9.

'Senor Hugo! What a surprise!', I hear another voice- male- say after a while. I look up. A brown-haired middle-aged man in an Italian three-piece suit stretches his hands as he walks up to us. Hugo relaxes a little and smiles back. They both hug.

I look at the two exchange pleasantries, fortunately in English. Then Hugo [the middle-aged man] turns to me. 'And you are?'. 'Ivory Irvine. I'm uh...'. 'A tourist. A nosy tourist', Hugo says, winking at his namesake, who nods knowingly. 'I see. Isabel tells me you do not speak Spanish. True?'.

'Yes. I'm sorry, I don't understand the language'. He shakes his head slightly, as if trying to sympathize with me. 'That will make our conversation a little difficult, I'm afraid'.

Hugo looks at me, eyes questioning. I turn to his namesake. 'It's okay. I'll try my very best not to speak the language during our conversation', he says, 'Well then, shall we go in?'. Hugo sits and indicates that he'll wait here. I nod and enter into a study; presumably Hugo's study. I look around. The table alone is coated with gold. Pure gold.

'Have a seat Señora Ivory'. 'Thank you very much'. I sink into the plushness of a couch. It's like I'm sitting on a cloud. It's a marvelous feeling.

'Let's hear your request, Señora', he says after dismissing one of his assistants to go get a cup of tea for me. He had a strange way of saying it though. I'd better be careful. I don't know if I'm safe around Hugo 1; Hugo 2 might be even worse.

I cross my legs and take an imaginary deep breath. 'I'm here to ask if you have any information concerning any missile launch'. Start small, dream big.

He laughs and pours a glass of Scotch for himself, then knocks it back in one gulp. I'm impressed. 'Well, Señora, I have lots of information about missiles. But as you know, nothing good comes easy'.

'I'm prepared for that', I reply defiantly. He's not going to give in just like that. 'Alright then. But please be specific. What exactly do you mean?'. 'Any info about bombs?'. I cannot believe I'm sitting opposite to a man I know nothing about apart from the fact that his- wife?- was stolen from Hugo 1.

'I need specification'. How many times am I going to specify? If I'm going to get anything out of this man, I have to think. I cannot divulge the fact that I'm an agent, but getting the slightest information is necessary.

'Uh...nuclear bombs?'. How can I be sure he knows anything? He might be a fake! My mind screams at me. Yeah, but...let's give it a shot, alright?!, I yell back. 'Hmm. Interesting topic', he says and strokes his beard. The assistant comes in with the coffee. He speaks in Spanish so rapidly, if I'm not listening I won't hear what he says.

'Did you add the spice?'. 'Yes sir'. 'How long?'.

'About one hour and a half sir'. 'Perfect. You will be highly rewarded'.

The assistant beams and leaves the room.

Hold on, hold on, hold on, my mind says. Are they planning to drug you?

I think so, I reply. What do we do?

We? It's you alone that's facing this, not me.

You're useless, I reply and look at Hugo 2, biting my lip.

'Enjoy'. His smile looks so sincere, I'm doubting myself. I nod and take the tiniest sip I can ever take in my life.

'Señora, this information about bombs is uh, very complicated. You see, there are the minor plans and the major plans. As a business man, selling these information is dangerous. So I'm afraid I'd have to raise the stakes of my price'.

'I understand. I'm talking about a major plan. A bomb that can destroy the earth'. That's close enough. He eyes the cup of tea. 'I see. Well...'. 'Four million dollars'. He closes his eyes. 'Four million dollars. No, no. Not enough'.

'Four point five million'. His eyes remain closed. 'I will not take it'. 'Six'. 'I'm afraid not Senora'.

I'm desperate. 'If you give me enough information, I will give you seven million dollars. No more, no less'. His eyes flutter open. 'Seven million U.S dollars?'. 'Seven million U.S dollars'.

He sighs. 'A hundred and eighty-five million Cuban Pesos'. 'Mm-hmm'. 'That's dangerous money here'. 'And I'm giving it to you on a platter of gold. Just tell me what plans you know about a bombing that can wipe out the entire Earth'.

He licks his lips as his brain tries to process what I'm offering. 'There are a group of people planning to destroy three planets; Earth, Mars and Venus. If possible, they'd extend it to Jupiter'. Knew that already. 'They call it OPERATION IVORY'.

'Where are they situated?'. 'In a small town on the Eastern part of Cuba. Bayamo. In the Granma Region'.

'Do you know why they're doing this?'.

'They discovered a new planet. These people want to move everyone there. But they know that without destroying Earth, individuals will be unwilling to do so'. 'Can you tell me their exact location?'. I badly want to drink the tea.

He nods and presses a button. A geographic map comes up and a green light blinks. 'Latitude 20.3700 ©N, 76.6780©W Longitude. That's it'. 'Thank you'.

'I have to warn you Señora, these individuals are dangerous. They'll kill at the slightest note. Be careful'. I smile. 'Of course I will'. I stand up and lay the cash on the table, enclosed in case. 'Here you go. Enjoy'.

His smile is half-hearted. 'I appreciate it'. He looks at the cup. 'Will you not take your tea?'. I smile. 'Maybe next time'.

I'm itching to tell him I know all about the tea plan. I don't. It's better to keep it to yourself.

*

'How did it go?' Hugo says as we exit.

'Normal. Not unusual', I reply, entering the car. 'Except for the fact that Isabel was staring daggers at me. Please, next time two of you talk, tell her to get a life'. He chuckles. 'You understood what we were saying?'

'No, not at all. But did you look at her face? She wanted to strangle me', I growl and look at the long road in front of me. He chuckles again. 'She isn't really a nice person'. 'Or she's your girlfriend. I guessed that from her behavior. Ex?'

'Yeah. Two years ago. She left me for Hugo'.

'Not cool', I reply half-heartedly and fold my arms, then lean back. 'Hey, you know how to get to Bayamo from here?'

'You could use a plane, or you could just use your car. It takes an estimate of ten hours if you go by road, but it all comes down to your decision', he replies, not taking his eyes off the lane we are on. I nod and think deeply. 'What do you think?'

'Uh, we could go by road. I'll take you there and board a plane back', he offers. I do need company on the way. Besides, I might need a Spanish guy as my shield. No offense Hugo.

'Alright then, I guess we're going by road. Pack the moment we get home'. 'Why are we going to Bayamo anyway?' he says, sounding sad. He misses me already?

'It's part of the reason why Ford called you to protect me. Let's leave it at that', I reply, drawing a virtual map of the journey in my head.

'Alright then', he sighs and accelerates.

The next day I wake up bright and early, pick my box, and make my way to the car. He trails behind, looking annoyed and...babyish.

'Do you really have to leave?' he whines. 'Of course I have to. If I don't, you'd be stuck with me forever. And the only thing that can make that bearable is the fact that I'm your ticket to wealth'. Nothing more, nothing less.

'I enjoyed your company, really. Besides, I loved the time I really had to flex my muscles with those men. Fighting was great'. 'Sure sure, look who's happy', I snort softly and with a dead-pan look go to the passenger side of the car.

'You sure you want me to ride this? I'm pretty reckless', he says with a comical look. 'You do anything to my baby, and you die'. He indicates surrender and revs the engine.