Chapter Twenty-Eight

Villalba, Puerto Rico was a semi-affluent community near the Toro Negro National Forest. It was the kind of quiet place people enjoyed when the rest of the world didn’t make sense anymore. The balmy breezes that blew through the kapok trees were soothing. The long sunny days and cool nights were easy to enjoy.

The news about Renee’s retirement from the agency wasn’t published. It took a few dark web contacts to get the information. But William felt it was important to know. He’d been waiting for either her to leave him alone or a bullet to the head. When no one came looking for him after he’d left her bedroom suggested that she either decided to give him a break or the bean-counters didn’t think it was worth the extra money to eliminate loose ends. William was just another man with secrets. There were so many of him in the world, what did it matter now.

The mixed drink suddenly appeared before him when William opened his eyes. A local favorite, coconut water had a heavy mixture of fruity whiskey and less than equal parts of the namesake ingredient.

“I think one of your drinks is always my limit.” He accepted the beverage but moved it immediately to the small table between the two lawn chairs on the porch. He watched as the trim body walked in front of his view of the landscape surrounding the cottage.

Ronald sat down, cradling his drink. He rested the glass on his knee. “I don’t think I’ve seen you finish one of those yet.”

“I’m a lightweight,” William said with a shrug. “What can I say?” He reached across the table with an open hand. Ronald’s hand fell into his and held fast.

“What now?” he said as they waited for the sun to set again. The view from the porch to the setting sun was never something to grow tired of seeing. It was what days were meant for, and best shared between lovers.

“I’m not sure,” William said. “It’s not easy to just slip into retirement.”

“Speak for yourself.” Ronald sipped at the drink. “I’m dead. I can do what I want.”

“You’re just lucky enough to have someone who can get a hold of a passport forger.”

Ronald nodded. “That’s true. And I like my new name.”

“I think it’s weird calling you by your new name.” William shuttered. “It’s like I’m cheating on you.”

“I’m still here.”

“That’s true.” They heard the calls of the jungles.

The spindalis and Puerto Rican parrots were noisy in the trees. Wild parrots visited the hut every day since Ronald made friends by leaving out cut fruit and fresh nuts for the birds. Sometimes mongoose raided the fruit bowls overnight. 

“Do you ever feel bad about robbing that grave for a corpse?” The question was random. It’d been too many months since they’d planned Ronald’s death. Since Virginia laws allowed homestead burials, it was only a matter of finding the right plot.

“I can tell by your question that it still bothers you,” William pointed out. “I don’t think the corpse minded much. They gave it another burial.”

“I know. Don’t remind me. I feel awful about that.”

“Catherine is doing just fine.”

“Only because you gave her a vacation voucher,” Ronald said.

“Look, we can call her now. She can be on the first flight out of Virginia. She’d be happy spending the rest of her life here.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.” William didn’t look at Ronald watching him. He knew the eyes were keen on his profile, waiting for his next plan. “Are you happy here?”

“I’m happy wherever you are.”

Now William looked at Ronald. His grin flashed. “I’m glad you said that.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about our future.”

“And what have you decided?”

“Well, I thought about your new name, Howard Pyle.”

“Okay,” Ronald said and nodded. “What did you come up with?”

“You picked that out for a reason. At the time I wasn’t too sure. Then I started looking at the name. You knew about his book.”

“Of course, I did. It was the first book my mother read to me. I don’t know why I picked up on it when I was young.”

“But people today don’t know the significance of his most famous book.”

“Not anymore. Who reads books anymore?” Ronald guzzled down the burning alcohol. He had to take a deep breath and blow off steam afterward.

“Did you pick that name only because Catherine read you his book?”

“I don’t know,” Ronald said. His voice was far away. “I just got to thinking that it would be nice if people still did some good in the world.”

“That’s kind of what I was thinking too.” William sipped at his drink. “But it might require breaking the law again.”

“Well, why stop now?” Ronald asked.

“And you wouldn’t be opposed if I’d taken a few liberties to ensure our future?”

“Are you talking about the money you siphoned from Goldberg’s accounts?”

William turned to Ronald, wide-eyed. “How did you know?”

Ronald pursed his lips. “Come on, give me a little credit. I’m not just in love with a spy. It’s hard not to pick up a few bad habits too.” He looked at the empty glass. He put it on the little table by William’s glass, still half-full. “Why should I care if we have a little nest egg? As long as we give a little back,” he added.

“That can easily be arranged.”

“I got you a present today when I went to the store,” Ronald told William. “Close your eyes.”

After a moment, William felt something drop in his lap. When he opened his eyes, he stared down at the can of whipped cream.

“I figure any time you want to try that out. I’m game.”

William stood up. “Let’s go.”