DANGEROUS MERGERS
Chapter Four
Manuel's worried eyes watched the young woman. She was dehydrated and suffering from a sever case of sun poisoning. Her fever was high. Her rest was nothing but fitful tossing and turning. He and his wife, Emilia, had been taking turns changing the wet cloths on her forehead. Both had trickled water between her cracked lips into her mouth. Emilia had rubbed the woman's body down with the cooling fluid from the aloe leaves that he had picked from their garden.
Their care would have to be enough, they couldn't risk calling for the doctor. First, it would cost money they didn't have and second, letting anyone know that they were hiding a stranger - and an American at that - would invite the wrath of the federal police. Even if they could prove they had not known her, they would be placed under surveillance, their jobs taken, their lives ruined.
The woman was too weak to travel. She would need to rest for a day or two. When her strength returned, they would have to ask her to leave. He and Emilia had discussed it, but for now, rest, fluids, and aloe were the best that they could, and should provide.
Manuel looked up when his wife walked into the room. She was carrying a clean nightshirt for the woman to wear. Emilia made a waving motion with her hand, chasing him away so that she could care for the young woman. Manuel nodded, kissed his wife on the cheek and left her to tend their patient.
The young woman began moaning the minute Emilia started to remove the sweat-drenched nightshirt she had put on her a few hours ago. She spoke to the young woman in soft reassuring words. The sound of Spanish quieted her for a while; then she would become agitated and call out the word – ranger - over and over again. They did not understand what the word meant, but Emilia knew from the way the young woman cried out, that she was afraid for someone she loved.
Last night, she and Manuel had decided that Manuel would ask Enrique's father if the young boy could come to their house to translate the young woman's words once she was awake. Enrique's father and Manuel worked together as mechanics in the city. They were good friends and they trusted each other. Enrique's mother had spoken English and had taught her son. It was Enrique's father's dream that his son would one day be able to live in the United States of America. Manuel and Emilia knew that they would help however they could to make that dream come true and tell no one.
oOoOo
"It's not possible!" Miguel said in shock.
"It is a fact." The older man's voice was severe, reproving.
"I don't understand. I took care of the pilot myself and two of our best men were on the plane. I watched the plane leave. I monitored the progress of the flight. I realize that the plane exploding wasn't part of the plan and that you would have preferred to be the one to kill him, but dead was the ending we both wished him." Miguel paused, trying to calm himself. If this information were true, he would have to watch his step around the old man. "How do you know this?"
"One of my informants saw him at Sam's Dock, heard him talking with the police and another person. He spoke of his wife. She, too, is still alive, but missing."
"How can she be missing if they know she is alive?" Miguel did not understand any of this. Ricardo and his wife should not be alive. Damn his cousin, the man had more lives than a gato! (cat)
"Maybe misplaced would be a better word. They know where she is. However, it is a little inconvenient for them to retrieve her."
Miguel repressed a sigh. He was already in deep enough shit with his failure. But did the man expect him to be psychic? "What's the problem?"
"Her location."
This time, Miguel didn't bother to mask his impatience. "And her location is…?"
The sound of the old man's laughter froze Miguel. He had never heard Alfredo laugh before; hell, he'd only seen him smile twice! "Her location could not be more perfect. She is in Cuba!"
Miguel burst into laughter of his own. It was true; it could not be more perfect. Ricardo could not risk going there, again, but he, Miguel, could come and go from the island with ease. There were many sections of the island where people quaked in fear at the name of Miguel Manoso. Many a favor owed to him, many who would fawn in the hopes of receiving one.
"Let me guess, I'm going on a short trip."
"Oh yes, indeed you are. I want you gone this evening."
"It should be a simple matter to find Stephanie Manoso and dispose of her. An English-speaking American woman will stick out like a sore thumb. I may not even have to kill her. Perhaps that little chore has already been taken care of."
The voice on the other end of the line sobered. "You had best hope not. I want her alive, very much alive, and in good condition. With the exception of his daughter, Ricardo has but a few vulnerabilities in his life. But his new bride will give us the leverage we need. I suspect Ricardo will be more than willing to deal with us if we possess something this precious of his."
A slow smile spread across Miguel's face. This was good, very good. A chance to even the score on many levels, both business and personal. He thought of Ricardo's wife, envy flashing across his features. A beautiful woman, a desirable woman. He would have her, and Ricardo would know. Even that wouldn't come close to evening the score between them, but it would be a start. "I'll make some calls, get a few of the men working on locating her, pass the word that she is not to be harmed. I'll be on my way within an hour after dusk."
"See that you are. And Miguel? Make sure you succeed this time. Another failure cannot be ignored."
"Si, padre. I will not fail." Miguel didn't miss the unspoken threat.
oOoOo
"What do you mean she's in Cuba? She can't be!"
"Ric, calm down." Tank knew this wasn't going to be easy. "She can and is."
"You're sure?"
Tank stared hard at his friend without answering, the man knew better than to question his information.
Ranger started pacing, each step punctuated with a curse. He stopped short and shook his head. "How the hell does she do it? We've only been married a day. Another week of this and I'll be dead."
Tank snorted. "Hey, I figured that was one of the things you love about her." Ranger turned to glare at him, then stalked away again, muttering to himself. Detectives Lopez and Miller each raised an eyebrow in question. Tank shook his head and mouthed, "Later."
The three men stood watching and waiting for Ranger. After several minutes, he turned and walked back to them. There was no mistaking the resolve on his face. "Tank, I need you to get back to the office. Contact Will. We don't have any assets in Cuba, but he does. With him at Guantanamo, he's the best shot we have, and remind him that he owes me a big one."
Tank smiled. He remembered that little caper that had Will in Ranger's debt. Will was a good man; he'd do his best to even the score. "Anything else?"
Ranger gave a quick tip of his head, indicating that Tank should follow him. He led Tank a dozen yards away from the others. "I need you to keep these two busy for the next ten minutes."
"Why?"
"Because I need to contact the Organization."
Tank raised his eyebrow. The organization wouldn't help a civilian, not even if it was the wife of one of their own. Hell, they didn't help their own when they were stuck in hostile territory. It didn't make sense. "Why?"
Ranger stared long and hard. He didn't want to tell Tank his plan. He knew what the reaction would be, and didn't want to waste time arguing. On the other hand, someone needed to know what he was planning to do. "Because I need a new identity, a change in appearance, and a ride."
It was Tank's turn to stare. "Shit, Ric, you can't go back there. Anyone recognizes you; you won't make it out this time, at least not alive. Send someone else."
Ranger's face went blank.
Tank shook his head. He recognized the look. There'd be no arguing with Ranger on this one.
"She's my wife. I won't, no, I can't, sit back and trust anyone else to do this for me. And don't forget about Miguel. He can slip in and out of that island like he's slipping in and out of his bed. I don't even want to think about what would happen if he finds out Stephanie is alive and gets to her before I do. He's done this to get at me. I'm the one he wants, I'm the one he'll get."
Tank scrubbed his face with his hands. Ranger was right. Miguel was a vicious little shit, and his finding out that Stephanie and Ric were still alive was only a matter of time. "I got a bad feeling about this one, man."