Page 18 of Cutter’s Lady

Chapter 4

Leslie had learned through the years to pretend not to be intimidated. She presented a thoroughly unimpressed face to the officer. “Why, how nice. I had planned on calling on Señor Maldenado this morning. Won’t you join us? We’ve just ordered, but our breakfast hasn’t arrived yet. Then, as soon as we’ve eaten, we can go to Señor Maldenado’s office.”

Cutter managed to keep his face straight, though he wanted to chuckle. Whatever else she was, no one could deny that Leslie Harper was cool. There weren’t many who dared postpone a “request” from the national police. The officer looked somewhat taken aback at Leslie’s words. Cutter was sure he wasn’t used to being told to wait, however politely it had been phrased.

“Señora, I don’t think you understand. Señor Maldenado is a busy man. It isn’t… good to keep him waiting. We will go now, please.”

Leslie raised one delicately arched eyebrow. “You mean before we eat our breakfast? But, surely… you must have misunderstood me. We have already ordered. Our food will be here in a few minutes.”

The officer set his jaw. “No, señora, I did not misunderstand. My orders are to bring you back immediately.”

“If Señor Maldenado wished to see me right now, he should have let me know earlier,” Leslie flashed back.

Cutter decided it was time to intervene. It was one thing for Leslie to assert herself a little; it was quite another for her to make an enemy of the national police. Cutter rose and put his hand under her arm to help her up. “Leslie, I don’t think there’s any point in arguing. He has his orders, after all. We can have breakfast after we’ve seen Señor Maldenado.”

To his relief, Leslie stood up without a fuss, but the officer scowled at him. “Who are you? I have no orders to take you.”

During the verbal maneuvering, Leslie’s initial flash of fear had disappeared, but now it returned with full force. She didn’t want to leave with this man by herself.

Cutter’s grip on her arm tightened reassuringly. “I must accompany the señora. I am her interpreter.”

The officer looked at him skeptically. Cutter knew he didn’t look like an interpreter. He looked more like a bodyguard, which was exactly the impression he meant to make. “Señor Maldenado speaks English very well.”

Leslie was afraid Cutter would back down before the officer’s refusal. After all, Cutter heartily disliked her, and she had no reason to expect any loyalty from him. She tensed, expecting Cutter to step away.

To her surprise, he moved closer to her and said firmly, “I am going with the señora. She is my responsibility. Her father hired me. He is a very wealthy, important man in the United States, and he feared for his daughter’s safety here, after her husband’s kidnapping. I am never to leave her side while she is here.”

The other man scowled. “I have no orders regarding you.”

“Then you have no orders to refuse to take me.”

“No…”

“I cannot allow Mrs. Harper to leave unless I accompany her.”

The officer puffed up indignantly. “Allow? You have no right to allow or not to allow!”

Cutter smiled, extending his free hand in a gesture of conciliation. “Please. This isn’t worth making an international issue out of, is it? I have my orders; you can understand. Since you have no orders regarding me, what’s the harm in my coming along?”

The man regarded Cutter coldly for a moment, then jerked his head in assent. “All right. You may come. Now, let us hurry. We are late.”

Leslie relaxed, almost sagging against Cutter. She was grateful he had refused to be separated from her. Of course, she could have managed by herself, but his tall, muscular presence was very reassuring. She glanced up at him as they left the restaurant. “Thank you.”

Cutter glanced down in surprise. “You’re welcome. What are you thanking me for?”

“For insisting that you come with me.”

“I couldn’t let you go by yourself.”

“Why not?”

He looked nonplussed, then shrugged. It had never occurred to him to allow the police to take her away by herself. “You must know some pretty weird men.”

“What do you mean?”

“That you would think I’d leave you to face the Policía Nacional by yourself.”

“But you’re only an employee.”