Chapter 40: Tina Meets Daphne – Tina II.2 – Thursday (8 days til Reception)

It took a little time to arrange, but by Thursday late afternoon my flight landed in Miami. Around six I was parked outside Miss Christodoulou’s building in a rented car. Security looked tight: doorman, security desk, the works.

I hadn’t planned to do anything but look at the building. It was much grander than I expected. Multi-million-dollar condos. I kicked myself for not digging deeper into where she lived. How does someone with no records afford a place like this? This wasn’t in my plans, but I decided to verify a Daphne Christodoulou actually lived here.

I walked to the front door. The doorman opened it and immediately recognized that I didn’t belong. “May I help you?” I identified myself, showing my badge, and started: “I just wanted to confirm a Daphne Christodoulou—” I only got the first few words out before the man at the desk said, “You can go right up.”

He held up a plate. “Could you return this to Miss Daphne? And thank her for the cookies—everyone loved them.”

I blinked. “I’m not here to talk to her. I just want to confirm I have the right building.” He lifted a piece of paper. “You’re on today’s guest list. A little early, but I’ll call up and let Miss Daphne know you’re on your way.”

Trying not to look foolish, I said, “I must have mixed up the days.” Then it hit me. “Who added my name—and when?”

Putting down the sheet, he said, “This morning, a little before eight. I had just arrived for my shift when Miss Kate told the desk on her way out.” I hadn’t even thought of coming until this afternoon.

I confirmed the floor and apartment number and headed to the elevator. On the way up I tried to figure out how she could possibly know I was coming today. The only thing that made sense was the Japanese embassy or the governor’s office. One of them must have contacted Washington after I left, and word somehow made its way to Miss Christodoulou.

The elevator doors opened. I walked to the door and knocked. It opened in seconds. A smiling face greeted me—the same face from her driver’s license photo. She looked young in the picture. She looked just as young in person.

“You’re early. Come in.” The greeting was enthusiastic. Then, over her shoulder: “¡Ya llegó Tina!”

People at work call me Val. Family calls me Tina. She said it with friendly familiarity—no disrespect, just warmth. She looked genuinely happy to see me.

Then it registered: she was speaking Spanish. She took my arm and led me into the apartment. In the kitchen area she let go. I was still holding the plate from the security men downstairs. She took the plate, saying, “Aren’t they great guys. They really look out for us.”

An Asian woman sat at the counter drinking coffee. She stood and introduced herself as Riko Takahashi, mentioning our phone conversation. She addressed me as Agent Cruz, also in Spanish.

Reflexively I switched to Spanish. “Nice to meet you.” I grew up speaking both. Honestly, I couldn’t say which was my first language.

“Sit down. I’ll get your coffee,” Miss Christodoulou said, as if I’d been expected all along.

I was still trying to catch up with a situation I hadn’t anticipated. Wanting to keep things casual, I said “Thank you” in the same easy tone. I took a stool one away from Miss Takahashi. Miss Christodoulou didn’t hesitate, placing a cup of coffee in front of me. Sugar bowl and creamer sat on the far side of Miss Takahashi. Miss Christodoulou slid the sugar bowl toward me. Not the creamer. I take sugar. No cream.

Alarms were ringing in my head. Keeping my voice casual: “How did you know I’d be in town—much less here today?”

The reply came without hesitation. “You talked to Riko and Jane a few days ago. Confirmed my address and phone. You’ve been looking for me in records even longer. You couldn’t have found much. Talking to me is the next logical step—especially after a governor’s office started asking questions too. Today was as good as any.”

I kept my expression neutral and said nothing. She laughed lightly. “I’m not psychic. I don’t have contacts everywhere. She actually exaggerated the word everywhere. I was guessing you’d be here today. If you didn’t come today, I’d have kept putting your name on the list downstairs. You could have just called. I’d stop adding you eventually.”

It made sense. But something still felt wrong. I’d only been around her a few minutes. She was supposed to be twenty-two. She looked under twenty to me. Everything else about her felt older. Completely poised. Confident. Not arrogant like a brat who thinks they know everything—more like someone who’s been there, done that, more than once. I had the impression it would take a lot to faze her.

She was also eyeing me. Not in a creepy way. More like I was a dancer on stage and she was enjoying every step.

“Miss Christodoulou, why are there so few records of you?” I asked.

Before she could answer, the front door opened and closed. A very tall blonde woman in a nicely tailored gray skirted suit entered. Her stride was stiff and purposeful, but her smile was warm. She extended her hand toward me. “Nice to meet you. You’re earlier than we expected. I’m Katherine Daniels. Just call me Kate.”

I immediately switched to English, “Nice to meet you, Kate.”

Miss Christodoulou chimed in, now in English also. “Sorry—you should call me Daphne.” Then, looking at Miss Takahashi as if for approval: “You already know Riko.”

Kate went over and gave Riko a hug and kiss on the cheek. Still with her arm around Riko, she looked at Daphne. “Rachel and Jason still coming over for dinner?” Daphne said they should be there any minute and Kate should hurry and change.

I stood. “I should go if you’re having guests. We can talk—”

“You didn’t invite Tina?” Kate said.

“She just got here and you interrupted. Of course she’s staying. Now go change.”