Murder in Cuba

by Dianne Harman

  “Don't test your luck, honey. Try that too many times, and you're bound to find the cop who wants it known that he was able to resist the attractions that did in so many of his cohorts. Here's to you and no more speeding tickets.” Jack said as he smiled at her and raised his glass. “Don't know about you, but I'm starving. Let's eat.”

  Cayo seemed to understand every word that was being said and made the rounds of all the tables of the other guests while the three of them were filling their plates. Kelly watched the little cat go from table to table, pausing for a moment, and if it was apparent that the people either hadn't noticed the cat or chose not to give him a scrap of food, he simply went on to the next table until he’d worked the entire room. When he was finished, he returned to the table where Kelly was seated and stretched out under the table next to her legs. In a moment he was sound asleep.

  “Jack, I've been thinking,” Carola said. “Since it looks like Mike won't be able to go fishing with you tomorrow, and the boat can accommodate one more person, I'd like to go out in the morning with you. I think it would help me when I deal with clients if I could describe the fishing experience with firsthand knowledge. I'll come in at noon, and you can go back out.”

  “I'd love it Carola, but I'll go you one better. The guide told me he would be taking me to lunch tomorrow at a little restaurant at Sirena Beach. He said they have dolphins there that are trained and some of the best lobster in the world. It's a thatched roof place with nothing around it but the Caribbean and white sand.” He turned to Kelly. “Why don't you take a taxi and join us, and then you and Carola could ride back together to the hotel.”

  “You don't have to ask me twice,” Kelly said. “Any time the word lobster is mentioned I'm right there. Thanks. That's something I'll really look forward to. What time should I meet you?”

  “The guide told me we'll get off the water at 12:30. We'll meet you then.”

  “Jack, Mike told me there are very strict fishing regulations here in Cuba. Is that going to be a problem for Carola?”

  “Would be if I hadn't gotten a fishing license for her. I always get one for her whenever we go anywhere just in case there's a chance for her to do what she'll be doing tomorrow - experiencing the fishing firsthand. It really does help her sell fishing trips to my clients.”

  “Sounds great. I think Cayo and I will leave you, so you can have a somewhat romantic evening together. Even though it's humid, it really is beautiful here. I'd suggest a romantic walk on the beach, but given what happened last night, that might not be advisable. See you at 12:30 tomorrow at Sirena Beach. Let’s go, Cayo.”

  CHAPTER 17

  “Who is it?” Kelly asked as someone knocked on the door two hours after she and Cayo had returned to the room.

  “It's me, sweetheart,” Mike said. “Open up.” She opened the door and was immediately engulfed in a bear hug.

  “What’s this all about?”

  “Whenever I'm involved in something like this, I'm just so glad you're okay,” he said.

  “So,” she said, looking up at him, “do you know who did it?”

  “At the moment I don't have a clue. There are a number of people who might have had a reason to do it, but no one has jumped to the front of the line.”

  “Mike, you've got to be starving. Go down to the restaurant and get something to eat, and then we can talk.”

  “Actually, the constable’s wife brought dinner to us. It was fabulous. She called it pollo con arrozo. He told me it means chicken with rice. Moist, a little sweet, a little tang, and so tender the meat fell off the bone. I could eat that every day, but at the moment I'm stuffed. She also brought us dessert which was a dish she called tres leches. It's a cake made with three different kinds of milk, evaporated, condensed, and cream. After I tasted it I wished I’d asked her for the recipe before she left. I know you’d love it."

  “Actually, I had it yesterday at the restaurant, and it was delicious. In fact, it was so delicious I asked the chef for the recipe. Thanks for thinking of me. You know I'm always looking for new recipes for the coffee shop, although Cuban food in the sleepy little town of Cedar Bay does seem like a bit of a stretch, but then again, maybe the residents need a food stretch. After talking to the chef, I’m going to try a couple of the recipes and see what happens. ”

  “Kelly, I'd love to sit here and talk to you all night, but I'm whipped. What are your plans for tomorrow? You'd talked about getting a massage. Any luck with that?”

