"Michael sure is thorough"
Cait's keen eye skimmed through the information Archangel had provided on Ramon Herrera, her eyes narrowing on photos of him sharing drinks with associates by a pool. Cait pursed her lips at Dom's whistle of approval from the engineers console, clearly in admiration of the host of beautiful women in the photo, wearing swimwear that could only be described as dental floss.
"You're not wrong sweetheart. Money, fast cars and beautiful women. Boy, am I in the wrong business" Dom remarked with a bark of laughter.
Cait smiled, and with a small shake of her head she glanced across at Hawke in the pilots seat.
"Hey, you ok." She asked softly, causing Hawke to tug his attention away from the sky for the first time since they'd left the Valley of the Gods. Blue eyes met hazel through the open visor in the heavy flight helmet.
"I'm fine" Hawke replied, shifting stiffly in his seat as he adjusted their course. Cait reached across and gently placed a hand on his forearm.
"It's gonna be ok, y'know"
Hawke glanced down at her hand still on his arm, before returning his gaze to hers.
"I hope you're right"
Their gaze caught and held before Dom's voice crackled through the headset.
"We're approaching Cuban airspace, String"
"Raise our IR suppressant" Hawke barked "We don't want any unwelcome surprises"
Dom nodded
"Amen to that"
"According to the charts, the landing spot is approximately ten miles north of the villa" Cait informed him, her eyes glued to the monitor "Its looks pretty dense. It should provide us enough cover, give us time to meet Michael's contact in Havana"
Hawke took a breath in and exhaled sharply
"Let's take this Lady down"
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
Darkness blanketed the clearing like a shroud, the only sound in the bivouac came from a hastily arranged fire, the flames crackling and dancing in the brisk night air.
Hawke shifted uncomfortably on the large fallen tree trunk he was using as a perch, moving his largely uneaten food around in the chipped tin bowl with his fork.
Dom glanced up from his empty bowl, his eyebrows knitting together in a frown.
"You ok, kid?"
When Hawke didn't reply, Dom set his bowl aside
"Ok, out with it"
Hawke looked sideways at the older man
"Out with what?"
"Kid, I raised you. I know when somethin's on your mind" Dom glanced over his shoulder at the figure huddled up in blankets next to the campfire.
"It wouldn't have anythin ' to do with our girl now, would it?"
Dom raised his mug to to his lips as Hawke gazed up at the full moon with a sigh
"Maybe"
Dom took a sip of his coffee, surveying Hawke over the rim of his mug.
"You wanna elaborate? I ain't a mind reader"
Hawke sighed and tossed a twig down onto the arid earth
"I asked her out"
Hawke frowned at the strangled gasp that emanated from Dom's throat as he fought to swallow the mouthful of coffee he'd just downed.
"Oh?" Dom asked, his voice rising an octave
"Yeah"
"Well, it's about time you kids stopped dancin' round each other" Dom replied, breaking into a gap toothed grin. Suddenly, his eyes widened under his bushy brows
"Wait just one minute! You asked Caitlin out and you let her go for a slap up lunch with that teacher guy?!" Dom blustered, waving an arm animately towards the mound of blankets
"I didn't" Hawke replied evenly "You did"
"Wait, wha-?" Dom puffed out his chest in defiance "Oh no you don't. You leave me outta this"
Hawke chuckled as Dom shook his head and muttered something in Italian
"Sometimes kid, you're as dense as those mountains you're so fond of"
Hawke sighed and glanced over his shoulder as the heap of blankets shifted slightly
"It's complicated"
"Only because you're making it so" Dom wisened eyes caught Hawke's
" I take it she said yes?" Dom asked, not surprised when Hawke inclined his head in confirmation. Dom nodded, the scene he'd witnessed in the hangar beginning to make sense to his addled mind
"And you put space between you"
Confirming Dom's suspicions, Hawke bowed his head and stared at the last few grains of coffee clinging to the bottom of his mug.
"She was angry"
Hawkes gaze snapped up to his mentor
"What the hell am I supposed to do, Dom?"
