Page 63 of Hot Intent

Something approaching actual hatred coursed through her veins, hot and acid. First order of business, get home. Second on her to-do list, murder him. She took stock of the contents of her stolen purse. It held enough cash to buy food for a couple of days. And the woman’s credit cards. Although, they were probably cut off by now.

Tucking most of the cash in her bra, she took the remainder downstairs to the bodega. She bought a couple of big bottles of water, a few apples, a box of crackers, and a can of tuna. The city’s food supply was still pretty limited, but it would do.

A woman was working behind the counter this morning. Katie approached the woman to ask where she could get access to a telephone with international service. The lady gave her a weird look and Katie added hastily that she could pay for the call.

The woman gestured with her head for Katie to follow and stepped behind a cloth curtain. Katie ducked into a tiny storeroom.

“Twenty dollars, U.S., for three minutes,” the woman said, fishing a cell phone out of her pocket.

That was probably double the going rate, but Katie wasn’t going to quibble about a little gringo gouging. “Done.”

She pulled a twenty out of her bra and traded it for the phone. She dialed André Fortinay’s number and prayed the call would go through and not be traced by the Cuban Secret Police in the next three minutes.

“Doctors Unlimited,” a female voice answered.

Ashley Osborne. The perky office assistant who’d sent her down here in the first place. “This is Katie McCloud. I need to speak to André.”

“He’s in a meeting. Can he call you back?”

“No. Interrupt him. I’ve got one shot at contacting him, and then I’m screwed.”

“Oh dear Hang on, I’ll get him right away.” At least the girl had the good grace to sound alarmed.

“Hi, Katie. What’s up?” Andre murmured a few seconds later.

“I’m stranded in the city of Guantanamo, off base. I need to get out of Cuba ASAP, and I can’t go back to the military base.”

“Why not? Where’s Alex?”

“Long story and I’ve only got about two minutes on this line. I have no idea where Alex is. He ditched me.”

“You’re kidding. He’s nuts about you.”

“Right now, he’s just nuts. Can you get me an exit option, or am I hosed?”

“Where are you, specifically?”

Katie stuck her head through the curtain and asked for the street address. The woman gave it to her and she relayed it to André.

“Can you call me back in an hour?” he asked her.

“I doubt it.”

“Okay. Sit tight, then. I’m going to use the other line to make a phone call. I promise I’ll come back to this line.”

Katie waited in an agony of impatience as the seconds ticked by. The woman poked her head through the curtain and announced that her three minutes were up. Katie dug out another bill, a ten this time, and handed it to the woman.

“The police, they will come if you stay on the line,” the woman hissed.

“I’ll buy you a new phone. Just let me finish this call. It’s life or death.” Katie wasn’t sure the phrase ‘life or death’ translated well into Spanish, but the woman backed out of the storeroom with a dubious look on her face.

“Katie? Still there?”

Thank God. André. “Yes.”

“Make your way to the docks on the west side of the bay. Look for a freighter called the Constellation Caelum. That’s spelled C-A-E-L-U-M. Identify yourself as the onboard nurse who’s just been hired. An asset on the crew will approach you with an egress plan once the Caelum has left Cuban waters. The ship sails in a few hours, so you’ll need to head down there immediately.”

“Thanks,” she murmured gratefully.

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