Secrets In The Shadows

Women Of Strength Series (Book 3)

Lucy Appadoo

Copyright

Copyright© 2023

Lucy Appadoo

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording without either the prior permission in writing from the publisher as expressly permitted by law, or under the terms agreed.

The author’s moral rights have been asserted

PROLOGUE

Manuel Perez extended his hand. “Here you go. The money for the hash. What’s the next job?” He ignored the sweat on the back of his neck.

The other man towered over him, his wide-open shirt showing the tattoos across his chest. His empty black eyes were unnerving, and Manuel didn’t want to cross a man who could be impulsive and dangerous. “Shifting ten tons of hash as soon as possible, and discreetly. The Civil Guard’s watching. Or have you not noticed?”

Manuel nodded, his eyes roaming the stacked boxes of drugs in the dingy warehouse, including a surplus of hash and methamphetamine. On the floor stood open boxes of weapons and ammunition. A few of the creep’s cronies stood on either side of him, holding semi-automatic pistols, their expressions stern. His hair stood on end, and his legs felt unsteady on the uneven, dusty floor. If only he could get his hands on some of those guns, but he had to play it smart. “Of course. I can liaise with the usual team, can’t I?”

The big man laughed, throwing his head back. “I’ve made arrangements for them to focus on more important matters.” The man scanned him from top to bottom, “Is there a reason you can’t work on your own? You’ve been out of prison for a few months, and I assume you established contacts on the inside.” Manuel nodded, masking his unease. “My sources tell me you have made friends with a man named Tomas.” His eye twitched. “He also explained that you have a brother who is a police officer.”

Oh, no! Manuel was crazy stupid to have trusted Tomas in prison. He had promised not to say anything about his brother. It was a stupid slip of the tongue. “He’s a former police officer and is not in my life anymore. He left the city because the bastard didn’t approve of my lifestyle. I have no idea where he is. You see, I have no ties, no family. I’m on my own.” He wasn’t lying about that, but he had hoped to reconnect with his brother once all this crap was over.

The man broke into his thoughts. “I want you to kill Tomas once you’ve shifted the product. He’s become a liability and might be talking to the police.” Manuel’s hands shook, but he steadied them by focusing on his performance. That wasn’t part of the plan. He couldn’t kill anyone. But was it possible they could fake his death?

“Okay,” he lied. Manuel’s spine prickled, and he wondered if the man knew what he was truly doing. He had realised back in prison how he wanted to make a new start for himself. He had done a lot of crazy, illegal things in his life, but he had never killed anyone and didn’t intend to start now.

“After you’ve shifted the goods, I want you to take my team with you. Make sure it’s done properly with Tomas. We want his body disposed of in the usual way.” Manuel realised how sorry he was for letting down his family. He missed his parents and brother, and wondered if it was too late to make amends.

“Now get out of here and do your job.”

Manuel nodded, his heart racing a mile a minute. “Of course, boss.”

***

REACHING OUT

Kim Mai threaded her hands through her shoulder-length, jet black hair as her yoga students strolled out of the building, waving goodbye. Her friends, Blanca and Daniela, sorted their belongings and rummaged inside their bags, chatting. Blanca’s black hair framed her beauty well, highlighting her sparkling green eyes, tall and well-toned build, and well-defined features. Daniela was equally beautiful, her dark brown hair tied up in a high bun, her figure trim and taut.

Kim wiped her face, neck and upper shoulders with a towel, then retrieved her phone. Looking around the centre, at the wall-to-wall abstract paintings and displays of positive affirmations lining the walls, she noted that the linoleum flooring needed a good mopping, but she’d felt less motivated lately.

She waved her friends over, and they followed her to the small kitchenette which featured a granite counter and sink, a small timber table with padded chairs, and a small sofa by a large bay window with a drawn lace curtain. “Let’s have a coffee, girls.” Daniela rushed inside like a tornado while Blanca ambled into the room.

Kim prepared three mugs with coffee, sugar and milk while Daniela and Blanca sat on the chairs.

“Great session, Kim. As always,” said Daniela. “It keeps me sane and fit for my dance school.”

Kim turned to her briefly and resumed her task of pouring water into the mugs. “Thanks, but I feel burnt out with this. Little return for intense work.” She handed two cups to her friends and picked up her own, sitting between them.

Blanca stared at her strangely. “Are you still having second thoughts about the business?”

