| Subject: Whispered Identities - Chapter 203 |
Author:
Lynuslinus
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Date Posted: Saturday, May 07, 07:51:23pm
In reply to:
Lynuslinus
's message, "Whispered Identities - Chapter 191 & forward" on Monday, March 07, 07:58:57pm
Nikita slowed her pace to catch a breath as she entered the village of Machio again; she continued into the main square and stopped to scan the various shops. Strolling over to a vegetable merchant who stood selling his wares from a cart, Nikita asked the man if he knew of a bistro nearby. The man shrugged and shook his head. Not speaking Portuguese, Nikita tried the question again in Spanish. This time the man nodded and pointed to the corner of the square. Nikita smiled and strode away. Standing outside the bistro, her eyes surveying the patrons, she walked around the outside tables and inside the tiny café. A thin, balding man stood behind the bar while waiters rushed to take orders to the patrons. Nikita asked the thin man if he spoke English; he responded with a negative shake of his head. Attempting Spanish, she posed the question again: did a man by the name of Joao Macedo work here. The man smiled and pointed to a door at the rear of the room. Nikita knocked gently on the door of the room; a loud curse was the reply. She opened the door gingerly and peered inside: an oversized man with an enormous handlebar moustache glared until he saw Nikita, then he grinned, exposing two gold teeth.
“Do you speak English, sir? I’m trying to locate Joao Macedo.”
The man forced his large body from a chair and waddled over to Nikita, taking her hand.
“I am Joao Macedo...and who are you my lovely lady?”
“My name’s Nikita....I’m a friend of Adrian Maxwell....I believe you worked together.”
“Oh .....now that is a ghost from the past! Rumors say she was killed....in Asia or somewhere.”
“No, she’s alive....here on Madeira....we’ve been trying to find you....to help us get off the island.”
“What? Don’t tell me the old girl is still in the spook business,” he laughed and reached over to his desk for a cigar.
“Ahhhhh....well, suffice it to say, we would appreciate if you could arrange transport back to the mainland....Portugal, France....just off the island.”
“Are you Adrian’s assistant spook? A very beautiful one, if you are,” he stood lighting his cigar.
“We are friends....but we need help. Can you arrange transport?”
“Where is Adrian anyway....shopping for plants no doubt...always loved gardens.”
“She’s waiting outside town...and if you could arrange for a doctor to look at her...she is in need of medical assistance....her blood pressure is unstable.”
“Oh my! The old sweet always overdid things....we had many little adventures together. But....ahhhh, Nikita....what makes you think I can arrange transport off the island.”
“I was hoping you might facilitate transport. If you could arrange for a plane...or boat....I can repay you once we return to the mainland....I’ll transfer funds to any account you want.”
“Hummmm....and just how can you do that?”
“I have an associate in Portugal who will pay you whatever you ask.”
Macedo blew smoke rings into the air, then reached for Nikita’s hand. “You have influential friends Nikita....with money.....”. He leaned over and kissed the back of her hand. “And what else are you willing to pay?”
Nikita pulled her hand back quickly and glared at Joao Macedo. “I thought you were a colleague of Adrian Maxwell...in addition to being a friend. I must have made a mistake!”
“Now...now....you can’t blame a fellow for trying, can you? Especially being in the presence of such a beautiful woman as you Nikita. Very well, I’ll try to arrange transport for you both....bring Adrian here....I’ll have a doctor available to examine her.”
“Fine. I need a person to drive me back to where Adrian is....please have the doctor here when we return.”
Joao Macedo laughed. “You like giving men orders, don’t you Nikita. I love strong willed women.” He reached for his phone. “Tell Carlos to bring my car to the front door and he is to drive this blonde beauty where she wants to go....yes now!” He slammed the phone down.
“Okay....Carlos will take you now....bring Adrian back....I’ll arrange a room for you both while transport is located....this make you happy now.”
“Thank you.” Nikita turned and walked through the bistro; an old Fiat with a young man stood waiting at the entrance.
