by Patti Sheehy
“I told him he’d be made a full lieutenant as soon as he landed in America.”
“And—”
“And he’d get his own apartment, a jeep, a good salary, glory— the works.”
“Anything else?”
“He’d command a Special Forces unit when he returns.”
Franco tilted his chin toward the ceiling before lowering it. “Do you want my opinion, or do you just want me to shut up and listen?”
“I’m willing to hear you out.”
Franco closed his eyes for a moment. “I understand your reasons for this mission. I know you paid a high price for what happened with Mederos. But you’re making a big mistake.”
Pino raised his chin at the lieutenant’s words, but refrained from silencing him. “Go on.”
“This whole thing is lunacy. You’re still harboring a grudge about something that happened, how many years ago?”
“What happened was big. Real big. Time doesn’t matter with that kind of thing.”
“Yeah, it matters. Mederos is probably married and has a couple of kids by now. I’m sure he’s forgotten about the whole episode. I doubt he poses any threat to Cuba.”
“Well, I haven’t forgotten about the ‘whole episode’ as you put it. Justice is justice. And I’m going to make that little worm pay.”
“Well, you asked, and I’m telling you. I think you should leave Mederos alone. What you’re planning will just cause trouble—it’s not worth it.”
“It is to me!”
Pino’s remark hung in the air while he stared out the window, stewing.
Franco blew out his cheeks. “You are a smart man, Commander. But this thing is eating you alive—it has been for years. When are you going to let it go?”
Pino stared at Franco with a vulturine look. “Mederos is a traitor and a worm, and it is my duty to bring him down. I can’t let that go.”
“All right. I hear you. But is this the best way to do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“For starters, we both know you can’t make good on your promises to Baez. That’s the kind of trouble that will blow up in your face someday. Sooner, I’d say, rather than later.”
“Not the way I’ve got it planned—”
Franco eyed Pino warily. “I have no idea what you have planned. But if you are determined to get Mederos, there are cleaner and easier ways to do it. We’ve got people in the States who handle these kinds of assignments. We’ve been over this before. It’s way too risky for you to get personally involved. Why don’t you just put the word out and let somebody else take care of it?”
Pino scowled. “You don’t understand. I don’t want to hear that Mederos went down, I want to know he went down. I want to be as close to this thing as possible. I want you, and only you, to tell me what happened. I want you to describe to me exactly how Mederos died so there are no doubts in my mind. I want Mederos to know that I was the one behind taking him out. I need to know he’s dead not only in my head, but in my heart, in my soul, in my bones.”
“Have it your way, Commander. But remember, I’m dead set against this whole operation.”
“Frankly, Lieutenant, I don’t give a damn whether you’re for or against it. I’m not asking your permission. I’m going to carry out this mission regardless of your opinion. I need you to help me refine and execute my plan. Are you up for that?”
Franco looked disgruntled. “Fine,” he said, grabbing a pencil. “Then we need to nail down the details. First, how are you going to explain Baez’s absence from base?”
“I’ll say he had a family medical emergency.”
“And after that?”
“After that I’ll claim he defected. He’ll never be seen or heard from again.”
The implication of what Pino was saying hit Franco in the face like a flyswatter. “So you’re—and you want me to—?” He dropped his pencil. “I’m sorry, Commander, but that’s plain crazy!”
Pino’s fingers formed a fist on his lap. “There’s no other way. I know I can’t keep my promise to Baez. And I know what he’d do if he learned I lied to him. He’d run at the mouth to anyone who’d listen to him—his mother, his father, his siblings, his fellow soldiers—until it got back to the brass in Managua.”
“That’s what I’m telling you.”
Pino raised his hand threateningly, and his voice shot up an octave. “Listen to me and listen to me well. Damian Baez will never make it back to Cuba. Do you understand? You, my dear and trusted first lieutenant, are going to make sure of that. Appoint someone to do the dirty work. You don’t have to do it yourself. You will oversee the operation. But I want to be clear: once Baez leaves this base, I never want to see his face again.”
Franco started to speak, and Pino held up a hand to stop him. “I trust you—and you alone—to complete this mission. If you do this for me, I will take care of you. You have always wanted to be a base commander. I’m in a position to make that happen. There’s an opening coming up. Complete your mission and the sky’s the limit. Are we clear?”
Franco inhaled noisily. “We’re clear.”
“We have an understanding?”
“We do.”
Pino smiled. To Franco’s dismay, he also licked his lips. “Then good hunting, my friend.”
CHAPTER FIFTY
Lazo was dismayed when he heard Pino had returned to serve as commander of the Santa Maria base. Given Pino’s behavior in the past, Lazo could not imagine how Pino had managed this feat. He was well acquainted with Pino’s demeanor when he served under him, and he doubted the man had changed. He had recently heard about Pino’s stint in the cane fields and his military training in the Soviet Union, and he was at a loss to explain how one had led to the other.
He wondered whether the former lieutenant still harbored resentment toward him regarding his friendship with Frank and, more importantly, whether he would do anything about it. Lazo knew he would have to be especially careful to keep a low profile and not antagonize the captain.