She shrugged, clasping her hands around the steaming cup and feeling their eyes on her. “I am struggling to keep up with the rent on this building. Business has gone down with this economy, and I cannot keep up with the changing business laws.”

“I hear you, girl,” said Daniela. “I’m the same with the dance school, but I still love it.” She frowned. “It is doing well after all that publicity with my dad. Maybe that’s what you need, Kim. I can get Rafael to do an article about the centre. What do you think?”

Blanca shoved Daniela on the shoulder. “Hey, what am I? Chopped liver? I can do an article about her business, too.”

Kim laughed. “Daniela is in love and wants her man to do it. If only I had the same kind of love you both have. But I am doomed to have a failing business, no love life, and my mother and father micromanaging my life. It’s all hopeless.” Daniela and Blanca turned to each other briefly then gave her reassuring smiles. “I know I am all doom and gloom, but I do not know what to do.” She sipped her coffee and flinched as it burned her bottom lip. Nothing was going her way, and she wondered where to start repairing her life.

Daniela took her hand and held it gently. “Now you listen to me, girl. All these things are fixable, and we can help.”

“But I don’t know what else I can do, other than yoga and meditation,” said Kim. She was twenty-seven years old and felt she stood at a crossroad.

Daniela sighed and pulled tighter on her ponytail, soft wispy strands nicely framing her face. “It’s just a matter of finding your passion and working towards it.” She thrust out her chest. “What about the youth work qualification you finished a few years back? Is that an option?”

Kim frowned. “I might have completed the training, but I’ve never worked in the industry. What experience do I have?”

Daniela pressed her lips together, playing with the gold bangles around her right wrist. “Your nurturing nature, life experience, time with a junkie, spirituality, and wisdom. That counts for a lot, girl.”

“Exactly,” said Blanca. “What about your sprinting skills?”

Kim appreciated her friends’ input, and how much they had recovered from their past ordeals. Poor Daniela had dealt with a madman playing risky games with her, and Blanca had experienced trauma and exploitation. Bouncing back from those challenges only proved they could cope with anything. “Right. I might be a fast runner and won a few awards back in high school athletics, but I don’t plan to do that professionally.”

Blanca shrugged. “Remember Daniela’s financial issues after losing dance clients not that long ago?” Kim nodded. “She found a way out and so can you. You might need time off. Time away to relax and get perspective. Right now you’re not thinking straight because of burnout and negative thoughts. Give yourself a chance to take a trip somewhere. Maybe all you need is a change of scenery.”

Kim felt grateful for her friends’ support and admired the success they were having. Blanca’s journalism career had given her the opportunity to work overseas for six months, where she had met the love of her life. She and Carlos planned to get engaged. Kim couldn’t wait to celebrate the happy occasion. She was tired of focusing on her own problems and needed an event to bring her out of her pessimistic attitude. “I am sorry. I will figure it all out, but for now I need to vent. I appreciate the advice, and perhaps I will take that vacation.” She took a breath. “What is new with both of you? Please distract me.”

Blanca replied first after drinking down her coffee. “Well, Rafael and I are writing about a drug trafficking case with the South American cartel around Madrid. So many local gang members under the age of eighteen, it’s scary.”

Kim flinched, not wanting to think about her ex-boyfriend, Manuel Perez, who had been a drug dealer five years earlier. She had been notified when he had been released from prison three months ago, and luckily she hadn’t heard from him. Was he keeping out of trouble, or did he get back into the drug business? “That is scary. Imagine the parents who are stuck and have no way out for them. Particularly when their lives are in danger. They probably can’t get out even if they wanted to.”

Daniela nodded. “Exactly right, but the Civil Guard and police seem to be taking down a lot of these cartels. It’s all a matter of time.” She rubbed her hands. “I shudder to think what could have happened to Blanca when she was little.”

Blanca swallowed. “Thank God we got a huge chunk of that organisation into prison.”

Daniela faced Blanca then turned to Kim. “We have to tell you something.”

Kim angled her head. “What is it?”

Daniela touched the base of her throat. “It’s about Manuel.”

Kim’s body ached and trembled. Despite hating the guy, a part of her would always love him.

A DECISION

Kim dug her nails into her knuckles as she clenched her hands. For five years she had managed to live her life without her gangster boyfriend, and had not heard from him since before he had been released from prison. She couldn’t imagine what her friends had to say, so she braced herself for the worst.

Blanca straightened her back. “He came to the house, looking for you. He must have done his research and learned where we lived. He asked to see you and said he didn’t want to spook you by coming to your home, so wanted our advice.”

