by Linda Bond
Okay, still alive. That was a good sign. As she turned the corner into the cramped farmhouse kitchen, the rancid smell of sweat, anxiety, and recently butchered pork assaulted her. Too many unwashed bodies had been packed into this small place. Her gaze darted around the room. She counted Johnny the farm owner, Esmeralda, Dallas, Maria, and three men in camouflage-like uniforms. One stood precariously close to Maria. That must be Angel, Maria’s fiancé. He had a shaved head and stark, pointy features.
Oh shit. Should she speak? Or wait to see what this was all about? She wrapped her arms around her body, holding her words inside, hoping to stop her shivering.
“Who is that, Maria?” The man, Angel, pointed at her. He spoke in Spanish.
Sweat beaded on Rebecca’s forehead. She swiped it away. Should she reply for Maria, who looked ashen with anxiety?
“I asked you a question.” The man grabbed Maria’s arm and tugged her so hard she almost fell.
Rebecca flinched as Maria fought to keep her footing. She suddenly leaned over as if in pain.
The man leaned down, too, bringing his face right to Maria’s. “Who. Is. She?”
The hair on the back of Rebecca’s neck tingled. This is how domestic violence escalated. With Adrianna, it had begun with verbal abuse, then this kind of physical control; finally of course, the gasoline and fire.
“She’s a new friend of mine,” Maria squeaked.
Rebecca’s stomach dropped. Abusers like this Angel guy needed to know everyone their victim associated with, and Rebecca knew she didn’t add up. She searched for Dallas. Standing in the back corner of the room, he gestured toward the kitchen countertop. She eyed the GoPro camera. It looked like it pointed directly at Maria and the man. Because of its casing, they’d never know they were being recorded, but setting it up must have been a big risk. She nodded at him, but quickly looked elsewhere so Angel couldn’t make a connection between her and Dallas or the GoPro camera.
Using Maria’s hair as a handle, the jerk pulled Maria up into a standing position. Maria whimpered and kept her eyes cast downward.
Rebecca took a step forward, ready to risk her safety to stop the abuse happening right in front of her. “Who are you?” She pointed at Angel. If Antonio had been here he wouldn’t have even asked. Angel would be on the ground, and maybe even dead. With her other hand, she fingered the pistol in her pocket.
“Rebecca, this is my fiancé, Angel.”
Rebecca caught the warning in Maria’s voice. She wanted Rebecca to back down. Rebecca would play this cool to make sure no one got hurt, especially Maria. “Well, great. I’ve been wanting to meet you.” She addressed Angel in Spanish. He had to think she belonged here. “But why now, in the middle of the night?” Did she sound irritated and not afraid? That’s what she was going for.
Angel let go of Maria’s hair and turned toward Rebecca, planting both hands on his hips. “I’m looking for someone.”
“Okay,” she shrugged. “Did you find him or her here?” Keep your voice calm and controlled.
“No, I did not.”
“So your friends woke me up for no reason?” She gestured with her head toward the guys in camouflage.
“Do you know who we look for?” Angel’s smirk made her chest burn.
“How would I know who you’re looking for?” She made eye contact and lifted her chin at him.
Turning back to Maria, Angel gripped her arm again, twisting with such force it made both her and Maria flinch at the same time. “Antonio can’t hide. If he’s here and you’re lying to me, I’ll kill him.” Angel applied more pressure until Maria cried out for mercy. When he let go, Angel’s eyes narrowed, but the smirk on his face lifted even more. Ignoring Maria’s distress, Angel shifted his attention back to her. “I want to know your name.”
Rebecca took a giant step toward him. “I am Rebecca Menendez.” Should she play the father card? Did she have any other card to play? “Perhaps you’ve heard of Arturo Menendez Garcia?”
Angel’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re related to Arturo?”
“He’s family.” She watched Angel’s face, but he had regained his composure and failed to give away any thoughts with his expression.
“I’m going to visit him tomorrow. I can’t wait to tell him why I’m so tired.”
Angel’s eyes narrowed, and a sneaky smile snaked onto his face. “Let’s go, Maria. Get Tony. I will take you both back to Güira.”
