ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第21部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Fidel　is　ten　times　the　man　you'll　ever　be；〃　said　Lilia　Sands。
　Reyes　smiled。　〃Your　precious　Fidel　is　dead；　old　woman。　Croaked。　Cacked。　Deceased。　Checked　out。　Whacked。　Eighty…sixed。　Muerto。　Your　amor　is　no　more。〃
　With　frost　in　her　voice；　Lilia　declared；　〃I　do　not　believe　you；　enanillo！〃
　〃Ah；　but　my　sources　are　impeccable。〃　Juan　Carlos
　Reyes　plucked　the　cigar　off　the　carpet　and　relit　it。　〃The　highest　of　connections　in　Washington…and　yes；　Havana。〃　He　turned　to　Hector。　〃Do　you　have　it？〃
　Hector　nodded；　fished　in　a　pocket。　He　brought　out　a　wispy　lock　of　dark　hair；　tied　in　a　red　and　gold　Montecristo　wrapper。　He　handed　it　to　Reyes；　who　examined　it　as　if　it　were　a　rare　jewel。
　〃In　a　cigar　box；〃　Hector　said；　〃in　her　bedroom。〃
　Reyes　chuckled。　〃Ironic；　no？〃
　Lilia　glared　defiantly。　Mickey　Schwartz　deduced　it　was　not　the　appropriate　moment　to　mention　his　fee。　He　stared　down　at　his　black　military　boots；　crusty　with　salt　from　the　boat　ride。
　Juan　Carlos　Reyes　held　up　the　tuft　of　hair　as　a　trophy。　〃Proof！〃
　Lilia　spun　away。　〃You're　a　fool。　Fidel　is　not　dead。〃　She　felt　a　forting　hand　on　her　shoulder…the　impersonator。　A　harmless　fellow；　she　thought。　And　not　a　bad　kisser。
　Carefully；　Reyes　slipped　the　lock　of　hair　into　an　inside　pocket　of　his　blazer。　〃Hector；〃　he　said。　〃Bring　me　the　prize。　Bring　me　the　key　to　my　destiny！〃
　〃Cuba's　destiny；　you　said。〃
　〃Whatever。　Go　get　the　damn　thing。〃
　Reyes　himself　cradled　the　Uzi　while　Hector　retrieved　the　red　cooler　from　the　speedboat；　which　was　tied　to　the　yacht's　stern。　He　brought　the　Gott　into　the　salon　and　set　it　ceremoniously　before　Reyes'　s　delicate　loafers。
　Lilia　Sands　and　Mickey　Schwartz　had　no　idea　what　they　were　about　to　see。　Excitedly；　Juan　Carlos　shoved　the　machine　gun　butt…first　at　Hector；　and　flipped　open　the　cooler。　He　removed　a　stainless　canister　the　size　of　a　hatbox；　and　placed　it…shiny　and　perspiring　from　the　ice…on　a　beveled　glass　dining　table。
　〃Where　was　it？〃　Reyes　asked　breathlessly。
　〃Hidden　in　the　woman's　boat；〃　Hector　replied。　〃The　blonde's。〃
　The　stumpy　millionaire　chuckled。　〃Lost　and　then　found。　Fate；　no？　That's　what　brought　him　to　me。　Fate　in　the　form　of　wild　women。〃　He　stepped　back　from　the　canister。　〃Open　it；　Hector。〃
　〃St。〃
　〃Let　the　bastard　out！〃
　〃OK；　OK。〃　Hector　grappled　with　the　canister's　vacuum　lock　until　it　surrendered　with　a　burp。　Cautiously；　he　opened　the　lid。
　〃Take　it　out；〃　Reyes　manded。
　Hector　hesitated。　By　nature　he　was　not　a　squeamish　man；　but　。。。　
　〃Take　it　out！〃
　Hector　grabbed　a　gray　mossy　handful　and　lifted　the　staring　head　from　the　canister。　He　held　it　like　a　lantern；　his　arm　outstretched　toward　the　two　captives。　Mickey　Schwartz's　mouth　turned　to　chalk。　Lilia　lowered　her　eyes。
　Juan　Carjos　Reyes　was　trembling　with　pleasure。　〃Senor　Castro；　how　nice　of　you　to　join　us！　You're　looking　very　jaunty　this　evening…wouldn't　you　agree；　Miss　Sands？〃
　Without　ment　Lilia　collapsed　into　Mickey　Schwartz's　arms。　〃Swell；〃　he　said　with　a　grunt。
　Reyes　produced　a　gold…plated　cuticle　scissors　and　snipped　a　thatch　from　the　severed　head。　〃Hector；〃　he　said；　〃keep　an　eye　on　our　guests。　I'll　be　in　the　galley。〃
　
　The　DNA　expert　had　been　waiting　three　hours；　a　Harvard　doctor；　the　best。　〃This　is　very　exciting；〃　Reyes　said　to　himself；　hurrying　with　the　twin　locks　of　hair　out　of　the　salon。
