Page 52 of Hidden Falls

Harry’s skin was pebbled with goosebumps; the AC unit was working for sure. Lei tugged the sheet twisted at the foot of the bed up over her friend, and then the thin comforter. Harry’s restless murmuring and tossing quieted; she rolled onto her side and settled into stillness.

Lei turned back to the window; light seeped around the edges of the blackout drapes, signaling morning.

She headed for the shower.

* * *

Later, dressed in fresh clothing, Lei checked on Harry in the light from the bathroom door. Now covered, her friend seemed to have fallen into deeper sleep; she probably hadn’t really rested since Malia was taken.

Lei’s stomach growled with hunger, and she needed coffee; the thought of a little time to communicate with Stevens and have some breakfast by herself energized her.

She padded over and took a notepad out of the drawer between the beds, got the hotel ballpoint going, and wrote a note for Harry:“Down in the restaurant having breakfast. Join me when you get up! Hope you slept well ~ Lei.”

That Harry hadn’t stirred through her preparations was a good sign. Hopefully she’d be able to handle the coming day’s stresses with a little more rest.

Lei left the room, shutting the door gently. Per usual, she took the stairs down to the lobby.

The hotel’s restaurant was of the American Tex-Mex variety, and the decor was a fiesta of sombreros and piñatas.

Lei didn’t care what the place looked like as long as the coffee was hot and strong. She settled into a corner booth with a view of the dining area. Once she’d downed a cup of the ‘nectar of life’ and ordered breakfast, she took out her phone, put in earbuds, and called Stevens.

“Hey Sweets.” Her husband’s voice was husky with sleep; there was a three-hour time difference with Hawaii. Lei could picture Michael clearly: moonlight coming in to bathe their king-sized bed. Him wearing nothing but his boxers. Her side, empty.

“I miss you.”

“Same.”

They breathed in sync for a minute; Lei’s eyes prickled with homesick tears.

She blinked hard and firmed her jaw and her spine. “How are the kids?”

“Good.” He yawned. “Do you know what time it is here?”

“No. I’m sorry. I had to call when I had a moment alone.”

“I’ll take it.” The covers rustled; he was rolling onto his back to look at the ceiling. They both often stared at a secret design, a heart carved into the stucco on the ceiling in the corner of their room: a symbol of love in a rough time that still brought comfort.

He’d be looking at it now.

“How’s it going?”

“Okay.” Lei blinked more; she wouldn’t cry.

“Want to fill me in?”

“Not particularly. You’ll just worry.”

“And now I am worried.” She heard the tightness of his tone. “I want you to come home. I don’t like this. You’ve got no protection over there. No backup whatsoever.”

“Harry’s no slouch, and Cruz is here.” Lei covered her eyes with a hand. She’d never told him about Cruz; she’d put their brief sexual encounter in the category of “pre-Stevens” and thus, not relevant to her marriage.

“Who?”

“Leonardo Cruz. A CIA guy I know. Very competent.”

“One guy?”

“Like I said, very competent.” Lei squeezed the bridge of her nose.

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