Seventy five

CHAPTER 75

SANTIAGO

When my phone rang, I could read interest in Martha's eyes. I glanced at the phone and saw that it was Glenn calling. Martha began to sidle up to me, craning her neck a little in order to see who was calling. I walked a few paces away from her and answered the call.

"Hello? Santiago?"

I frowned. There was a note of worry in Glenn's voice and I wondered if she was still worried or concerned about Martha's earlier attitude. I was about to reply when I noticed Martha looking around, but slowly moving, every step bringing her closer to me.

"Hang on a sec," I told Glenn.

I glared at Martha and walked far away from her, giving her space of a few metres.

"Glenn? Are you still there?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Okay. Hi. How are you? You sound worried. Is everything okay?"

"I am worried."

"Why? If it's because of what happened earlier, you have nothing to worry about. I will handle-"

"-It's something else. I received a threat this morning. So, shortly after you dropped me off, I was at work and a text message came in. It was from an unknown number and... check your phone. I just forwarded it to you."

I took my phone of my ear, stared at the message that had just been delivered.

It read, You Will Regret What you did.

"I just saw it," I told her. "That is definitely a threat. Did you have an argument or quarrel with anyone? Who on earth could have sent that?"

"Who else could it be?"

"Oh. Surely... you don't mean..."

"Martha. It somehow has to be her."

"Oh no. This time, I think you are mistaken. It can't possibly be Martha-"

"Why the hell can't it be? And why are you so sure that it isn't her?"

I sighed. "Please, Glenn. Just calm down. I know you are upset-"

"-You have no idea how much, and don't tell me to calm down-"

"-but then you still have to take facts into consideration."

"What facts?"

"The fact that it couldn't have been Martha who sent the threat. I have been with her all day, and I'm pretty sure she isn't the one. Just think, Glenn. Maybe you had a fight with someone recently and you've forgotten-"

Glenn laughted bitterly.

"I can't believe this," she said. "You are actually taking Martha's side on this. I just told you about what happened, and without hesitation, you are defending her."

"No. You got it all wrong. I am just trying to help you narrow down the possibilities, so we can actually find out who really sent the threat. I'm on your side here-"

"It's pretty obvious that you are not. I regret calling you to tell you about this in the first place-"

"Glenn, listen-"

"Just forget I said anything about this-"

"Please-"

"I will handle the threat issue on my own.

Stay with your precious Martha. I mean, what is the use of having a man around... of having you around, when you can't even stand up for me."

"Glenn?" I called again, but I was talking to no one. She had hung up on me.

I shoved my hand through my hair in frustration. Glenn was really pissed and I didn't know how to fix this.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been so vehement in my defense of Martha. But I just been stating what I believed to be facts. I glanced over at Martha who had been watching me curiously while I made the call. I took several deep, calming breaths, tucked the phone in my pocket, and walked over to her.

"Who was that?" she asked as soon as I was within earshot. "You looked pretty upset when you were talking to... whoever it was."

I made no reply. I just stood there, staring at her. I tried to read her expression to see if there was any iota of guilt there, but there was only curiousity, and I was more convinced than ever that Glenn was mistaken.

The silence between Martha and I stretched for a while, then she asked,

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?"

"I have a better question for you, Martha.

Why the hell did you lie about us being married and about the child?"

She pressed a hand against her chest and gasped. "Santiago, I know that some of my past actions might have made you prejudiced against me, but I can't believe that you will think for a moment that I would lie about something as sacred as a child- our child."

I scoffed. "Oh please. Stop with the theatrics already. We both know what you are capable of doing. Lies come easily to you, so just tell the truth and be done with it."

Martha took a step closer to me and grasped my forearms. I attempted to shake her off, but she held on tightly. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"Look at me and see that I'm not lying" she said. "I'm telling the truth about the pregnancy. I was pregnant. You have to believe me."

"Well, I can't."

"Okay. Fine. But then you will have to believe proof, right? I have proof... reports that show that I was actually pregnant."

I looked intently at her for a long moment. She did not avert her eyes. I shrugged and stepped away from her. At this point, I didn't know what to believe anymore.

"Santiago," she sighed. "Please-"

"Let's drop it. It's time to go back to the hotel."

I walked to the car. After a moment, she hurried after me. During the drive to hotel, I kept thinking about Martha's claims and what Glenn had said.

When we got to the lobby of the hotel, I noticed a movement out of the corner of my eyes.

A burly man dressed in a dark suit, who was sitting and evidently waiting for someone, nodded to his companion who was also dressed in the same fashion. As one, they moved and headed towards us.