have an idea about the club and salsa lessons. Maria Lopez being here today is too perfect. Be right back.”
She was obsessed, Beth realized, but it was all right, because she knew she was obsessed. Hell, even Ashley admitted that her curiosity had been piqued. “Ms. Lopez?” Beth said, feeling comfortable, because it was perfectly within her duties to greet the woman. “How very nice to see you.”
The woman, as beautiful as Henry had said, turned to her.
She frowned slightly, trying to determine just who Beth might be; then a smile, soft and lovely, warmed her face. “Hello, Miss Anderson, isn’t it?”
“Beth, please.”
“Will you have a seat?”
“It’s so wonderful to see you here,” Beth said, sitting down.
“I like to come down by the water,” Maria said. “The sea and sun can be so rejuvenating, don’t you believe?”
“Definitely,” Beth agreed. Where, and how, did she plunge in? “In fact, I was just out at Calliope Key, and that made me think of an old friend of yours. Didn’t you work with Ted Monoco?”
Maria’s dark eyes flashed, and for a moment, Beth was afraid she had made the woman angry. But then Maria said, “Oh, yes. Ted and Molly. Such wonderful people. Those were the days. The studios he ran were the best. He gave people the gift of movement, the gift of dance.”
“How wonderful,” Beth murmured. “I guess now…he’s giving himself the gift of the sea and the sun.”
Maria Lopez sat stiffly for a moment, then shook her head. “No, I fear not.”
Beth swallowed carefully. “What do you mean?” she asked, careful not to give away her own thoughts.
“I believe something has happened to them. I would have heard from them otherwise, and there has been no word. I miss them,” she said softly. “And the worst is…there seems to be nothing I can do.” She forced a smile. “So here I am. Lunching near the sea.”
“I’m so sorry,” Beth said. She paused for a moment, then asked, “Tell me, do you still dance?”
“Sometimes, yes,” Maria said.
“I was wondering if…perhaps…you would consider dancing for our Summer Sizzler here at the club.”
Maria arched a delicate brow.
“I’d love to do something extraordinary,” Beth explained.
Maria was clearly flattered but not yet convinced. “To dance, one needs a partner. Perhaps you could speak to someone at Ted’s old studio, the main studio, on South Beach. All the studios were bought by a man named Eduardo Shea. He does well.”
This was too perfect, Beth thought, everything falling into place so casually and naturally.
“So I’ve heard—Manny told me,” she explained. “You know Manny Ortega, I’m sure.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” She offered Beth a full smile. “Manny is very talented, a lovely man. He knows Eduardo, as well. Eduardo is also quite an interesting man, half Cuban, half Irish. I can dance for you—with a partner, of course. But you should bring dance to your members, as well.”
“That’s what I’ve been thinking. That we should offer lessons here.”
“Your members will have so much fun. And the single men will do much better with the ladies.”
“Maria, what a wonderful idea.”
The older woman flushed slightly. “Thank you. Call Eduardo. Tell him that I suggested you speak to him. And if you go through with this, I will dance with his instructor, Mauricio. We will need to rehearse, of course. And if you wish your party to be a real success, you’ll need at least two male and two female instructors. I will work with them, of course.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
Maria laughed. “You will receive a bill.”
“Of course.”
“Truly, it will be my pleasure,” Maria said, inclining her head, something regal about the movement.
As Beth rose, Maria reached for her bag. “Give me a moment.…I have Eduardo’s card, and also my own, so that you may call me with details.”
Beth accepted the cards and reminded Maria that if she needed anything, to please let her know. As she left the table, she stopped Henry and told him that she would sign the tab for Maria’s lunch. Then she hurried back to Ashley.
“The fish was wonderful,” Ashley said.
Beth apologized swiftly. “I’m sorry. It’s just that—”
“There was Maria, who knew the Monocos, and you’re still obsessed with their disappearance, so…”
“Ashley, I saw a skull.”
“Beth, you’re not a cop.”
“So I should feel in my gut that a murder—no, murders—have taken place and just forget it?”
“The police are on it,” Ashley said.
“I hope so,” Beth said. “Anyway, I needed something special for the Summer Sizzler. Now I’ve got it.”
Ashley groaned, took a last sip of her iced tea and rose. “Jake and I will be at your Sizzler thing, by the way.”
“Thank you.”
“God sometimes needs help looking after fools,” Ashley told her.
Beth grinned and waved as her friend left the dining room.
WHEN KEITH WOKE UP THE following morning, Brad and Sandy’s boat was gone.
Even though he’d been bothered by their presence, he found their absence alarming.
Once again, he headed out to dive the area where he was certain that Brad had cast something overboard, though he was aware that both Lee and Matt, back on the boat, were convinced he wouldn’t find anything.
He was close to shore, and there was a lot of seaweed in the area. Though the seas were relatively calm, the sand seemed to be rising; the area was murky.
A large grouper came quizzically toward him, stared at him, apparently found nothing of interest and moved on. A small horseshoe crab, sensing danger, dug more deeply into the sand. A tang, far from the reefs, shot by.
Hands clasped behind his back, fins barely moving, he went over and over the area, trying to follow a grid. He wasn’t deep, maybe twenty-five feet, so he could have stayed forever. But he began to wonder himself if he wasn’t crazy. Maybe Brad hadn’t really dumped anything. Or maybe the guy was a pot smoker and had tossed out his stash. Fish miles away could be chewing it up by now.
The
