Looked Like An Angel

By Denise

Luis went to his hotel to try and relax from the long day. He went to have some dinner, but wasn't hungry. He pushed the plate away and lit a cigar. Luis ordered a bottle of rum and took it to his room.

He removed his jacket and vest. He then poured the rum into a glass and then went out onto the terrace that over looked the sea. He sat down and stretched his legs along the stone wall that surrounded the patio. The ocean breeze was cool as he laid his head against the post. He closed his eyes listening to the sounds of the waves lapping against the rocks down below. He was trying not to think about Julia, but his heart ached, missing her, wanting her back.

Luis finally went to bed but his thoughts went to this Bonita and the blond stranger. He had a feeling he was involved but didn't know for sure. Who were they? Did they have my Julia? He finally fell asleep.

The morning sun shone brightly into his room, so Luis got out of bed and got dressed. He looked at himself in the mirror. "I need a shave," he said as he touched his face, "but I have other things on my mind. I need to go out and do my own investigating." He took a gun out of the suitcase, and loaded bullets into it. Then stuck the gun into the pocket on the inside of his jacket. Then went down to the hotel restaurant to have breakfast. He finished his coffee and got up to leave when a man approached him.

"Mister Vargas?"

"Yes." Luis looked at him. "Who are you?"

"I am Detective Carl Smith, from New Orleans. I was told I could find you here."

"What can I do for you?"

"I have been following these two fugitives who left New Orleans about a month ago. I thought they had vanished on me. I arrived here by train late last night, after I received a telegram from a my home office that a woman of the name of Bonita Cassell was under investigation here, in Santiago."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are telling me that this Bonita Cassell is a fugitive?"

"Yes and her friend Billy Jones. I went over to the police station and I was told to come back in the morning."

"Oh my god! I don't believe this." He finally smiled as he ran his hand over his face.

"Why?"

"I believe she has my wife and one of my servants."

"You mean they were kidnapped?"

"Yes. A detective here in Santiago is searching for them. Miss Cassell is being held at the police station."

"Well then, let's go over to the police station. I know she will be pleased to see me again."

They took a taxi to the police station. Luis stopped and told the clerk that they were there to see Detective Cortez. He allowed them to pass through the door that led to Detective Cortez's office. Luis knocked, and the door swung open. "Señor Vargas, why are you here?"

"I have someone I want you to meet." Luis motioned to Detective Smith over to the door. "This is Detective Carl Smith he is from New Orleans and he has been tracking Bonita Cassell."

"Sergeant Lopez left me as massage that a detective came by late last night. You must be him."

"Yes, I was here."

"Did you say you are tracking her?"

"Yes, she is a fugitive."

"Well, it is great to meet you." They shook hands.

"Could I see your prisoner?" Detective Smith asked.

"Yes, come with me." They walked down the long hall to the jail cells.

"Miss Cassell, you have a visitor," Detective Cortez said as she got up off her bed. Then her expression changed when she saw Detective Smith.

"Hello Bonita," Detective Smith smiled.

"How did you find me?" she snapped.

"I have been following you."

"Damn you," she hissed.

"Let us go someplace more comfortable," Detective Cortez said. He ordered the guard to handcuff Miss Cassell and bring her to the meeting room.

She sat down in the chair at the table. Detective Cortez sat down, but Luis and Detective Smith remained standing.

"I understand you are running away from the law?"

"So what if I am?"

Detective Cortez looked at Detective Smith. "So, what is she wanted for in New Orleans?"

"Well, she is wanted, in several states, for embezzling money. She charms rich men and then takes their money."

"I see."

"Like what you were planning on doing to me?" Luis said as he walked around the table. "You lied to me about having a son, so you could steal my money." He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to control his anger; wanting to put his hands around her neck and squeeze the life out of her.

She sat there and stared.

Luis slammed his fist on the table. "Where is my wife?" he growled.

"Yes, Miss Cassell, I would like to know too?" Detective Cortez asked.

"All right!" she screamed as she looked around the room. "I will take you to your wife."

"You will?" Detective Cortez was surprised.

"Yes. I have no reason to keep her hostage anymore, do I?"

"No, because you are going back to New Orleans with me on the next ship." Detective Smith added.

"What about Billy?" she asked.

"Is he here?" Detective Smith questioned.

"Yes, he is at the house."

"Well, let's go," Detective Cortez said.