Maria cast a look her way, regret and longing in that short peek.
Rebecca’s heart ached for this young woman, so obviously afraid of Angel and his violence. “I want her to stay here tonight. I came here to see her, and I’ve barely had a chance to catch up with her. I’m introducing her to Arturo tomorrow. If she’s not there, he’ll be disappointed.” Should she keep talking, making up more bullshit? No, she’d already said enough that could be quickly disproven, but not in the middle of the night out here in rural Cuba. They didn’t have the technology available in the U.S.
In the silent pause that followed, it seemed like everyone in the kitchen held their breath, waiting to see what Angel and his gun-toting posse would do now that Rebecca had stood up to them.
The government watchdog glared at her for what seemed like forever.
She swallowed, having no idea what thoughts were spinning through the asshole’s head. Maybe he was thinking about whom he could call to check out her story? Sweat shimmied down her spine, but she refused to move and show any discomfort or unease. Antonio would have stood his ground. So would she.
Two other men in camouflage rounded the corner into the kitchen.
“Find anything?” Angel asked, while continuing the stare-down.
“Nothing,” one of the men in camo answered.
She exhaled. They didn’t find her phone or her driver’s license with her American address on it. Thank God Antonio had left. They would have both been in bed asleep, and she’d probably be dead now just because she’d chosen to sleep with the enemy. Glancing at Dallas, she wondered what he’d done to hide the rest of his bulky TV gear.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Rebecca Menendez. I will be sure to learn more about you as quickly as I can.” Angel didn’t even try to disguise his threat.
She smiled sweetly. “The pleasure is all mine. Do you know Arturo? Shall I tell him you said hello?”
Angel’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, and he didn’t respond to her question. “Maria, I know where to find you. Do not disappoint me.” He leaned in to kiss her, but she pulled away. Angel raised a hand as if to slap her, then hesitated, maybe because she was there, or because Angel didn’t know if she really had Arturo Menendez’s ear. Her father must be a very powerful man to stall a man like Angel. The thought made her nauseous. As soon as Angel and his men left the room, she leaned over, breathing slowly, coming very close to throwing up.
…
“They’re gone,” Jose Carlos exclaimed after trudging back in from outside. He wiped his brow with a dirty rag from the kitchen counter, his face beet red, with horizontal dirt stripes crossing his cheeks.
Maria, who had been holding on to the sink, her head down and shoulders shaking, finally looked up and stared at Rebecca with haunted eyes. “You’re Arturo Menendez’s family?”
That spooked look on Maria’s pale face made Rebecca take a step back. “I’m his daughter.”
The energy in the room shifted. Maria’s eyes widened, and she stared at Rebecca as if she’d just turned into a demon. Esmeralda’s mouth fell open, and Jose Carlos pulled out his gun and pointed it at her.
“Whoa.” Rebecca slowly put her hands in her pockets, playing casual, but fingering Antonio’s gun. “What am I missing here?”
“Antonio didn’t tell you?” Esmeralda crossed her arms over her chest.
“He told me my father slept with his mother, and that’s why my mother left Arturo.” Heat rushed to her cheeks. What else had he failed to tell her? Damn him.
Maria shook her head, her frail
body shaking. “No, no, this is not right. Not right. How could Antonio not tell me?”
Rebecca’s stomach clenched, even though she had no clue what was making this group suddenly appear deathly still and angry. An affair was bad. No doubt about that. But why be mad at her? After all these years? “Okay. Look, your brother has a way of doing what he wants, while he keeps others in the dark. Part of the reason I came here is because Antonio told me my dad was still alive. I’ve spent the last twenty-six years believing the Cuban government tortured and murdered my father. Antonio told me he actually works for the government.”
“Rebecca.” Esmeralda walked toward her with outstretched hands.
“Don’t say anything,” Maria whispered.
“She needs to know.”
“Let Antonio tell her.”
“Tell me what?” This back-and-forth between Maria and Esmeralda was making Rebecca’s head spin. “If Antonio didn’t tell me the whole story, then spit it out, ladies, or I’m not helping either of you get to America.” She directed that comment right at Esmeralda. Little white stars spun in Rebecca’s line of sight. Boy, she needed to sit down.