Kim’s face drained of all blood. “When was this?”

“A few days ago,” said Blanca.

She exhaled. “You are telling me this now? Why not then?” She got up and carried the empty mugs to the sink. She turned her back to her friends, pretending to wipe the counter so they couldn’t see how her hands shook. She couldn’t go back to the chaos, the lies, and the criminal charges.

Blanca replied. “I am sorry, Kim, but we debated whether to tell you at all after the stress he caused you. But in the end, we knew you had a right to know.”

Turning back around, Kim nodded. “I never understood why they reduced his prison sentence. Did he tell you anything about that?”

Daniela shook her head. “No, he didn’t, but I was surprised by that, too. All he said was that he needed to tell you something important and wanted to make amends. He did seem genuine about it. Maybe he’s changed.”

Blanca got up and dragged her back down to the chair. “I think he has changed. He seemed different. Prison must have changed him.”

Kim sat again, leaning forward. “How did you leave it with him? What did you say?”

“We said we would speak to you and let you decide if you wanted to get in touch,” Daniela replied. “He gave us his phone number. Think about it, but don’t take too long. I got the sense he has something important to tell you.”

Kim scoffed. “The only issue important to him would be his next drug fix. He fooled me before, lied and cheated. It is what drug dealers and addicts do. They lie and pretend they have changed, but he is the same, I am sure.”

“Why don’t you hear him out and make up your mind then? You haven’t seen Manuel for five years. Listen to what he has to say,” said Blanca.

Kim rose again. “Would you girls like another coffee or a glass of water?” They both shook their heads. “I need a drink of water.” She headed back to the sink and poured a glass. Drinking it down soothed her parched throat and distracted her from thinking about the trauma of the past. “I loved Manuel so much, but he hurt me time and time again. I don’t know if I can go through that pain again. He will draw me back into his life and I will be charmed by his looks, his words, his lies.”

Daniela intervened. “I hear you, girl. You went through a lot with him, and it’s your call. We thought we’d relay the news, but in the end, it’s your decision.”

“We’ll support you all the way, Kim. Whatever decision you make,” said Blanca. “Only focus on things you can control right now. We’ve got your back.”

She sat down and squeezed Blanca’s hand then patted Daniela’s shoulder. “Thank you both. I will think about it.”

Daniela handed her a sticky note. “Here’s his number if you decide to call.”

Kim took it and stared at the number and name. His scrawl hadn’t changed over the years, but had he personally changed? Or was it an act?

Daniela got up. “I’ve got a class now, Kim. I’ll talk to you during the week.”

Blanca rose too. “Yeah, me too. Sofia and Eva are coming to our drinks night on Friday. You are coming, right?”

Kim nodded. “I would not miss a night out with Eva or Sofia. After what they have been through, they deserve a fun night out.” She loved Daniela’s sister, Eva, like her own. Sofia, Daniela’s friend and fellow dance teacher had endured a lot, too.

She wrapped her arms around her friends and walked them to the exit. Locking the door behind them, Kim proceeded to tidy up the studio. After she finally locked up, she drove home, and decided to sleep on it before making a decision.

SOUR TASTE

Ricardo Perez played with his beard and moustache as he hiked the trails up to Patones de Arriba. Crossing a footbridge over a stream, he took in the fresh, natural scents on the warm breeze that feathered his red cheeks. The fresh scents of mountainous terrain and greenery gave him perspective and a calm mind, which was what he needed after spending five years in the Madrid police force. At thirty years of age, he had lived a life filled with trauma, death, and all manner of degrading, criminal behaviour as a police officer, and briefly as a detective, but now his life was better and stress-free.

He eventually passed the Hermitage of the Virgen de la Oliva Church, which dated back to the eighteenth century. The cobblestone streets were quiet, with only a few passers-by, and the intense smells of fernery, dampness, and dust made him wrinkle his nose.

Walking alongside the Dehesa de la Oliva archaeological site, he stared at what was left of a pre-Romanesque fort. He loved the history of the lower and upper parts of Patones, and knew he had made the right decision moving here from the centre of Madrid. He savoured the medieval town, northeast of the country with its historical-looking restaurants, olive groves, craft gift shops, and small hotels. The steep streets contained a history rich in interesting legends.

Ricardo worked in this part of town but he lived in Patones de Abjo, which was the lower part of the region, because it had more amenities than upper Patones. Still, the upper part was more tranquil and helped him forget his troubles.