***

Detective Cortez hailed a taxi and they rode for about a mile to a row of houses. The house where he had found Bonita was in a bad part of town. There were many homeless people who used the buildings for shelter during tropical storms. The detective wondered why anyone would want to live in such a place like this, but now he knew they were hiding from the law.

Bonita was still in handcuffs as they approached the house. Detective Cortez banged on the door. A few minutes later a tall blond man opened the door, "What is going on here?" he asked and then backed away from the door, reaching for his gun when he saw Bonita.

"Mister Jones?"

Billy pointed the gun at the detectives. "What do you want?"

Both detectives drew their guns as Bonita pleaded to Billy. "Don't do this."

"Yes, Billy don't, do anything stupid," Detective Smith warned.

"You remember Detective Smith, don't you?" Bonita asked.

"Yes." He backed away as the two detectives entered the house, Bonita stood next to them.

"You are a fugitive from the United States. Don't make this worse then it already is," Detective Cortez pointed out.

"You have the wrong man," Billy yelled as he tried to reach for Bonita.

"Billy!" She moved away from him. "They know," Bonita said as she sneered at the detectives.

"Mister Jones, I would like you to come down to the police station, so we can talk about this," Detective Cortez suggested.

"What for? I haven't done anything." Billy grabbed Bonita by the arm attempting to pull her towards him.

"Billy, put the gun away!" Detective Cortez warned.

Luis was waiting outside when he heard several gunshots. He drew his gun and went into the house with caution. He found Billy on the floor with a gunshot to the arm and Detective Smith standing over Bonita; she was shot in the back

"What happened?"

"Miss Cassell was struggling with Mister Jones when his gun went off. He shot Bonita and I shot Billy." Detective Smith explained.

Luis looked around in shock at what just happened. Was this real? Luis stood before Billy as their eyes met. Luis observed a smirk on Billy's face.

"Where is my wife?" Luis demanded as he pointed his gun at Billy. He was emotionally charged, observing every move Billy made.

"In that room." Billy pointed towards the bedroom door, as he held his arm.

Luis turned around and went towards the door.

"You sure have a considerate woman, for a wife, she willingly gave herself to me several times," he chucked.

Luis tuned back around with rage in his eyes. "You son of a bitch!" He aimed the gun at Billy. "I swore if anyone touched my wife, I'd kill them."

"Luis! Restrain yourself," Detective Cortez stressed. "He ain't worth it!"

Luis withdrew his gun, stepped back and then went over to the door. "Julia?" he called out. He tried to turn the doorknob but it was locked. He slammed his fist against the door and then looked at Billy. "Billy!" he growled. "Where is the damn key?"

Billy pulled the key out of his pocket and tossed it to Luis. Luis held his breath as he turned the lock, not knowing what he would find.

***

I have been locked up in this cold dark room not knowing if it was night or day. Then I heard the voice, the one I have been longing to hear calling my name, but I couldn't respond since I my mouth was covered and my hands were tied to the bedposts. My eyes filled with tears knowing I was about to be rescued. When the door opened the light from the outside was bright. My eyes were trying to adjust to the light, when I saw a man coming towards me. I thought it could be Billy again, but then I realized it wasn't Billy, it was my Luis.

"Oh my God!" He ran over to me and fell to his knees. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes and took the gag off her mouth.

"Oh Luis, I can't believe you are really here."

Luis untied me from the bed and started to sit down, next to me. "Are you okay?"

"Luis…get me out of here."

"Can you stand up?"

"I don't know. I have been here since yesterday." I put my feet on the floor.

He then looked down at the sheets and noticed that they were covered with blood. "Why are you bleeding?"

"I was raped." I stared into his eyes.

"Yes, I know, he just told me."

I could see the range of emotions that was going through his mind. "Luis, he touched me, he raped me. It was horrible! I don't know if I was bleeding from that or if it's my monthly cycle."

Luis looked around the room. "So, where is Anna?"

"Oh Luis." My eyes filled with tears. "Billy killed her."

"What?" He started mumbling words in Spanish and then switching to English, as he paced around the room. "That son of a bitch! I will kill him!"

"No Luis! Just get me out of here."

He stopped and stared at me, "Yes. I'm sorry," and then embraced me. I could feel his body tremble as he held me tight.

Luis then helped me walk out of that room out into the living room, noticing that Bonita and Billy were gone. The detectives were still hanging around the house, to make sure we were okay. Luis introduced them to me. "Julia, tell them what you just told me."

