Read Online Forever by Judith Gould - Free Book Online Page A

Security. 'Now then,' he said. 'I take it you have
good news to report, Colonel?'
    'Yes, senhor .' Colonel Valerio
nodded. He was a tanned, lean man with tiny white crinkles in his
leathery skin and was dressed in a khaki shirt, web belt, black
beret, and khaki trousers which he wore bloused over his jungle
boots. He wore a holster on his hip and mirrored aviator shades
which rendered his face expressionless. His shirt was damp and
clung to him, but if he suffered any discomfiture he did not show
it. He was ex-US Army, and had spent a lifetime in the humid
tropics. Compared to the steamy jungles of Central America, Ilha da
Borboleta was paradise. But then, it was paradise compared to any
other place in the world, too.
    'The body has been discovered?' de Veiga
enquired softly as he sipped his glass of vegetable juice.
    'Yes, senhor .' Colonel Valerio's
voice was clipped. 'I have just received word.'
    'And the cause of death?'
    'Suicide by hanging.'
    'How unfortunate.' The billionaire brought
his drink thoughtfully to his lips. 'What about his research
material?'
    ' Senhor ?'
    'You mean it is still there?' De Veiga's
expression did not change, but his voice conveyed infinite
displeasure.
    'You never said it should be destroyed, senhor .''
    De Veiga took another sip of his drink. 'See
that it is. And Colonel?' He tilted his head back, peering at the
Chief of Security through hooded eyes.
    'Yes, senhor ?'
    'See that you do not fail me.' De Veiga
gestured dismissively. 'Now go.'
    Colonel Valerio spun a neat about-face and
strode briskly down the verandah and around a corner. As his
footsteps receded, a woman of indeterminate age and breathtaking
beauty swept out through the French doors. She moved soundlessly on
gold sandals, but Ernesto de Veiga was immediately aware of her:
even unseen, his mistress exuded an extraordinary presence.
    He turned his head to look at her. Today she
was wearing a loose jumpsuit of turquoise parachute silk, and her
hair was completely hidden by a matching turquoise slip-on turban.
Her complexion was very pale. Like many South American women, she
had on bright-red lipstick and a little too much makeup; unlike
them, she also wore upswept sunglasses encrusted with genuine
diamonds. Her carefully shaped eyebrows were the colour of rich
honey.
    'What did Valerio want?' she asked in
Portuguese as she swept towards him in a cloud of jasmine.
    'He reported the suicide of that American
writer.'
    'Suicide?' For a moment she lifted her
sunglasses and stared at him through the most extraordinary green
eyes.
    Ernesto de Veiga permitted himself a slight
smile. 'It seems the poor man hanged himself.'
    'Ah!' she said with delight. Lowering her
glasses, she went to stand behind him. Her strong slender fingers
kneaded his shoulders possessively. 'He is dead then?' she asked,
just to make sure.
    'Oh, very. Or should I say, unfortunately
so?'
    Her voice turned suddenly bitter. 'You will
say nothing of the kind, Ernesto! That meddling old fool! Lili
Schneider is long dead and buried. Why didn't he let her rest in
peace?'
    'Unfortunately for him, he didn't. But do
not worry, my butterfly. Her memory is now safe.' He reached up,
took her by the wrist, and slipped a thirty-carat diamond solitaire
on her ring finger. 'A present for the most exquisite butterfly of
them all,' he said, kissing her hand.
    'Oh, Ernesto!' She raised her hand and moved
it around to admire the brilliant shards of blue, the flashes of
pure white light. 'You shouldn't have.'
    'It's D-flawless.'
    'Of course,' she said. She leaned down and
touched her soft cheek against his. Then, smiling, she reached into
her voluminous sleeve and withdrew a flat clear-plastic box. 'And I
have a present for you also.'
    He took it from her and looked through the
lid.
    A butterfly.
    Wings a translucent shade of green and
iridescent pearl grey. Speckles of pale-violet spots.
    He clapped his hands in childlike delight.
'A Salamis parhassus! My very first!'
    She smiled. 'I