As he made his way back down to his residence he spotted a group approaching. Several members of the Civil Guard approached in their green baseball caps, polo shirts and cargo pants. His friend, Angel, was the captain of the team and nodded in his direction.

“Hi Angel. What are you guys doing here?” He took a step down the incline to stay level with his friend.

Angel’s crew cut enhanced his square jaw. His green eyes roamed. “Ricardo. Have you seen anyone wearing a grey t-shirt and blue ripped jeans around here?”

“No, why?”

He pressed his lips together as the other three team members talked among themselves. “There is a person of interest we are locating. Our sources say he is not far from the stream, but so far no luck. Are you keeping well, my friend?”

Ricardo nodded. He missed spending time with Angel, who had been busy lately, chasing leads in the drug trafficking trade. “Have you had any luck catching any of those gang members?”

He scoffed. “Those bastards have connections everywhere, but we are determined to find every one of them. They won’t get away with polluting our nation and killing our innocent community. I will not stand for it.”

“I hear you, man. Anyway, let’s catch up for a beer. When are you free?”

Angel grinned. “I will give you a call and make time for you, my friend. You take care of yourself. We have a madman to catch. Take care, Ricardo.” He saluted, and his staff joined him, climbing the steep track.

Ricardo kept up the pace as he headed home, his mind flashing back to his brother, Manuel. Angel had mentioned his prison release a few months back, but Ricardo had no interest in reconnecting with a man who had no morals. His poor parents had had to move to Greece for their own safety, while he could take care of himself.

A few times he had considered getting in touch with Manuel to see whether he had changed in prison, but decided against it. Most likely Manuel was the same. The numerous times he’d lied and the stress he had caused his mother when he became violent whilst under the influence. The time Manuel had bruised his brother when his anger was out of control.

No, Ricardo would never be able to forgive Manuel.

Climbing the steps, he bent over to catch his breath before he unlocked his house. It was a spacious, two-storey home with a rustic beauty and history, multiple roofs and multi-coloured brickwork. He was able to get a good deal from the previous owner when he had moved to Patones last year.

He headed for the shower and realised his world was peaceful and content now, knowing that being away from his brother was something he had to do for his own sanity.

REUNITED

Kim bit on her long nails and crossed her legs on the white leather settee as she waited for Manuel to show up. He was fifteen minutes late, and she was starting to regret calling him. But if she didn’t meet with him, she might regret it more. She needed closure.

Her eyes scanned her two-bedroom apartment in the suburb of La Latina, not far from the centre of Madrid. She loved the open living room with its matte floorboards and contemporary furniture, including bookshelves filled with books on yoga, meditation, and creative writing. Her one hobby was creative writing, and she hoped to publish her first romance book one day.

The sound of the doorbell broke her out of her reverie. She slowly made her way to the door, her heart beating a mile a minute, her hands sweaty. Why, after all these years, did he still have this effect on her?

She bit her bottom lip and gasped when she opened the door and saw the way he was dressed: a well-pressed ash-black suit, leather shoes, and an open-buttoned shirt that showed his tanned neckline. His towering, lanky build made him look slightly intimidating. He had obviously come up in the world of drugs.

His eyes looked troubled. “Hello, Kim. Great to see you again.”

She nodded. “Come in.”

Manuel ambled inside and sat beside her on the couch with one leg propped on to the other, which looked ironic, given he was wearing a suit. “Thanks for seeing me.”

Kim shifted her body further away from his, ignoring his strong musky cologne. She played with the sleeves of her jacket, wanting to be well dressed for a man she realised she had missed. “Why did you want to see me, Manuel? My friends said you had something important to tell me.”

He knit his brows and stared at his hands. “Are you well, Kim?” She nodded, waiting with her arms crossed. “I need you to relay a message to my brother. I’m worried about his safety.” He handed her a note with an address on it. “This is where my brother lives, in Patones.”

Kim angled her head. “Why can’t you talk to him yourself?”

He looked into her eyes as if he was hiding something sinister, then dropped his gaze. “A particular group…they’re watching me.” He swallowed. “If I go see him they might think I’m turning against them, and I’ll lead them straight to him. I know he’s kind of protected where he is, and if I don’t see him they’re likely to leave him alone. I know they have resources to find him, but I cannot give them a reason to find Ricardo if I stay away. Until I…”

Kim shifted on the couch. “Until what?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. I trust you implicitly to do this. Please give him this letter.”