I laid my head against Luis's shoulder as I talked. "Billy killed Anna after he raped her. He also raped me."

"Where did he take her body?"

"I don't know."

"Looks like we will be charging him with rape, murder and attempted murder," Detective Cortez commented as he started towards the door. "He won't see daylight for a long time."

"Maybe never, after I get done with him," Detective Smith added.

"Thank you, Detective Cortez and Smith, for helping me find; my wife." Luis stuck out his hand.

"You are welcome," Detective Cortez said as he returned the gesture.

"I'm happy I was able to help," Detective Smith said as he did the same.

They finally left us alone. Luis wrapped his arms around me. "Julia, I love you." He had tears running down his face. He nuzzled my neck as he held me tight thankful this ordeal was over. He looked at me and then gave me a gentle kiss. I could see the joy in his eyes as he pulled away from my arms.

"Is that all I get for being without you for 2 days?" I smiled.

"No, you will get more when we get to the hotel."

I touched his face. "We need to something with these whiskers."

"You don't like my beard?"

"No, it tickles my face."

He laughed. "I will take care of it once we are back at the hotel, okay?"

"Luis…" I looked down at myself. "…I can't walk into a hotel like this."

"Why not?"

"I have blood all over my dress."

"Okay we will stop and buy you a dress."

"We can do that?"

"Julia, they do have dresses that are already made."

"Okay."

Once outside there was a taxi out front, of the house. "Do you need a ride, señor?'

"Well…yes we do."

"You are staying at the Balcón Del Caribe Hotel, is that correct?"

"Yes, but we need to stop at a dress shop first."

We stopped at a dress shop. Luis bought me a new petticoat and a dress. I changed in their small dressing room. Luis was pleased, as he looked me over.

***

The taxi dropped us off at the hotel. Luis stopped to talk to the desk clerk and then turned to me. "I have a surprise for you." He held his arm out to me and then escorted me up the stairs.

I took his arm, with pride. "What is it?"

"You will see once we get to the room."

Luis unlocked and opened the door, "After you." He said as I went in. Once inside he spun me around and captured my mouth with his. My senses came alive with the essence of him, oh how I missed him. Those whiskers didn't matter anymore, all I wanted is to touch him and be touched in return. He quickly stopped when there was a knock on the door.

"Señor Vargas," a voice said.

"Why don't you go get undressed?" He suggested as he tried to compose himself before opening the door.

"Why?"

"I told you I have a surprise for you."

"Oh." So I went behind the screen to take my clothes off. I heard noises and so I peeked out, but no one was in sight. I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed all of the bruises on my body. Tears ran down my cheeks as I grabbed a robe out of the closet. "Luis where are you." I looked out on the terrace and saw a bathtub. I walked up to it and saw the steam coming up from the water. "Where did this come from?"

"Get in."

I spun around and Luis was standing behind me. I started to take my robe off, but then stopped. "I can't let you see me."

"Why?"

"Luis." I started crying. "I'm bruised from being raped."

"Let me see." He came over to me and removed the robe. "Oh that bastard!" He closed his eyes as he embraced me. "I will make sure he gets what he deserves, for touching you," he declared and held me as I cried.

"Oh Luis, I don't want to think about it anymore."

"You are right." He released me from the embrace, and then he tenderly kissed me. "Why don't you get into the water, it will make you feel better."

The hot water took my breath away as I eased myself into the tub. I looked up at Luis. "Aren't you getting in?"

"No I want you to relax and hopefully you won't be so sore."

"But I want you to join me."

"No, not now."

"Okay." I pouted, as I submerged myself deep into the water, it felt wonderful. All of my aches and pains seemed to have disappeared.

I laid my head on the back of the tub with my eyes closed and then I drifted off to sleep.

I woke to the smell of a cigar. I looked around the room and saw Luis sitting in a chair watching me.

"How do you feel?"

"Why don't you join me?"

"No, I will when we get home."

"Home? What about now?" All of a sudden I realized the water had gotten cold, so I decided I should get out. He stood up and brought me a towel. He took my hand and helped me out of the tub. He wrapped the towel around me.

"I told you I did this for you, besides we will have one waiting for us when we get back home."

"We will?"

"We can take lots of baths together."

"I like that.

He took me into his arms and gently kissed me. "Let's go to bed."