“I’ve got no other plans,” Landon said, shrugging his shoulders. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.”
Charlie set down his end of a crate and mopped his forehead with the back of his arm. “That’s it.”
Carlos gently deposited the other end of the crate on the dining room floor and smiled. “You need a cerveza, Charlie.”
“Now you’re talking,” Landon said as he arrived behind them and set a cardboard box down on top of one of the crates.
“I wish I had some, but—”
“I got you a little housewarming present,” Landon said, pulling a six-pack of Cristal out of the top of the box.
“You think of everything,” Charlie said, as they made their way out to the backyard. He and Landon leaned over the side of the pool and splashed cool water over their faces, while Carlos sat in the sun, a little grin teasing the corners of his mouth.
Arranging their chairs poolside, the three opened their beers and Carlos raised his in a toast.
“To your new casa.”
“Thanks for helping me move in, guys,” Charlie said, taking a sip of the beer. It was like liquid gold in the midday sun.
“So, did you enjoy yourself last night?” Landon asked.
“Yeah, it was nice to meet some people,” Charlie replied. “Martina seems very nice,” he added. He had noticed she and Landon were both gone by the time he had left for the hotel, and he was still trying to figure out whether they had left together.
“I dated her for a while, a few months back,” Landon said, sipping his beer. “We’re still friends, but that’s it. So if you’re interested …”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it that way, but she sure is attractive,” Charlie said. “And her friend, from the Indian embassy …”
“Amirjit. Isn’t she something?”
“She is beautiful.” Carlos was nodding.
Landon looked surprised. “I didn’t know you knew her, Carlos.”
“I make it my business to know all of the beautiful women in Habana.” He grinned as he savoured a mouthful of beer. “I give her a ride back to her embassy from that conference last week.”
“I think she’s got a boyfriend,” Landon said.
Carlos frowned. “No boyfriend.”
“How do you know?”
Carlos gave Landon a broad smile. “Maybe she tell you yes, because she knows you are a wolf.”
“You’re messing with me, aren’t you, Carlos? I can always tell.”
Carlos’s face was an inscrutable mask as he turned to Charlie.
“Maybe she likes her men a little more … how you say?”
“You mean older?” Charlie was grinning.
“Invite her to your new casa,” Carlos waved his bottle toward the house, “and find out.”
“Now there’s a plan,” Landon agreed. “A little housewarming party.”
They lounged in the sun and chatted for a while before Landon drained his beer, got up, and stretched. “Well, Charlie, can you handle the rest on your own?”
“You bet. Thanks again, guys, really.”
“No es problema.” Carlos patted him on the back.
Seeing them out, Charlie returned to the living room and the assortment of crates and boxes scattered over the hardwood floor. He would unpack for a while, then go for a swim. There was no reason to push himself. He had all the time in the world.
Charlie sat alone by the pool puffing on a cigar, its aromatic smoke dancing in the night air as he dangled his feet in the cool water. The sound of Latin music wafted out from a neighbouring yard, interspersed with peals of high-pitched laughter. He watched the smoke waft up into the night sky, and marvelled at the bright canopy of stars overhead as he contemplated his first week in Havana.
Landon and the rest of his embassy colleagues seemed nice, as did Ambassador Stewart. As for the details of his new job, Charlie considered himself a quick study. What he lacked in experience he would make up for easily enough with a little hard work. Even the previous evening’s reception had been all right, once he’d gotten over his initial discomfort. He imagined himself a year from now, jumping easily from one conversation to another and allowed himself to think briefly of Sharon, if only to assure himself that wherever she was sleeping, it wouldn’t be anywhere half as nice as his new villa in Jaimanitas.
With the first week under his belt, Charlie was beginning to feel better about the decision to come to Cuba. He would have to call Winston Gardiner and thank him again for the opportunity. He took a long pull on the cigar and focused on the unfamiliar sights and sounds brought to him on the warm Caribbean breeze. Ottawa, and the unpleasant memories it evoked, seemed distant indeed, and for the first time in months things were finally looking up.
He should have known better.
Chapter 4
Charlie stood over the coffee maker, waiting for the last of the water to run through. It had been after midnight before he had sprinkled his things among the existing furniture at the house, but his excitement at getting into his new place, combined with this morning’s invigorating dip in the pool, had overcome any fatigue. Even his office was looking better today, with the sun streaming through the opened shutters and falling on the two potted plants his assistant had presented him with that morning. Charlie didn’t usually go for office foliage, but he had to admit they brightened up his neatly arranged credenza, and it was a nice gesture from his assistant, Alena.
Returning to his office with a fresh cup of coffee, Charlie scanned his email, then turned his attention to the file on his desk. His second consular case involved another Canadian tourist who’d had a little too much fun in Havana. The auto-parts salesman from Edmonton had spent the night in custody after what the police report described as an “altercation” with a prostitute. Not surprisingly, his story was different, but regardless of what had actually happened, the passport had been misplaced somewhere along the way. Charlie was trying to guess which parts of which version of the story were closest to the truth when his phone rang.
“Señor Hillier.”
He sat upright as he recognized the voice. “Señor Ruiz?”
“I hope I am not interrupting something important.”
“No, not at all. I was just catching up on my email.”
“I was thinking about our discussion the other night, about your embassy’s needs,” Ruiz said. “I may have a site that is suitable for you.”
Charlie was leaning forward in his chair now. “Well, I’d certainly be interested in hearing more.”
“I propose that we meet as soon as possible. Are you available this week?”
“Of course,” Charlie replied, unaware of his schedule, but certain that it could be rearranged to accommodate any meeting to discuss a new embassy site.
“I’ll have my assistant contact you with the details of the meeting.”
Before he had a chance to get any more information, Charlie found himself listening to a dial tone. Just as he set the phone down, it rang again, but instead of Ruiz’s assistant calling with a firm meeting time, he recognized the voice of the ambassador’s executive