Nelson DeMille - The Cuban Affair

And finally, I couldn’t help but think — for the last time, until next time — about the three million dollars. Two for me, one for Jack. That would have been a life changer. But maybe the money was still there, and maybe I’d come back for it with Sara — if we didn’t have a life-changing experience here in the next few hours.

Meanwhile, our contact person at the Melia Hotel didn’t know what night we’d show up, but I hoped he — or she — showed up at the lobby bar every night as instructed. It’s good to see you here.

Sara asked, “Have you figured out your surprise?”

“I haven’t thought about it.”

“Well... then maybe I should tell you now.”

“Now would be good.”

She hesitated, then said, “Our contact at the Melia bar is Felipe.”

That was a surprise. But not a big one. And it made sense from a security standpoint — fewer people involved, and someone with skin in the game. “That’s good.” But why did she think I wouldn’t be pleased? Well... if I’m so smart, I should know.

I looked at her, and we made eye contact. “Okay...” I think I got it. “Okay... and...?”

“I’m sorry, Mac. You needed to know before we met him.”

Right. So I could act as though Sara and I were barely on a first-name basis after a week together. Well, these people really did keep it in the family.

She looked at me. “I... don’t know what to say.”

“Well... me neither. But what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that we wouldn’t get this far. So it didn’t matter. I wanted you... and I guess I should have thought ahead.”

Well, in truth, I myself don’t often think farther than my dick, but... I had to admit I was... angry? No, more like surprised at my feelings. When the boyfriend was abstract and in Miami, it didn’t bother me too much. But now that I could put a handsome face on the generic boyfriend, and a name, Felipe, it was starting to hit me — hard.

“Say something.”

I looked at her and saw she was upset. I assured her, “When we meet Felipe, I will act as though nothing has happened between us.” I saw Casablanca six times.

“He’s already half crazy with jealously.”

“Can’t imagine why.”

“He’s Cuban.”

And this was the guy I’d be on the boat with for ten hours. Well, I had a gun. But so did he. I thought back to when I’d asked her, “How well do you know Felipe?” And she’d replied, “I’ve met him.” Well, I guess so. And I also thought back to Sara in Floridita, asking if Jack had asked me if I was sleeping with her. I recalled, too, that Jack had told me that Felipe knew Sara. Was Jack trying to tell me something? Also, Eduardo knew what was going on, maybe from Jack, or maybe from looking into Sara’s eyes at Chico’s garage, and I remembered that Eduardo reminded her that she was committed to a man in Miami. And he’d stared at her when he confirmed what the contact — Felipe — would say. It’s good to see you here.

So, yes, I had all the clues I needed. Then why didn’t I put them together? Because love is blind.

In any case, Eduardo had no way of contacting his nephew about his suspicions. And he never would. So I assured her again, “I will be an officer and a gentleman.”

“Is that all you have to say.”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I want you to say you want me.”

She may have watched too many Cuban soap operas, which was what this was starting to sound like.

“You said you loved me.”

“I do.” And I really did. So I had to ask, “Do you love him?”

“I did. Not anymore. I wouldn’t have had sex with you if I did.”

“Okay. Does he love you?”

“He confuses jealousy with love.”

I never had that problem, though I have confused sex with love. But not this time.

Well, I was feeling really crappy, and I’m not used to being one side of a triangle. “We’ll stick to our story tonight, and when we get home, we can sort it out.”

She nodded and took my hand. “When we get back, I’ll tell him.”

I thought she was going to do that in Havana. But Felipe was not reachable by phone because he was on the boat. She must have forgotten.

She forced a smile. “I love you even though you have no money.”

Thanks for reminding me. But that was nice to hear, and I smiled.

She looked around for the waitress. “Let’s have another drink.”

“Not for me. But you have one.” I stood and slung my backpack on my shoulder.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk on the beach.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No. We should split up — for tactical security. If the police are looking for us, they won’t get both of us, and one of us will be able to get to the hotel bar and meet our contact... Felipe.”

She stood. “No—”

“I’m giving the orders now, as I will be when I’m captain of my ship tonight. So get used to taking orders.”

“Mac... no ...”

“You need to stay with the cargo.” I threw the keys on the table. “I’ll meet you at the Melia Hotel, lobby bar, at let’s say six-thirty.”

She looked really upset, and we were starting to attract attention, so I gave her a kiss and said, “It’s okay. This is the way to do it. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

And off I went, down toward the beach with my backpack and Glock. I glanced back to see if she was following, but I didn’t see her.

In love and war, you need to make hard decisions.

Well, this should be an interesting night. And hopefully the last surprise.

I walked west along the nearly deserted beach, then came around to the tip of the island and continued along the southern shore, but I ran into a mangrove swamp and headed inland. Sometimes you need to recon the terrain, and sometimes you need to do a one-man recon of your head.

I made my way through the bush for awhile before I realized I was half asleep and still walking. I used to be good at sleepwalking on forced night marches, but I had no objective today except to be alone, so I found a patch of clear ground under a tall palm and sat.

I pulled my Glock from my pack, stuck it under my shirt, and leaned back against the tree trunk. It was hot inland, and buggy, so I didn’t expect company.

Thinking back on all this, I should have suspected that Sara’s boyfriend in Miami was none other than Felipe. The clues, as I said, were there, but I wasn’t putting them together. And not because I’m dense, but because I didn’t want to go there. My mother used to call this willful ignorance. She still does.

Well, I’ve been in situations like this before, but this was the first time the boyfriend was going to be onboard the boat we’d all have to share on our midnight run. Me, Jack, Felipe, and Sara. We’d have to figure out the sleeping arrangements. Could be awkward, even though we were all going to pretend that I’d been a perfect gentleman in Cuba.

I understood why Sara had lied, and I understood that she was conflicted, and that at some point she’d made up her mind about Felipe. But the only way this wasn’t going to be a problem in Cayo Guillermo was if she and I had never made it here, as she said. But here we were, against all odds.

Side two of this triangle was Felipe. I really didn’t give a shit that he was half crazy with jealousy because his girlfriend was alone with me in Cuba. But as a guy, I could sympathize with him. I actually liked him when I met him in Key West. He seemed competent, assured, and trustworthy. But thinking back, I realized now that he was sizing me up, probably trying to guess if I was the kind of guy who’d try to pop his girlfriend. If I’d known what the situation was, I would have assured him that I wasn’t that kind of guy. But no one told me, so I didn’t have the chance to be noble. Instead, I had a chance to get laid.