At first Lazo gave short shrift to the fact that Pino was entertaining solders in the officers’ dining room. He had more important matters on his mind. But as the number of men Pino wined and dined dwindled, Lazo became increasingly concerned. Recently, he had seen Damian and Alberto with the commander, and in both cases the soldiers had dined alone with Pino.
Lazo decided to discuss the situation with Tomás. He closed the office door and pulled up a chair. “Pino’s got something up his sleeve,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s been meeting with a couple of privates one-on-one, and that just doesn’t happen at his level.”
Tomás nodded. “You think he’s up to something?”
“I think he’s recruiting these men for some kind of mission. I don’t know what, but I’d sure like to get to the bottom of it.”
“Well, keep an eye on him and get back to me with anything pertinent.”
The following weekend, Lazo saw Alberto sitting on a bench outside the barracks. Lazo lit a cigarette as he approached him. “How’s it going, Alberto?”
Alberto looked startled. He had been lost in thought. “Okay,” he said, but his voice held no enthusiasm.
Lazo sat down on the bench. He had had long talks with Alberto before, and he was very fond of him. “C’mon, Alberto, why so glum? Aren’t those steaks you’re having with the commander agreeing with you?”
Alberto made a face and shook his head. “I just want to do my job and be left alone.”
Lazo chuckled. “Are you telling me that the commander won’t let you do your job? That doesn’t sound like him.”
“No, quite the opposite.”
The hairs on the back of Lazo’s head suddenly stood on end. “What do you mean, Alberto?” he said softly.
Alberto pushed some dirt around with the toe of his boot as the palm trees rustled in the breeze. “It’s classified. I can’t talk about it.”
“Okay,” said Lazo.
The two men sat in silence for a few minutes, but Lazo could tell Alberto was dying to continue the conversation. A monarch butterfly alighted on a nearby rock, flapped its wings, and flew away.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to do that too,” sighed Alberto.
Lazo was momentarily confused. “Do what? Fly away?”
“Yeah, fly away.”
“What do you mean?”
“Commander Pino spoke to me about a job where I’d have to go somewhere, and I don’t know what to do.”
“What are your concerns?”
“I don’t know if I can do it.”
“Well, I don’t know what the job is, but I have full confidence in you and your abilities. I’m sure you could handle any assignment Commander Pino gives you.”
Alberto shook his head and considered for a moment. He took a deep breath. “Even if it’s a secret mission—straight from the top?”
Lazo gulped, weighing his response. He didn’t want to appear like he was pressing for more information, especially if Pino had sworn Alberto to secrecy. “I’m sure you could handle whatever it is. Why do you doubt yourself?”
“It’s not that I think I can’t do it. I don’t want to leave my girlfriend. I don’t want to be away from Cuba. It’s bad enough that I only get to see her when I’m on leave once a month. She’s not very patient, and a lot of other men find her attractive. I’m afraid she’ll break up with me if I’m away too long. That’s what I’m worried about.”
“So the mission isn’t in Cuba?”
“Pino didn’t say exactly where it would be. But he did say it would be out of the country. I figure it could be anywhere—Vietnam, South America, Mexico. Even Russia or America.”
“I see.”
“I thought Pino would come down really hard on me if I refused the assignment, so I said I’d accept it.”
“That was a wise move.”
“The good news is that Pino says the mission isn’t certain yet. He’s awaiting orders from Managua. Maybe I won’t have to do it.”
“That’s always a possibility.”
Alberto smiled slightly. “There’s also a chance he’ll pick someone else.”
“Like who?”
“Damian Baez. He has dinner with him as often as he does with me.”
“There you go,” said Lazo, trying to sound lighthearted. “Maybe it won’t be a problem after all.”
“I hope so.”
“Me too.” Lazo patted Alberto on the shoulder and stood up, shaking his head as he walked away.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Pino was so excited he could hardly contain himself. After years of planning, scheming, and brooding, the time for final preparation was at hand. He trusted that Franco and Baez would not let him down, and he could imagine the satisfaction he’d feel when he heard the news of Mederos’s demise. His phone rang, and he leaned over his desk to answer it.
“What do you have for me?” asked Franco.
“I’ve made the necessary arrangements. Your associates’ names are Sebastian and Elias. They will pick up you and Damian when you arrive in Key West. You will spend the night with them in a safe house in Miami.”
“What’s the plan after that?”
“Damian, Sebastian, and Elias will leave for Union City the next morning. You will remain in Miami and direct operations from there. A man named Adán will assist you.”
“What do you know about these guys?”
“Not much. One of my Russian contacts recommended them. He assured me they are up to the job. He said they were the best he could do on late notice.”
“Right. What’s happening in Union City?”
“My contacts there are scouting Mederos. They know where he lives, where he works, and what his habits are. He’ll be an easy target.”
“Who’s in charge there?”
“A guy named José.”
“Anyone else involved?”
“Someone named Chico. He’ll help José, should the need arise.”
“When do we leave?”
