Page 21 of Vistaria Has Fallen

Chapter Five

“Everything takes longer here,” Uncle Josh explained, pouring Calli another cup of coffee. “You have to go with the flow.”

“My credit card company isn’there. It’s in Montana, and it’s—” she looked at her new watch and added two hours, “—ten in the morning. They’ve had two coffees and a doughnut by now. They can’t plead they’re asleep.”

Josh smiled. “Is that a comment aboutmy breakfast-making skills?” He picked up the broadsheet newspaper that covered the remains of his plate, piled high with blackened toast crusts. “You could always phone the competition and tell them they can have your business if they will give you a card sooner than your replacement will get here.” He buried himself behind the paper.

“There’s a thought,” Calli said.

“You’re late today, Dad,”Minnie said from the door to her room. She belted closed an apricot satin robe, her hair spiky from sleep and her eyes still half shut. She looked as though she had slept soundly.

“Speak for yourself,” Joshua returned. “I’m meeting people in the city for lunch. Actually, Calli, I meant to mention something and that reminds me. There’s a man on my staff, single, American. From Wisconsin. A lawyer—”

“Well, no one’s perfect,” Minnie said, pouring herself a coffee.

Calli smiled. “Are you setting me up on a blind date, Uncle Josh?”

He lowered his paper, considering it. “I suppose I am,” he admitted. “Although it didn’t play that way when Peter first proposed it.”

“Peter?” Minnie asked. “You’re talking about PeterKaestner? He’s a creep.”

“He’s perfectly normal,” Joshua said. “That he toldyou to grow up emphasizes he has the necessary maturity for a man who holds the responsibilities he does.” He brought his gaze back to Calli. “There aren’t many Americans in Vistaria. Most of them are with the company. Single American women are unusual. I think he’s lonely.”

“Or horny,” Minnie added.

Joshua glared at her.

“What?” She spread her hands. “Am I wrong?”

He ignore her. “What aboutdinner tonight?” he pressed Calli

“Yes, I’d love to,” Calli said, without considering it. If she allowed herself to think, she would find a reason to say no.

“Good.” Joshua folded up the newspaper and plopped it onto the middle of the table, then stretched. “I should get going. There’s stuff to do at the Palace. I’ll talk to Peter at lunch and call you with details, okay?”

“Sure,” Calli said,staring at the front page of the paper, which faced her. The picture was grainy, yet unmistakable. It was a wide shot of the head table at last night’s dinner, with the General in the middle of the frame. Nicolás Escobedo’s features were clear. The headlines screamed in huge type, exclamation marks either side, the first one upside-down.

Uncle Josh picked up his briefcase, jiggling his pocketfor keys.

“I’ll walk you to the car,” Calli told him, getting to her feet.

“‘kay,” he said without hesitation.

When they were outside, he raised his eyebrow. “Something in the paper spook you?” he asked.

“A little. What did that headline say?”

“Congratulations to Blanco for his excellent leadership and his birthday.”

“Oh.”

“It’sEl Liberalé, which is a conservative newspaper despite thename. What were you hoping for? Disclosure of a conspiracy?”

She shook her head. “It was the man two seats to the right of Blanco.”

“Nicolás Escobedo?” Joshua said sharply. “What of him?”

“He’s the man who helped me at the jail.”