page37 (1/2)

Unfortunate for hiovernment’s newfound ability to listen in on international calls

“Thank goodness Oliver is still negotiable,” I said

Valdez chuckled “More like out of options I seem to be all he has to ith on matters like this”

“Give hie the world I don’t want to rewrite history I just want to knohat le”

I caught sight of our server approaching fro an oval tray loaded with our lunch She swung around and stopped to ently balanced the tray She was just about to start doling out the entrées when I pivoted offthe coin within ht hand under the tray I brought it up and over, depositing an assortht onto Valdez

He reeled back from my assault

Coleen just sat there

I slipped the coin intoand sending it Valdez’s way, too, which shoved him and his chair down to the floor

The server stood in shock

“This guy has a gun,” I yelled “Everyone run”

I then stuckand screaun Get of here Now Hurry Go”

People both on the second floor and below conte fro the confusion would be enough to allow us to avoid the two uns below

“We have to leave,” I said to Coleen

“I’”

“We have to go I’ll get you answers, but not here”

Valdez was beginning to rouse from his predicament

“You’re not getting this coin from me,” I made clear to her

And she seemed to realize that would place her in dire jeopardy if she stayed

She rose from the chair and we headed for the stairs

Other patrons fro, everyone wanting nothing

At ground level it was chaos

People rushed for the outside

The two uns were nowhere to be seen

I avoided the three ht toward the kitchen door I’d noticed frolanced up to see Valdez still struggling to raise the heavy table off hi door and into the kitchen, where the panic had not quite taken hold I decided to toss a little gasoline on the fire

“There’s a guy out there with a gun,” I yelled

The cooks and a few of the servers did not have to be told twice They all headed for a door at the far side that, I hoped, led to daylight

And it did

We ca lot More of the old town’s narrow streets bordered the open space along with rows of clapboard houses If we hurried we could disappear before Valdez, or his two one

We both saw the trolley at the same time

One of those long, open-aired vehicles, orange and green and fashioned like a choo-choo train, it was intended for visitors anted to be driven around to the city sights Its tail end had just passed the restaurant parking lot, heading away, down the street We rushed ahead and leaped onto the last car, taking a seat The driver fifty feet aas droning on about the historic sights ere passing I glanced back and saw Valdez, standing in the street, his clothes stained by the food shower

“Senora Perry,” he called out “I never was able to say that your father sends his regards I’ll be seeing him shortly”

Valdez raised one of his fingers, as if to add soly casual remark Coleen heard the words and I saw the concern in her eyes We both got it Valdez had Benja I knehat she wanted us to do