Glenda unlocked the door and stepped inside. "What is this about, please?" She dropped her bag on the bed and turned to face the man.

Hector left the door ajar and took in her taught, tanned figure, barely concealing anything from his roaring imagination. "Senorita, this is not a pleasant duty but as a member of the resort it is my responsibility to our guests to see that an acceptable level of behaviour is maintained. As you can appreciate we are also a family oriented facility."

"Will you just get to the point." Glenda jammed a hand onto her hip and shook her hair.

"Senorita Weiss, your uh- uhh- Senor Ordman is uhm- he's entertaining the real estate lady in his room."

Glenda stared at the man without speaking. Her mind was racing through the data but not comprehending its meaning. Why would this guy be taking the trouble to tell her? The bullshit line about resort behaviour was thinner than Varsol. Why is he telling me this? She leaned forward. "What?"

"This would never ordinarily be mentioned but as you are both investors in the resort properties, it is necessary to see that—"

"He's doing WHAT?" It didn't surprise her one bit that Gary would do something like that; she'd deal with him later. But what the hell was this guy up to?

Hector moved closer, extending his arms in a sympathetic gesture. "I hate myself, senorita, for having to bring you this news but . . ." She stepped back defensively, glaring at him. "Are you alright, senorita? Should I get some water or something?" He backed away so as not to frighten her and crushed his cigarillo in the dresser ashtray. When he saw her body relax he moved a little closer again. "This is terrible news, I know but it is my duty to the resort and, I believe, to you."

"That bastard!" She sank onto the bed and crossed her legs.

Hector took her expletive as a sign she might be open to his comfort and when he tentatively placed his fingers on her bare shoulder, she looked up, her eyes steely.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Senorita?"

"You bring me this rotten news and now what?"

Hector removed his hand and frowned. He wasn't quite sure what she meant and he didn't want to spark any trouble with his superior. "Nothing, senorita. I mean, I do nothing . . . unless . . .?"

"Unless I ask you to go and beat the living shit out of him?"

"Madre Dios! No senorita. I could never—"

"Don't' worry," she waved a hand as she stood. "I can do that myself." Hector gave her a cautious look; this was not the crumbling, vulnerable woman he'd expected, mentioning the arrangement he'd heard discussed didn't seem like a good idea anymore. Her voice hardened along with a tough smile. "I appreciate your concern, Hector and I would like to show that appreciation by writing a brief note to the resort manager about your concerns and the delicacy with which you executed your duty."

He held up his palms and tried to calm her intentions. "That will not be necessary, senorita. It would just alarm and alert more people than necessary to your uhm, predicament." A note to Carlos would be disastrous!

Glenda looked thoughtful." Do I have a predicament, Hector?" She stood from the bed and walked slowly toward him and stopped, her face inches from his. "You really thought you could pull this off didn't you?"

"Senorita?" He began sweating.

"Bad news followed by the comforting arms and understanding manner. You probably pictured me being so grateful I'd fall right into bed with you, right? You try this with every new group of arrivals? Ever get lucky, Hector? What made you think it would matter to me?"

"Senorita Weiss, I assure you—" His heart sank. He had blundered massively. There was no reason for him to know or suspect that she and Ordman were more than business partners.

"No, Hector, Let me assure you. You're so keen to maintain the integrity of the resort from now on you will keep me up to date on all of Senor Ordman's activities and you will follow any other directives I choose to give you or, Carlos Estrada and Charles Ortiz, your immediate boss, will get that note with full details."

Hector's neck burned and his stomach did a nosedive. What had he done? His fantasy plan was now completely turned around and he himself was in peril. Glenda dragged a long nail down his cheek and smiled smugly. "Don't be a stranger, Hector. I'll expect frequent reports." She nudged him back toward the door and held it while he fled the room.

"So Gary is entertaining the real estate lady in his room is he? A little above and beyond the call?" She snarled at her mirror image as she applied fresh makeup and brushed her hair. "Well two can play that game pal." She stood and peeled off the bikini and selected a different one from her drawer.

Maybe this was Gary's way of trying to find out about the finances. But then why not tell her his plan? They were more than partners after all. Certainly Hector Prince had figured that out. That fact gave her some pause as she picked up her purse and sunglasses and left the room, deciding to walk back to the pool instead of calling for a ride.