  “I was going to look into it, but Jack made me an offer I couldn't resist. Since you can't go out in the boat tomorrow, Carola's going to take your place, and I'm going to meet them for lunch at some little grass shack restaurant on Sirena Beach. He said the guide told him they have the best lobster in the world that barely cost anything.”

  “Okay, I'm sold. I'll tell the constable that this is my vacation, and while I don't mind not fishing, I do mind not being able to eat lobster. What time are you meeting them?”

  “We're going to meet at 12:30. I’d love it if you could join us.”

  “Consider it done. Don't get up with me in the morning. I'll go down and have some breakfast before the constable picks me up at 8:00. Enjoy yourself and sleep in. Nite.”

  “Nite, love.”

  “Wait a minute, Kelly, what did I just hear? It sounded like a cat purring.”

  “It was. Cayo's asleep under the bed.”

  "I would like to ask you how in the devil it is that you find an animal to adopt wherever we go. Remember Caesar, that huge Courser dog that befriended you when we went to that cooking school in Italy? And now we have a cat in Cuba? Never mind. Don't answer. You'd just come up with something that sounded perfectly reasonable to you but not to anyone else. Sleep well my love.”

  Within moments Mike was peacefully snoring as was Cayo in his lair under the bed. Kelly smiled to herself and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

  CHAPTER 18

  “Goodby, and good luck catching the bad guys,” Kelly said to Mike the next morning as he left for breakfast. “I’m going back to sleep just because I can.” It was a rare luxury for someone who had to open up Kelly's Koffee Shop five mornings a week at 6:00 a.m. to get ready for the crowd who was always there when it opened an hour later.

  At 9:30, feeling decadent after sleeping so late, she let Cayo out and kept the door slightly open so he could get back in. She was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to hear him with the air conditioner turned up to its maximum strength, a necessity in the Caribbean. A few minutes later he returned, and after making sure the lock on the door had engaged, the two of them walked to the restaurant. Halfway there Cayo stopped and began eating cat food someone had conveniently placed on the path. It seemed obvious that whoever had put it there had been to the resort before and knew there were cats who would appreciate their foresightedness.

  The same server who had brought her coffee the morning before said, “Hola,” with a wide smile on her face. Better go light on the food if I'm going to have lobster for lunch, and from what Jack’s guide said these are some of the biggest and the best lobsters in the world. Don't want to overdo on breakfast and miss that experience. After some mango juice and a bowl of fruit, she and Cayo walked out to the white sandy beach. Kelly had read about the island and the resort before coming to Cuba, and according to what she’d read, this was one of only two beaches in the world that had this type of fine white sand. Supposedly it didn't stick to you even if you were wet from the ocean or simply sticky from the humidity. After a long walk on the beach and feeling she'd be able to justify the lobster because of it, she turned back to the steps that led to the resort and her room.

  I didn't think cats liked water, but evidently no one bothered to tell Cayo. He never left my side during my walk on the beach, even if he did always keep to the side of me that was away from the water. Time to get back to the room, freshen up as best I can, and in this heat that isn't going to be easy, and then off to lunch. Think I'll leave Cayo outside whi
le I’m gone, and he can beg for a little food from the other guests.

  A short time later she walked up to the large uniformed security guard standing beside the reception desk and asked him if he would order a cab for her.

  “Of course, Senora. Where are you going today?”

  “Sirena Beach Restaurant. I'm meeting some friends. Is the food good there?”

  “I hear it’s spectacular, but I’ve never been there.”

  “Why not?” Kelly asked.

  “There are certain places we Cubans are not allowed to go on the island, and that is one of them. I have gone to the beach, but never the restaurant. The lobster there is supposed to be wonderful, and I hear there is a large enclosed pen which has two dolphins in it that are trained and do tricks for the tourists when they go there for lunch.”

  “I'm looking forward to it, but I don’t understand why Cubans can't go there.”

