Page 24 of Pax

“So, what was your call name?” she asked with a smirk.

“Actually, I never had one. Sometimes, they just don’t come up with anything clever. During SEAL training, Brax and I would be called Dupe One and Dupe Two, but that’s hardly anything unusual.”

“It’s kind of cute, though. Although I stand by my statement that you guys are very different.”

“Yes, as I remember, you said something about me not being serious about anything. Always joking.”

“I did say that, but I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t serious about your work. I know how much pride you took, you take, in what you do.” He leaned on an elbow, looking down at her angelic face.

“I take a lot of things seriously,” he said, kissing her. “Loving you is the most serious thing I’ve done in a very long time, and I plan to get more serious. When we get home, marry me, Deanna.”

“Really?” she smiled.

“Really,” he said, setting the blue velvet box on her chest. She could barely breathe, afraid that if she moved, it would topple over and become lost in the plush mattress. Pax opened the lid, revealing a three-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds.

“Pax,” she gasped.

“Royalty deserves sapphires, and you, my beautiful, perfect Deanna, are my queen. Marry me.”

“Yes,” she whispered as he slid the ring on her finger.

As morning light streamed between the wooden shutters, Deanna rolled over, smelling hot coffee and something else amazing. Quickly dressing, she found everyone already up and in the kitchen.

“You should have woke me. I’m so sorry I was being lazy this morning,” she said, pushing back her hair. Annie smiled, taking her hand.

“It looks like there was good reason. Congratulations!”

Everyone hugged Deanna, congratulating the couple as hot coffee and Mama Irene’s famous cinnamon rolls were served.

“What’s the plan today?” asked Alice.

“A few of us are gonna head down to Tijuana and see what we can find out. I have a feeling these boats are coming from further south, but it’s a good place for us to start,” said Hex.

“What should we do?” asked Alice.

“Spend some time around town. Go to the coffee shops, the cafes, anywhere where locals are present. You can always pick up great gossip by listening to those who live here. Someone knows something, and we need to figure out what it is.”

“That sounds like you might be trying to keep us out of the way,” smirked Annie.

“That’s not it, Mom, I promise,” said Pax. “A few women walking around, chatting, listening isn’t unusual. If we did it, people would start to become suspicious. I just want to hear if the locals know anything, or if there are non-locals, what they are doing here. Not tourists, but people here that shouldn’t be here.”

“How will we know the difference?” asked Deanna.

“You’ll get a feeling,” said Saint. “Something about them won’t seem right. Their shoes, clothes, maybe excessive jewelry, something like that. The folks that live on the island are either military, former military, or families that have owned properties here for decades or more. The locals wear shorts, sweats, flip-flops, and generally no makeup. If you’re seeing folks in other things, they’re probably tourists or don’t belong here.”

“That helps, actually,” said Deanna. “When I was going to the grocery store late at night or early in the morning, I would see a lot of locals, and they fit that description. There were a few that fit the other description, though. I remember seeing a young guy, maybe thirty or so, a few times. He was always in perfectly starched jeans and these designer loafers. It seemed very out of place, but I was just trying to keep my head down at the time.”

“Did you see his face?” asked Brax.

“Not really,” she said, shaking her head. “Like I said, I was trying to keep my head down and not look at anyone or anything. I just remember those shoes.”

“What makes you think he was in his thirties?” asked Benji.

“The cashier asked him for his identification one night because he was buying beer. He made a comment that he was old enough, and she said she had to check anyway. She said, ‘I would have never guessed you were in your thirties.’”

“Okay,” nodded Pax. “So, he was somewhere between thirty-one and thirty-nine, but most likely mid-thirties.”

“I’d say so,” nodded Deanna.

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