Devil in a Black Suit: A Shelby Nichols Adventure

by Colleen Helme

  “Hmm…that doesn’t bode well for Bruno’s organization, unless they’re in on it together.”

  “True. But if they’re not, it might be a gesture of good will to let Bruno deal with it.”

  “You’re right. It would also give me an edge in my dealings with Bruno. If he makes excuses and doesn’t take care of the problem, then I’ll know he was in on it. If he wasn’t in on it, he’ll thank me for uncovering the double-crosser, and owe me a favor.” Manetto sighed. “All right. I’ll put a call through to Bruno and call you back.”

  Ramos disconnected and paced back and forth along the road. For the beginning of March, it was a warm, sunny day. Once he got this straightened out, he might even be heading to Cuba tomorrow. A sudden memory came to him of a woman saying that Cuba was an island paradise. He’d only thought of it as a place to get away from. Maybe it was a little of both.

  His phone rang, and he quickly answered. “Bruno sounded appalled,” Manetto began. “So I don’t think he was in on it, but he wants to take care of the problem himself. He said this Esposito fellow is a leftover from Carson’s days, and he’s a cop.”

  “That’s true,” Ramos agreed. “I met him when I was there with Shelby. I told Detective Fitch that he was working for Carson, so I’m a little surprised he’s still around.”

  “Well, I doubt he will be for long. But you were right; Bruno wants to talk with him. He has a man there in Miami who will take Esposito off your hands. Here’s the address where you’re to meet him.” Manetto gave Ramos the name and address, then disconnected with instructions to call when the job was done.

  Ramos got back to the car and smiled at Esposito. “Good news. It looks like you’re going to live a little longer.” Esposito sagged with relief. Ramos turned to Zack and told him where to drive next, and they were soon on the road to meet Bruno’s man.

  They pulled into a run-down neighborhood with only a few houses that looked habitable. Outside the last house on the street, a man straightened from his perch on the porch and waited for them to stop. From what Ramos could see, he wasn’t holding a gun but, in this business, that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.

  “Wait here,” Ramos told Zack. “And keep the car running.”

  Since Ramos wasn’t sure of this guy, he wanted to keep his options open. He opened Esposito’s door and helped him out, then stood behind him with his gun drawn. “He’s all yours,” Ramos said. The man grunted and grabbed Esposito’s arm.

  As they walked into the house, Ramos got back in the car and told Zack to take them back to the hotel. He let out a breath, grateful to let someone else take care of Esposito. Zack pulled into the parking lot, and they both got out of the car.

  “What’s next for you?” Ramos asked him.

  “I’ve got two more stops to make before I work out the deal with our buyers.”

  “Manetto wants you to do the deal? I’m impressed.”

  Zack smiled. “Well, I’m hoping to prove my worth.”

  “That should do it.” Ramos hoped Zack came through, or he wasn’t going to last long. “Are you headed out today?”

  “Yes. I need to be on the road by two o’clock, or I’ll miss my next appointment.”

  Ramos checked his watch. It was already after one. “I’ll leave you to it.”

  “Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem.”

  After shaking hands, they entered the hotel and went their separate ways. Ramos checked with the front desk to see if Sloan had sent him anything. Sure enough, a stack of papers with travel information and his plane ticket awaited him. The flight left the next afternoon and landed in Havana less than an hour later.

  He took everything up to his room and called Manetto. “Everything’s taken care of.”

  “Good. How’s Zack doing?”

  “I think he’ll be fine. I didn’t know you were letting him make the deal, though.”

  “I know,” Manetto agreed. “I’m not so sure that was a good idea on my part, but you’ve got to admit, the kid has a lot of ambition.”

  “That’s true. As long as you can trust him.”

  “Yes…but without giving someone a chance, how do you know? Anyway…I thought maybe you could keep an eye on him for me. His next appointment isn’t for a few days, but I think we can let him handle that one.

  “It’s the last appointment here at home that I’m concerned about. It’s a few weeks from now, but I’d like you to shadow him while he sets it up. After that, he’ll be making the deal, and I want him to finish everything up on his own. What do you think?”

  “From what I’ve observed, I think he’ll do great.” Ramos took a deep breath and let it out. “There is something that’s come up. So, if you can spare me, I could use the next few days off.”

  “Is it your brother? He’s there in Miami, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, but I’m not ready to involve him in my life. It’s something else.”

  Ramos hadn’t told Manetto about Sloan’s information that his father could still be alive, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. “While I’m this close, I thought I’d take a detour to Cuba. Just to get some closure. You know that’s where I’m from. With my parents dead, and no real memories of my family, I thought it might…be nice.”

  “Do you have relatives there?”

  “I honestly don’t know.”

  “Hmm. You’re not planning to leave the business, are you?” Manetto asked.

  “No. I wouldn’t think of it. Whatever I find, nothing will change.”

  “Fine. Take all the time you need. I’d tell you to take the jet, but I don’t think my pilots have clearance to fly into Cuba.”

  Ramos smiled and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. There’s a daily flight from here, so it’s easy to get a ticket. In fact…” Ramos hesitated, but he knew he needed to be honest with Manetto, and tell him the truth.

