“The way he did tonight? Exactly who is that character?” Ned asked suspiciously.
Nancy laughed. “A very smart, go-getter jock who’s a whiz kid for the local police and who—I think—is angling for a job with Senator Kilpatrick. You’d like him. And he,” Nancy added with emphasis, “likes Bess.”
She was relieved to hear Ned laugh. “Okay, I get the message. Maybe I’m going overboard worrying, but I love you.”
“I love you, too. And thanks for worrying. I’ll call you if I need you, I promise.”
“How about calling ’cause you want me?” Ned asked. Nancy laughed and put down the phone, feeling much better.
The next thing she knew, it was nine a.m., and Bess was shaking her awake. “The senator’s on the phone.”
Nancy struggled to a sitting position, still half-asleep. “Where is everybody?”
“George took the bus to Loudon to watch Teresa warm up for the afternoon match. Dan’s gone out to buy a newspaper. He’s already brought us breakfast. He didn’t want room service to know anyone’s in here. Nancy, come on! The senator’s practically spitting bullets!”
Nancy reached for the phone.
“About time!” the senator’s husky voice said crisply. “I want to see you. At the tournament. Be there by ten-thirty.”
“Has anything more happened?” Nancy demanded.
“I can’t talk.” The senator hung up.
“You look awful,” Bess said frankly, reappearing with a container of orange juice and a bag of doughnuts.
“What do you expect after we sat up talking till five?” Nancy bit into a doughnut, eyeing Bess. “I must say you’ve recovered remarkably. And you got even less sleep, I’ll bet.”
“Dan must be good for me,” Bess said. “Nancy, go back to sleep for a little longer. You don’t have to go to the tournament this minute. Teresa’s got a whole gang of bodyguards.”
“You mean the government finally came through?”
“Not ours. Hers,” Bess said. “Roberto’s murder also made the headlines down there. The San Carlos government’s calling it a ‘provocative international incident.’ Their people are keeping surveillance on Teresa, and our people are keeping surveillance on them.”
“Scratch the sleep,” Nancy said resignedly. “I’m taking a shower and going out there.”
By ten-thirty she was out at Loudon College, just in time to join George and watch the end of Teresa’s workout. “This place is really crawling with cops today,” George reported. “All types and all nationalities. Things are getting sticky.”
“Tell me about it,” Nancy retorted glumly, thinking about the hit list.
“If you ask me,” George said decidedly, “Roberto’s death was deliberate political murder.”
“I agree,” said Nancy. “But by which side? We don’t even know for sure whether forces inside or outside San Carlos are responsible.”
One thing was certain. Keeping everything hush-hush was rapidly becoming impossible.
Nancy looked around casually. Two college security guards were talking together at the far end of the court. Another stood near Nancy. Three U.S. government men were wandering around, looking out of place in business suits. Several Latin men were also gathered nearby. They were leaning against the wire fence, watching Nancy and George. Those must be the guards Bess had spoken of.
Nancy shuddered. She was beginning to wonder what fate Teresa’s government had in store for her. The papers that morning had been full of rumors about how cruel and totalitarian the dictatorship was.
“Buenos días, Nancy.” Teresa came toward Nancy and George, wiping her forehead with her wristband. She looked sad but composed. “How about hitting a few with me, George?” she invited.
“I’ll get my tennis shoes,” George said gladly.
Soon the two were exchanging rapid strokes.
“Your friend’s in seventh heaven, isn’t she?” a voice said behind Nancy’s shoulder.
Nancy spun around.
Senator Kilpatrick stood there, elegant in a white linen dress and large brown straw hat. Beneath its shade her eyes were steely.
“What’s wrong?” Nancy demanded, alarmed.
“Plenty, in my opinion. Don’t worry, I don’t mean with you. Come have an early lunch with me.”
Nancy followed the senator to a small tent, plastic-walled and air-conditioned, that opened off the main dining tent. Iced tea, salad, and dessert were waiting, but the tent was empty, and the senator’s own bodyguards stood outside.