Dom opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again as he considered his response. He'd known for a long time Hawke had been conflicted over his feelings for Cait, and had largely kept his opinions to himself. He'd just assumed with Cait being a regular fixture at the cabin, things would naturally progress and could finally look forward to those grand babies he'd hoped for the minute Cait had swept into Santini Air. The look on the younger mans face had told him all he needed to know. With things skidding to a halt, maybe now was the time to give them a little nudge in the right direction.
"I don't want to meddle"
Hawke raised an eyebrow causing Dom to throw his arms up in exasperation.
"Ok, fine. Look kid, when you put space between someone, you put real space"
Hawke sighed
"I know it"
"Ah hell, I'm no expert when it comes to women, but I do know that's one special lady over there"
Hawke rubbed the back of his neck and his arm dropped to rest over his bent knee.
"She sure is"
"Not to mention she's good for you" Dom chuckled "and we both know she loves you. Let me finish-" Dom raised a meaty hand as Hawkes eyes snapped up at Dom's words and glared accusingly at the speaker
"Tell me kid, if you lost her as a friend, would it hurt any less?"
Hawke pressed his lips together as he considered his answer
"I can't take the risk, Dom"
Dom shifted on the log, turning his bulky frame to face him fully.
"You know me, I try not to stick my nose in where it's not wanted, especially when it comes to your...friends"
Dom ran a hand absently through his wispy curls " But this is Cait and I can't just sit back and see either of you hurt. You kids have been tap dancin' around each other for years and this-" Dom said, waggling a finger towards Caits prone form tangled up in the heap of blankets "isn't really about Cait, Gabrielle, Kelly or St John. It's about you bein' afraid, and that ain't healthy"
Hawke opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again when the words caught fast in his throat.
Dom placed a comforting hand on Hawke's shoulder
"Give it up, String. I think it's time huh?"
An unexpected surge of emotion coursed through his veins, and surreptitiously swiped away a solitary tear that threatened to escape.
Dom was 'd willingly take on a sky full of MiGs without hesitation, fly the Lady into the heart of Russia stripped of ammunition, but when it came to matters of his own heart, he'd sooner turn on his tail and run.
Hawke let out a heavy sigh.
"I wish it was that easy" he said gruffly, a faint rustling teasing the edge of his hearing.
Dom chuckled softly
"Easy or not, you'll figure it out"
Hawke returned his smile
"Thanks, Dom"
"No problem, kid"
A crack from behind them had both men turning to look over their shoulders.
"Hey" Cait said, attempting to stifle a yawn "What are you guys talkin' so seriously about?"
Hawke shifted sideways, allowing Cait to squeeze her slender frame in between him and Dom
"Turkeys" Hawke replied with a wink. Cait smiled and nodded towards Hawkes cup
"That coffee?"
Hawke glanced down at the muddy brown liquid Dom had just refilled.
"It's up for debate" Hawke replied, handing the cup to Cait who took a grateful sip, wrapping her hands tightly around allowing the warmth to radiate to the end of her fingertips.
The three sat round the fire, Hawkes knee occasionally bumping with Cait's as they went over their plans for the next day. It was decided Hawke and Cait would go into old Havana first thing in the morning, to locate the Las Cocos bar as per Michaels instructions, and Dom would stay with Airwolf, should they run into any trouble.
Much later, when the fire had almost burnt out, Hawke sat on the ground propped up against the fallen trunk, his eyes growing heavy as he stared up at the stars that winked down at him in the night sky.
"Not what you had in mind for a first date, huh?" Hawke murmured over Dom's steady stream of snores.
"Oh I wouldn't say that" Cait sighed a little wistfully "sleeping under the stars is kinda romantic"
Hawke chuckled as she yawned
"I guess"
Hawke felt Cait shiver and his gaze shifted to the woman cocooned in a blanket next to him.
"You cold?"
"A little" Cait admitted. Hawke shifted slightly, snaking an arm around her shoulders as he tugged her against him. Cait wrapped the blanket around them both as her head fell against his chest.
"Better?"
Against his better judgement, Hawke dropped his chin to rest on the top of Caits head and smiled at her hum of appreciation.
"Much" Cait replied, stealing a glance only to find him already looking at her
"Y'know, Gama used to say stars are like beacons of hope for all the lost souls of the world"
Cait told him, snuggling further into his side as he ran a hand up and down her arm.
