The Fountains of Silence(87)

“I’d be honored. And tell me, how are Rafa and his matador?”

“Very well. El Huérfano has a fight this Sunday in Arganda del Rey.”

“Qué bien. And Ana? How is she doing?”

Daniel looks at Miguel, unable to contain his smile. “We’re doing very well.”

“Ah, I see,” says Miguel. “That makes me very happy.”

“Me too,” says Daniel.



* * *





Daniel exits the Metro, thinking of the first time he rode with Ana. He feels at ease in Madrid now. Perhaps he can rent a car again and surprise Ana with a trip to Valencia. Then he can share his plan about studying in Madrid.

He finds the hotel lobby thrumming with its usual bustle. Carlitos passes Daniel, carrying a suitcase as big as his body.

“Hola, Buttons. Have you seen Ana?”

“Wait for me,” whispers the boy.

Daniel waits near the elevators. Carlitos sprints back and grabs him by the sleeve. He leads him to the basement staircase, tucked into the wall. They descend two steps and Carlitos stops.

“Is everything okay?” asks Daniel.

Carlitos shakes his head, his eyes full of fear. “Se?or, Ana was fired.”





112



Fired.

“No one knows why,” whispers Buttons.

Daniel frantically presses the button for the elevator, hoping Ana is in his room.

Lorenza holds a tray of cigarettes in front of Mr. Van Dorn and Paco Lobo. Standing next to them is Laura Beth. As if on cue, they all turn to him. The walls of Daniel’s brain begin to fold, like the sides of a melting candle. He opts for the stairs and takes them in twos until he’s reached the seventh floor. He runs down the hall and clatters through the lock and the door.

“Ana?”

His suite is empty.

Don’t you hurt our Ana, said the women in Vallecas.

I love my job, I could not bear to lose it, Ana had said.

And Fuga’s threat. Don’t hurt her.

Daniel paces the room. Someone must have seen Ana in his room last night. Ben wouldn’t tell, would he? Did Ana mention their dinner to anyone?

He can help. He can fix this. He’ll go to the hotel manager and say it’s his fault. He’ll beg forgiveness. He’ll ask his father to help. He’ll pull any and all favors.

Favors.

Shep Van Dorn owes him a favor. He said so, at the hospital, the morning after he defended Nick in the fight. The Hilton is an American hotel. He saw the picture of Mr. Van Dorn with Conrad Hilton himself. A special request from the U.S. Embassy would certainly carry favor. Daniel runs from his room, hoping to catch Van Dorn in the lobby before he leaves.



* * *





“Hi there, Dan,” greets Van Dorn. “I just met your friend, Laura Beth. What a poised young woman, and quite a looker,” he says.

“Yes, sir. Could I speak to you privately for a moment?”

Van Dorn is ever eager. “Certainly. Let’s take this table in the corner. Are you okay? You’re out of breath.”

Shep Van Dorn folds his lean body into a chair. His dress shirt is paper white and perfectly pressed, his suit jacket brushed. With the heat in Madrid, Van Dorn must keep spare clothes in his office for an afternoon change.

Lorenza stops at their table. “Cigars, cigarettes, se?or?”

“Just matches, baby,” replies Van Dorn. He smiles at Lorenza. “And say, send the waiter over with a scotch and soda.”

He extends the offer of a beverage but Daniel declines. Van Dorn leans back in the chair, threading his fingers together. His gold cuff links blink from beneath his sleeves. Daniel notes Shep’s body language. Nonchalance pleated with power. “So, Dan, what can I do for you?”

Daniel pulls a breath. “At the hospital you mentioned that if I ever needed something I could come to you.”

Van Dorn smiles. “Yes, I did.”

“Well, a friend of mine who works here at the hotel, she was fired and it’s my fault. I have to get her rehired.”

“I see,” says Van Dorn. “We’re speaking of Ana?”

“Oh.” Daniel hesitates before replying. “Yes, sir. I know she worked for your family. She said you were very good to her.”

Van Dorn gives a low laugh. “Did she now.”

Daniel pauses at the sarcasm, confused. “Yes, and since you know her and know her character, I thought you could vouch for her.”

Shep Van Dorn leans forward toward Daniel, his expression smug. “Well, you see, Dan, that’s not really possible. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but Ana is a hustler and a thief. She’s a con artist.”

The words hit Daniel like a punch.

Van Dorn nods and releases a sigh. “Yes. It’s such a shame. She stole a gold bracelet from our villa. By the time I found out it was too late. She melted it down for teeth for both her and her brother. Crafty, eh? With all the tourism coming to Spain, some of these beggars have become talented swindlers. You can’t even give them anything. They’ll sell it.”

Daniel recalls the conversation in Vallecas, about selling the gifts he brought. Has Ana been conning him this entire time? No, it’s not true.

“I wanted to alert the authorities but unfortunately Nick took part in some shenanigans with Ana and I didn’t want to draw attention to him. They’re a duo of sorts. So we transferred her here to the Hilton, hoping that she’d change her ways under the watchful eye of a supervisor. But it seems she’s up to her old tricks again. She’s a pro.”