49- Song in the lake

"But did she say anything to you?" wonders Jhan Paul

"No, no, she just interrogated me... She asked if I had plans to travel... she implied that we now belong to him and we can't leave Costa Rica... Ohh... I’m so scared something bad is going to happen to us... or that he will take me away from you all... Ohh..."

Jade hugs Everth tightly, pressing him against her chest. Tears well up in her eyes.

(stroking Jade's hair)

"Shh... it's okay... that will never happen... calm down."

In the exterior of the beach, just unde the raising sunset.

A tree stands tall, a sign reading: "Beware of your dreams: they are the siren of souls. She sings. She calls us. We follow her and never return." - Gustave Flaubert. A hummingbird flits around a cluster of lilac flowers at the top of the tree. The vibrant purples stand out against the apple-green leaves. The hummingbird descends through the leaves, and Navil watches it intently. The car door is open, with Navil leaning against the back door, fixated on the hummingbird. It flies straight towards him, passing over his head like an arrow. Navil turns to the other side of the street and sees Luis walking with two bags of junk food and two sodas held in a plastic carrier. Luis opens the car door and climbs in, then Navil takes the driver's seat and closes the door.

"Man... I ordered it all." Says luis

(with a disgusted look)

"Gross, Luis, I’m not eating that." Answer Navil

"What’s wrong with it?" wonders Luis

(shaking his head)

"Nothing, just give me that instead." says Navil

Navil takes a sip from the plastic cup. The car starts moving.

(checking his phone, the screen shows a picture of Jade)

"Have you figured out how you’re going to approach the dancer?"

"Well, Luis... obviously, I’m just going to win her over."

Luis staring at him (smirking)

"It looks like one of those girls who, after a couple of drinks, will open her legs for you."

"You think so, Luis?"

"Of course. Don’t you?"

"I don’t know, maybe you’re right. I just hope she finds me smart enough to earn her trust. Well, not just hers, also her boyfriend's."

The car parks in front of the beach.

They parked at the beach external tourists area. Luis spots Jade at the corner of the stage, leaning over the equipment connecting her iPhone to the speakers. She wears a beige dress decorated with three layers of gray lace that fall below her knees. Her green-highlighted eyes stand out among her black ones, and her black, wavy hair cascades down to her hips. Navil lets out a whistle as he looks toward the stage.

"Well, she’s all yours."

"And what am I supposed to say to her?"

"Ask her how to get to the school, say you want to enroll your kid."

(laughing)

"Haha... What kid?"

"Haha... I don’t know. You’re the detective, Luis."

Luis nods, striding toward Jade. Navil enters the car, watching Luis through the windshield. Jade sets up the music, her delicate fingers moving over the iPhone screen. The song "Running Away," an electro-house version of Bob Marley, starts to play.

"Good morning, miss!" Says Luis raising his voice enought to get Jade attention.

Jade jolts, slowly lifting her head toward Luis. Her black and wavy hair falls over her collarbones and shoulders, covering her entire back. Her hands tremble as she brushes her hair blown by the wind away from her face.

"Good morning... How may I help you, officer?"

Luis's eyes narrow as he scans Jade’s face, and he takes a deep breath. Jade ties her gray hip scarf with silver bells around her waist.

"I heard you’re a dance teacher, and I would like to take some classes."

Jade with a radiant and relaxed smile

"I’m sorry, but I only teach kids, and the dance I teach wouldn’t suit you... no offense intended."

"Oh... no... for me... I meant (MORE)

Luis answer after take a deep breath: "for my daughter. Yes, I have a daughter, and I would love for her to learn how to dance."

Jade staring at him, biting her lips with a gorgeous smile. "A daughter? Oh, perfect... you’re quite fortuitous. In that case, I’d be delighted to teach her to dance here on the beach. Can you call your daughter? I’m about to start my routine..."

(with his eyes glued to Jade’s smile)

"Um... well, she isn’t here right now. She’s at school, but could you tell me where your classes are, and I could bring her one afternoon to your dance academy?"

"Excuse me, officer... why do you assume I have a dance school?"

"Well, by process of elimination. You dance professionally, and every professional dancer usually has their own school."

Jade closes her eyes for a moment to relax, takes a breath, and responds with some discomfort.

"Not everyone... you can bring her next Tuesday to the beach, and I’d be happy to teach your daughter to dance... But if you really want to enroll her in private classes... perhaps you’d prefer to take her to the cabin across the Monteverde reserve, at the end of the shrubs bordering Lake Arenal. That’s where my school is... now, if you’ll excuse me... I must start my routine... pardon me."

Luis pulls out his phone and types on the touchscreen.

Luis (whispering) "Monteverde... at the end of the shrubs... crossing the Arenal River..."

Luis nods and smiles at Jade. She doesn’t catch his gaze and ignores him, looking away. She turns her back and walks up the stairs to the stage. Luis turns to Navil, who watches him from behind his sunglasses, his straight black hair tied back in a ponytail. Luis gives a thumbs-up. Navil smiles widely while sitting in the driver's seat from the corner of the parking lot.

When they came to the arenal lake, started to talk with two fishemans fro the areas.

"A dancer from Puntarenas? No... you’re in the province of Guanacaste... and this is a national park... no one lives here.

And no one gives dance classes around here. I’ve never seen a belly dancer around here."

Luis talks (exasperated) "I was given this address."

The older fishemann look at them for a second, "Well, that’s pretty strange because no one lives here, no one but the toucans, monkeys, and tigers."

"Are you talking about Jade? The Lebanese dancer? And Jhan Paul, who teaches surfing and swimming in Puntarenas?"

The econd fisheman who looks younger, sizes up Luis and Navil, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. Luis and Navil nod their heads, affirming with confident voices. Navil's small, dark eyes fill with excitement. He remains silent, his eyes analyzing the expressionless face of the fisherman.

As Navil searches for Jade, he thinks, "I love this love music," humming softly to himself…