"Gama?" Hawke asked, giving her arm a gentle squeeze.
Glancing down at her, it suddenly occurred to Hawke that other than a few short conversations with her brother and mother when they'd called the hangar to speak to Cait, he didn't really know a lot about her extended family.
"My Grandmother" Cait replied in answer to Hawkes raised eyebrow
"She sounds like a wise lady"
"Mmmm she was" Cait replied sleepily "She would have liked you"
At the pause in Dom's snores, Hawke glanced over his shoulder at the heap of blankets that hid older mans bulky frame, their earlier conversation still nagging in the corner of his mind. Sitting here with Cait in his arms, he had to admit, maybe Dom had a point. Maybe it was time to face his fears. Maybe, just maybe, Caitlin was just the person to help him lay all those ghosts of the past to rest.
Watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, Hawke untucked his free arm and gently tucked her hair behind the ear slightly exposed beneath her grey, knitted beanie hat.
"Night, Cait" He whispered, before closing his eyes and allowing a fitful sleep to finally claim him.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
A flash of orange blinded her, the heat of the fiery inferno licking at her skin, laughing at her, mocking her. She grappled around in the orange abyss, which quickly faded to a haze of brilliant white, descending from the midnight blue that threatened to swallow her whole. She clawed in vain at the ground, feeling the warm, red liquid trickling down her forearms, yet she wasn't hurt, it wasn't hers, the terrified screams morphing into broken static that pounded her ears.
"Cait? What the hell are you playin' at?! Caitlin...String...do you read me?..."
"Dom, if you're monitoring coms, I...Hawke...separated. I...find him...can't...going in! ...Dom! "
"...Hold this baby steady...Get the hell outta there!"
The burning of her lungs constricted her chest like a vice until she couldn't breathe, the sound of his voice echoing round the empty corridors as she slammed back against the concrete
"Tell me Hawke, ...Are you afraid to die?"
The words ripped violently from her lips
"Hawke! No!"
Cait sat bolt upright, her hand instinctively going for her gun as she took a few deep, heavy breaths in an effort to rid herself of the burning sensation that still resided in her chest. The sun was coming up, peeking through the trees and streaking the sky the deep colour of papaya. She she could just about make out Dom and Hawke in the distance, moving around noiselessly as they tidied the camp from the previous evening.
"I'm tellin' ya String, a man just can't function on an empty stomach" Dom groused, gesturing towards the younger man with a meaty hand.
"A man or Dominic Santini" Hawke bit back, swiping the almost full canteen from Dom's grasp and dousing the last embers of the fire. Dom harrumphed loudly as he came to a stop outside Airwolfs open cockpit door, hands on his hips
"Did I ever tell you the story about the time me and your old man snuck a coupla mustangs across the South China Sea?"
"Once or twice" Hawke muttered, dumping the canteen back in his outstretched hands. Dom's bushy eyebrows lowered as Hawke stalked past him and swung himself deftly into the cockpit, reaching out to check the turbine switches. Dom pressed his hand to the frame and leant forward
"All I'm saying' is kid, you never know where your next meals coming from, huh?"
Hawkes hands dropped to his lap and didn't bother to hide the scowl that had settled across his handsome features.
"Fine. I'll bring you back a doggy bag"
Cait smiled softly as she extricated herself from the confines of the blankets and made her way over, gently kneading out the knots that had settled in her shoulders.
"Morning fellas" Cait smiled brightly "Everythin' ok?"
"Well if it ain't sleeping beauty" Dom replied with a gap tooth grin. "You sleep ok, sweetheart."
"Sure" Cait replied, ducking her head to avoid Hawke's pointed gaze "I wouldn't say no to a cup of coffee, though"
"One coffee Comin' right up"
Taking advantage of Dom's distraction, Hawke gently placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her over to the middle of the clearing, where the last remnants of the fire still smouldered.
"So" Hawke said, turning to face her "how d'ya really sleep?"
Cait sighed and lifted her gaze to meet Hawke's
"I woke you again, huh?"