Kim was curious. “When you say ‘they’, who are you talking about? The drug dealers, your gang? Who?”

He nodded. “Yes, the drug dealers. I am trying to get out of it, but they’re making it damn difficult for me. For now, they said I need to do a few more jobs, then they’ll potentially let me go, but who knows. It could all be one fat lie. I have no choice but to obey.”

“Why don’t you work with the police and live a normal life? Or are you lying about everything, about the fact you want to get out of it? Has prison really changed you, Manuel?”

He swallowed. “It has, and I mean it, Kim. I want my life back. I want to be able to see my parents, my brother, and my cousins. But if I see them, their lives might be in danger. I have to get away from the scene.”

She scoffed. “Is my life in danger now that you have come to see me?”

“No, because I made sure I wasn’t being followed. My brother can protect you if need be.” He leaned forward. “I need to give you these, too.” He handed her a chunky locket and two folded pieces of A4 paper. “It’s a gift for everything shitty I’ve done to you. The letters are for you and Ricardo, but read yours later if you choose to. A token of amends. Can you ever forgive me for what I put you through?” His eyes darkened until Kim could not read them. “I need to know we can get closure on this, and maybe in the future…”

Her heart ached. “What, Manuel? A relationship? Is that what you want?” She shook her head. “I do not think so. We are finished and cannot go back to the way things were. Let us part as friends and say goodbye now. It would never work between us. Too much has happened, and I doubt I could ever totally forgive you.”

He straightened his body on the couch, hiding the disappointment from his eyes. “Fair enough.” He looked over his shoulder. “Now will you go see my brother? Tell him how much I miss him, and that one day in the future, I will be able to see him?” His hands fidgeted as he peered past her. “I need to know he can forgive me. Will you please do that, Kim?”

What was she missing here? “I don’t know, Manuel. I still don’t understand why I have let you impact my life again when you can ring him yourself. Surely, you can call him?”

“I can’t take that risk. He needs to keep his distance until I know it’s safe. At least think about it. And that necklace is—” His phone buzzed in his back pocket. He retrieved it and checked the display. “Oh, Christ! I have to go. A friend wants to talk to me. Please seriously consider taking the message to my brother. Like I said, Ricardo can protect you if you need it.”

The back of Kim’s neck became damp. “Why would he need to protect me, Manuel? What are you not telling me?”

He got up. “I have to go, but you take care of yourself. I hope I can see you again when it’s safe.” At the door he turned back. “I still love you, Kim. I never stopped.” Continuing to stare into her eyes, he added, “You think us gangsters can’t be trusted, and I’m sure a few in the police force can’t be trusted either. But my brother, Ricardo. He’s someone you can trust, and I can never say it enough. He can protect you. Please go see him.” Stepping forward, he leaned in and hugged her tightly as if it was their last contact. She ignored the tingle in her stomach, realising she still had feelings for the man.

She pulled away and put up a hand. “Wait. Please tell me what is going on?”

He gave her a reassuring smile. “I have to go. Hopefully we’ll meet again.”

Kim’s chest tightened as she closed the door behind him and rested her back against it. Why did it seem like his leaving was final, or was he truly planning to see her again?

***

After leaving Kim’s apartment Manuel stopped his car in front of the warehouse, short of breath. He wondered what the bastard wanted. He had already shifted the product, so job number one was done. In the next two days, he was required to kill Tomas, or at least make it look real with the help of the police. Wouldn’t the boss want to see him then?

Turning off the motor, Manuel thought about Kim, her beautiful, glistening dark brown eyes, full lips, and smooth olive skin which he wanted to run his hands over. If only he could live his life over again. He would definitely not be a drug dealer or hurt people.

But, he told himself, it would all be over soon, and he’d be safe. He might be able to reconnect with Kim once she trusted him again.

He stepped out of the car, opened the heavy timber door and entered the building to see the boss with his cronies, who stared at him with curiosity. What the hell was going on here? “Hey, boss. What’s up? I shifted the product and plan to kill Tomas in a couple of days. It should be okay by then. Less heat on us, you know.”

The boss approached Manuel. “Right, and who have you been talking to?”

His heart raced. “Excuse me, boss?”

“We noticed you leaving some apartment. Who lives there?”

Oh, no. He was sure he hadn’t been followed. “Just an old school acquaintance. Wanted to catch up after my time in prison, but she doesn’t want anything to do with me. A bit of a boring person who doesn’t want to deal with my criminal record.” He chuckled and pointed a finger at his chest. “Who can resist this man?” He spoke with a level of confidence he didn’t feel, but he could mask his true feelings.

