The TISIPHONE betrayal

Chapter 34: It takes two to tango

THE FARM

HIGH IN THE ANDES

"Where are Marco and Sydney?" Marjorie asked as Sir Terrence assisted her into her seat.

Chris pointed to the Community Center. "She's assisting him with his weekly clinic. They're having lunch down there with the children. Sydney's regaling them with tales of the ancient Incas. They're safe."

"I would certainly hope so. They're so many of you paratroopers around this place, I feel like I'm in an army camp," Marjorie grinned. "Several good looking ones, too. Don't give me that look, Terry. I can still admire them."

Consuela elbowed Chris as she listened to the bantering elderly couple. "Do you think I'll be as sprightly as her when I get to seventy?"

"Much better, querida," Chris whispered as he kissed the back of her neck.

"And to think we wasted twenty-five years ..."

"... we still have twenty-five to go or are you getting tired?"

As Mathilde served coffee, Consuela arched an eyebrow at Chris. "If my eyes aren't failing me, I see my father, Iggie, Marjorie, Sir Terrence, you and I at this table. Are you telling me the author is sitting at this table?"

"Not author - authors," Chris replied as he sat back and stared at the mountains. "If you ask your father and Sir Terrence, you might find that they have a fascinating tale to tell you."

"My father? Papa?" She turned to stare at her father who in turn nodded and smiled at Chris.

"When did you discover our little secret?"

"The night you discussed your new riding boots, sir." Chris offered his tobacco pouch to Juan Carlos.

"My boots?"

"Yes, you said that you had attended Yale and had purchased your Friedson Bros. boots in New York City, sir. When I leaked the news to that reporter, he had mentioned that one of the nun's brothers worked in Westport Connecticut at a riding tack store. I don't know why, but that stuck in my memory. Did you know her?"

Juan Carlos shook his head. "No, I didn't. I knew her father and he was a fine man, but he never recovered from the death of his child."

"Will someone please explain what this is all about?" Consuela stared at her father. "How long have you known Sir Terrence, Papa?"

Sir Terrence cleared his throat. "Why don't you tell us what you know and I will fill in the gaps, Martin."

"I suspect Juan Carlos initiated the contact sometime in the mid 90's, sir."

"You're correct, Martin. He came looking for you and he was directed to me. I was puzzled why he would be seeking you and the name Espinoza popped up as a possible security breach. Gradually, we built a rapport."

"Papa, you never told me you went looking for Chris." Consuela interrupted. "Why did you?"

Juan Carlos slowly lit his pipe before continuing. "A father always adores his daughters. I had one who had known love and lost it. I trusted and liked him from the first day. I liked him even more when I saw how happy he made you. I always suspected that your mother had something to do with his leaving, but she always denied it"

He puffed before continuing. "So when I was in London on business. I decided to take a risk. I was surprised when I was directed to Sir Terrence and he knew my name. We began verbally fencing and we got to know each other over the next two years."

"Then how did you two come to write this book four years ago?"

"I think they wrote the book for the twentieth anniversary. Am I correct?" Chris asked.