Karyn wondered if she detected a faint emphasis on old. "Please, call me Karyn," she said.
Chris glanced warily from one woman to the other. "Have you had lunch, Karyn?" he said quickly. "Won't you join us?"
"Yes, please do," said Audrey.
"I ate on the plane," Karyn said. "But I could use a cup of coffee."
Chris pulled out a chair for her and signaled the waiter.
"I don't think you'll like the coffee in Mexico, Karyn," Audrey said. "It always tastes like they left it brewing overnight. Chris and I usually have the tea."
"That's all right," Karyn said, returning the younger woman's smile. "I like my coffee strong."
The waiter brought a muddy black brew in a heavy mug. Karyn sipped at it and made a show of enjoying the taste.
For the next few minutes Chris made an awkward attempt at small talk while Karyn responded politely and noncommittally. Audrey ate in silence, alert for any vibrations between Chris and Karyn.
Finally Chris ran out of inconsequential remarks. He said, "I, uh, don't suppose you're down here by sheer coincidence."
"No," Karyn said. "I came looking for you."
"Well, you found me."
"It couldn't have been easy," Audrey put in.
"It wasn't," Karyn admitted.
An edgy minute of silence dragged by.
"Are you staying here at the hotel?" Audrey asked finally, holding her smile in place.
"I'm not sure yet," Karyn said. Abruptly she turned to Chris. "I have to talk to you."
"I suppose that means alone," Audrey said, her smile gone brittle.
"If you don't mind too much," Karyn said. "I'm sure you can spare him for a few minutes."
"Oh, I suppose can." Audrey stood up and stretched her lithe young body. She walked behind Chris's chair and traced a forefinger along the back of his neck. "I'll be in our room, darling."
Chris's eyes followed her as she walked out.
"Pretty girl," Karyn said when they were alone.
"Yes," Chris said, dismissing the subject. "What's happened?"
Karyn looked around the dining room. The orderliness of the place and the well-dressed, well-mannered guests enjoying lunch seemed inappropriate for what she had to tell.
"Can we go somewhere else?"
"Sure." Chris signed the check and they walked out of the hotel and down across the beach. They passed the somnolent sunbathers and continued to the wet, packed sand at the water's edge. They walked on to where the sandy beach ended and there were rocks in the surf, and the jungle grew right down to the sea. They sat down on a big rock and watched the incoming waves churn into a green and white froth.
"Do you remember the fire at Drago?" Karyn said, looking out to sea.
"Could I ever forget it?"
"And afterward, how we heard the howling and knew that not all the wolves had died?"
"We don't know that for sure, Karyn. What we heard might have been coyotes or something, and not those... creatures from Drago."
Karyn shook her head. "No, it was the werewolves. I know, because they've come for me."
As calmly as she could, Karyn told him about the things that had happened since she first had the feeling of being watched, less than a month ago in Seattle. She told of seeing Roy in the shopping mall, of the death of Mrs. Jensen, of the flight to her parents' home in Los Angeles and the signs that the wolves had followed her there, too,
Chris sat for a long moment when she had finished her story. Finally he said, "And you think one of them who's come for you is Roy?"
"I'm sure of it. I saw him."
"You couldn't be mistaken?"
"No. And that woman, Marcia Lura, is one of them too."
"Are there any more?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. Just the two of them."
There was another heavy pause before Chris spoke again. "All right, what do you want me to do?"
Karyn turned away suddenly, trying not to cry. "I-I don't know, Chris. I came here because I didn't have anyone else. I can't fight them alone."
Her control crumbled then and she began to sob. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks. Chris put an arm around her and eased her head down on his shoulder.
The words came tumbling out between sobs. "This isn't fair to you, Chris. This isn't your fight. You don't owe me anything. I ran away from my husband and our little boy because I was afraid that if I stayed they'd be hurt. Now I've come here and probably put you in danger. I'm so sorry. I just didn't know what else to do." She made an effort to pull free. "I'll leave now, before anyone gets hurt. I'll go back to... I'll go somewhere. I should never have come."
Chris pulled her head back against him. "Cut it out. Of course you had to come to me. There's nobody else who knows these creatures exist, who has seen what they can do. Now settle down, and we'll think of something."
Karyn relaxed and let herself lean against him. Slowly her sobs quieted. She sat up and borrowed his handkerchief to dry her eyes.
"Is there anything we can do, Chris? Can we really fight them?"
"We fought them before," he said. "We just didn't finish the job. Do you think they've followed you here yet?"
"I haven't seen any signs, but they seem to know my movements."
"Well, let's assume we have a little time, anyway. We'll get you checked into the hotel now, and tomorrow we'll start making plans."
They stood up together and for a moment each looked deeply into the other's eyes. Chris's arms went around her, and Karyn without thinking pressed her body against him. He kissed her long and deeply, and she could feel him becoming aroused.
It was Chris who stepped back first. He said, "Let's go see about getting you a room."
They walked back across the beach to the hotel without speaking.
Senor Davila, the manager, was all gracious attention now. "Ah, Senora, you are in luck. This is our busy time of the year, but we do have one late cancellation. Cabana Number 12, I can put you in there."
"Which one is that?" Karyn asked.
"It is at the far end of the row where Senor Halloran has his."
"You have nothing here in the main building?"
"I am sorry, Senora."
"That's all right. I'll take it."
Chris squeezed her arm. "I'd better go and square things with Audrey. I think she's a little ticked off at being left alone. We'll see you at dinner."
Karyn completed her registration, and a handsome boy of about seventeen, who introduced himself as Roberto, carried her bag along the path to her cabana. Inside it was not lavish, but it was clean. There was a double bed, bureau, night table, two chairs, and a settee of wicker. Roberto showed her the small closet and the bathroom, and demonstrated how to open the window and operate the heater. Karyn tipped the boy and promised to ask for him personally if there was anything she needed.
As Roberto went out, a young maid with sparkling eyes and lush, moist lips came in with fresh towels. A look flashed between the two young people that told Karyn they were much more than friends.
When the girl left, Karyn kicked off her shoes and stretched out on the bed. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift, steering it away, for now, from the dark things she wanted to avoid. An hour later she sat up feeling refreshed and thinking maybe everything would be all right.
She soaked in a hot tub, then took a cool shower and dressed in a light blue knit outfit, which, she knew, showed off her figure. When Chris and Audrey came to take her to dinner, the look in the girl's eyes told Karyn she had chosen well.
During the meal Karyn's feeling of well being slipped away. The conversation was perfunctory and strained. She could tell there had been an argument between Chris and Audrey, and it made her uncomfortable. As soon as she could, Karyn excused herself, saying she was tired and wanted to go to bed early.
Back in her room Karyn checked the locks on the windows and the door. She turned on all the lights, but the bulbs were of low wattage and did not drive the shadows out of the corners. The cabana cooled off quickly once the sun was down, and Karyn turned up the heater while she got ready for bed.