“Antonio will take us to America.” Maria’s pale skin was now painted with various shades of red patches. “When he returns.”
“Antonio isn’t here.” Rebecca patted her pockets, then remembered she didn’t have the satellite phone with her. “He went to meet up with Ignado. And he’s not answering the phone.”
Jose Carlos lowered the gun. “Are you sure?”
“You have another sat phone?” Rebecca asked.
He nodded slowly, still eyeing her warily. At least he had pocketed his gun.
“Try him again. Maybe I called the wrong number.”
Jose Carlos dialed.
“Okay, so if Antonio is gone, what do we do next?” Dallas looked at her with exhausted, saucer like eyes.
“You and I are leaving. Let’s pack up now.”
Esmeralda took a step in front of her. “I’m going with you. Remember?”
“No answer.” Tossing the phone on the countertop, Jose Carlos scrunched up his face. “Something’s wrong. I feel it. We should have heard something from Antonio by now.”
“Jose Carlos.” Now was the right time to make a request of him. Rebecca had planted a seed of doubt, and she could tell Jose Carlos believed her. “You have to take us to the dock in the woods. You’re the only one here who knows how to get back there.”
Jose Carlos nodded slowly, as if deep in thought.
“We have to leave now.” She glanced around the kitchen.
Uncle Johnny had slumped into a chair, his head in his hands. Maria stared down the hall, probably thinking about little Tonito asleep in his bed. And Esmeralda, she was throwing bottled water into a bag. “What’s it going to be?” Rebecca continued. “Is someone going to tell me the truth, or are you all going to stay here in Cuba with all your family secrets safely intact but scared to death waiting for Angel to return?”
Esmeralda broke the silence. “I’m sorry, Maria. I’m going to America, and I can’t wait any longer. I’ve got to take this free ride. Even if I can get a government-issued visa to travel now, I still can’t afford a plane ticket.” The bag stuffed full, Esmeralda put it to the side and walked toward Rebecca. Esmeralda took Rebecca’s hands into her own and looked her right in her eyes. “What happened a long time ago is not your fault, mija.”
“Okay.” Rebecca’s ice-cold fingers tingled within Esmeralda’s warm ones. Her stomach somersaulted like an Olympic gymnast. What could be so bad?
“Antonio isn’t here because he went to go find your father. Arturo Menendez did more than sleep with Antonio’s mother.” Esmeralda’s eyes were watering. “He shot Antonio’s father and left him to die in the street in front of their home.”
Rebecca gasped. She couldn’t breathe. Literally. She bent over, hands holding her stomach. Her father was an adulterer, not a murderer. Those white stars dancing before her eyes doubled, and her lungs tightened. This couldn’t be happening. She fell to the ground, knees hitting first.
Instead of trying to stop her collapse, Esmeralda took a knee next to her. “Maria and I don’t remember, but Antonio does. He was there, and he watched his father bleed to death in the street in front of his house. The fact that he didn’t see the signs and stop Arturo has tormented Antonio all his life. That I do remember. I’m afraid, no matter how he feels about you—and I do believe he is falling in love with you—he won’t ever be satisfied until he gets revenge. Antonio won’t come back until your father is dead.”
Chapter Twelve
Plowing through the woods on their way back to the dock where La Libertad had originally landed, the rhythmic sound of boots and tennis shoes crunching through thorny underbrush lulled the group into a hypnotic silence. Rebecca, Dallas, Maria, Tonito, Esmeralda, Pedro—the man they’d met the first day—and Jose Carlos had been walking for a while in the pre-morning darkness. Jose Carlos was leading the way, using a small headlight and a machete to make a path.
Despite her anger over Antonio leaving her to confront her father in Havana, Rebecca had found it impossible to leave for the yacht without Maria and Tonito. Rebecca knew what fate awaited them if she didn’t convince them to come with her. It had taken her a while, but Rebecca had finally convinced Maria that this is what Antonio would have wanted had they been able to get a hold of him on that satellite phone.
So here they all were, slogging through unkempt woods, looking for a rickety needle in a very dark and dangerous haystack, a barely-there dock with no roads or signs leading up to it.