　Hector　kept　the　Uzi　trained　on　his　captives　as　he　refit　the　Castro　head　in　its　container。　Mickey　Schwartz　arranged　the　unconscious　Lilia　on　a　leather　sofa。　He　pointed　at　the　canister。　〃That's　him；　isn't　it？　The　real　deal。〃
　〃Shut　up；〃　said　Hector；　feeling　creepy…Fidel's　ugly　face；　everywhere　he　looked。　He　returned　the　canister　to　the　red　Gott　cooler。
　The　bodyguard　with　the　pearl　in　his　nose　appeared　in　the　salon　with　Fay　and　Britt。　Firmly；　he　placed　them　on　tall　stools　at　the　bar。　The　women　still　looked　queasy。
　Mickey　Schwartz　said；　〃You　missed　quite　a　show。〃
　Promptly；　Hector　whacked　him　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　〃I　told　you　to　shut　up。〃　*
　Mickey　shut　up。　He　felt　the　yacht　begin　to　rock　under　a　freshening　northern　breeze。　The　slap　of　the　waves；　grew　louder　against　the　hull。
　Britt　cynically　motioned　toward　the　red　cooler。　〃How's　the　head？〃
　〃What　head？〃　said　Hector　with　a　wink。　〃Nothing　but　Snapples　in　there。　Kiwi…flavored。〃
　Fay　looked　up。　〃Randy；　what's　going　to　happen　to　us？〃
　Randy　was　the　bodyguard　with　the　nose　stud。　He　furrowed　his　tan　brow　and　blinked　intently　at　Fay's　question。
　〃Randy　doesn't　know　what's　going　to　happen　to　us；〃　Britt　Montero　said　wearily。　〃Randy　barely　knows　how　to　dress　himself。〃
　Randy　ambiguously　clicked　his　teeth。　Hector　sighed。
　〃Sweetheart；　there's　lots　of　things　Randy　knows　how　to　do；　and　he'll　show　you　one　in　particular　if　you　don't　shut　your　fat　trap。〃
　Britt　fell　silent。　Fay　laid　her　head　on　the　bar。　Mickey　Schwartz　rubbed　his　jaw；　and　Lilia　Sands　stirred　on　the　couch。　Not　a　word　was　spoken　for　a　long　time；　until　Juan　Carlos　Reyes　returned　in　an　ebullient　glow。
　The　human　head　for　which　Marion　McAlister　Williams　had　been　paid　close　to　a　million　dollars；　and　for　which　she　had　eventually　been　murdered；　belonged　not　to　Fidel　Castro　but　to　one　of　his　Cuban　doubles；　a　man　named　Rigoberto　Lopez。
　The　purchaser　of　the　head　had　been　well　aware　it　was　not　Castro's。　The　purchaser　worked　free…lance　for　the　U。S。　Central　Intelligence　Agency。　His　first　name　was　Raymond；　his　last　name　was　unknown；　even　to　his　own　team。
　Raymond　and　his　people　had　been　given　to　understand　that　a　serious　problem　threatened　the　administration's　top…secret　plan　to　replace　the　Cuban　dictator。　The　scheme…dreamed　up　at　the　NSC；　presented　in　Havana　by　former　president　Carter；　and　ultimately　endorsed　by　the　ailing　Castro　himself…had　been　to　trick　Castro's　enemies　into　believing　he　was　dead　by　using　a　fake　head。　In　exchange　for　leaving　Cuba；　Fidel　had　been　promised　a　safe　and　secret　exile；　the　best　cancer　specialists　in　the　world；　and　a　cash　departure　bonus　equivalent　to　that　paid　to　Baby　Doc　Duvalier；　when　he　fled　Haiti。
　Raymond　had　been　informed　that　the　Castro　plan　was　in　jeopardy；　due　to　a　surplus　of　bogus　heads　in　Greater　Miami。　Raymond　had　also　been　told　that　the　plan　was　so　vital　to　national　security　that　he　was　authorized　to　spend　any　sum　of　money　to　retrieve　the　extra　heads　before　their　existence　became　a　public　scandal。
　Therefore　Raymond　had　no　qualms　about　giving　a　million　in　taxpayer　funds　to　an　eccentric　old　bird　in　Coconut　Grove。　The　head　in　her　refrigerator　had　been　picked　up　in　its　steel　canister　and　transported　by　a　Coast　Guard　Citation　jet　to　Washington；　D。C。；　where　it　had　been　placed　in　a　locked　freezer　in　the　basement　of　the　State　Department。
