Page 72 of Rio

It’s too close for comfort.

I freeze.The tin roof?Not good.

I could die in here.

I could die outside.

I sink to the floor, not caring that it’s dirty.Not caring that I’m soaked and scared and very much alone.

I don’t want to die.I’m too young, and my mom has only me.

I can’t die.It would break her.Heart thudding, I tell myself it will be fine.This will pass.I’ll wait it out.

Somehow, I’ll get back to safety.

Chapter 22

RIO

I’m on a mission to find Raquel and ask her what the hell she’s playing at.

How could she do that to me, after everything?Not only do I have to deal with the shitstorm of this injunction, served by Raquel herself, I’ve also got my old man breathing down my neck.

He’s ordered me to make sure the resort opens on time.It can’t.I can’t and won’t ignore an injunction.I see what Raquel means now.We, the Knights, make deals in the finest establishments.We give contracts and put things in place, but there’s an element of manipulation that takes place.

But when it comes to the law?I adhere to it, most of the time.Sounds like the old man doesn’t.

Now the whole situation is fucked.This was supposed to be simple.A clear-cut PR stunt to smooth things over.I didn’t think Delport had done anything shady because everything I’ve seen so far—everything in that folder, a copy of which I gave Raquel—suggested that the evidence is solid.

But I’ve seen and heard enough of other things to not sleep easy.Tomas makes subtle gripes under his breath and keeps going on about me needing to see the coastline with my own eyes, but I’ve been busy trying to charm the officials.

Or maybe, the old man’s been keeping me too busy to have the time to go and investigate.The community meeting was exhausting, but I need to take a look.

Before that, I need to talk to Raquel.

I call her.No answer.Just like the last three times I tried.I’m sitting in the hotel restaurant having my breakfast; some fruit and yoghurt and grapefruit juice after a grueling workout in the gym, followed by a few lengths in the pool.

I call her again.Still no answer.I consider heading over to her guesthouse, but decide to drive straight to where EcoGuardians are based.When I knock on the door, Vilma answers.

She smiles.I smile back.The lagoon night seems eons away.She tells me that Alma’s not here, because it’s the weekend.

“I’m not after Alma.I need to speak to Raquel.”

“Raquel?”

“She’s not here.”That voice comes from behind me.I turn around, startled to find Alma standing behind me.She’s holding two helium balloons and a stack of decorations, and she looks surprised to see me.

“I came to pick up something,” she says carefully.“What areyoudoing here?”

“I was after Raquel.”

“Why?”Her eyes narrow with suspicion.“I hope you’re not thinking you can convince her to withdraw the injunction, Mr.Knight.”

That’s what she thinks of me?I smile.“I wouldn’t dream of it.I don’t interfere with legal affairs.I just want to talk to her.”The way she’s looking at me, I feel like I need to make a case for my honesty and intentions.“Though the injunction causes a serious problem for us.It means a serious loss of income for—”

Alma cuts me off.“There’s a reason for that.”

Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.“Where is she?”I ask.“I’ve called her a few times but she’s not answering.