Havana Heat by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera

Author:Carolina Garcia-Aguilera [Garcia-Aguilera, Carolina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-625674-38-8
Publisher: Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.
Published: 2020-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty

The phone rang as soon as we got back to the office. Leonardo answered it, then put his hand over the mouthpiece.

“It’s Lucia Miranda,” he said.

I shook my head and gave him my usual signals when I didn’t want to speak with someone. Leo just stood there, his eyebrows raised expectantly. He obviously could tell that Lucia wasn’t going to accept any misdirection or delays. I shrugged in resignation, went into my office, picked up the phone.

“Lucia, buenas tardes,” I said. “How is your mother?”

“That’s why I’m calling,” Lucia said, her voice rife with impatience. “She’s still in the hospital. But, thank God, she’s in her own room and out of intensive care.”

“That’s good news,” I said.

“For the moment,” Lucia replied. “But her doctors tell me she could have a relapse at any time.”

Lucia was very effective at making sure I knew the noose around my neck was tightening every day. Although I was making plans for getting into Cuba, I had yet to leave. Maybe subconsciously I had thought something would happen to get me off the hook.

“You’ve received your retainer, right?” Lucia asked with characteristic bluntness.

She knew I’d gotten the money. After all, I’d had to sign for it.

“I have,” I said.

“Mama keeps asking about the tapestry,” Lucia said. “That is, when she’s lucid and aware of her surroundings. I think the fact that she’s going to see it is the only thing keeping her alive.”

I just sat there, holding the phone, listening. I had my own reasons for agreeing to bring the tapestry back from Cuba, and I was starting to resent Lucia’s guilt trip. She didn’t seem to care at all that I was risking my freedom and maybe even my life for her family’s possession.

I took a deep breath. There was no point getting angry with Lucia. I agreed to take the job, and it had been my own choice. I was also getting paid for it. And I had been familiar with Lucia’s personality long before I’d ever heard about the eighth tapestry.

“I understand the delicacy and the urgency of the situation,” I said slowly. Then I gave her a brief overview of the research I’d done on handling the tapestry once I found it in Havana. I knew that clients like Lucia were always placated by the understanding that they were getting their money’s worth.

“I see,” she finally said. “I can tell that you have everything very much under control, Lupe.”

I almost fell out of my chair. The woman had actually praised me.

“One last thing,” she said. “When can I tell Mama that she will be reunited with her beloved unicorn?”

I knew it couldn’t last.

“I have to finalize some arrangements,” I said. “Then I’ll have a better idea.”

Hell, I still had plenty left to figure out. But I wasn’t about to let Lucia even remotely suspect that. I knew not to let her see any chinks in my armor.

“We are counting on you,” Lucia said. And then she hung up.

A nice lady, I thought.

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