Dangerous Mergers

Chapter Eleven

The jostling rhythm of the wagon and the soft steady plodding of the mule's hoofs along the dirt road had lulled Stephanie to sleep with her back braced against the front wall of the wagon bed, her knees pulled up and one arm on top of them to form a substitute pillow for her head, her other arm was wrapped around Enrique who was snuggled tight against her. She raised her head to look around and flinched when a sharp jab of pain raced up her neck. Every part of her body was stiff.

The last remnants of the night were being chased from the sky by the glow of a new day when the wagon stopped in front of a small house. Stephanie gave Enrique a soft shake to wake him, and then took a better look around. The small village looked similar to the one where she had washed ashore.

"Why did we stop?" Stephanie whispered to Enrique. She was puzzled; she had assumed they wouldn't stop their travels until they reached Guantanamo.

Enrique's answer was so quiet; she had to bend her head closer to hear it. "It is only safe to travel at night. Less people to see and ask questions. We will stay here at the home of one of my father's friends, also a resistance fighter. There is also a possibility that the man who has met your husband will visit before we start out again tonight."

Although excited at the prospect of another link to Ranger, she was also worried. "Enrique, how many more people am I going to put at risk? I'm feeling very uncomfortable about this."

Enrique smiled, the smile of a man, not a boy. In that instant, Stephanie understood without a doubt what life was like for some of the people trapped in Cuba. "Babe," Enrique whispered. "These are people who must hide their beliefs and activities from the eyes of the government and their neighbors. Every day. They are good at what they do, but they are always at risk. It is the only freedom we have to choose. Their sheltering you places them at no greater risk than is usual, but it bestows a great honor upon them to have the esposa of el hero under their roof."

Manuel growled a few hushed words to Enrique in Spanish then reached for Stephanie's hand to assist her from the wagon. She wasn't sure who looked worse: her or Manuel. He really needed some rest. "He says we must move fast to get you inside before the neighbors awake and become curious." Stephanie clamped the blanket over her head and accepted Manuel's offered hand. She groaned at the stiffness in her legs when her feet touched the ground. She kept her head bent and despite her stiff legs, hustled into the small house. There were times in life to ask questions, but this was not one of them. Any form of conversation would only take up valuable time and place them all at still greater risk.

A short man with thick muscles opened the door for them and ushered them inside. He was careful to scan the area outside before he closed the door. He turned and nodded first in Manuel's direction and then Enrique's. Stephanie stood to one side in silence while they exchanged greetings. Her ears perked up when she heard the words 'esposa' (wife), 'el heroe' (hero), and 'Manoso' being spoken. The stocky man turned to embrace her, then lifted her hand to his lips.

"Bienvenido. Es un gran honor tenerte en mi casa. Me comprometo a defender hasta la muerte, si es necesario, y hacer todo lo posible para ayudarle a encontrar a su marido."

Stephanie turned her puzzled face to Enrique. "What did he say?"

Enrique's face was solemn as he translated: "Juan has welcomed you to his home, and made a pledge to defend you even if it means his death and to do all he can to help you find your husband."

Stunned and touched beyond words, Stephanie dragged one of those few Spanish words she knew from trembling lips. "Gracias, Señor."

"De nada. Es mi honor." (You're welcome. It is my honor.) Stephanie needed no translation, the meaning was clear.

Juan hustled them into the kitchen and indicated they should sit. When they were seated, he brought mugs of steaming rich black coffee to the table and joined them. Stephanie carefully downed her first sip and couldn't hold back the moan that escaped from her lips. It was the best coffee she'd ever tasted. She looked up when she realized the conversation around the table had ceased. Three sets of eyes were riveted on her, all wide with astonishment. She felt the flush creep up her face and down her neck. "Sorry," she mumbled. The men grinned, while Enrique continued to look incredulous.

"I do not understand why you do that?" He asked with childlike wonder. "It's only coffee, not tostones!"

Manuel and Juan resumed their talk, Enrique translating every few sentences. The gist of the conversation was that the three of them would sleep while Juan constructed the next leg of their journey and arranged another secure place for them to stay tomorrow. Stephanie lost herself in aimless daydreams until Enrique's words drew her attention back in sharp focus.

"Juan says the man who has met your husband will be here no later than seven o'clock tonight. You will have time to speak with him before we leave."

"Please thank Juan for me and that I'm looking forward to meeting the gentleman. What's his name?"

"Carlos Abrahan Manoso."

Really? Stephanie raised an eyebrow. This was going to be very interesting, she thought. Maybe they'd even have a little time for a family history lesson. Wouldn't Ranger be surprised?

oOoOo

Miguel's stomach was churning with stress and anger. Anger, because he wasn't used to not getting what he wanted. Stress, because he knew his father would not be pleased at the lack of progress. His cousin Ricardo had been an irritant for as long as Miguel could remember. It was beginning to look as if he'd married a woman with the same unfortunate trait.

With a deep sigh, Miguel stabbed the appropriate numbers into the phone, his blood pressure rising with each ring.

"Hello."

"Padre, it's Miguel."

"Ah, good. You have progress to report?"

Miguel's stomach clenched tighter, his frustration evident in his voice. "No. I have nothing to report, nothing, not a goddamn single thing. Either everyone on this fucking island is stupid or blind or both."

The phone remained silent just long enough to alert Miguel that he'd just made a huge mistake in speaking as he had to his father. "Your lack of patience and temper will not serve you well, Miguel. Do you wish to be dispatched home in disgrace, a failure?"