********

Shelia left the bed and went to the washroom carrying her clothes. Ten-thirty and she'd been with two different men already. It was a first for her and she needed to take a quick shower and get back to her business. Gary thought he could get her to reveal more of the financial situation by bedding her even if it was her idea. Winston was good but variety was better and in this case, protecting one's backside in the process. She giggled at the thought as she stepped under the stream of steaming water.

He might think he's playing me, she mused, as she soaped herself, but she could sense his macho ego was more at work than any concern for his money. It would be easy now to keep him from any more prying. All she had to do was pretend to remain grateful for his attention.

She stepped out of the shower and grabbed the towel, knocking her clothes and then her purse onto the floor, spilling its contents. She swore at the fact that her blouse got a little wet but hurriedly dried off and dressed, fixed her hair and returned to the bedroom.

"I'm disappointed. I thought we might go again before you left." Gary sat up in the bed, purposely letting the sheet slide away.

"I have a job to attend to; I'm not a guest at the resort."

"Yeah." He frowned. "Well job one is to dig around the books like we discussed, right?"

She checked herself in the mirror again and smiled at him. "I said I have no access to the financials. I also said that the corporation was issuing dividend cheques, so you might want to see that before making any unnecessary waves down here." She looked at her watch and collected the rest of her things. "I am glad we had this talk though, Gary." She leaned down and kissed him then left.

Gary waited until Shelia was gone then he hurried into his swimsuit and called for a ride to the pool. Glenda would be waiting. If she suspected he would be in very deep shit.

******

Hector paced back and forth behind the kitchen at Fonda Anita where he had gone to hide while he tried to get his aching head to think a way out of his predicament. How could he have been so careless- so stupido! If the damned woman followed through with her note he would be ruined forever in the business in Mexico or any other resort area.

Graves had already thrown his previous record in his face; any more could even see him back in jail. It wasn't fair! He slammed his fist into the side of the building and instantly regretted it. His knuckles began bleeding and he swore as he wrapped them in a clean serviette from a pile outside the kitchen door. He had to do something.

The thought hit him that if he alerted Ordman to the fact that his partner knew what he was doing, maybe he would find a solution to keep her quiet. But here he had the same problem again. How would he explain how he knew? He winced in pain from his battered knuckles. He had to do something. He should have stuck to what Graves was paying him to do.

Resort personnel scurried about the patio setting up long tables with linen and decorative floral displays. A large, gaily painted banner announcing, The Manager's Welcome Party, was strung across the front of the small stage, which was being organized for the music and the evening's entertainment. Helen Ramirez was directing the traffic, carrying a clipboard and making reference to her notes every few seconds.

Passing men went out of their way to greet her, getting long suffering looks from their companions. Small children darted among the feet of the workers, chased by the young female staff hired to run the children's program and the squeals and noise became more than a lot of the adults could bear. The speakers emitted endless loops of the same music while the sound system was adjusted leaving some with it permanently embedded in their brains. The beach became the destination of choice.

The morning ended with lunch crowds at the beach food cart and Divers. Fonda Anita was lined up and the cabs were zooming guests off to the private restaurants around the area. When lunch was over it was back to the sun and the afternoon spun by with short visits to the water then a salt shower, more drinks and then more lying on the beach that resembled a battlefield with bodies sprawled all over, cooking in the sun.

Glenda set her book down and glanced across at Gary. His eyes were closed and she couldn't read an expression of any kind. His story about getting the woman, Shelia, to so easily promise to dig up resort financial business for him sounded pretty thin. Hector probably hit the nail on the head when he said, 'entertaining'.

"I'm going up to get dressed for dinner." She gathered her things and stood up casting her shadow over his face.

"Where do you want to go," he asked opening his eyes and letting them travel the length of her body.

"Somewhere off the grounds for a change."

"Okay. Want company?"

"No thanks." She said.

He felt the change in temperature. "Hey, something up?"

"Yes." She started away from him.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Gary. I'm going to get dressed."

"Are you coming to this do tonight?" He climbed up and picked up his own things.

"Of course. I want to hear what our corporation officers have to say, if anything, off the record."

"Good idea, when you get back I'll be ready to go."

"Not with me." She left him gaping after her in confusion.