  “Those places are reserved for the tourists. You'll notice you never see any Cuban locals here at the resort in the restaurants or the bars. The Cuban guides who take the people fishing are not allowed to be in any of the hotels on the island.”

  “That doesn't sound fair. Why not?”

  “As I said, this island is designated for tourists only. There is nothing here for the Cuban people. Ah, here is your taxi. Enjoy your lunch.”

  Kelly stepped up into the taxi van along with several other people. There was one paved road on the island, and the road to Sirena Bach was not part of it. The van swerved to the left and the right trying to dodge the numerous potholes, finally coming to a stop at a large open-air restaurant next to a white sand beach. The sunny sky and the color of the Caribbean Sea as it changed from green to aqua, along with the white sand, made Sirena Beach a picture perfect postcard.

  The driver opened the door and Kelly, along with the other passengers, departed. She paid the driver, still clueless as to the difference between pesos and the Cuban pesos marked "pesos convertibles." The beach was on her left with palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze. On her right was water, with a fence surrounding it on three sides and a dock making up the fourth side. Beyond that were the saltwater flats.

  Wonder if that's where the dolphins are. I have no idea how much water they need to feel like they’re in the wild, and why would they be trained at a remote island like Cayo Largo where almost no one would ever see them? This is going to be interesting.

  She walked into the large thatched roof open-air restaurant and stood for a moment thinking that she’d stepped onto a movie set. A long wooden bar was on her right and beyond that was the clear shallow water of the Caribbean. On her left was the beach with water that seemed to stretch forever. “Hola," the man behind the bar said, smiling as he greeted her. A handful of people sat at picnic style tables and at the bar. She saw two men walking over to the enclosed pen beyond the bar. One of them got into the water and was immediately greeted by two dolphins. The second man walked out on the dock and stepped down onto a small raised platform. He tossed some fish from a container into the water, and the dolphin show began.

  For the next fifteen minutes the dolphins performed numerous acrobatic tricks. They kissed one of the men, flapped their fins, twisted, turned, dove deep, and then shot out of the water doing somersaults. Kelly couldn't help herself from clapping, and she became aware of someone next to her doing the same. “Hey, pretty lady,” Mike said, “I just got here, and I’m glad I didn’t miss the show. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Back in the States we'd pay dearly to see something like this. Think the cost of admission at Sea World in San Diego is about seventy or eighty dollars per person, and we're getting all of this for free. This is worth the cost of the trip. Never thought we’d see our own private dolphin show when we decided to come down here.”

  Just then Kelly saw Jack and Carola approaching in one of the fishing boats. She’s holding her thumbs up so they must have caught some fish, Kelly thought.

  She and Mike walked over to the small boat as the guide expertly nudged it onto the shore. He helped Carola out of the boat as Jack easily jumped out of it. “You won't believe what I caught,” she said. “Two bonefish and a tarpon. I'm not a fisherperson, but that had to be one of the most exciting mornings I've ever spent in my life. And the views, they were absolutely incredible.” She stood and looked around, noticing the people walking away from where the dolphins had been performing. “Looks like we missed the show. How was it?”

  “Probably as good as your morning,” Kelly answered. “I feel like one of the most fortunate people in the world to have seen it.”

  Mike walked over to the bar, took the beers he’d ordered, and handed one to Kelly. “When it's as hot as it is here, the only thing that makes any sense to drink is an ice cold beer. These are so cold they must have been in the freezer.” He took a sip. “That might just be the best beer I've ever had in my life. Let's sit down and order. I told the constable I was coming here for lunch, but I told him I wouldn't be staying long.”

  The waiter motioned them over to a table and handed them a menu. At the bottom right was the lobster. Carola leaned over and said, “Our fishing guide said the lobsters are usually two to two and a half pounds. I think we may just be the luckiest people in the world to be here. I mean, how many people know about this place? There are maybe ten to fifteen people here, and we're getting ice cold beer, dolphin shows, and huge lobster tails for almost nothing, and I can’t leave out the view. Yup, I'm definitely coming back. Of course, that's assuming Jack isn't arrested for murder,” she said laughing.

