman at first, then, shortly after I came back, it changed to two women and one man.”
“Did you speak to anyone else while you were there?”
“No.”
“Did you stand next to anyone you knew?”
“It was pretty dark, and there were flashing lights. Anyway, my attention was on the performance.”
Prince smiled. “Yes, I can understand that. What did you do when the performance was over?”
“I didn’t stay that long. The show made me want to return to my cottage.” He managed a little smile. “I left shortly after the second group started.”
“Do you possess a 9-millimeter automatic pistol?” Prince asked.
“I had a .357 magnum until last night.”
Prince frowned. “Of course, the burglary at your cottage last night. What was taken?”
“Only the pistol and a portable radio.”
“Were there other valuables present?”
“I suppose so. I thought perhaps the thief might have been interrupted when Miss Garcia returned to the cottage.”
Prince turned to Vargas. “What steps have you taken?”
“The staff are being questioned,” Vargas said, lamely.
Prince turned back to Cat. “I must apologize,” he said, “but of course everyone who was at the discotheque has to be questioned.”
Cat shrugged. “Of course. I would like to have the pistol back if it’s recovered,” he said.
“Not the radio?”
“I can buy a radio anywhere,” Cat responded, “but I don’t like being in this country without a pistol.”
“Of course.” Prince turned, put his feet on the couch, and placed a pillow at his back. “I have something else to ask you,” he said to Cat, “and I want a full and complete response.”
“What would you like to know?” Cat asked.
“Why do you think that my name is Prince?”
Cat cocked his head. “I’m sorry, isn’t that your name?” he asked, playing for time. He had blown it somewhere along the way, but where? Then he remembered. He had said it to Vargas when he reported the burglary.
“Where did you hear this?” Prince demanded.
“At the reception on the first night,” Cat said. “Perhaps I misunderstood.”
“From whom?”
Cat wrinkled his brow. “From nobody in particular — I mean, it didn’t come from anyone I met. As I remember, I was standing, waiting for a drink at the bar, and someone behind me was talking. Someone said, ‘Anaconda? Doesn’t the man have a name?’ And someone else said, ‘Yes, it’s Prince.’”
“Who was this person?” Prince wanted to know.
“I’m sorry, it was no one I knew. I didn’t even turn around, so I never saw his face. He seemed pretty sure of himself, though. He was quite definite.”
Prince stared at Cat for a long moment without speaking. Finally, he said, “I understand you were looking at airplanes this morning.”
“Yes, I went jogging, and I ended up there.”
“You were asking quite specific questions about an airplane.”
“Yes, the Maule. I saw one demonstrated once, and I was curious to know the technique.”
“You are a pilot?”
“Yes, a very new one. I only got my license recently. I was hoping your man would give me a demonstration, but he said he only barely made it into the clearing and that it wouldn’t be possible to take off from there until more land had been cleared. Apparently, a short-field takeoff isn’t as easy as it looks.”
“So I’m told,” Prince said. He stood up. “Well, I won’t keep you any longer,” he said.
Cat stood. “Will you and your friend join us for some tennis again tomorrow morning?” He nodded at Jinx, who was still absorbed in her painting.
“Fine, eight o’clock?” Prince replied.
“How about seven?” Cat said. “I find I wake up early in the jungle.”
“Seven o’clock then,” Prince said.
Cat followed Vargas to the door, then stopped and turned. “By the way, if my pistol shouldn’t be recovered, do you think I might have a replacement? I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about the street crime in this country.”
Prince walked toward him. “I think we can find you something to take away with you,” he said. He looked down and brushed something off his trousers.
Something caused Cat to look at Jinx. She was no longer looking out the window, painting what she saw. She was looking directly at him. Suddenly, she did something that struck him speechless. She gave him a broad wink.
Cat followed Vargas back downstairs, breathing rapidly. Jinx was coming out of whatever prison she had built in her mind, he knew she was. He had a memory of her, a tiny thing, learning how to wink one eye and keep the other open. It had been one of their personal forms of communication ever since.
He tried to contain his exhilaration. She knew who he was, but did she understand what was going on? And if she did, could she keep her wits about her until tomorrow’s tennis match? She could if she was the old Jinx, he knew. He wondered if, after all she had been through, she could ever be the old Jinx again.
34
“I’m supposed to have everything between St. Augustine and West Palm Beach.” Dell smashed his fist down into the water.
“Easy,” Cat said. “Don’t call attention to yourself.”
They were in the pool. Dell pushed off and swam a couple of fast laps, and when he stopped he was breathing hard. “In a couple of years I’d have had enough money to last me the rest of my life, anywhere in the world.”
“If you’d lived long enough,” Cat said. “Look, Dell, the way it’s done is, you get some education, you find a kind of work you like, you get good at it. You rise in a company, or you go off on your own, the way your uncle and I did. First, you make a living. Later, if you’re good enough and lucky enough, you make some money. It may sound dull, but it’s very satisfying.”
“It may be good enough for you, but it’s not good enough for me,” Dell said. “I know you don’t understand that, but it’s just not fast enough. I don’t want to wait until I’m your age. That’s why I’ve got to do it. That and the fact that if I go back without at least the million I brought down here, I’ll get blown away by my own partners.”
“Look, Dell, I’ll make up what your partners have lost. What is it, seven hundred thousand? I’ll sell something — the house, if I have to.”
“What about my three hundred grand? You think I didn’t bust my hump for that? Risk a lot?”