“Hmm. I see,” the boss said, his eyes burning into Manuel’s. “You look a little nervous, Manuel.”

“No, not nervous. Just tired from all the work you’ve given me. I guess I need a bit of a break before the hit, you know.”

He nodded. “Of course, of course. But anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something, Manuel. Something important.” He glared at him and swatted him on the shoulder.

Manuel swallowed, heat permeating his face. “What is it, boss?”

“We managed to track Tomas, but don’t worry about it. You have been absolved of your duty to kill him. I have other men on him. It should be happening as we speak.”

What the hell was going on? This couldn’t be good. “Right. But I was happy to do it. Why have I been unassigned?” Bile rose in his throat, and uneasiness settled in his stomach.

He laughed. “You know, I’m not enjoying you questioning my orders. I am curious about you, Manuel. Curious about why you’ve been communicating with the fuckin’ police. Have you?”

Manuel lost his breath. “What? No, of course not. They just questioned me, thought I was still dealing.” His voice shook. “I had to set them straight. That was all. I didn’t say anything about the business, boss. Promise.”

“Can you promise on the life of your brother, your parents, or your ex-girlfriend, Kim?”

“What?” His face paled and he could no longer form words. They had better leave his family alone or he would kill the lot of them.

“Let’s take a walk to the back of the warehouse, Manuel.” The boss pushed him towards the other end while his two male companions pointed their guns at him.

He turned in their direction. “Please, you have to believe me, boss. I didn’t do or say anything to implicate you. Your business is safe. I am loyal to the business. Hell, I’d been in the business for years before prison. You know a leopard can’t change his spots. Please, man.”

“No worries, Manuel. Just stand over by those drums, would you. I might take a picture of you first. Send a clear message to your friends.” He pulled out his mobile phone and clicked his picture. “They should know better than to mess with us.” Turning to his cronies, he uttered his orders. “Shoot the prick.”

Manuel gasped, his body shaking as he put up his hand. “No, please. No, I’m innocent. Please, no.” He would no longer be able to make amends with his family, but the image of Kim flashed before his mind’s eye. Her heart, her beauty, and her wisdom. He would carry her with him into his next life.

His final thought was of the searing pain of the bullets tearing into his chest.

REFLECTIONS

La Latina café featured an angled timber counter with sharp edges, a potted plant alongside it. Peach walls displayed round mirrors, and dangly bronze lights hung low.

Kim, Blanca, and Daniela walked across the mint-coloured tiled flooring, past multi-coloured rectangular tables with steel-backed chairs as they made their way to the others.

Kim leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Eva and Sofia. Although both women were connected to Daniela, they had become fast friends with Kim and Blanca, too. She hadn’t known Sofia for long, but the single parent had endured hardship in her life; not so long ago Daniela had been terrorised by a madman, and Sofia had been involved.

Sofia wore a high-buttoned shirt with a white puffer jacket and ripped jeans. As a dance teacher and former dancer, she had a quiet grace about her. “Hi Kim. Great to see you again.”

She beamed. “Same here. How’s your daughter?”

Sofia sighed. “Growing up way too fast if you ask me.” She wrapped her arms around Daniela and Blanca. “Starting to answer me back as she’s approaching her teenage years. I better brace myself.”

“Good luck with that,” said Kim. “I do not envy you one bit.” Sofia nodded.

Eva had a spring in her step. She wore a bright orange jumper with tight black pants. Her dark hair was long and glossy, and her blue eyes sparkled in the artificial light of the café. “I would love to have kids, Sofia. Any time you would like me to babysit, let me know.” She had endured Daniela’s pain and even more, and had a glass eye to prove it.

Sofia chuckled. “You’ve got a deal there.” The friends ordered dinner and drinks as Kim rested against the chair, her mind going back to Manuel. She wondered whether he might be working with the police. And why did he give her that locket? He had been about to tell her something before getting that phone call.

Reminders of him would make it even more difficult to let him go. She couldn’t go back to the past and reconnect with Manuel, despite still having strong feelings for him.

“Penny for your thoughts,” said Blanca. “Are they about Manuel? You didn’t tell us how your meeting went.”

Kim brought Eva and Sofia up to speed then recounted her meeting with Manuel. “It sounded like he is trying to leave the drug world. But I got the feeling he was hiding something.”