  Mike wasn't smiling. She looked at him very closely. “Mike, is there something you need to tell us?”

  “No, not really. Kelly always asks me if I've caught the bad guys yet. We haven't caught the bad guys, but there sure seem to be a few people who might qualify as bad guys. I found out from a contact of mine in England that even though it was never in the press, it was well-known among the upper class British that Stewart Bond’s in love with Dudley's wife, and has been for many years.”

  “Do you think Dudley knew that? Maybe that’s the reason he publicly humiliated Stewart," Kelly asked.

  “I don't know, and I'm not sure how we could ever find that out unless Dudley kept a diary or something, and nothing I’ve found out about the man leads me to believe he was the type to do that.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Well, we're taking a long look at Philip Montgomery. One of my sources got back to me this morning after doing a little research on his finances. For the last few years his bank account has received very large monthly deposits from a trust account that’s in his wife's name, although he’s been authorized by her to write checks on it. Her grandparents set it up for her when she was born, and when she turned thirty-five the bulk of it was given to her outright. For the last six months large transfers have been made to a bank account in the Cayman Islands that stands in the name of Philip Montgomery. Hate to say anything, but looks like Philip is ripping off his wife's account.”

  “Even if he is, what does that have to do with Dudley's murder?”

  “I don't know, but it certainly is coincidental, and Kelly knows how I feel about coincidences. Plus, there's talk that Philip separated from his wife because she has colon cancer. From what I learned, she's under heavy sedation most of the time from the pain. I only found one item about her having cancer, so I can only assume that her press staff, and being that wealthy, I assume she has one, is trying to keep people from knowing about it. Neither one of her parents is in very good health, and she’s hired a nanny to take care of their infant son.”

  “But wouldn't she know if large withdrawals were being taken out of her account?” Carola asked.

  “If she were healthy, of course, but when someone is suffering from colon cancer, they're usually in excruciating pain. Couple that with parents in ill health, your husband separating from you, and trying to take care of a toddler. I doubt that keeping an eye on her bank account has been her primary concern. And don'
t forget if someone has had plenty of money all of their life, they tend to think it will always be there. In this case, while she's not destitute, it looks like she may not be as wealthy as she thinks she is. It also explains how Philip has been able to be unemployed, go on trips like this one, and afford a three and a half million dollar waterfront home in the Florida Keys.”

  They were all quiet for a few moments. “Mike, what about Dudley's wife, Patricia? Stewart may have loved her for many years, but what if it was returned? What if she and Stewart had been having an affair for a number of years, and Dudley found out about it? What if he threatened to expose them? They were both members of the English elite, and Stewart has a very prestigious and high paying job with an international bank. The bank might not look favorably on having one of their foremost bankers exposed for having an affair with a married woman.”

  “Kelly,” Mike said looking closely at her, “Why do I get the feeling you know things I don't know. I thought we'd decided several cases ago that you were not going to get involved in my cases.”

  “Mike, I'm not getting involved in anything. I just happened to overhear a couple of women talking while I was getting lunch yesterday. I wasn't snooping or anything. You know I would never do that,” she said with her fingers crossed behind her back. “Oh my gosh, here come the lobsters. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  They all turned to look at the two waiters who were walking towards them. Mike turned back to Kelly. “I'll table this for now, but this discussion is not over.”

  The only sounds heard for the next few minutes were sounds of pleasure as each of them expressed their view that they’d never had a lunch or even a meal, quite like this one. When they were finished, Carola said, “I've eaten all over the world and had more wonderful meals than I can remember, but I think this may be my favorite. It was not only the lobster which was the biggest and the best I've ever had, but the ambiance, the colors of the water, everything. This was simply perfect. I wouldn't change a thing.” She stood up, and as she walked over to the table where Jack's guide was sitting she said over her shoulder, “Finish up. I want to talk to Pedro for a few minutes.”