The Fiat bumped along the road to the olive grove. Nikita jumped from the car and raced to the BMW; Adrian lay sprawled on the front seat. Yanking open the door, Nikita leaned into the car.
“Adrian! Adrian, please....you can’t die....”
“What? Oh....I’m not going to die yet, my dear....just passed out I suppose....”
“Come...let me help you....I located Joao...he’s going to help us.”
As they drove back to the village, Nikita sat with Adrian in the back seat, wiping her forehead.
“You still have a fever....but your pulse is more regular now....do you feel any better?”
“A little....so was Joao pleased to see you? Ha! Of course he would be....surprised no doubt to hear I’m still alive and kicking....is he still as good looking as I recall?”
“Ahhhh....well, he may have put on a little weight. And....was he always a lecherous bloke?”
“Hummm....yes, that sounds like Joao....but when he was younger, the women would fall on their backs for him...he was a valentine operative.”
“Okaaayyyy.....well, maybe when he was a bit younger...and thinner.”
“Oh dear...has the poor man gone to seed?”
“You might say....somewhat overripe.”
Joao Macedo had arranged a small room with one bed, over top of the bistro. Adrian lay on the bed as the doctor finished examining her and as he closed his bag, shook his head.
“Your blood pressure is too high....you should be taking your medication Mrs. Crawshaw....and your daughter here should be making you adhere to medical advice.”
Nikita nodded. “I will doctor...thank you. Mr. Macedo will pay your fee....thank you for coming.”
The doctor smiled and left the room. Nikita walked quickly to Adrian and picked up her hand.
“As soon as we reach the mainland....I think you should go to hospital. I’m not certain if the transport will take us to Portugal or France....hopefully we can fly to Paris.”
Just then the door swung open and Joao Macedo wandered into the room. Adrian sat up and stared.
“Good Lord Joao! What has happened to you....there are three of you now!” exclaimed Adrian.
“Good to see you too Adrian....well at least I’m upright....unlike you....I heard you were dead.”
“Some people would want it that way, Joao....thank you so much for helping Nikita and I.”
“My pleasure....Nikita has promised to reward me as soon as you reach the mainland. I will accompany you both....so I may obtain my reward,” he leered at Nikita.
Nikita walked to the other side of the room and flopped onto a chair. “I’m going to arrange for Michael to transfer money into Joao’s account. What transport have you arranged and when can we leave?”
“Oh I do so love strong willed women who like to take charge! Well....with great difficulty, I have a Cessna arranged to take you to the nearest airport in Portugal.”
“Nothing larger? We really need to get to France...to Paris,” frowned Nikita.
“Look, I’m a simple café owner...you’re lucky I could arrange for this flight....you said it was important to leave soon....if I had more time, perhaps.....”
Nikita rose and walked to Joao. “I’m sorry....I apologize....thank you for doing this....you will be well paid. When can we take off?”
Joao grinned. “There’s still time to reward me personally Nikita.....Adrian....you could order your assistant to attend to my needs. I can arrange another room or Nikita could come to my new cottage and.....”
Adrian sank back onto the pillows. “Joao...it might have worked for you ten years ago...but not anymore. Thank you so much for doing this but Nikita is not my assistant and is far too much woman for you to even consider. However....one thing....you haven’t enquired why we need to vacate Madeira as we do....are you not curious Joao?”
“Adrian my sweet....once a spook....I don’t want to know....the plane will leave at five in the morning....Carlos will drive you to an airstrip south from here....so be ready to leave at four. Now....let me arrange for us to have dinner...a private table, just the three of us. Are you up to coming down for dinner Adrian?”
“Yes....a little food will do me good,” smiled Adrian.
“Excellent. And.....ahhhh, Nikita....if you change your mind....I was once a valentine operative....I know every way to please a woman....I am certain no man could ever take you to the heights I can.”
Adrian began to laugh and started coughing. “Ohhhh....sorry....Joao....but you have obviously never heard of Michael Samuelle.....oh dear...sorry Nikita....just an old lady’s indiscretion.”
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