Chapter 9

I looked around, amazed at the beauty of Puerto Vallarta.

What would a thief like Silver Hands be doing in a place like this?!

I stood in the middle of the plaza. There were a few tall buildings with monument at the top & there were smaller buildings that were mainly shops, making the place look like a pueblo. And there was an orchestra performing to my left. But there wasn't that many people I expected there to be.

Probably because of Silver Hands.

"Remember, Christie, don't stay long. As soon as you get your job done, get out," I suddenly remembered what Donovan had told me on the phone.

No time to waste. I had my vacation now it's time to work.

I stood in the middle of the plaza, wiped the sweat from my forehead, & cursed myself for wearing black, leather pants & jacket in the heat. I was possibly the only person wearing black. Once again, I was in a place where the sun shined as if it were trying to burn you to your death.

I rolled up my jacket's sleeves then reached down into one of my pockets. I pulled out the map of Vallarta that I bought earlier from my pocket & opened up it up.

Silver Hands is mostly sighted in the jungle near Majahuita Beach.

I pointed towards the direction of the beach, making sure I understood where I was. I didn't want to get lost in this place.

And I am right . . . here. It's far from here.

I put away the map & got prepared for a long walk in the heat.

Before I could even take ten steps, a man shouted at me, "Hey, Senorita, how about trying your luck on the pinata?"

What? Pinata?

I turned my head to look at the Mexican man who was talking to me from behind a stall. He was wearing a colorful shirt decorated with exotic flowers. There were women dressed in colorful dresses & children around the stall, smiling like they were enjoying themselves, even in this heat.

I waved my hand & said I was busy. That was when the women awed in disappointment, but still smiled.

"Ah, but Senorita, you don't know what your missing! Everybody loves the pinata!" the man said & all the women & children cheered.

Oh, great. I don't have time for this.

"Sorry, but I really don't have the time," I said.

"How about just this once?" the man persuaded, "For the children."

"Please!" all of the children said in unison.

Oh god, are they serious? They even got the children into the act. Well, but what harm could it do? As soon as this is over I'll go about my business.

I finally gave in & the women & children cheered & clapped as I went over to the pinata, "Okay, what do I have to do?"

"Well, we'll put the bandana over your eyes, hand you a stick, spin you around, & all you have to do is whack the pinata to make a surprise fall out!" the man told me.

A black bandana was thrown over my eyes, surprising me. As they tightened it, they handed me a stick.

"All right!" I heard the man cheer, "Spin her around!"

They spun me around then stopped me.

"All right, swing!" the man told me.

Swing?! Swing where?!

I was a bit dizzy from being spun around, but I swung anyway. I could hear the women & children cheering as I swung, but didn't hit anything. After about seven swings, I finally hit the pinata. I pulled off my bandana to see the children on the ground, picking up the candy that fell out of the pinata. The women were cheering & clapping.

"Oh, nice work, Senorita!" the man congratulated me.

I picked a piece of candy off of my shoulder, unwrapped it, & then ate it.

Oh, it's gum.

That's when I heard people shouting. I turned my head towards their direction & saw them pointing & looking towards the south. I looked as well, but didn't see anything.

"Oh, boy, not Silver Hands again . . ." I heard the man say behind me.

Silver Hands?

I looked at him, "Who's Silver Hands?"

"A senor who steals from our tourists," he said, shaking his head, "That's why there hasn't been much foreigners here lately."

"Silver Hands is a man?"

"Si."

"How'd he get his name?"

I had to pry as much info from this man that I needed.

"What's with all these questions, Senorita?" the man questioned me, "Why are you so interested in that thief?"

Just then the people became louder. I turned back to where they looking & saw him, Silver Hands. He was running down the plaza from the police. The crowd was going crazy over seeing him.

This is my chance! I have to follow him!

I ducked behind the building behind the stall & followed Silver hands from behind the buildings as he ran through the crowd with the police chasing him. I kept my eye on him, keeping us a building apart. He was a fast runner. I was barely able to keep up. He looked in my direction from under his hood, spotting me following him.

He sees me!

He turned away & dashed through the crowd with such grace soon disappearing to the top of a small building. The police & I stopped & looked up at the building that he climbed so quickly. I saw the one of the policemen shout in Spanish, throwing his hat on the ground.

He's quick & agile . . . He's a worthy opponent.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I sat on a boulder near the shore of Majahuita Beach, waiting & hoping for Silver Hands to show up to rob or attack me. The sun was setting & I had waited for about an hour & a half. I propped one leg up & rested an arm on it. I was getting tired of waiting. I looked down at the pebbles in the bottom of the clear water. The water was orange just like the sky. I looked up & continued to watch the sun set like I have been doing for the past hour. Suddenly, I caught the sound of the air being cut, quickly got off of the boulder, & fell into the water. I looked behind me with wide eyes at a knife that was driven into the boulder where I was sitting.

