Cry in the Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

new spring coat. It was, the guidebooks assured, eternal spring in Mexico City.
    I avoided Timothy for a full week, and then, when he ran me down and we went for coffee, I confessed all in one breath.
    “I don’t blame you if it makes you mad. After all, a trip like this should go to someone in the department, but when I saw the notice on the board, I couldn’t resist trying for it.”
    He was surprised. “It never occurred to me that you’d try to go.”
    “I’m sorry, Timothy—” I began, but he held up his hands.
    “It’s fine with me,” he interrupted. “Don’t worry about it. It’s no skin off my nose if you get the gold ring. Freidheim would see us all in hell before he’d let any member of the department make the trip.”
    “Why? That doesn’t make sense.”
    “It doesn’t,” Timothy replied, “but Freidheim thinks it will put the Ortegas down if just any old museum employee lugs it back. No one else sees it that way but Rodriguez is going along with it because it soothes Freidheim.”
    Then he said, almost uncertainly, “But I never expected—I mean, I’m surprised you checked into the notice. Why do you want to go to Mexico City?”
    I drank a big gulp of iced tea. I would never, of course, admit to Timothy why I wanted to make the trip. But the questions caught me unprepared.
    “I don’t know exactly,” I said. “It’s time for my vacation and I didn’t have anything special planned and it sounds like fun.”
    He frowned. “I kind of wish . . .” he said slowly, then he ended in a rush, “It’s not really the kind of place for a woman traveling alone. It’s a huge city, millions, and it’s always open season on a woman alone.”
    “Why, Timothy,” I said, smiling, “I can’t believe it’s you talking. I didn’t know you harbored such male chauvinist views. I’ll have you know it’s a brave new world out there. If I wanted to, I’d go to Tibet alone is somebody would offer to pay my way.”
    He laughed. “So you have a streak of adventure. Well, so be it.”
    I didn’t see Timothy again the next week. When the week was almost done, I began to lose what little hope I still had that I might be the lucky one. After all, why should Freidheim choose me?
    It was Thursday afternoon when I answered my phone and recognized his faintly guttural voice.
    “Freidheim here. Are you still interested in the trip to Mexico City, Miss Ramsay?”
    It was like winning the sweepstakes or graduating cum laude or seeing for a fabulous instant the shimmer of a rainbow.
    “Oh yes, Dr. Freidheim.”
    “Good. You said when we talked that you had vacation coming. If it is agreeable with your department, I will obtain your tickets and you can leave Monday.”
    “Monday.”
    “Is that not convenient?”
    “That will be fine.”
    It was arranged that I should come to the museum Monday morning and pick up the boxed manuscript and my plane ticket.
    Just before he rang off, Dr. Freidheim said brusquely, “You have been invited to stay with the Ortegas while you are in Mexico City. I assume that is agreeable to you?”
    There is nothing quite as unattractive as the gaping spread when a gift horse opens its mouth.
    I hesitated and, before I could answer, he continued. “It would not be polite to decline the invitation.”
    “Oh, of course not,” I said hurriedly. “But wouldn’t it be an imposition?”
    “Not at all. The Ortegas are a very old and wealthy family. The house is large and quite easily accommodates guests.” He paused, then said, “It would be very interesting to know why the return of the manuscript was requested. Although,” he added quickly, “you must certainly not ask.”
    “I won’t ask.”
    “It is settled then.”
    If I stayed with the Ortegas, I wouldn’t have to use my slender resources for a hotel room and, of course, it would be very interesting to stay in a Mexican home.
    I wondered over the weekend if Timothy would call to wish me luck. He didn’t, and I