  “There’s something you need to know,” Ramos began. “One day, not long after my family arrived in the states, my father went to work and never came home. We never knew what happened to him, and it broke my mother’s heart.

  “The last time I spoke to Sloan, she had some information about him. She told me that she found out he was taken back to Cuba against his will, and that he might still be alive. That’s the real reason I want to go.”

  “Holy hell,” Manetto said. “You know I like to stay out of your personal business, but this…why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I guess because my past is not something I’ve wanted to think about…or revisit. But now…I don’t think he’s alive, but it would be nice to know for sure.”

  “I can see that,” Manetto said. “What about Sloan? Have you told her you’re going?”

  “That’s the thing. I called her last night. She’s there right now, and she’s already made arrangements for me to fly down and meet her there tomorrow. I was a bit surprised at how fast she managed it, but that doesn’t change the fact that I need to go. So I don’t really need the jet, since she’s already arranged a plane ticket for me.”

  Manetto grunted. “You know how I feel about Sloan. You can’t trust her. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Yes. I’ll be fine.”

  Manetto let out a breath. “I’m sure you will. Just be careful.” He paused before continuing, “And since you’re going to be there, why don’t you bring me back some of those famous Cuban cigars?”

  “Sure. I’ll do it.”

  “And Ramos,” he said. “I hope you find him.”

  They disconnected, and Ramos let out a breath. Now that he was actually going, he hoped he’d made the right decision. He checked the papers Sloan had left him, going over the mandated questionnaire she’d sent. Most of it was blank for him to fill out, but she’d put a check mark in the box that stated his reason for going to Cuba was to visit family.

  At least she hadn’t used his family name. If his father had left because of political reasons, Ramos didn’t want the connection
between them known. Of course, how else was he supposed to find out what had happened to him? Maybe the name, Ramirez, was common enough that he didn’t have to worry about it.

  After filling everything out, he put a call through to Sloan. “The paperwork’s done.”

  “Great,” she said. “You’ll need to have proof of a hotel reservation as well. I thought you could stay at the same hotel as me, but I’ll let you make the reservation. You should do it today so you can show the customs agent.”

  Ramos wrote down the name of the hotel and the other things she told him he’d need for his visit.

  “One more thing,” Sloan said. “They’re pretty picky about what you bring through customs, so you’ll have to leave your gun at home.”

  “I’m sure I can manage,” he quipped. “Anything else?”

  “No. I’ll be waiting to pick you up at the airport, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  They said their goodbyes and disconnected. Ramos quickly made a reservation at the hotel for two nights. Once that was done, he settled back into his chair and let out a breath. A sliver of unease ran down his spine. Would Sloan tell him the real reason for her visit to Cuba?

  Maybe the reason she was there didn’t really matter. He certainly wasn’t going to get mixed up in her schemes this time, so it wasn’t something he should worry about.

  He let out a sigh and shook his head. That was easier said than done, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that getting involved with Sloan could turn into something like Mexico. Only this time it was worse, because he had no idea what he was walking into.

  Chapter 9

  The plane landed at the Havana airport. Ramos carried a medium-sized duffel bag over his shoulder, which contained a few clothes and other accessories that he might need for the trip. For a small fee, he’d left everything else at the hotel in Miami.

  Wearing a basic white t-shirt and jeans, he headed toward the service area and waited to go through customs. Thanks to Sloan, he had everything he needed, and he breezed through customs without a problem. It also helped that he spoke Spanish, and carried only one bag.

  He walked through the airport and followed the signs to the pick-up zone. He’d sent a text to Sloan, and she’d told him she was already there, and to look for a red convertible.

  Glancing at the cars, it wasn’t hard to spot her, and a big smile broke out on his face. She drove an old, nineteen-fifty era, Buick convertible. She waved at him, and he hurried to the car. “Nice,” he said, throwing his duffel bag into the back. He slipped into the passenger seat and closed the door.

  Sloan smiled, but shook her head and let out a dramatic sigh.

  “What?”

  She shrugged. “It’s just what I thought.” She caught his gaze. “You were more excited to see the car than you were to see me.”

  Ramos chuckled. “Isn’t that why you drove it?”

  Her lips turned into a pouty frown, and she shrugged. “Maybe.” She turned her head to glance at the road before pulling onto the street, and Ramos had to admit that she was the real reason the car looked so hot. She’d tied her glossy, dark hair back with a yellow scarf, and the warmth of her smile could melt the coldest heart.

  Not wanting that to happen to him again, he turned his focus to his surroundings. The weather was the perfect blend of warmth combined with soft Caribbean breezes. The area around the airport looked much like any industrial zone, and they soon turned onto the freeway to head toward the city.

  “We’ll take the scenic route into Old Havana so you can see the sights,” Sloan said. “We’ll drive through the famous Malecón to get there. It’s a broad seawall that stretches about eight miles across the harbor and into Old Havana. Our hotel is just on the other side.”

  Ramos drank in the sights and sounds of the island, but it wasn’t until they reached the Malecón that he could smell the sea. Looking out into the ocean, he marveled at the bright blue colors. As they got closer to the old town, the buildings became more colorful, with spots of red, blue, lime green and yellow. It was a feast for the eyes, with cars punctuating the streets and sporting similar colors.