Hawke shook his head and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, rocking slowly back on his heels. He'd been at her bedside long enough to know how much this particular nightmare had shaken her to her very core, and it had been no different in the early hours of the morning when she'd woken him, shaking in his arms, a sheen of sweat glistening on her brow as she thrashed against the blankets, yelling for Dom and Airwolf. Once again, he'd threaded his fingers through her damp tendrils of hair, whispering reassurances that he'd got her and she was safe, before laying the most delicate of kisses against temple. When she'd finally stilled in his arms and he'd heard Dom stir, he gently lay her down and wrapped her securely in the blankets before heading Dom off before he could ask too many questions. He had to admit it irked him slightly that Cait was ready to open up to a complete stranger in the form of Maggie Lin, the FIRMS Psychotherapist who he didn't altogether trust, but equally he didn't want to push her, figuring she would talk to him when she was ready.
"Cait, I..." Hawke cleared his throat before Cait reached out and grabbed his hand, looking down, he gently laced his fingers with her own.
"Don't" She said quietly, ducking her head to force Hawkes gaze to meet her own "Not here. Not now"
"One cup of coffee as requested "
They both looked over as Dom came barrelling towards them coffee in hand, and swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, Hawke reluctantly let her hand drop to her side.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
A few hours later, Hawke and Cait strolled side by side, briskly weaving through the morning throngs of the market sellers setting out their stalls. Hawke almost smiled as the walked past a little handmade jewellery stall which immediately caught Caits attention, and if he hadn't felt that familiar swoop in his stomach as soon as they'd left camp that morning, he could quite easily have let his guard down and simply enjoy spending time with the woman beside him. His thoughts resentfully turned to Michael and his recently acquired distrust of the spy. Cait had been sketchy at best when pressed about her conversation with Michael on the porch the previous evening. He almost admired her belief in the man although, if truth be told, on this occasion maybe a little misplaced. He'd watched Cait change before his eyes since she came to California, and the ever present knot in his stomach served as a constant reminder of his own guilt. He and Dom had never meant for her to get so involved with Airwolf and the FIRM.
And then she'd gone and brought up Gabrielle in a blatant manipulation to get him to accept the mission. He'd had a sleepless night thinking about it, not to mention how good she'd looked in his shirt. He'd swiftly filed that thought to the back of his mind.
He knew in his heart Michael wasn't to blame for Gabrielles death, she knew the risks of the job when she went to work for him, but the closer he'd grown to Cait, the more he became unable to keep his deep seated protectiveness over the Texan in check. It had even caused several arguments between the pair, leading inevitably to him grovelling for her forgiveness in the Stringfellow Hawke way. Just when the hell had that happened?
One thing he was sure of, he trusted Cait's instincts and owed it to her to follow them through, despite his own conflicted feelings towards Archangel. But one thing he was certain of, he'd give his own life in an instant to protect the woman he-
Only a lifetime of suppressing his reactions prevented him from jumping as a stray soccer ball bounced across the road in front of them, prompting a small giggle from Cait as she controlled it with practiced ease. Looking up, she saw the small group of children careen towards them, and dropping her hip, she feinted to go round the tallest kid before kicking it back to the second, with shouts of 'Gracias Senorita' following them all the way back down the street. She glanced across at Hawke.
"What?" She asked in response to his raised eyebrow. "Le taught me a few moves"
Hawke couldn't help but chuckle as he pulled the a map from the back pocket of his jeans.
"The bars a coupla blocks away"
He stuffed the map back into his pocket, his hand finding its way protectively to the small of her back. "I'll go in first, check it out"
Cait nodded as they turned off the main drag into a near deserted street, quickly spotting a battered sign decorated with a palm tree, sandwiched between an old record store and a cigar and rum shop.
"Guess this is it" Cait muttered as the pair approached, and fought the urge to smile as the unmistakable hot and zesty rhythm of salsa music faintly teased her hearing. Cait chewed on her bottom lip. She knew Hawkes inherent dislike for that particular genre of music, solely due to her incessant, weekly efforts to cajole Hawke to go to salsa lessons with her, which had, so far, proved fruitless. Pushing the thought to the back of her mind, her eyes darted to the small, handwritten sign hanging on the door that read 'Abierto'.