Daniela rested on her elbows. “Do you think he’s in trouble? With the gangs or the police?”

Kim shrugged. “I don’t know, but wanting me to visit his brother an hour away means that something is not quite right. He wants to make amends with his family, but he doesn’t believe it’s safe yet.”

“Jesus,” said Sofia. “If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I can’t take so many things at face value. He might be in trouble with the gangs. I assume once you’re in the group, you can’t easily get out of it. You can become a liability.”

Hearing that, Kim felt her heart race. Her hands went cold and clammy. A liability? Sofia reached for her hand. “I’m sorry. Me and my stupid mouth. I didn’t mean it that way, but maybe you need to speak to him again.”

“It’s fine, Sofia. I believe it is better to keep my distance. I can’t get back into that world again. He hurt me so much the last time.”

Eva shifted multiple times in her seat as if she had something on her mind. “That’s understandable, Kim. You need to do what’s right for you.” Her eyes shifted to a spot on the wall. “Why don’t we move on to more positive topics.” She faced Kim. “How is your writing going?”

Kim appreciated Eva’s light-hearted, positive approach to life. “I have been lazy with my first book, but I plan to get back to writing soon.”

“I’m sure we can easily find you a publisher who’d be interested,” said Blanca. Kim waved her away. “Do you think you’ll get it self-published or go the traditional route?”

“I would like to approach a traditional publisher, but I wonder if my work will be up to their standard. It’s only a first draft, but I cannot see it ever being good enough for a publisher. I can at least write it for myself. I don’t need to publish it.”

“Oh come on, Kim. Believe in yourself, girl. I do,” said Daniela.

“What’s the story about?” asked Sofia.

Kim leaned in. “It’s a romance between a quiet, introverted girl and a boisterous, bad boy…how the obstacles in the family and his illegal activities stop them from being together.”

Sofia knit her brows. “Wasn’t that your life?”

Kim nodded. “Partly, but names have been changed and I give the couple a happy ending, unlike my own story.”

Eva clasped her hands together as the waiter brought her steak to her. “I for one love it, and will be the first to read it. I adore romances with happy endings. My favourite kind. I need to live vicariously through your story.”

“Thanks, Eva. If I ever get to finish it.” Their meals arrived, and Kim dug into her paella dish.

After a comfortable silence, Daniela looked back up at Kim. “I know, Eva, you wanted positive topics, but I just had a thought.” She paused as her eyes roamed around the table. “What if Manuel is working with the police? Like a confidential informant, but he couldn’t tell you about it. It is possible that that’s his way out. Getting the bad guys.”

Kim’s chest constricted. “If that’s the case, he’s taking a lot of risks. I don’t like it. Why can’t the police find other ways to get their information? It is hardly fair to put Manuel in that kind of dangerous situation.”

Blanca gave her a reassuring smile. “Oh, Kim. Manuel will be fine. He knows how they think, and I am sure the police are protecting him. I have worked with informants before and they know the risks, but they also have some protection.”

Kim shook her head. “But your informants weren’t part of the drug trade, which has to be the worst kind. I hope you are right, Blanca. I pray for Manuel.” As she forked the remainder of her rice dish, she found herself short of breath. It was such a mess. She hoped and prayed that Manuel was safe. She knew they could never be together again, but she wished for him to be well and content in his life.

YOUTH CLUB

Ricardo anchored a small team of teenagers pulling their end of a rope, all heaving as hard as they could against several youths pulling the other end. After twenty seconds the other group fell hard on their backs with a mixture of laughter and groans, ending the tug-of-war.

“Yes, we won. We won.” His chest inflated with joy as he felt again how meaningful it was to volunteer with young people in this club in Torrelaguna, focusing on teamwork, leadership, and generosity.

He gave them all high-fives as he walked to a table for a bottle of water. He handed some to a few others in his team. “Great work, guys. Luciana and Alejandro, we did it. Finally, we beat the other team. We should celebrate.” The two young teenagers were thirteen-year-old twins who had slowly settled in with the other youths.

Luciana stood by the table, drinking down the water as she pushed her long black fringe out of her eyes. “We can’t. Papa is expecting us to make dinner tonight. It’s one night he’ll be home.”

Alejandro threaded his hands through his short, messy brown waves. “Yeah, Papa’s never home. But the one night he is home, we have to make dinner.”

Ricardo wondered about their father, as he had never met him. The twins had only been with the club for the past month. “What about other nights? Does your mother cook for you?”