  Sloan pulled off the Malecón and into Old Havana. Along the streets here, most of the buildings had columns at the bottom with ornate ironwork along the balconies on top. She pulled in front of their hotel and parked.

  This hotel was situated on the street corner and followed the curve of the street with columns around the bottom and rising to four stories in height. It was painted white with a bright blue trim around the windows and doorways. With a smile, Ramos grabbed his duffel bag and followed Sloan inside.

  The beautiful lobby was filled with arches and columns. It sported a tile floor, and track lighting shone down from the high vaulted ceiling. It was tastefully decorated with pedestal statues, leather couches, and glass tables topped with beautiful flower arrangements. Ramos shook his head. This wasn’t at all what he’d pictured Cuba to look like.

  At the desk, Ramos dropped his bag to the floor, and successfully checked into his room. He spoke in Spanish, grateful it was good enough to be easily understood, although he was certain everyone spoke English as well. After getting his key, Sloan led him to the elevators.

  “I think you’ll love the rooms. What floor are you on?” she asked, pushing the elevator call button.

  “Three.” He glanced her way, surprised that she hadn’t tried to talk him into sharing a room with her. “Where are you?”

  “I’m on four.”

  He raised his brows and caught her gaze. She glanced away with a guilty flush, and his senses went on full alert. “What else is going on?”

  “Well…the thing is…I’m not exactly here alone. You remember? After Mexico they gave me a partner?” At Ramos’s nod, she continued. “Well, he’s here too.”

  “Oh.” Ramos hadn’t expected that.

  “It’s not like that,” she quickly explained. “We’re not…we’re in different rooms. It’s totally professional.”

  “Right.”

  She shook her head. “It’s just…well…he’s not real happy you’re here, but he’ll just have to get over it.”

  “I see.” The elevator doors opened, and they stepped inside. “Actually, I’m a bit surprised that you’re not staying at the American Embassy.”

  Sloan’s brows rose, and she shook her head. “Uh…nope.”

  “So why are you here?”

  Before she could explain, the elevator doors opened, and they stepped onto the third floor. Glancing both ways, and finding another couple in the hall, she whispered, “I’ll tell you in your room.”

  He nodded and turned down the hall. Finding the right door, he put in the key card and pushed it open. Inside, the room opened to a sitting room on one side with a couch and small television, with the bedroom and bathroom on the other side.

  Although it was beautifully done, it held the musty odor of an old building. He threw his bag onto the bed and pulled the curtains aside, wanting some fresh air. Pulling the windows open, he enjoyed the view below of cobblestone streets, and the fresh, ocean breeze.

  “It’s nice.” He turned back to Sloan and gestured toward the couch. “So, what’s going on?” They sat down, and he waited for her to explain.

  “Well, my official reason for being here is to visit relatives. Kind of like you. I don’t really have any relatives in Cuba, but it’s a good cover. My real assignment is a little more complicated than that. I’m actually looking for the people responsible for the attacks on the American Embassy.”

  “There was an attack?”

  “Yes, but it wasn’t the usual attack with guns or anything like that. And I can tell you about it, because it’s been in the news. Our people in the embassy have reported several health problems, mostly to do with hearing loss and headaches.

  “We can only surmise that they’re under attack by something like a sonic device. The Cuban government isn’t claiming responsibility and, in some ways, it makes sense. I mean, why would they do s
omething like that? Why would anyone?”

  “I don’t think Cubans like Americans much, so who knows?” Ramos shrugged. “How are you supposed to find out what happened?”

  “Oh, it’s something we’ve been working on for the last week, and we’ve made some good progress. I have contacts here, but I’m probably not supposed to tell you that part.”

  “So, am I going to meet your partner?”

  She let out a sigh. “Probably. I mean…he knows you’re here, but he just thinks the timing is a coincidence…which, I guess it is, since he doesn’t know what I told you about your father. I even think he’d like to meet you, so that makes it easier for him to accept that you’re here.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, you have a reputation after what happened in Mexico.” At Ramos’s raised brows, she continued. “Seriously! You’re like a legend in the department.” She shrugged. “Anyway…”

  “Dammit, Sloan. A legend?” He was flattered, but he didn’t want the attention. “I need to stay anonymous.”

  “I know and I’m sorry. But there wasn’t much I could do about that. Anyway, depending on how our investigation goes, I should still have plenty of time to help you figure out what happened to your father.”

  Ramos nodded, grateful she hadn’t asked for his help with this assignment and, if her partner was here, it also answered his question about why she hadn’t invited him to come with her.

  “Well, now that I’m here,” he began. “You can tell me everything you know about my father, and why you think he was brought back against his will.” She hesitated, so he continued, “And don’t worry about getting my hopes up. I don’t expect to find him alive after all this time.”

  “Okay, sure.” She glanced at her hands and nervously clasped them together. “I don’t know where to start, but the whole reason he was targeted was because he was working with the U.S. government.”

  “What?” A ripple of shock ran over Ramos. That was the last thing he’d expected her to say.