Prickly branches, low to the ground, were whipping and tearing into Rebecca’s flesh. This continuous flogging by Mother Nature was exactly what she deserved for allowing herself and Dallas to get caught up in this insane scenario. She wished she could have just gone into Havana and hopped on a plane to Miami. But what would she have said when she showed up at customs with no passport or even any luggage? No, they had to go back the way they came. Undercover.
Smacking about the tenth mosquito away, Rebecca trudged ahead. Her desire to get on La Libertad and go home was so strong she would have walked across fire to board that yacht.
“You okay?” Dallas was right behind her, his hand on her back, gently pushing her forward.
Rebecca wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m just nervous.” Now was not the time to get into any discussion with Dallas. He’d witnessed the chemistry between her and Antonio last night, and surely assumed they’d had sex. She didn’t even want to open the door to the lecture she knew she’d get from him.
Every once in a while, little Tonito would whine, and Maria would reassure him in soft-spoken Spanish that everything would be all right.
But would it? The night and the situation seemed so surreal.
“Look.” Jose Carlos stopped suddenly. She’d been so wrapped up in her own thoughts she slammed into his back, almost cutting herself on his damn machete.
“What?” She jumped back, away from the weapon. “What?”
“Lights. Look.” He pointed to a spot ahead through the thick trees. “She’s here. La Libertad is here.”
Rebecca’s heart leaped in her chest. Thank you, God! She spotted the flicker of small lights ahead, kind of like fireflies dancing in the dark. She closed her eyes, exhaled, and turned to the little boy whimpering behind her. “Hey, Tonito, we’re almost there.” Swinging the little boy up into her arms, extra energy shot through her. “Wait until you see the boat we’re going to ride in.” It has air-conditioning, and a bathroom, and all the comforts of America.
Before she could even take two steps, Maria yanked Tonito out of her arms and plowed ahead, following Jose Carlos.
So, the lines had been drawn. Even though Esmeralda pointed out that any murder Rebecca’s father may have committed could not be Rebecca’s fault, some family sins apparently couldn’t be forgiven. That truth hurt. She was being punished for the actions of a man sh
e’d never even met. Probably never would, now.
Dallas moved up behind her. “I’ve got the money shots. We got some shiz no one is gonna believe. Now it’s time to bounce. I can’t wait to get this back to America.”
Rebecca squeezed Dallas, then let go, forging ahead, anxious to get to the yacht. Suddenly, a thought stalled her. What would she say if Antonio had already arrived? Would he gloat if he’d managed to murder her father? She shivered. She’d never let him touch her again, not with Menendez blood on his hands, no matter what her father may have done to deserve it.
“Sure you’re okay?” Dallas placed a hand on her back.
“I’m fine.”
Before Dallas could contradict her or distract her with one of his one-liners, Jose Carlos approached. “We’ve got company.”
“What?” Straining to see around him, Rebecca’s heart stutter-stepped. “Antonio?”
“No.” Jose Carlos looked though a pair of binoculars. “Looks like a family.”
“A family? Let me see.” Grabbing the binoculars, Rebecca tried to focus in on the lights. All she could make out were little flames in a circle and some dark shadows. To the right, La Libertad sat docked, but dark. Interesting. “What do you think?” she asked Jose Carlos. “Is it safe for us to approach? Could this be a trap?” Her ankles throbbed, and her head swam, making her weave as she walked. She didn’t know if she was up for a confrontation. “What should we do?”
Jose Carlos appeared to think it over, his features hard to see in the dark. “Let’s approach slowly and quietly. We will get close, and you will wait with the women. I’ll try to slip on the La Libertad and see who is on board.”
She swallowed. Should she trust Jose Carlos? He could jump on that yacht and leave them to the mercy of whoever else was out there. Or he could have been in contact with Antonio and Ignado, and Jose Carlos could be leading her into their trap. She glanced at Maria and Tonito, huddled together, shivering, and clearly afraid. Jose Carlos would not betray them. “Okay. We’ll follow you.”
“Take me as close as you can.” Dallas pulled the home video camera with night vision out of his backpack. “Whatever is going on, it’s meant to be kept a secret, and that means I’m capturing it on video.”