Alejandro shook his head. “Our Mama is dead.” His eyes darkened. “She got sick.”

His heart went out to the poor twins. He was fortunate to have two loving parents, even though it was now challenging to see them since they had moved away from Spain. One day, he planned to visit them in Greece. “I am sorry, guys. That must be hard. Maybe we can celebrate another night.”

Luciana’s eyes misted. “Okay. That would be nice.”

Ricardo approached and put a hand on her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

She shrugged. “Our Papa hates us going out. We can’t go to friends’ houses or to parties. We’re always stuck at home. He acts like a crazy person sometimes.”

He was beginning to wonder about their father, and whether he was good for their growth and mental health, but it wasn’t his business. As long as he gave them fun, education, and laughter in the club, it could make all the difference.

Ricardo and the twins went to the art studio for painting class. The art teacher had already commenced the lesson, but pointed the twins to empty canvasses and brought them brushes and paint. Ricardo sat in the corner and observed the lesson, waiting for his two favourite teenagers to finish their masterpieces. Luciana displayed a natural ability to draw as her brush strokes created details in the figures on her canvas. Alejandro had no artistic flair as he outlined several stick figures with a lack of detail.

At the end of the lesson, Ricardo approached Luciana. “Amazing work.” He turned to Alejandro who stood beside her. “You, too. Good work.”

“You’re lying, Ricardo. My work’s shit,” said Alejandro.

“Hey, watch your language, mister.”

“Sorry, but it is.”

Ricardo regarded Luciana’s drawings of three people and wondered how she could create so much detail in her characters. “I love your outlines and the light and shade. Who did you draw here?”

She shrugged. “Just friends of my Papa. They come sometimes, but don’t talk much. They give him a lot of money, but I don’t know what he does for them.”

Ricardo’s spine chilled. Something illegal, no doubt. “What does your father do?”

“He’s an accountant,” said Alejandro.

Ricardo wondered if their father didn’t want them going out because of his illegal activities. Was it possible that word would get around if they knew exactly who his children were? But no, he thought. He was being ridiculous and letting his imagination get away from him. He had to stop being a detective.

GRIEF-STRICKEN

Kim turned on her blender. It purred loudly as she gazed at the assorted ingredients mixing into her gazpacho: tomatoes, green bell pepper, red onion, cucumber, and a selection of seasonings. When the mixture was smooth, she poured it into a bowl and added a slice of bread on top, watching it moisten as it sank in the dish.

As her mouth began to water in anticipation, the doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Was it Manuel wanting to convince her to reconnect? No, it was too soon if he didn’t believe it was safe yet. Was she holding on to hope that they could reconnect? No, definitely not.

Feet heavy on her carpet, she walked to the front door. Her heart pounded when she opened it. Two police officers stared at her with dark expressions on their faces. She didn’t want to speculate about their presence and pushed away negative thoughts. Surely this wasn’t about Manuel. “Can I help you?” she asked with a shaky voice, her limbs unsteady.

“Yes, hello. Are you Ms Kim Mai?”

She nodded. “That would be me. What is this about, officers?”

One of the officers was burly and tall while the other one was solid and of average height. “This is Officer Garcia, and I am Officer Rodriguez. Can we come inside?”

No, you can’t. “Of course.” She directed them to the kitchen and the three of them sat down at the table. Her hands shook and her mind ran rampant. What if this was about her parents or friends? This couldn’t be about Manuel. He was fine.

Officer Rodriguez, the burly one, spoke, “We understand that you and Manuel Perez were in a relationship over five years ago. Is that correct?”

Manuel? “Yes, why?”

Officer Rodriguez intervened. “Why don’t you get yourself a glass of water.”

Not what I expected. “I am fine. Unless either of you officers would like a drink.”

The officers turned to each other, knitting their brows. “We are sorry to inform you that we strongly suspect that Mr Manuel Perez has been killed.”

Kim’s head spun and the world appeared surreal for a moment. Her body froze as she blinked several times. “What?”

Officer Garcia continued. “We believe that Mr Perez was murdered yesterday morning. We have attempted to notify his next of kin, but we could not reach them.”

Kim clenched her hands, her chest aching. This had to be a dream. Manuel couldn’t be dead. She had only spoken to him a few days ago. He had assured her he would make amends with his family once it was safe. That was pointless now. The burning sensation in her stomach made her want to sleep until it was over. Speaking in an unsteady voice with chills permeating her body, her vision blurred. “What do you mean,