Good Deed Bad Deed, Marcia Morgan [summer beach reads TXT] 📗

in a self-mocking tone. “And who knows if I’ll even have a job after this. I’m not sure I even care.”

“Whoa … I’ve told you enough times. I don’t want to be responsible for losing you a job.”

“You didn’t hold a gun to my head!” Ben glanced toward her and furrowed his brow. She quickly added, “Sorry. Bad analogy, considering.” Fearing that she might put her foot in her mouth again, Ana changed the subject. “For now let’s just try to pass the time as pleasantly as possible.” She looked down at the map on her phone and added, “We have about another half hour travel time to Pamplona.”

Ana’s anxiety had not benefited from the absence of noise, so she fidgeted with the radio, trying without success to locate an English station. Finally Ben told her to either pick a station or turn it off. She apologized and did the latter. The traffic had become congested and the city was in full view. He suggested she get out her phone and enter the hotel address into Google maps. Ana navigated their route into and through the city with only a couple of minor errors. It had taken another half hour before they pulled up in front of the hotel on the Plaza del Castillo. Two young men in hotel uniforms quickly approached the car, opening the doors on each side and asking in accented English how they could be of service. Ben asked one to park and lock the car, while Ana asked the other to remove the luggage and take it to the registration desk.

The lobby and main salon were tastefully designed, with an eclectic assortment of art on the walls, comfortably appointed seating areas and an upright piano in one corner. When Ben gave his name to the reception clerk it was obvious by the woman’s demeanor and solicitous tone that she had been privy to the special nature of the arrangements. Using his connection with Interpol, Hugh had been able to book two adjoining rooms during the city’s busiest two weeks of the year. Ana wondered if someone had been displaced as a result. Formalities concluded, they followed the bellman to their respective rooms.

Ana stood just inside and studied her new surroundings. Sunlight flooded the room, softened by sheer drapes on the windows along the opposite wall. The large bed was covered with comforter and shams of creamy white Matelassé. In one corner a small sofa and two chairs were arranged around a glass table that held a color explosion of fresh flowers. She had been in the room less than two minutes when Ben knocked on the common door. She unlocked it and told him to come through.

He looked around the room and said, “I think your room’s bigger than mine… but I think my bed is bigger than yours. I’ll have to try them both out.” He then gave her one of those smiles that she could feel wash through her like a wave.

Ana was a bit confused by his remark, no doubt an effort to lighten the mood, but decided to ignore it. There were other priorities, confirmed by his expression, which had quickly turned serious. The fact that he had undertaken to rescue his sister was once again weighing on him. A moment’s suggestive teasing—if that’s what it was— couldn’t allay his concerns. They were extremely tired from the pressure and hurried nature of the trip. She reasoned that since the afternoon was half gone, there was no point in doing anything but having a meal and getting some rest. When she presented the idea to Ben he resisted, feeling that there wasn’t a moment to lose.

“Ben, your father will contact you when the time is set for the fake delivery and interception by the police. Until then these criminals will still think they’re in charge. If Olivia and Valerie are all right at this moment, don’t you think they’ll be all right at least until morning?”

“I don’t trust any assumptions we might make. There are so many things that can go wrong with the timing of this thing.” He walked to the window, pulled aside the curtain, and stared out at the plaza below. “Who knows how terrible the conditions are for them.” He paused for a moment then turned back to face her. “I think I should call my father—tell him that we’ve arrived and are at the hotel.”

“That’s a good idea. Maybe he can update you on the timing—whether the plan is in place.” Ben went to his room and retrieved his phone. While he was dialing, Ana said, “Please give your parents my best. Tell them I’m going to keep a close eye on you. I know your mother is worried about you being here.”

Hugh answered immediately and the two spoke for several minutes, although Hugh did most of the talking. Ben promised to check in often and ended the call by sending Ana’s reassurances to his mother. He told Ana that everything seemed to be in place and that the time of the robbery attempt would coincide with the manifest sent to the airlines and the arrival of the plane. Ben seemed less agitated after speaking with his father. He flopped down on Ana’s bed and blew out a long breath.

Ana approached the bed and looked down at him. “So what did you learn? You seem relieved—or more likely, exhausted.”

“I am tired, but there’s definitely no feeling of relief. I’m just glad to know the arrangements are made.” He sat up, swung around to a sitting position and began to rub his tired eyes. In a disgusted tone he added, “What a bunch of ‘tossers’… those crooks. Did they really think my Mum would sit back and do nothing?”

“I’d be worried they’d get wind of the fact that she’s involved your Dad and the law.”

“They’ve been extremely careful, and it’s helped that whoever these men are, they seem to be pretty stupid.”

“Well then, what are you going to