Everyone was gone. Clara was sitting in the dining room on her own as Elian had refused her help to clean up the breakfast dishes. The girls had been escorted back to the hotel by the security team. Ben was waiting outside and if Clara was correct on her presumption, he was talking to her grandfather on the telephone.
He had voiced his displeasure when Elian said they could just walk the two blocks to his condo, but Clara had vetoed him, reminding him she frequently travelled without him, and she would continue to do so. If he wanted to cover his own ass and follow, he could but she wasn’t bowing down to his instructions.
She was admittedly confused where Elian was concerned. Part of her was still hurting he had disappeared without a word but then part of her was curious about what he’d
