ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第23节

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er　manatee；　shy　and　sleek　and　miraculously　unscarred。　As　she　brushed　against　him；　Booger　felt　a　tingle　in　his　fluke。
　Soon　the　bullet　wound　was　forgotten；　as　were　the　queer　events　of　recent　days　and　the　fading　clamor　of　Coconut　Grove。　Together　the　two　sea　cows　struck　out　across　the　silky　waters；　breaching　and　diving　in　tandem。　Booger　knew　of　a　little　out…of…the…way　place　on　Virginia　Key；　a　quiet　teardrop　of　a　harbor　where　friendly　human　shrimpers　occasionally　tossed　crispy　heads　of　lettuce　to　visiting　manatees。
　It　was　a　helluva　first　date。
　
　The　yacht　of　Juan　Carlos　Reyes　was　anchored　in　a　gentle　chop　a　mile　east　of　North　Bimini。　Even　for　Hector　it　was　easy　to　find：　a　gleaming　107…foot　Feadship　called　Entrante　Presidente。
　Reyes　greeted　them　in　a　navy　blazer；　cream…colored　slacks；　and　dainty　Italian　loafers。　The　yacht's　salon　reeked　of　cigars　and　heavy　cologne。　Britt　and　Fay　instantly　became　sick。　Reyes　ordered　them　taken　to　a　private　cabin　and　handcuffed　to　a　bedpost。　Hector　eagerly　volunteered；　but　Reyes　told　him　to　sit　down。　One　of　Reyes's　bodyguards；　a　weightlifter　type　with　a　pearl　nose　stud；　escorted　the　women　away。
　Juan　Carlos　appraised　the　Castro　impersonator。　〃The　real　one　was　heavier　in　the　belly；〃　he　said；　circling；　〃but　overall；　my　friend；　you're　not　bad。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Mickey　Schwartz。　He　had　a　routine　to　go　with　the　getup：　a　bombastic　and　humorously　convoluted　tirade　against　Yankee　imperialists；　capitalism；　and　blue　jeans。
　Juan　Carlos　Reyes　wasn't　interested　in　hearing　it。　〃You　must　be　Lilia；〃　he　said　to　the　elegant　older　woman。　He　attempted　to　kiss　her　hand；　but　she　pulled　it　away。
　〃Little　fool；〃　she　scoffed。　〃Cuba　will　never　take　you　back。〃
　〃We　shall　see；　puta。〃
　Lilia　bent　over　（for　she　was　a　full　six　inches　taller　than　Juan　Carlos　Reyes）　and　slapped　him　smartly　on　the　face；　dislodging　the　smoldering　nub　of　his　cigar。　Hector　sprang　forward；　raising　the　stubby　Uzi；　but　Reyes　waved　him　off。
　〃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　ar