Heartbeatgoa.memories -Goan Sunday Short Story - Francis Rodrigues, Toronto

Tales of The Unexpected======================= "LISBOA" Mumbai, January 1992. The peddlar met her just as she was leaving for the airport. It washeavy, secured in a huge, jewelled box, packed in a large suitcase."Put it in the hold" he advised, "You're famous, Louna! Nobody willglance twice at your baggage, and it won't show up on the X-rayeither. It has a lovely diamond pattern, like Elizabeth Taylor'schoker and wraps itself you know!" "I'll call it Liz then" said she.At Mumbai, the Goan porters gaped in awe, and she stepped off theplane at Lisbon to admiring Customs officials who waved her through. In the taxi, she unlocked her baggage, unclasped the jewel-chest andlike lightning, refastened the suitcase. It was dinner-time when shereached the hotel Kris was playing nightly, and a bored bellhop, notrecognising her behind the shades and scarf, helped her lug the caseup to Kris' room. They placed it next to his pillow, the boy balancedthe card on it, a hefty tip ensuring his silence. She should have atleast glanced at her gorgeous gift, but was sure Kris would die for it. How possessive he could be she thought sadly, as she caught the midniteflight to London. Two days later in Goa, reading the breakfast papersshe smiled. A world-famous saxophonist had been found strangled to deathin his hotel-room in Lisbon, with no sign of foul play, the doors andwindow locked from within. Toxicology showed he'd flopped drunk on thebed after his night's performance, a fallen gift-card indicating a justopened suitcase near his pillow. A forensics expert commented thatevery neck bone had been crushed, as if by a python or boa constrictor."Ah" the singer smiled sweetly, and sipped her coffee, "My Liz...boa!"