The Deadly Lies Read online

  Alfonso crossed the floor of the kitchen to stand behind Gabriel, who was stirring the pan of albondigas. Alfonso placed the bubble-wrapped package on the counter and wrapped his arms around Gabriel’s taut waist. As he kissed him several times on the neck, his husband leaned his head back appreciatively.

  “Patrons are advised that they must always interfere with the cook when he’s preparing tapas. It improves the taste of his meatballs.” Gabriel put down the large spoon and turned slowly in Alfonso’s arms. He wrapped his own arms around Alfonso’s waist, squeezed tightly, and kissed him on the lips.

  “You’re very late, aren’t you?” said Gabriel teasingly. “I’ve been slaving over this stove for hours. Have you been seeing another man?”

  Alfonso ran his fingers through Gabriel’s waves of black hair.

  “A dead man, yes. Car crash on the N11 near Vidreres. It wasn’t very pleasant.”

  Gabriel wrinkled his nose in disapproval. “I’m so glad I simply sit at a desk all day in the bank. I know I couldn’t bear to see the things you do. Although—” He slid the palms of his hands over Alfonso’s figure-hugging breeches. “—it’s a shame I can’t walk around in tight trousers and tall boots all day. I would enjoy that.”

  Alfonso laughed and leaned forward as though to kiss his husband. Instead, he picked up the large spoon Gabriel had been using to stir the albondigas and tasted the remnants of spicy tomato sauce still clinging to it.

  “As ever, that tastes so good.” He licked his lips approvingly. Gabriel leaned toward him, and for several moments their mouths embraced.

  Alfonso looked into Gabriel’s deep brown eyes and then pulled back slightly to gaze at the smooth arc of his lips.

  “I will never tire of tasting, sensing, or looking at those beautiful lips of yours, Gabriel. You know, I still have that photograph of them I took on my phone the day we met in Sitges.”

  “I thought you a strange stalker then,” replied Gabriel with a coquettish tilt of his head. “Thank God your uniform won me over.”

  Alfonso pushed his husband away with mock disapproval.

  “And I thought you loved me for who I am, not for what I wear! Just for that, I won’t give you the little gift I’ve brought.”

  “Ah, I saw my hunter-gatherer had been busy,” said Gabriel. “What have you captured this time? And don’t tell me where you got it. I know it’s usually best for me not to ask.”

  He turned and reached for the bubble-wrapped package Alfonso had placed on the counter. He weighed it in his hands and turned it over several times.

  “It’s very heavy for its size,” he said. “But then, good things can come in small packages. Or even large ones,” he added as Alfonso pressed his crotch against him.

  Alfonso laid his hands on Gabriel’s shoulders and began to kiss around the base of his husband’s neck. Gabriel rolled his shoulders appreciatively as he unwrapped the package. After a few moments, he discarded the last of the Bubble Wrap, and the bronze male figurine lay in his hands.

  “Oh, Alfonso, he’s beautiful.” Gabriel raised the figure and turned it slowly in the fading sunlight. “German, I think, probably early 1930s. More than likely a representation of Adam in the Garden of Eden. He has no fig leaf, so it’s before he was tempted by that wicked woman.” Gabriel turned back to look at Alfonso with a rapturous smile on his face, his hands continuing to caress the figurine.

  “I saw him, and immediately my thoughts turned to you,” said Alfonso. “I found him when I was at that—”

  “No, don’t tell me,” interrupted Gabriel. “It’s best you don’t. I’m presuming you didn’t buy it in the flea market on Plaza Glories. I love it, and I will treasure it forever. From now on, when I look at my bronzed Adonis Adam, I will remember this moment. With the albondigas sizzling in the pan and you sizzling in my arms.” He kissed Alfonso on the lips.

  “Now,” Gabriel continued, standing the figurine carefully on the worktop beside him. “Much as I love you in those wonderful breeches, you’re hot and sweaty after the ordeal I’m sure you must have had today. Go and have a shower, and I’ll finish getting supper ready.”

