"This is unbelieveable." Josh said as he paced the dank, hot police station.
He watched Donna try to converse with the police officer and the woman but it
was to no avail.

"I didn't mean to steal the shirt. I was...distracted." she said giving Josh
a hard look.

He returned her look as if to say "What?" but she turned back to her
conversation.

"It is a misunderstanding" Donna continued "I will be happy to pay for the
shirt right now."

The police officer turned to the standkeeper and translated for Donna.

"Si, ella me paga doscientos pesos, nos olvidaremos de todo." the woman
responded.

"She say if you pay her two hundred pesos, she will forget everything." the
Officer translated for Donna.

"Two hundred! We agreed on 25 in the marketplace."

"Well her price now is 200."

"That's ridiculous!"

"Just pay her Donna." Josh said wanting to get out of there.

"You 'just pay her'. You're the reason we are in this mess!" Donna shot back
at him, irritated.

"My fault, my fault!"

"Yes, your fault."

"Now listen Donatella..."

"Don't you Donatella me. If you hadn't been so bent on having your own way,
again, we wouldn't..."

"My own way. When do I ever get my own way? You are always there reminding me
that my way is stupid."

"It seems I was right doesn't it?"

"No it does not. I'm not the one with sticky fingers."

"I do not have sticky fingers!" Donna cried.

Being so involved in their argument they did not notice the woman lean over
to the police officer and say something.

"Excuseme" the Officer said.

Donna and Josh continued their badgering.

"Hola" he tried one more time.

Still they didn't hear him. Finally he took out his whistle and let out a
high shrill. Josh and Donna turned to him, a little perturbed that he
interrupted their argument.

"Senorita Gomez says the price is now 500 pesos."

"What!" Josh and Donna exclaimed at the same time.

"You were giving her a headache." the Officer replied.

"Oh this is too much." Josh said getting even more agitated.

Donna put a hand on his arm and turned to the officer. "I will pay her the
agreed upon 25 pesos."

The Officer turned to Senorita Gomez and spoke to her in Spanish. The woman
looked at Donna then spoke.

"She says 300 is her final offer."

"No!" Donna said upset and indignant. "This is the true robbery. I don't have
to stand for this. I have rights!"

"You are right, you do not have to pay Senorita." the Officer said.

"I don't?" Donna said.

"She doesn't?" Josh said at the same time.

"No" the Officer replied.


TBC