That was too close . . .

I stood up, my pants soaked with ocean water. I searched with my eyes for the attacker. I didn't see him anywhere. But I knew it was him.

"Like to hide, do we?!" I shouted at the trees.

I climbed to the top of the boulder & pulled out the knife, "C'mon! I'd like to see you try that again!"

After a few seconds of silence, a black figure tumbled out of the trees & landed on its feet. Then it walked towards me, but soon stopped only a few yards away.

I noticed he wasn't going to speak so I did, "Silver Hands, is it?"

He just stood still.

"Here," I pointed the knife down at him, "You want this back, don't you?"

"You can keep it," he responded in a solemn tone.

"Hmph . . . So this is why they call you Silver Hands? Because you're good with blades?"

He didn't say anything back. He just stared back at me from under his hood, his face hidden under it.

I told him it would be best if he said a few words before he dies, but he just lifted his head a bit & asked, "Die?"

"You heard me," I said back.

He lowered his head to the side & laughed to himself.

"Not taking me seriously, I see," I said, lowering the knife to my side & tightening my grip on it.

"No," he lifted his head, "You aren't taking me seriously . . ."

I raised an eyebrow.

So he thinks he's better than me . . .

"Donovan is a pathetic man," he continued to speak, "Hiring a woman to do his dirty work."

"So you know why I'm here, huh?" I said back.

"Of coarse, I know now. But you're wasting your time & life. You'll be dead before you can even think about making the first move. So I advise you to go back to your precious Donovan & tell him if he wants me dead then he should do it himself."

He turned around.

How dare he turn his back on me!

"So you think you're that good?" I said, scowling him, "I'd like to warn you that I specialize in the art of she quan."

He turned his head a bit towards me, "Really? I wonder how unskilled you are."

He was really making me angry.

"Are you calling me 'unskilled'?" I questioned him.

He turned his head away from me. I tightened my grip on the knife & told him to fight me to see how 'unskilled' I was. I jumped down off of the boulder.

"Fine," he said, turning around, allowing me only to see the smirk on his face, "But you'll have to catch me first!"

What?!

The next thing I knew, he was already far from me, heading towards the city, Vallarta. I stuck the knife in my jacket & chased after him.

I don't have time for these childish games!

He ran along the shore, stepping on the wet pebbles with grace as if he's done it a million times. I was several yards behind him, slipping on the pebbles, but getting back up again. He looked back at me then laughed aloud when he saw I was having a difficult time. I scowled then quickened the pace. Soon I was close behind him, almost close enough to reach out & grab him. But he made a sharp turn & headed towards the plaza. I tried to do the same, but I fell onto my side. I got back up & followed him.

As soon as I was up the small hill, I was in one Vallarta's plazas again. It was filled with bright lights, because of the dark. I looked around, ignoring the people staring at me, trying to find Silver Hands. I couldn't find him anywhere.

Damn it! I lost him!

A woman screamed to my left. I looked towards that way, expecting to find him. A couple of people fell from an alley & out stepped Silver Hands.

He looked my way & waved, "Yoo hoo!"

My scowl returned & I dashed after him. He took off again towards the docks. I ran, avoiding the people around me as they tried to get out of my way. I saw Silver Hands spin around & knock a man in my way. I jumped over him. Then he knocked a shopping cart in my way. I jumped over that as well. He then made another sharp turn into the docks. I was getting tired of running.

He sprinted through the maze the docks were, making sharp turns left & right. I was barley able to keep up with his fast pace & turns. I slipped & almost fell into the water. I clung onto the boards & pulled myself up. I saw Silver Hands jump over a large gap between two docks then stop & look back at me. I ran until I was at that gap & stopped.

"Can't make the jump, assassin?" he taunted me.

I felt like wringing his neck for dragging me through this torture just to fight him.

I'll show you!

I took a few steps back then ran & jumped. I landed with my heels on the edge. I had to balance myself in order to keep from falling. As soon as I got my balance, I looked up & was suddenly pushed into the water. I resurfaced, coughing up the water I breathed in to hear him laughing at me. He was pushing my temper.

I grabbed the dock & climbed back up. I looked around, but couldn't find him anywhere in sight.

"Up here!" I heard him shout.

I looked up & spotted him on the truck of one of the many yachts in the docks.

"I dare you to come up here!" he shouted again & waved.