Chapter 16

Parker drove through the congested downtown Mayaguez traffic on her way from the docks to the airport. Anna was seated beside her. She was dressed in a new dark blue business suit with a skirt. Anna looked just like the business executive she had suddenly become. Parker had on shorts and an old shirt.

“Thanks again for the ride,” Anna said.

“Glad to.” Parker smiled. “It’s my day off. And, like I told you when we had that drink at the La Salida, I get tired of just hanging out with the guys from the crew on my boat on our days off. I’m glad we’ve become friends.”

“Yeah,” Anna agreed. “I know exactly what you mean about hanging out with guys from a boat. Is that why you did the undercover job?”

“Yeah, I wanted a challenge…and I sure got one. But it ended well.”

“Yes, it sure ended well for me too. Anyway, great you’re giving me a ride to the airport today. My father and Captain Jim are so busy with the boat nowadays, I hate to ask them. Besides I don’t really want either of them driving that new car I bought. I left it with the security guys at the plant.”

“I bet you’ll soon have that new apartment you want, too.”

“Yep, I plan to get right on that when I get back. Couple more paychecks, and I’ll be moving out on my own.”

Parker hit her horn as a cheer. There were so many horn honks in the frenetic traffic she knew no one else would even notice.

“Sorry I kind of asked you for the ride at the last minute,” Anna said.

“De nada, but you didn’t tell me where you’re flying today.”

“Puddle jumper to San Juan. Then a direct flight to Portland, Maine.”

“My, I bet it’s cold up there this time of year.”

“Yeah, probably the first thing I’ll do is buy a big warm coat, if I don’t freeze solid getting to a good store.”

“You going to see that guy Max?”

Anna smiled. “Oh, yes. Yes, I am. After the meeting, he’s going to take me to what he says is the best seafood house in town. I’m going to have a lobster dinner for the first time.”

Parker laughed. “Well, go, girl! Good for you… Think he’s still wearing his captain’s cap?”

“He still had it on when I drove him to the plane, when he left. I’m also invited to the family’s annual Christmastime gathering in some big house one of his uncles owns. Max wants me to help him make the white bean dip he always takes to those occasions.”

“Sounds like things are getting serious, if he wants that.”

“And he’s saying that despite the fact he thinks Mayaguez ultimately smells like dead tuna all the time, he’s going to come down here for a while and look into salsa music in detail for the study of the history of rhythms he’s doing for his school.”

Parker sniffed the air. “Dead tuna, huh?”

“He also says he never really learned all the secrets of the island, like how I navigate by the feel of the waves and the wind and all about my saints and gods and all.”

“Well, he’ll have to stay for a while if he’s going to do all that. Is he going to stay on the Señorita Anna?”

Anna smiled again. “Well, either there or at my new apartment. We’ll see how it goes in Maine.”