　It　was　in　no　way　Raymond's　fault　that　the　U。S。　government　had　subsequently　closed　down　because　of　a　petty　political　squabble；　or　that　a　cost…conscious　assistant　undersecretary　at　the　State　Department　had　shut　off　electricity　to　the　building's　basement；　or　that　the　million…dollar　head　of　Rigoberto　Lopez　was　currently　deposing　faster　than　your　average　wheel　of　cheap　Brie。
　Meanwhile　Raymond　was　at　the　Alexander　on　Miami　Beach；　in　a　suite　once　occupied　by　Keith　Richards。　Raymond　was　a　happy　man。　The　sun　was　bright；　the　sky　was　blue；　and　he　was　interviewing　a　hack　actor　named　Brandon　Dash　and　a　skittish　makeup　artist　named　Ziff　Bodine。　And　Raymond　had　bee　totally　convinced　that　the　other　surplus　Castro　head　was　only　a　clever　movie　prop；　and　that　it　was　now　safely　suppurating　in　the　belly　of　a　lemon　shark　at　a　club　named　Hell。
　Which　left　one　remaining　head…the　important　one；　the　correct　one；　the　one　with　the　notch　in　the　ear。　And　that　head；　according　to　Raymond's　contacts；　was　exactly　where　it　was　supposed　to　be。
　Raymond　made　a　brief；　smug　phone　call　to　Washington。　The　man　in　Washington　then　made　a　call　to　Havana。　The　man　in　Havana　then　telephoned　Miami　Beach：　the　Odyssey　Motel。　Room　105。
　Mike　Weston　grabbed　it　on　the　third　ring。　〃What's　the　good　news；　padre？〃
　A　short　pause；　then：　〃Everything's　fine。　We　found　your　lost　luggage。　Where　is　Hector？〃
　〃On　a　seaplane　flying　home　from　Bimini。〃
　〃It　went　well？〃　asked　the　voice　from　Havana。
　〃Perfect。　I　expect　him　any　minute；〃　Weston　said。　〃I'm　already　packing　for　Belize。〃
　〃Don't　go　anywhere　until　you　hear　from　us。　Don't　leave　the　room…you　understand？〃
　〃Hey；　you're　the　boss；〃　Weston　said。
　〃You　do　understand？　Stay　right　where　you　are。〃
　〃I　heard　you　the　first　time。〃　Weston　hung　up　the　phone；　stretched　out　on　the　starchy　motel　sheets；　dialed　up　another　porny　film　on　Spectravision；　and　waited　for　Hector。
　That's　where　Franklin　and　Marlis　found　them　later；　their　insides　decorating　the　room。
　
　Aboard　the　Entrante　Presidente；　the　captives　were　served　lobster　fritters　and　a　tangy　mango　sorbet。　Hunger　overcame　their　pride　and　anxiety。
　Juan　Carlos　Reyes；　who　was　in　a　celebratory　mood；　told　them　what　would　e　next。　〃Of　course　you　will　not　be　killed；　because　there's　no　need。　A　small　launch　will　take　you　from　my　yacht　to　the　Big　Game　Club　in　Bimini。　There　you'll　be　met　by　Bahamian　customs　and　immigration　officers。　For　the　next　several　days；　you　will　have　a　most　difficult　time　trying　to　return　to　Miami。〃
　Britt　Montero　started　to　speak；　but　the　millionaire　cut　her　off。　〃Miss　Montero；　don't　ever　think　about　calling　in　a　story　to　your　newspaper。　Your　cellular　has　already　been　disabled　and　your　acmodations　in　Bimini；　unfortunately；　will　be　too　rustic　for　telephone　jacks。〃
　Britt　said；　〃You'll　never　get　away　with　it。〃
　〃Oh；　I　will。　Easily；　in　fact。　By　the　time　you　get　out；　I'll　be　on　my　way　to　Havana。〃
　Angrily；　Fay　Leonard　said；　〃You　can't　silence　us。〃
　〃Nor　would　I　want　to；〃　said　Juan　Carlos　Reyes。　〃Miss　Leonard；　I'll　have　my　own　version　of　these　events；　which　will　be　substantiated　by　an　esteemed　scientist　from　Harvard；　and　also　by　Mr。　Schwartz；　if　he　still　wishes　to　be　paid　for　his　services。〃
　Mickey　hung　his　head。
　〃My　recollection；〃　Reyes　went　on；　〃is　that　Miss　Leonard　and　Miss　Montero；　having　heard　of　my　million…dollar　offer　for　proof　of　Castro's　death；　greedily　attempted　to　defraud　me。　They　constructed　a　flimsy　hoax　involving　a　Castro　impersonator　and　a　delusional　old　woman；　Miss　Sands；　in　the　hopes　I'd　fall　for　it…〃
　〃That's　ridiculous！〃　Fay　shouted。
　〃Maybe；　maybe