  Alfonso gave his husband one final, lingering kiss before he left him at the stove and walked into the bedroom. He sat on the side of the bed, removed his tall black motorcycle boots, and examined them carefully. He took great pride in their appearance, and today they had taken a battering. He set the boots aside to clean later.

  Standing, he stripped off his clothes and looked at his reflection in the full-length mirror. It stood to the side of the glass doors opening onto their balcony. As he turned side on, he automatically held in his stomach. Gabriel’s fine cooking was having a definite and lasting impact on his waistline, coupled with the hours of sitting on his motorbike in police speed traps. He made a resolution to resume his exercise routine. After all, the gym was on the ground floor of their building. He really had no excuse.

  He was about to head for the bathroom when he noticed a letter addressed to them both lying on the nightstand. He picked it up and began reading as he returned to the kitchen.

  “I see we’ve heard from the fertilization agency today,” he said excitedly, still taking in the contents of the letter.

  Gabriel looked up from his cooking at Alfonso’s naked form. “My, my. If you stand around looking like that, I might just be in a position to make a deposit right now.”

  Alfonso put down the letter and rushed over to embrace Gabriel.

  “Careful, careful,” said Gabriel. “You don’t want hot albondigas sauce all down you when you are quite so… magnificently exposed.” Gabriel turned and looked admiringly at Alfonso’s body. “Yes. It’s wonderful news, isn’t it? I was going to keep it as a surprise until we were having supper. They’ve said yes.” He tilted his head to look lovingly at Alfonso. “We’re going to be a family.”

  Alfonso cupped his hands around Gabriel’s face. “So, will he have your beautiful eyes and wonderful hair, or my sticky-out ears and bowlegs?”

  Gabriel pushed his husband gently away and turned back to the stove. “Who says he’ll be a he? It might be a girl. Maybe, by some miracle of genetics, he or she will be a combination of the two of us. I understand that’s even a possibility now. But whether it’s a boy or a girl, we’re going to have a child.”

  Alfonso picked up the letter once more and started to reread it.

  “Have you emailed them? When does everything start? Shall I book my paternity leave now?”

  Gabriel smiled. “Yes, I did email them. They’re ready to go through the full assessment with us both. You’ll need to take some time off, at least five days. More if we want to do a little sightseeing.”

  Alfonso punched his arms into the air and began dancing to an imaginary club soundtrack. “We’re going to California! And when we come back, we’ll be dads!”

  Gabriel leaned back against the worktop and relished the spectacle.

  “Sorry to spoil the celebration,” said Gabriel, “exquisitely sexy to watch as it is. But we won’t come back dads. I believe the gestation period is still nine months for a baby. But yes, given that we can’t legally surrogate here, California is going to save us.” Gabriel took a gulp from his wine. “And it will be extraordinarily expensive.”

  Alfonso dropped his arms, stepped toward his husband, and placed his hands on Gabriel’s waist.

  “It’s all right, isn’t it? You can pay for this? Because if in any way it’s not possible, then you only have to say—”

  Gabriel placed a finger on Alfonso’s lips to stem the flow of his anxiety.

  “Such beautiful lips,” he whispered and leaned forward to rest his forehead on Alfonso’s. “How lucky I am to be kissed by them every morning. Money is not a problem. I shouldn’t have said anything. Really, it’s not a problem. I just wish that Spain could change its stupid laws. But, as we both move into our midthirties, respectability is fast overtaking us. We’re going to be fathers and loving parents. And if it means going to Cali
fornia to ensure we are completely legal, then that’s what we’ll do. Anyway,” he continued, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Whilst we’re out there, we can celebrate our years of unrespectability by behaving disreputably. You can hire a big Harley-Davidson and take us for a trip along the Pacific Coast Highway. I’ll enjoy riding pillion, holding tight to your waist.”

  Chapter 6

  “YOU’RE STRANGELY quiet tonight, my love,” said Jonathan to Dominic. “Is everything all right?” He tore a hunk from his bread roll and mopped up the remains of the mussels in tomato and garlic. “This is delicious, as always. How were the sardines? You’ve not finished them.”

  “Oh, I think I may have had a bit too much sun today.” Dominic picked up his fork and tried one more mouthful of the sardines before pushing his plate away. “You know what I’m like if I forget my hat.”