Miguel drew a deep breath, counted to ten then drew in another. "Forgive me, padre, I haven't had much sleep."

"Nor do you deserve to until your job is complete. What is your next step?"

Miguel cringed and his jaw grew tight. Although this was just a telephone line, he was sure his father was aware of his tension. "I do not have a next step to take. We cannot find any trace of her; the police have been unable to find any trace of her. Either Ricardo was wrong and she is dead, or she is being very well hidden."

"Ricardo was not wrong." Just the way his father said it made Miguel hate his cousin more. No, Ricardo was not wrong. Ricardo was never wrong. Ricardo was the epitome of being right. Ricardo knew how to do his job. Fucker. Although his father had not said the words, Miguel heard them ringing in his head just as clearly as if they'd been said aloud. The only bad thing about Ricardo, in his father's opinion, was that he was on the wrong side of the family business. And for that Miguel would extract another level of revenge.

"I need the names of the people suspected to be in his network. Someone is hiding her and knowing who they are is our only hope of finding her."

This time it was his father's turn to sigh. "We cannot alert the government as to who these people are. Can you manage to do surveillance on them without attracting attention? Without it getting to official ears?"

Miguel was puzzled. "Sure, but why do we give a shit if they are uncovered? I would think that would be a good thing, less opposition to worry about."

"Miguel, Miguel," his father's tone of voice was really saying 'tsk, tsk' as if he were a dense child. Damn, he hated Ricardo, always making him feel inferior. "It is better to know your enemy than not to know him. It is even better to protect the names of your enemies for times like these. We must keep the network intact."

Whatever, he thought. "Yes, padre. I did not think of that."

His father's voice sounded sad and resigned. "I know, Miguel, thinking ahead does not occurr to you."

Miguel stiffened. His father's opinion of him would change when he brought Ricardo's bride to him. So would Ricardo's.

oOoOo

Leon couldn't help but laugh, "My brother, the professorial geek."

Despite the disguise, the menace emanated off Ranger in waves. "Fuck you, Leon."

Will joined in the laughter. "Hey, man, he's got a point. That's the closest I've ever seen you looking… ordinary. No one will spare you a passing glance. This is a first, to the best of my recollection. It calls for a drink."

Ranger glared at his friend. "If the disguise weren't so good, I'd whip your ass. As for you," Ranger turned back to Leon, "just remember, tomorrow you will become my equally unremarkable brother."

"Okay, boys, play nice and listen up." Although Will was enjoying the banter, it was time to get down to business. "Ric, we'll smuggle you into the airport so you can walk out like all the other tourists and there will be one of my guys picking you up in a cap then drop you off at the hotel. Hit the streets; let people get their first look at you." He handed Ranger a picture of the guy playing the cabdriver. "Quit messing with your mole!"

"It itches!" Ranger continued to pick at the hard piece of plastic.

"That's because I put itching powder under it," Will kept his eyes away from Ranger's view and winked at Leon.

"You did what?" Ranger yelled.

Leon's shoulders started to shake with laughter.

"Okay, let's get back to business. Reservations have been made under your new name; your passport is in order, complete with the arrival stamp from the airport. Pick someplace casual to have dinner then secure yourself inside the hotel, make it an early night." Will waited to make sure his friend was getting his meaning. When Ranger avoided looking at him, Will sighed. "You skip out on me and I'll hunt you down, my friend. And you know, not only can I see the wind, but I can shoot it too."

Will turned to Leon. "Tomorrow we repeat the process with you. Ric will do a city tour tomorrow and make a stop at the university for a look around. By the time he gets back, you'll be arriving. Both of you should enjoy dinner and visit one of the dance clubs tomorrow night, then you can set off on your countryside tour early the next morning."

He stopped to retrieve some papers that had been shoved to the side on his makeshift desk. "I know I don't need to tell either of you this, but assume your rooms are bugged. The car will be safe, but it's better not to chance it. I wish we could send some debugging equipment along with you, but if you're stopped you don't want to have anything more suspicious on you than a Spanish-English dictionary. How you meet up with your contacts is up to you, I don't want to know anything. But the minute, the second, you locate Stephanie; you call the number I gave you. Don't try to do it alone."

Will stopped and stared at Ranger, his eyes intense. "You understand me, Ric?" This time, Ranger nodded. Satisfied, Will nodded back. "Okay. Here's a map of the country, I've already marked the area we were able to trace her to before her tracker went dead. Oh yeah, and here's the paperwork for your transportation." He handed both over to Ranger.

Scanning the paperwork, Ranger frowned. "Tell me this is a joke and that you're a clown in your spare time."

Will's brow shot up and he grinned. "Always wanted to be a clown. It would be a nice balance to what I'm forced to do for a living, but I'm afraid it's no joke, unless you want to consider it a small private one."

Leon was trying to read over his brother's shoulder. "What's so funny?"

"This." Ranger thrust the paperwork over his shoulder, his eyes still locked on Will. Leon gave the papers a quick scan, "What? I don't get it."

"Your new sister-in-law has been known to drive the same car on occasion." Will started laughing.

Leon looked at his brother and then back at Will, a mischiefious smile breaking out on his face. "Gotta love your style, Will. This is perfect. Stephanie will see this car coming a mile away." He joined in the laughter.

"I can't believe you found Big Blue's cousin," Ranger groaned. "She'll run the other way if she gets a look at it."