"At ten thirty in the mornin' ?"
Glancing over her shoulder she raised an eyebrow at Hawke, who simply shrugged and brushed past her, pushing open the rickety wooden doors and stepping inside.
Stepping fully into the room, Salsa music immediately assaulted Hawkes ears. The bar itself was surprisingly light and airy, with several booth seats sat against a large window with views over the old Havana streets and market stalls. Large, red bar stools snaked around the rustic, wooden bar and partially concealed by a couple of fake palm trees, a handful of picnic benches finished off the seating area in the darkest corner of the bar, which Cait could only assume could loosely be construed as intimate. Cait closed her eyes revelled in the cool air ghosting across her skin, the two large fans whipping around on the ceiling providing welcome respite from the sweltering temperatures outside. Removing his aviators, Hawke quickly scanned the bar and unsurprisingly, found it virtually empty.
An elderly man with a dark, wiry moustache flecked with grey sat in one of the booths, engrossed in a newspaper that covered most of the table. In his left hand, he nursed a half drunk cup of coffee, and to the other side sat a straw Panama hat with two brown Havaneses sleeping peacefully at his feet. A howl of raucous laughter drew his attention to the bar, where a younger man in a lurid, fluorescent yellow shirt, Bermuda shorts and flip flops perched on the edge of one of the stools, clearly the unfortunate victim of one too many rums.
"I'm telling you, compañero. I think you have had enough" The young woman behind the bar scolded, as Hawke approached.
"Oh, C'mon Sofia, sweetheart. How about one of the road, huh?" Sliding onto a vacant stool, Hawkes steely gaze shifted to the man next to him as he made a show of wafting his shirt and swiping his arm across his brow "It's kinda hot out there!"
"You will live" She replied, removing his empty glass and wiping a cloth vigorously over the bar in front of her. Her dark eyes met Hawkes and a faint smile teased the edge of her lips.
"Buenos Dias. What can I get you?"
"Two coffees, thanks " Hawke replied, tucking his aviators into his pocket and stealing a quick glance around the room for any sign of Michaels contact.
The young bartender nodded and disappeared towards the rear of the bar, with Hawke acutely aware of the other mans eyes boring into the side of him, as if sizing up his opposition. Hawke toyed with the edge of a cardboard beer mat in an effort to keep his temper in check.
"Hey buddy. Ain't seen you around these parts before" The American said finally with a faux smile as he turned fully to face Hawke. "Lemme guess, You're from... wait, don't tell me..."
Hawke glanced at him as he squeezed his eyes closed for dramatic effect
"California right? Yah I knew it!"
He clapped his hands together emphatically. "I tell ya, I can spot it a mile away! You can call me Hal" He thrust a large hand towards Hawke who simply ignored it, causing the other mans broad smile to slip from his face.
"Ah. Not a big talker, I get it"
He brushed his hand absently on his shorts.
"Hey, Lemme buy you and your girl a drink at least-" He said, waving his hand in Sofia's direction
"No. Thanks "Hawke replied gruffly, keeping his eye firmly on the Latina woman as she flicked her long, dark hair over her shoulder and disappeared from the bar into the back room. "Coffees fine"
"Hey! I'm just tryin' to be friendly!" Hal exclaimed, his already ruddy cheeks turning a deeper shade of scarlet. He sat upright on his stool and puffed out his chest, stealing a glance over his shoulder at Cait who sat at one of the picnic benches, fanning herself with the table menu. He smirked and turned back to Hawke.
"Maybe your...ah...sweet little red head over there will be a lil' more accommodating-"
Hal saw the shift in Hawkes eyes far too late.
As he made a move, Hawke grabbed his wrist and slammed it onto the bar, pinning him with a wrought iron grip.
"I think...you should stay here and finish your drink" Hawke growled, nodding towards the mans half finished rum. Hal met Hawkes icy glare with one of his own
"Is there a problem? " Sofia asked, suddenly reappearing in front of Hawke with a cup of coffee in each hand. She slid them onto the bar and fixed her dark gaze on Hal, who quickly yanked his arm from Hawkes grasp.