  They were sitting on the terrace of the Vivero Beach Club restaurant. It was built into a rocky outcrop on the edge of the old town of Sitges and looked straight out to sea. About fifty feet below, the waves rhythmically lapped the shore of a small private beach. The restaurant was fast becoming their regular haunt. They both loved seafood, and after Jonathan had charmed the maître d’ on their first night, they were offered a table with an exceptional view each time they returned.

  “Oh, by the way”—Jonathan began to pick from the remains on Dominic’s plate—“I’ve got a message from young Steve Brown for you.”

  “Oh yes?” said Dominic. “And when were you talking to him?”

  Jonathan paused, a forkful of sardines halfway to his mouth. “Dominic, my darling. He called briefly this afternoon to ask you for legal advice. Apparently he’s done something frightfully clever with whatever computer thingy he does. He was on his way from Heathrow to San Francisco for some programming party. Sounds ghastly.” Jonathan took a mouthful from his fork and enjoyed its taste for a moment. “Given you were away being mysterious, all I could do was simply offer to take a message.” He put down his fork and picked up another hunk of bread, using it to scoop up sardines and tomato sauce from Dominic’s plate.

  Dominic reached across and rested his hand on Jonathan’s arm.

  “Jonathan, you know I’ve always said I wanted us to be open about everything we do?”

  Jonathan’s hand froze in midair, and tomato and garlic juice began to trickle down his thumb.

  “That’s honestly it with Steve,” said Jonathan. “There’s really nothing else. Yes, I might have had the merest twinges for him before we were married. But that’s completely in the past now.”

  Dominic rubbed his husband’s arm. “Jonathan, just for once it’s not about you. I have to tell you something.”

  Jonathan put the bread down on his plate and licked at the juice running down his hand. “Dominic, are you about to confess to your secret lover, who you’ve been keeping hidden? Is he gorgeous? Can I play too?” He put several tomato-stained fingers into his mouth and sucked them provocatively.

  “It’s nothing like that, Jonathan,” said Dominic. “And that’s exactly why I’m telling you! Good God, we’re on our honeymoon.” Dominic poured himself a glass of water and took a sip, giving his husband a disapproving look.

  “Well, a threesome could have been fun. Not that I’m proposing it for a moment,” Jonathan added hastily as Dominic’s eyes widened. “So tell me, what is your deep, dark secret?”

  “It’s really nothing important, Jonathan.” Dominic put his glass down on the table. “I simply have to go to meet someone later, and I must keep it confidential. It’s to do with work.” He reached out to massage his husband’s arm. “It’s a bit odd, I know. But I didn’t want you thinking the worst when I suddenly slink off in half an hour.”

  Jonathan took Dominic’s hand and squeezed it.

  “I trust you to the ends of the earth, my lover. You know that, Dominic. That’s why I wanted to marry you.” Jonathan sat back in his chair and sighed contentedly. “I never thought I’d find someone like you. And it wasn’t for want of trying. But I’ve met some real shits over the years. You are the man who lights up my life. You constantly prove to me there is beauty in the world. So tell me”—he leaned forward enthusiastically—“where are you meeting this mystery man?”

  Dominic coughed and took another sip of water. “Actually, it’s going to be on Balmins—”

  “The nudist beach! At this time of night?” Jonathan grinned and leaned closer to Dominic until their lips were almost touching.

  “You are becoming intriguing. Is this where the ride really starts? Now that we’re married? I can’t wait.” He began to explore the periphery of Dominic’s lips with his tongue. Dominic leaned in and reciprocated—until they were interrupted by the shadow of their waiter standing beside the table. The waiter coughed.

  “Perdone, señores. Is everything all right with your food?”

  Dominic pulled away from his partner, his face red with embarrassment. Jonathan turned to the waiter with a broad grin on his face.

  “Everything is all right with everything,” he said. “My husband—isn’t it wonderful I can say that?—my husband is about to have a secret assignation.”

