Havana Bay

'I have something for you,' she said.

After all, who else could Ofelia go to? He was sympathetic and sophisticated, with connections at Minint, the army, the PNR well above the level of Captain Arcos and Sergeant Luna.

'A gift?'

'Not quite.' She took the head wrapped in newspapers out of her bag and placed it in front of the screen.

'Well, I'm always interested.' Bias pulled the paper off and revealed Change's obsidian stare. The doctor's anticipation disappeared.» What is this about? You should know by now that my interest in Santeria is strictly scientific.'

'But this head was on a doll that was in Pribluda's apartment. Later it was found with black-market goods in a building near the docks.'

'So? I've seen hundreds of these dolls across the country.'

Ofelia peeled off the tape that held the front and back of the head together.» Go ahead.'

As Bias lifted the doll's face his own went whiter than usual.» Cono.'

'Five charges of eighty percent dynamite. American-made, but we get it through Panama all the time for construction and making roads. There was a receiver and blasting cap that I removed. This is a bomb.'

'That was at Pribluda's?'

'That was removed from there, I believe, by Sergeant Luna, who had also taken Pribluda's car and put it in an abandoned building in Atares, where this doll was recovered.'

There was much Ofelia didn't have to say. In recent years incendiary devices had been set off at different hotels and discos by reactionaries from Miami. Just for the sake of terror. Then there was The Target whose name Ofelia was afraid to invoke, the leader who for forty years had dodged bombs, bullets, cyanide pills.

'This is a very grave matter. Does the sergeant know you have it?'

'Yes, he tried to stop me. This was two nights ago. I only learned it was a bomb last night. There don't seem to be any fingerprints on the outside of the head, but I think there are latent prints on the dynamite.'

'Leave it to me. You should have come to me right away. When I think about that poor Hedy and you.' Bias put down the mask to wipe his hands on his lab coat.» You're so cool about all this. Do you have the receiver and cap?'

'Yes.' She brought them wrapped in newspaper from her bag.

'Better that I have all of the device. Who else knows?'

'No one.' She was going to omit Arkady as long as possible. A Russian and a bomb, how would that look? Especially with those assassination files he had found on Pribluda's computer, it would muddle everything. The reason the doll's head was clear of prints was that she had wiped Arkady's off.» Except that we have to assume there are more people involved on Luna's side.'

'A conspiracy in the Ministry of the Interior? Sergeant Luna is a nobody, this could go much higher. It's no wonder he and Captain Arcos refused to investigate. They're reporting to someone. The question is who? Who assigned them? Who do I call?'

'You will help?'

'Thank God you came to me. Detective, I have always said it, you are a marvel. Were you going someplace from here?'

'To the apartment where Rufo died.' She didn't want to say where Arkady killed him, even if it was in self- defense.» It seems to me a hustler like Rufo must have had a mobile phone. CubaCell has no listing for Rufo but-'

'No, no, no. Stay off the street. We must find someplace safe for you. You must sit and write a complete statement of all the facts while I cogitate how to approach this problem. The first call is the most important. Since we have the means of destruction, thanks to you, we have a minute to think. The safest place is right here. There's paper and pencil in the desk.

You have to put down everything and everyone involved.'

'I've written statements before, no?'

'You're right. The main thing is, don't move from here until I come back. Don't let anyone else in. Promise?' Bias eased the two halves of the head together, wrapped the head in newspaper and carried it under his arm to the door.» Just be patient.'

Ofelia was surprised that her anxiety did not dissipate even when the doll was in competent hands. She found writing materials in a drawer as Bias had said, but discovered that she had become overly used to typing reports on PNR forms. Also, beyond the simplest statements of Luna's involvement with the doll it was difficult not to drag Arkady in. Questioning would be even worse. Who had identified the doll as being at Pri-bluda's? If Luna had attacked her, how had she escaped? Better a brief statement than either the complete truth or a lie. Once Arkady's name surfaced she knew that suspicion, hard earned by Russians in Cuba over so many years, would swing right to him.

Pribluda, proud of his tan, grinned from the monitor. The skull lay under the video camera. Chango and Russians, a terrible combination. Ofelia flicked the screen off and on. Why was she waiting? How would she get to the marina if she was kept in a room? She admitted she would feel easier once Luna was arrested. At the same time she had a niggling memory of the sergeant standing over Hedy at the Casa de Amor and how his entire body seemed to turn to stone. Which reminded Ofelia of Teresa, Luna's other special girl.

Between two jars of pickled snakes was a telephone. Ofelia opened her notebook and dialed Daysi's number. This time there was an answer.

'Yes?'

'Hello, is Daysi there?' Ofelia asked.

'No.'

'When will she be back?'

'I don't know.'

'You don't know? I have this swimsuit of hers she keeps asking for. It's the suit with the Wonder Bra like she saw on QVC. She wanted it today. She's not there?'

'No.'

'Where is she?'

'She's out.'

'With Susy?'

'Yes.' A little more relaxed.» You know both of them?'

'They're still at the marina?'

'Yes. Who is this?'

Ofelia said, 'This is the friend with the swimsuit. I drop it off today or it's mine. Frankly, it looks better on me.'

'Can you call tomorrow?'

'I'm not calling tomorrow. I'll be gone tomorrow and the suit will go with me and you explain to Daysi why she doesn't have the suit.'

During the silence Ofelia could see Teresa Guiteras, hair tangled, knees up to her chin, chewing on her fingernails.

'Bring it over.'

'I don't know where you are,' Ofelia said.» You come here and get it.'

'I thought you were a friend of Daysi.'

'Okay, since you're a better friend, you explain to Daysi how she lost her QVC swimsuit. It's fine with me. I tried.'

'Wait. I can't come.'

'You can't come? Some friend.'

'I'm on Chavez between Zanya and Salud, next to the beauty shop, in back and up the stairs to the roof and the pink casita. Are you near?'

'Maybe. Look, I have to get off the phone.'

'Are you coming?'

'Well...' Ofelia drew the moment out.» You're going to be there?'

'I'm here.'