"No" he replied with a wry smile, wringing his hand around his wrist where small, coin shaped bruises were beginning to appear on his pale skin "No problem"
Throwing a handful of pesos onto the bar between them, Hawke grabbed the coffees and left.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
"Everythin' ok?" Cait asked as Hawke returned to the table and slid into the space beside her.
"Yeah" Hawke replied gruffly, placing Caits coffee in front of her.
"Any sign of Michaels contact?"
Hawke fixed his gaze on the bar, mug half way to his lips as a young, dark haired male appeared from the back room. Hawke estimated him to be around thirty, at least six foot five as he almost bent himself in half to whisper something in Sofia's ear, before throwing a cloth down onto the counter and storming out of the bar. Taking a sip of coffee,Cait followed Hawkes gaze over the rim of her cup, her hazel eyes alighting on the source of Hawkes distraction.
"Her?"
Cait raised an eyebrow as her gaze swept over the petite, young barmaid. She couldn't have been more than twenty Cait surmised, with long, dark hair neatly pulled back into a fishtail plait which snaked over one slender, tanned shoulder. She wore a black, strapped vest top with black skinny jeans hugging her tiny waist, and a thigh length apron, tied in a bow at the hip with the words Bar Las Cocos embroidered in orange. Hardly what Cait expected from a FIRM operative, but then, from the little Hawke and Dom had told her, Michael had found Gabrielle at fifteen.
"So?"Cait said, her eyes sliding to Hawke "What now?"
"We wait"
Hawke and Cait didn't have to wait long.
"Hijo de puta!"
Hawkes head snapped up at the sudden commotion, as Hal slid from his stool and attempted to coordinate his arms and legs in something resembling a forward motion. He stumbled forwards, weaving in and out of the tables as he headed for the exit. He was almost there when suddenly, his legs gave way, crashing headlong into into an unoccupied table. The empty coffee mugs and glasses teetered and fell, smashing into tiny pieces on the floor and Hal threw out his hand in a last ditch attempt to grab onto the table for support. Hal crashed to the floor with a resounding thump, on top of the shards of China and glass scattered on the wooden floor.
Cait went to stand, but felt Hawkes fingers close around her wrist and gently lowered her back to her seat.
Hawkes eyes narrowed on the bar, as a slightly older man appeared muttering something to his staff in Spanish, before he rounded the bar and pulled a dazed and nauseous looking Hal to his feet.
"Enrique! Jose! Get this idiot out of my bar!" He exclaimed in heavily accented English, as two burly barman quickly obliged.
"I am sorry for the disturbance" He smiled as he slid into the seat opposite Hawke and Cait. He removed his battered brown Stetson and placed it on the table. "My name is Arturo. And you must be Mr Hawke"
Hawke inclined his head in an affirmative as his his well trained eye assessed the potential threat in front of him. He was small for an Agent, no more than five foot seven, Hawke guessed and judging by his stiff, uneven gait and the small sliver of a scar from the corner of his left eye, snaking its way down to the top of his cheekbone, this man had seen his fair share of action in the field. Hawke placed him in his mid fifties judging by the well worn lines in his deep, olive skin and the wisps of silver evident in his short, brown hair and full beard. And the fact that he had been doing exactly the same to him from the minute he'd sat down, made him a very dangerous proposition.
"And you must be Miss-"
Arturo suddenly turned his attention to Cait, who almost smiled at the little flash of mischief in his soft, brown eyes.
"Caitlin" Cait said quickly . "Is he gonna be alright?"
"Who Hal? Of course" Arturo replied with a shrug, plucking a cigar from the breast pocket of his blue Hawaiian shirt "Do you mind if I smoke?"
Hawke shook his head and watched as Arturo popped the cigar into his mouth and pulled out a lighter from the pocket of his brown chinos. Curling his free hand around the cigar, he lit it and took a long, slow drag.
"Delectados, Mr Hawke" Clasping it between his forefinger and middle finger, Arturo removed the cigar from his mouth and gazed at it appreciatively. "I thought they would never be smoked. They are particularly hazardous to your health."
Hawke gestured towards the man sitting opposite
"It's the addition of the volado tobacco. Slow burning. Never goes out."
