Havana Bay (ar-4) by Martin Cruz Smith

Author:Martin Cruz Smith [Smith, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller

This was a doublethink that drove Ofelia crazy. Teresa didn't consider herself a prostitute, no. Jineteras were students, teachers, secretaries merely making extra money. Some parents were proud of how their little Teresas helped to support the family; in fact, some regular visitors to Cuba didn't dare arrive without presents for their favorite chica's mother, father, little brother. The problem was AIDS, which was like throwing young girls into the maws of a dragon. Only you didn't have to throw them, they lined up to dive.

"So now you work two places," Ofelia said.» Days you're at the Casa de Amor, nights you're at the boats. Is that the kind of life you want to lead?"

Teresa's eyes shone through her hair.» It's better than school."

"Better than the hospital? Did you check this German friend of yours?"

"He was clean."

"Oh, you have a laboratory?"

It was like arguing with children. They would never be infected, they took vitamins, anise, vinegar. The men refused to wear condoms because they hadn't come around the world to smoke half a cigar.

"Hija, listen. Unless you give me the name of police who take money from you I will enter your name in the register of prostitutes. Whenever there is a sweep of prostitutes you will be dragged away. And if you are ever caught again you will be sent to a reeducation farm for two years minimum. That's a nice place to grow up."

Teresa pulled up her knees and glowered. Her pout was exactly like Muriel's. She was three years older.

Herr Lohmann had been waiting in an interrogation room. He folded his arms and tilted back in his chair as Ofelia examined his visa. He spoke lederhose Spanish.» So I have one room at the Hotel Capri and another at the Casa de Amor? I paid for both. Twice the money for Cuba."

"How did you even know about the Casa de Amor?"

"The girl told me. She's not exactly a virgin, you know."

"To be clear," Ofelia said.» You are forty-nine. You are having sex with a fourteen-year-old girl, a student. You did this regardless of the laws of Cuba for the protection of children. Are you aware that you could be spending six years in a Cuban jail?"

"I doubt that very much."

"So you are not afraid."

"No."

She opened his passport and flipped through stamped pages.» You travel quite a lot."

"I have business to attend to."

"In Thailand, the Philippines?"

"I'm a salesman."

"Based?"

"In Hamburg."

His passport photo was a head and shoulders of a respectable burgher in dark suit and tie.

"Married?"

"Yes."

"Children?"

No answer.

"Here for?"

"Business."

"Not for pleasure?"

"No. Although I enjoy other cultures." He had teeth like a horse.» I was at the bar at the Hotel Riviera and this girl asked if I could buy her a cola."

"To enter the lobby of the Riviera she had to be with a man. Who was it?"

"I don't know. In Havana I am approached by a lot of men who want to know do I need a car, a cigar, whatever?"

"Were there any police in the lobby?"

"I don't know."

"You are aware that it is against Cuban law for Cuban citizens to visit a hotel room.

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