“Everything’s set for next week. You’ll leave on Monday.”
“Is there anything I should do before that? Any preparations I need to make?”
“No. I’ll give you Mederos’s file and picture. When the time comes, give them to Baez so he can identify the target.”
“Should I tell him anything now?”
“No, I’ll brief him after dinner. Don’t give him any information. We don’t want it to leak out that I’m after Mederos. Everything’s on a need-to-know basis.”
“How should I explain my absence from base?”
“You have a vacation coming. Claim it.”
“Easy enough.”
That evening Pino met with Damian to finalize plans regarding the mission. Pino looked at Damian with confidence. He liked what he saw—a man in great physical condition, well-trained in guerrilla tactics, and willing to sacrifice his life for the cause. He was perfect!
“You’ll be happy to learn that I’ve chosen you for the special mission we spoke about,” said Pino.
Damian’s eyes shone. “I’m delighted to hear that, sir.”
“Sit down, and I’ll give you some background on our mission.” Damian took a seat opposite Pino’s large desk. “First, I want you to know that we did not seek this mission. It came to us.”
“Came to us? How so?”
“As you know, Cuba has enemies all over the world—people who want to bring our country to its knees.”
“I understand.”
“We have an enemy in the United States—someone who was a member of the Special Forces—just like you. This worm works for the CIA and is in constant contact with an entire network of subversives hoping to overthrow our government. That includes Alpha Sixty-six. He meets with them, trains them, and conspires with them at the highest levels. He hates Cuba, Fidel, and everything we stand for. Believe me when I tell you he has the knowledge and the will to bring us down.”
“That’s very worrisome, sir.”
“It is.”
“I assume he’s an excellent fighter.”
“He knows everything you know about fighting and more. As you know, members of Alpha Sixty-six played a key role in the Bay of Pigs invasion. They are experienced fighters. Mederos has their respect. His deep knowledge of our military secrets puts our great nation at risk.”
Damian shook his head. “After all Cuba has done for him.” He hesitated. “Mederos is the worst kind of traitor.”
“The worst kind,” echoed Pino. “He is using the training and skills he acquired in our military against us. And he’s done so for years. Now he’s amassed enough power and contacts to do our nation irreparable harm.”
Damian looked puzzled. “In what way, sir?”
Pino was warming to the subject, wanting to drive home his point. “I’m not at liberty to go into details. But based on an in-depth analysis of the situation, it has been determined that an invasion of Cuba is imminent. Mederos has been engaged in counterrevolutionary activity for years. He gives speeches and stirs up thousands of other worms to overthrow our government. Their plans are now coming to fruition. Time is critical. We must act before it’s too late.”
“I understand the importance of this mission, sir.”
Pino cleared his throat. “I have not received final word yet on the desired outcome of the mission. Orders could be to eliminate him. You once said you wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger against a traitor. Does that hold true, even if he is a former member of the Special Forces?”
Damian spoke with heat in his voice. “A traitor is a traitor. So it does.”
Pino straightened his back. “I hope you realize what an honor this is. I knew this man some time ago. He is a worm of the first order. I would be more than happy to pull the trigger myself.” He waved his hand to indicate the scope of the base. “But I have other duties to attend.”
“Of course,” said Damian. “These things must be left to men like
myself.”
“So I can trust that you will not hesitate to complete the mission when the time comes?”
“You can.”
“Good.”
Pino sat back in his chair, looking satisfied. “Now, let’s talk logistics. We have many friends in the United States just as we have enemies. And the Americans have friends in Cuba, so we must be careful.”
“Of course.”
“You will have safe passage to and from the United States. We will provide you with a safe house where you will stay when you arrive in Miami. Our people will greet you in Key West and will supply you with everything you need—a weapon, food, and gear. A safe house will also be established in New Jersey. You will learn of its location when you arrive in Miami.”
“Excellent. Will I be going alone?”
“No, First Lieutenant Franco will accompany you. He will oversee the mission from our base in Miami.”
Damian nodded. “When do we leave?”
“Monday. I will inform you of the time and method of departure. Until then, keep your head low.”
“I will.”
The two men stood and saluted. When Damian left, a satisfied smile danced on Pino’s lips.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Early Tuesday morning Lazo walked into Tomás’s office, and said, “Remember what I told you about Captain Pino?”
“Yes.”
“My suspicions have been confirmed.”
Tomás put his paperwork aside. “Tell me more.”
“Pino’s going after Frank. He’s using Franco to oversee the operation, and he’s using a member of the Special Forces to carry it out.”
“Jesus! How do you know that?”
“I talked with another soldier that Pino was trying to recruit for a top-secret mission outside Cuba. On orders from Managua.”
“And?”
“That’s not how things are handled, you know that. There are too many steps between Pino and the brass in Managua—too many ways word could leak out. Pino would never be asked to execute a secret mission. This is his own private vendetta to get Frank.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. A member of the Special Forces named Damian Baez left yesterday on emergency family leave. Meanwhile, Franco has taken an unscheduled vacation.”