The Lord of Opium(40)

“I’ve never seen her before,” said María. “Is she a guest of the Alacráns?”

“A guest—no.” Matt scrambled for an explanation.

“Hey, there! What’s your name?” called María.

Mirasol rose gracefully to her feet. “I am called Waitress,” she said.

Esperanza laughed harshly. It was the first time Matt had heard anything like humor from her, and it wasn’t cheering. It sounded like someone choking on a piece of gristle. “She’s an eejit,” Esperanza said. “You can tell by the eyes.”

“An eejit!” María’s mouth fell open.

“A very pretty one too,” her mother said. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it? El Patrón used to like pretty waitresses.”

“It’s nothing like that!” cried Matt.

“Then . . . what is it?” said María. She had backed away from the portal and was standing next to her mother.

“She’s a pet.” Matt knew immediately that he’d made a mistake. The argument might work with Mr. Ortega and Daft Donald—though he suspected they laughed at him behind his back—but not María.

“You don’t make pets out of eejits,” she said.

“You made one out of me,” Matt said, hoping to deflect her anger. “I used to be an animal, remember?”

“You were a friend. Eejits are different. Liking them is—is—perverted.” María had a mulish streak, and it was in full display now.

“I felt sorry for her, that’s all,” Matt said lightly. “Like you do with the homeless.”

“It’s not at all the same.”

María’s face was pale, and her hands were clasped—a bad sign, Matt remembered. She did it when she was about to lose control of her emotions. He was close to losing his, too. How dare she attack him when he was trying so hard to do the right thing? All he wanted was to save the eejits.

“I understand about drug lords having girlfriends,” said María. “They all do it, and the wives have to put up with it. MacGregor kept Felicia for years. But at least she was a real woman, not—this.”

“Shut up and listen for a moment,” said Matt. “Waitress is just someone I’m trying to help. I don’t know where you’re getting these crazy ideas, but if you don’t like her, I’ll send her away. Go to the kitchen, Waitress. Now.”

Mirasol turned and glided out of the room.

“I don’t know if I believe you. I’ll have to think about it,” said María.

“Fine! Go ahead and think. You’ve been doing the huka huka with greasy men in New York, but that’s okay. You’re Miss Butter Wouldn’t Melt in Her Mouth. You think you’re Saint Francis’s baby sister.”

“Don’t you make fun of Saint Francis!” María’s nostrils flared like an angry pony’s.

“I will if I like. He’s only a myth, anyway,” said Matt. He knew he’d gone too far, but he couldn’t stop the words from pouring out. That’s the stuff, an old, old voice whispered in his mind. Make your women toe the line.

María gasped and fled the room. He couldn’t pursue her. He couldn’t do a thing.

Esperanza rose. “Well, that was entertaining.”

“It’s your fault! You put the idea into her head,” accused Matt.

“Did I? Oh, fie! Bad girl!” Esperanza playfully slapped herself on the wrist.

“You won’t win this battle. I know María. She’ll forgive me, even though there’s nothing to forgive.”

“We’ll see,” said the woman. “Just to show you my heart’s in the right place, I’ll let Ton-Ton, Chacho, and Fidelito visit. They’re trashing the convent anyway.”

Matt was surprised at her gesture of goodwill, but she had achieved her goal, to drive a wedge between him and María. As for Ton-Ton, Chacho, and Fidelito, Esperanza could easily let go of them. They were expendable. She didn’t care what happened to them.





17





THE FOUNTAIN OF CHILDREN




Matt avoided Dr. Rivas and Cienfuegos and went into the garden to think. He didn’t even want to see Mirasol. The rage that had threatened to overwhelm him faded, but it still frightened him. Why can’t I control myself? he thought. Why can’t I be good by merely saying, “Be good”? But it didn’t work that way.

Maybe he should make a list of rules on a card to refer to: Rule 1: Don’t lose your temper. Rule 2: Be courageous. Rule 3: Send Mirasol away.

She would be miserable if he sent her away. It wasn’t her fault that she was programmed to serve him. Besides, he really wanted to help her, only not when María was around. Rule 4: Don’t tell lies. That was a toughie. Drug lords prospered by telling lies. Even Esperanza thought it was okay.