  “Jonathan!” Dominic’s face was getting redder. “I told you in confidence. Please don’t go blurting it out to—”

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Jonathan put his finger to Dominic’s lips. “I will say nothing more.” He turned to the waiter. “Please. Everything is fine. Thank you, young man. The chef, as ever, has excelled himself.”

  The waiter cleared their plates and left them. After an awkward pause, Jonathan reached for his glass of wine. “Dominic, I really didn’t mean to…. I mean, I was only making a joke—”

  “Jonathan, I’m sorry,” Dominic interrupted. “It’s me. I really want to tell you more, but it’s work and it’s complicated….” His voice trailed off into silence, and he leaned forward to rest his forehead against Jonathan’s.

  Jonathan stared for a moment into Dominic’s clear blue eyes. It had been a long time since he had felt so lost for words. Finally, he sat back and spoke.

  “I shouldn’t need to know, Dominic. I shouldn’t need to care. But I do. You must admit, for a business meeting, it’s an odd time and an even odder place to hold it.”

  Dominic opened his mouth to speak, but Jonathan held up his hand.

  “At the very least, let me come and wait by the roadway, to make sure you’re safe. It will be pitch-black on Balmins beach. Dammit, Dominic, I’ve nearly lost you once. I can’t let that happen again.” Jonathan rubbed his eyes as they dampened with tears.

  Dominic reached forward and gently cupped his hands around his husband’s face. “Jonathan, when that Downpatrick woman tried to kill me, you were my brave knight, charging to my rescue. And here you are again, with your lance in your hand.”

  Jonathan giggled.

  “Oh really, Jonathan,” said Dominic. “And I thought you were getting so romantic.”

  KARL MICHAEL Meyer sat on a rocky promontory and looked back at the lights of Sitges. It was a very pretty town. The last time he had visited Spain was over twelve years ago. It was just before he went to university and the last time he went on vacation with his parents. His father drove them from their home in Stuttgart, southern Germany, through Switzerland and France, then along the Spanish coast to Barcelona. He thought of it as his last months of innocence. That September, he began his studies at Berlin’s Technische Universität and met Bernhardt Freude. And then his life turned upside down.

  From this dark spot above the beach, lit only by the watery light of the waning moon, Karl Michael could see below him the now empty Balmins beach. Just over eighty yards behind him, a pathway linked the town of Sitges with Port Sitges, a smart modern development for the yacht-lovers who cruised the Mediterranean. He was far enough away from the path to avoid eavesdroppers and could easily see if anyone approached. He adjusted the earpiece connected to his phone and waited. After a few moments, he heard a distorted v
oice.

  “This is Russia checking in.”

  A moment later, he heard another voice. “Britannia here,” followed by “Hi, this is West Coast America checking in.”

  Then came “This is East Coast America checking in.” And finally, “This is China checking in.”

  Karl Michael held the phone close to his mouth. “Good. This is Germany here. Before we go any further, please double-check your encryption and confirm. This is an irregular call and in breach of our agreed security protocols.”

  One by one, he heard the voices confirm they were encrypted.

  “This is West Coast here. Could you tell me what the hell’s going on?”

  Karl Michael’s voice was even and calm. “We have everything under control. The Originator left Berlin unexpectedly yesterday, but we tracked him to Spain. Unfortunately he is in possession of the DG chip. We will recover it—”

  The voice from West Coast interrupted him. “Okay, so three questions. How the hell did he remove it without anyone noticing? Why the hell is it still out there? And finally, what’s wrong with the guy? Has he flipped or something?”

  The voice from the East Coast chimed in. “Hey, Jeff, you know that’s four questions?”

  Karl Michael frowned. “East Coast, respect the protocol. Never include names in our conversations, even when we’re encrypted.” He paused and a grunt of apology came through his earpiece.

  “To answer your questions, West Coast. The first is very simple. He’s the Originator, and therefore he, of course, has the access codes. The other questions are harder to answer. We tracked him up to the French border with Spain. We know that something went wrong because he sent an emergency locator code. But we know he also sent it to a third party.”

  “This is China here. Do you know who the third party is?”

  “Yes. I’ve made contact, and I’ll be meeting him shortly. I believe him to be benign, and so this may be a simple operation.”