Rubies are Red.
Part 23.
Paul
The door to an inner office opened and we were ushered inside. Behind a large desk a thin man in a dark suit wearing thick glasses sat. I would have put him as being in his sixties.
Three chairs had been placed in front of the desk and the man invited us to sit with a wave of his hand. The man who had shown us in walked behind the desk and the man in glasses said something to him that I couldn't quite catch. He then walked out of the room leaving the four of us together.
"Senora Watkinson." He spoke in Spanish nodding at Bill. "You must be Senorita Wolfenstein and you Senor Wagstaffe. What may I do for you?"
"I've come about my grandfather." I said, at least I could understand his Spanish. "I'm told he is being held here."
"What makes you think that."
"A worker at the hotel recognised the uniforms of the men who arrested him."
"Did he?"
There was silence for a few seconds. I didn't really have any proof that my grandfather was here. It had only been luck that I had thought to mention the name of the man we were to see later that day to deliver the briefcase to. I hadn't known it was the name of the Interior Minister. Strange that he should be seeing us alone. Didn't he want anybody else to know what we were talking about?
"You were to deliver something to me?" He asked. "Some papers from London?"
"About my grandfather?"
I opened a breast pocket in my shirt and took out one of the treasury bills. I unfolded it and passed it over the desk to the minister.
"You are not very trustworthy Senor Wagstaffe." He said, picking up the bill and turning it over in his hands.
"You have the others?"
"They are safe." I assured him.
I took out a second bill and passed it to him. I had three more on me and Howie had a further five.
"Come to the window." The Minister said standing up.
"What are you saying?" Louise hissed.
"Just small talk." I replied.
We walked to one of the large windows that over-looked an inner courtyard. A man was being led to stand in front of a reinforced section of wall. His eyes were blindfolded. There were six soldiers standing in a line. At a word from the officer in charge they placed their rifles against their shoulders. Another word and a volley of shots rang out. The man standing against the wall was thrown backwards with the force of the bullets striking him and collapsed in a heap.
My stomach turned. Louise gasped; I could feel her shaking by my side so I place an arm about her waist.
The two men who had led the man out picked up his body and carried it into the building. Two other men appeared leading a tall man with thinning grey hair. He stumbled once and would have fallen if they had not been holding him by either arm. He was stood against the wall. I saw him straighten his body as the men lifted their rifles.
"About my property?" The minister asked.
"That's my grandfather!" I exclaimed.
The minister opened one of the large windows and stepped out onto a small balcony. I followed him. I saw my grandfather look up at us.
The minister raised his hand.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Jenny.
I sipped at my mug of tea.
"Well?" Shirley asked from her position on the sofa. "What was he like?"
"He was sweet." I replied placing my tea on the small table by the side of Paul's chair where I was sitting.
"Come on." Shirley urged. "Give me some details."
"You haven't told me much about Matt yet." I pointed out.
"But yours is much more exciting."
Exciting? Was it?
"There isn't much to tell."
"Was that the first time?" She asked. "I'm sorry about barging in like that. There was only your car outside and there were no lights on. Then Matt heard a noise."
"Did he see?"
"No. Only me. He looked quite big."
"Oh, he is." I couldn't help but smile at the thought of him filling me.
"So, was it the first time?"
"No. We did it yesterday. Then twice today."