A Corpse for Cuamantla Read Online Free Page B

imagination and prevent it from running wild, which seemed to happen more frequently in Mexico where the supernatural infused everyday life.
    "Buenos días, Maestra." The deep masculine voice startled her and she jumped, bumping the camera into her forehead. In front of her, hand outstretched, stood Pedro García, behaving as if today were as normal as any other day. She could strangle him without a second thought. Pedro had that effect on people. Made you despise him one minute while he charmed you the next. Like a snake, there was no limit to how low he could go.
    "Nice to see you this morning, Maestra, but then, it's always a pleasure to see a beautiful woman." Pedro's perfect white teeth accented his broad smile, his best asset. Maybe his only asset , Anna thought. He was dressed in an expensive pin-striped suit, silk shirt and matching tie, and looked more like a well-dressed businessman than the principal of a rural village school. She watched him brush his thick dark hair away from his face in order to focus his complete attention on the woman in front of him, a characteristic gesture whenever he talked with a member of the opposite sex.
    "Buenos días, Maestro," Anna said, shaking his hand stiffly, hoping the formality in her voice might encourage him to leave.
    "Let me welcome you to the fiesta personally, Señorita , on behalf of my school." Apparently, Pedro wasn't leaving without further encouragement and she resented his use of the title, Señorita instead of Maestra . They weren't on familiar terms.
    "I'm sure Maestro Menéndez already welcomed you on behalf of the afternoon school and is seeing to all your needs?" His words held a hint of a smirk. "However, if I can assist you in any way today, please call on me. I'm always at the service of a lovely colleague."
    That's an understatement, Anna thought. "Gracias, Maestro, I'll keep that in mind." She stood up and brushed off the seat of her pants, hoping to brush him off as well. "If you'll excuse me, Maestro, I really must continue my filming. I don't want to miss the start of the parade." She nodded politely and reached for her camcorder, turning her back on Pedro as she'd done one other time when his impertinence led her to restrict her research to Miguel's afternoon school rather than splitting her time between the two schools.
    "Certainly, Maestra. I wouldn't want to keep you from your important work. I look forward to seeing you later."
    As if they had a later. In his dreams! Anna failed to understand what María saw in the man. He was a blatant philanderer. She turned her camera on the activities in front of the school, noticing Pedro enter her viewfinder as he wove his way through the waiting crowd shaking hands with parents and villagers. She watched people's reactions to him, realizing she was not alone in harboring resentments against Pedro that morning.
    I wonder what he's up to now? Anna focused the camera as Pedro walked past the gate and into the walled rose garden alongside the school. Probably opting to water the roses instead of using the school bathrooms. Not that she blamed him. The bathrooms could be disgusting due to the intermittent water supply and the janitor's preference for tending the roses instead of cleaning the toilets. Still filming, Anna kept the camera on Pedro until he disappeared into the garden. She had no idea why she bothered filming him other than curiosity over his notoriously unpredictable behavior.
    A large crowd was gathering at the school entrance awaiting the arrival of the parade trucks. Setting aside thoughts of Pedro and María and the theft of the Real Cédula, Anna concentrated her energies on documenting the fiesta activities. She even forgot about Art. No doubt he would call soon and remind her. Anna turned her camera to the crowd then back to the school where she captured a few frames of Miguel—up close, but not too personal.
     

Chapter 5
     
    T ime for shots of the queen and her court. Anna drifted across