"Just like a sleeper" Arturo laughed heartily. "I apologise for the rouse, Mr Hawke. I had to be sure. I hope you understand"
Hawke nodded prompting a chuckle from Arturo
"Archangel said you were a man of few words"
Hawke glanced quickly at Cait
"Words are overrated"
Arturos smile widened
"That they are, Mr Hawke My late wife told me that day from the first day we were married"
Hawke sighed impatiently and sat back in the booth
"Look, Mr-"
"ARTURO" He replied loudly, causing Cait to jump "No Mister"
"Arturo. Michael said you had some information for us?"
"Si"
Arturo turned in his seat and waved over Sofia, who disappeared behind the bar for a moment before reappearing carrying a large, brown briefcase.
"I have set up a meeting with Señor Herrera as Archangel requested. He is expecting you tomorrow morning at nine thirty"
Arturo shifted to his left as Sofia slid into the seat next to him. She placed the briefcase on the table and pinned Hawke with her dark, sultry gaze.
"Here are the access codes to Señor Herreras safe where he is keeping the microdot" She told them, as Arturo opened the briefcase and handed them a piece of paper containing a random set of numbers. "The best time to access his office is during the moonlight gala three days from now"
"How did you get these?" Cait asked, raising an eyebrow. She had more than a sneaking suspicion Sofia had been responsible.
Arturo took another puff of his cigar and leaned across the table
"How is not important. If you want the microdot and get your Agent out alive, we must act quickly"
Hawke glanced down at the access codes, then looked back at Arturo and Sofia, squinting in the early afternoon sun.
"Why are you so sure the microdot is where you say it is"
"Because I have seen it" Sofia answered without missing a beat " It is there"
"And the FIRM Agent?" Hawke asked her
"She is alive. For now"
Hawke glanced across at Cait and she met his equally questioning gaze.
"How do you know all this?" Cait asked as a low chuckle rumbled low in Arturo's chest
"My dear, Sofia is a girl of many, many talents-"
The smile slipped from his face as a bark from the saloon doors had Arturo and Sofia springing from their seats. Arturo spoke with Enrique urgently in an endless stream of Spanish before Sofia disappeared with the young barman, leaving Arturo to return to the table.
Hawke inclined his head towards the doors.
"Problems?"
"Si, I am afraid so" Arturo replied " It appears our inebriated friend is, in fact, a spy"
Hawke felt Cait stiffen beside him and he gently slid his hand onto her thigh
"It was all too convenient" Hawke said as Arturo grabbed his Stetson and pushed it firmly onto his head.
"He has been here for the past three days. We had suspected as much when we heard of your arrival. Enrique says he has been following you and your girl since you came into town"
The corner of Hawkes mouth twitched into a grin
"And you made sure he wouldn't talk"
Arturo shrugged a shoulder and glanced at Cait giving her a wink "What can I say? the man likes his rum."
Arturo nodded to the piece of paper Hawke held in his hand.
"I will pick you up at the specified location at nine o'clock" He told him as Hawke turned the piece of paper over in his hand to reveal a set of coordinates written in unfamiliar, untidy scrawl. "You must come alone" Arturo's dark gaze flicked to Cait before returning to Hawke. " Señor Herrera is a little, shall we say, paranoid"
"I understand" Hawke replied gruffly "What firepower has he got? From what I understand, his villa is heavily fortified"
"Si, it is. Ramon has been smuggling weapons for many years, Mr Hawke . He has allies in high places... Russia, Britain, China, The United States..."
Arturo seemed lost for a moment, before Caits voice pulled him from his thoughts
"Like the US Ambassador to Cuba?"
Arturo sat back in his seat and flung Cait an enigmatic smile as he flicked the remnants of his cigar into the ashtray in the middle of the table.
"This one is very smart" Arturo replied, gesturing towards Cait. Glancing over his shoulder at the newest patrons that had entered the bar, he leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly "I am a patriot, Hawke. I love my country. Ramon Herrera is a very dangerous man. I can get you in, show you his weaknesses, where to hurt him the most" Arturo exclaimed, slapping his hand on the table for emphasis "The question I have for you is..."
His gaze shifted from Hawke to Cait
"How are you going to get us all out alive?"