Стюарт Вудс - Contraband

“And how much do these tobacco sticks sell for?”

“My conversant in the cigar bar looked around as if we might be overheard and offered me a box for ten thousand dollars, or a single El Ropo Grande sample for a mere six hundred, which I declined with alacrity.”

“Let me guess: the American encountered by the Communist capitalist was Randall Hedger.”

“Bingo! And finally — and this is all, I promise — the Cuban entrepreneur was also in the way of keeping Fidel and company supplied with beluga caviar, through the good offices of a Russian gentleman employed in their Havana embassy. Need I say more?”

“And how long has this been going on?”

“Who knows? It was about two years ago that I was in the cigar bar.”

“And what did you do with all that cash?”

“It still reposes in Randy’s safe. I gave Robbie a stern lecture on the duties of an executor and pointed out that her new position had not yet been affirmed by the court. But she still has the key to the apartment, so who knows what ideas are racing through her cunning brain as we speak.”

“Well, good luck keeping a lid on her.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep you posted on events. Oh, and I’ve sent you a small gift as a referral fee. You should have it shortly.”

“Entirely unnecessary, but it will be gratefully received,” Stone said, and they both hung up.

When Stone had finished with his story, Joan entered with a package. “I don’t know what it is,” she said, “but it’s cold.”

“Unwrap it, please?”

“You’re expecting a bomb?”

“I am not.”

Joan found a box cutter and gingerly removed the wrapping, then held up a blue disc-shaped can. “It says beluga caviar,” she said.

“Would you take it to the kitchen and put it in the refrigerator — not the freezer, please.”

Joan vanished, and Stone called Dino.

“Bacchetti.”

“Stop by here on your way to dinner, and I’ll have a treat for you.”

Stone got a chilled bottle of Stolichnaya vodka from the study fridge, covered a silver platter with a linen napkin, and set out small crystal glasses. He found some demitasse spoons in the silver drawer, then he went to the kitchen, boiled an egg, then chopped it, along with some Bermuda onion.

Dino let himself into the house with his key, and when he arrived in the study, Stone was ready for him.

“What’s this?” Dino asked, taking a seat.

“This, my friend, is the almost unobtainable beluga caviar.”

“And given that, how did you obtain it?”

“It came from the refrigerator of the late Randall Hedger.”

“He could afford a refrigerator?”

“Let me tell you the story,” Stone said, which he did while removing the seal from the tin and handing Dino a spoon. “There’s onion and egg there, but try it plain.”

They both did.

Dino savored the flavors of the roe. “So Randy was in the smuggling game?”

“Yes, and he bothered with nothing that wasn’t compact, easily concealable, and very rare. I made a couple of calls and someone who knows about these things told me that there are plenty of customers for beluga at twenty thousand dollars a kilo.”

“And how big is this can?”

“Half a kilo. And he also smuggled in Castro’s favorite cigars, which go for twelve thousand a box, or six hundred dollars if bought individually.”

“I’m glad you got the beluga instead of the cigars,” Dino said.

Stone poured them each a glass of the icy vodka. “It goes well with this.” He raised his glass. “The tsar.”

Dino raised his glass and drank. “Wow,” he said, digging his spoon into the shiny black eggs. “We could just make dinner of this,” he said.

“That would be too greedy,” Stone replied. “One more spoonful, and I’ll return this to the fridge for later binges.”

During dinner, a thought came suddenly to Stone. “I’m very slow on the uptake,” he said to Dino.

“How’s that?”

“You remember the airplane that sank next to us at Fort Jefferson?”

“How could I forget?”

“Remember the suitcases in the rear compartment that disappeared overnight?”

“I remember you telling me about them. I never saw them.”

“I think those suitcases were packed with Castro’s favorite cigars and beluga caviar.”

Dino’s eyes widened. “That would explain why they went to all that trouble to take them from the wreck. That cargo, at the prices you’ve mentioned, would be worth more than cocaine.”

Stone got out his phone and called Max.

“This is Max.”

“And this is Stone.”

“Hey, there. Have you reconsidered coming to Key West?”

“I believe I have,” Stone said, “and I may be able to solve part of your case.”

“Which case, the stolen bicycles?”

“Something much more valuable. I’ll tell you when I see you.”

“When will that be?”

“Give me a day or two to do some investigating at this end. Then I’ll wing my way south.”

“I guess I can stand your absence for another day or two. Let me know when, and I’ll meet you at the airport.”

They hung up. “Feel like a few days in Key West?” Stone asked Dino.

“I certainly feel like it. I’ll see if I can shake loose and what Viv’s schedule is like.”

“Dino,” Stone said, “you remember that I got a visit from those Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms guys a short while ago?”

“I remember.”

“I think they were interested in tobacco, not so much the other two.”

“I see your point,” Dino said. “You know, now that we know what Randy Hedger was involved in, that might give us another avenue for investigating his murder.”

“Maybe he’s the first guy to ever get offed over cigars and caviar.”

“You have a point,” Dino said.

“Now, all we have to do is find out who Randy’s accomplices are.”

“Maybe I’ll pay the lovely Roberta a visit tomorrow.”

“And maybe I’ll join you,” Stone said.

Stone traveled uptown the next morning to meet with Herbie and Roberta, at Herbie’s request. “I think it may take more than one legal mind to keep Robbie on the straight and narrow, as we progress,” Herb had said.

Stone agreed. He presented himself at Robbie’s door at the appointed hour of nine-thirty and rang the bell. Robbie swung open the door and it was apparent to Stone that she was dressed in nothing more than a thin silk dressing gown, probably of her own design. Somewhat, but not entirely to his chagrin, the sight of her draped curves caused a quickening of his breath and a rise in the blood pressure of other parts of his anatomy.

Robbie closed the door and presented a cheek to be kissed, then, when Stone aimed for it, she turned her head and he came in contact with her lips and her tongue. “I want you, and right now,” she said, slipping out of her dressing gown with a shrug of her shoulders and allowing it to drop in a puddle on the floor.

“May I remind you,” Stone said, working his speech around her tongue, “that Herb Fisher will be joining us momentarily?”

“Herb just called,” Robbie said, unzipping his fly. “He’s going to be an hour late.”

By the time enough of Stone’s blood supply had reached his brain to allow for decision making, he was beyond decision and flying on auto-penis. She backed him into a chair and, on his way down, deftly stripped him of his trousers and boxers, while dropping to her knees and taking him into her mouth.

Stone resisted the thought of defense and gave himself to the moment. Robbie, with exquisite timing, stopped him short of orgasm and climbed onto him, impaling herself. Stone managed to lift her without exiting and lowered her to the rich carpet below them, so that he could continue the exercise with complete freedom.