10.

We check into a motel after a hour and a half of looking for one. I still don't understand why. From my research, Bayamo has a lot of tourist attractions. Whatever. Condos are in vogue so...I kind of get why.

'Why did you pick this dump? They took so much money from us', I grumble as we stand in front of the motel room. My kind friend [not yet official] had the audacity to bring me to a motel on the outskirts of the city. Hugo laughs. 'This was the only one I could find, Ivory. At least be grateful'.

I literally shove the key into the lock and turn the key. 'If I have to sleep on a mosquito-infested mattress I am going to kill...'.

The bed is king-sized. The walls are painted blue with white swirls. There is a big refrigerator and a reading table. A large dressing mirror hangs on the side of a wardrobe. I am speechless. Hugo whistles. 'Well'.

I look at him. 'Well what?'. He laughs. 'I don't need to say anything. You can see for yourself. At least you know our money was not in vain'. My eyelids lower and I walk in, dragging my box. 'It's not like I'm staying here for a long time'.

I divide the room. Hugo on the side facing the bathroom, me on the side facing the window. Guess where the bed is. 'Why do you get the bed?', he says, frowning at his area. 'Because, my dear', I say, opening my box, 'I am a lady and you are a gentleman. And as a gentleman, you are meant to give up your comfort zone for a damsel in distress. Thank you'. I sit at the reading table. 'I hope there's Wi-Fi connection here'. I check the coordinates of the geographical symbols Hugo 2 gave me. It's like I'm waiting for an eternity. The green light swirls, swirls, swirls, swirls some more...keeps swirling...and finally the information appears.

'Where is this place here?'. I move over to where he is and show him the name. It's too hard to pronounce. He glances at it then focuses on his phone. 'Here'. I'm annoyed. 'Yes here. Where is it?'.

'Here'.

I snatch his phone from his hand. 'I'm talking to you and all you're saying is here? Where is this place?!'. 'That's what I said', he flings his hands, exasperated, 'Here!'.

'You mean...', I look around, 'We're here?'. 'Mm-hmm. Can I have my phone back?'.

I give it to him and look around. 'Well, okay then'. My next move is to open the door and walk down the corridor then straight to the receptionist. A black Cuban. She's cute though.

'Uh, hi'.

'What can I do for you, madam?', she says, smiling broadly.

Help me find the bombs?

'I wanted to find the easiest route to...just take a look at it'. She looks at the name, then nods. 'You can take a night train or a bus. I prefer the bus, and I advise you to do so too'.

'May I ask why?'. 'Well, the bus is a lot safer. And the tracks of the railway aren't so steady anymore. I pray every time I'm in a train. That's why'. 'And the government?'.

'They're working, really. It's just so hard to get everyone off the tracks at once'. She manufactures another teeth-full smile. Where do they get these?

I smile back. 'Okay then. Thanks. May I ask how much it is from here?'. 'A hundred Cuban Pesos', she replies. 'Alright', I slide a tip. 'Thank you so much'. 'You're welcome. Thanks for your patronage', she calls as I make my way back to the room. Hugo looks up as I enter. 'Where were you?'.

'I saw you sneaking back when I was almost done talking with her', I reply, moving to my side of the room and flopping on the bed, then turn onto my stomach. 'I thought I was invisible', he says sarcastically and focuses on the sheet in front of him. Around him are pencils.

'You drawing something?', I ask, placing my two hands under my chin. He stops shading. 'Yes'.

'What?'. 'Why do you want to know?', he grunts. 'Because I do'. 'I'm sketching the picture of a lady I know'. 'Who?'. 'Someone'. 'Isabel?'.

'How did you know her name?', he says, looking up. 'During your little talk. You mentioned Isabel'. 'Well, I'm not sketching a picture of her'. 'Then who?'. 'See for yourself'. He raises the paper. I squint my eyes to move the reflection of the light bulb. The guy sketched me, in a riding gear. On a horse.

'I don't like horses'. It's a long story.

'I don't care about that. Is the sketch okay?'.

It's beautiful, I want to say. 'It's kind of'. He sniffs and drops it. 'Your lies stink'. I throw the blanket over my head. 'Good night Hugo'. 'Good night Ivory'.

I wake up around three o'clock in the morning to see Hugo arranging his things. 'You got a ticket? Why didn't you tell me?'.

He chuckles. 'I didn't want to make you miss me before I even left the area'. 'Funny. Like I would'.

Silence. Then he looks at me. 'Are we friends?'.

I take my eyes away from him, then make them survey the entire room. 'Of course we are. Why'd you say that?'. 'You don't sound like you mean it', he replies, zipping his bag. 'I do'. At least I think I do.

He nods slowly and lies down. 'I'm done packing. Go to sleep'.

I try to, but it's hard. My mind's roaming about how close I am to people who have the ability to destroy the earth with a snap of the finger.

The next day the two of us drive to the airport. Let me rephrase that. I drive to the airport while Hugo gives me a rundown of what he expects me to do. I'm not going to do it. The guy's just relaying Ford's orders to me.

'Okay, okay, okay. I've heard you'. I park. We're at the airport.

'Thank you. For everything', he says after we pass the security checkpoints.

'I should be saying that', I say, laughing. He chuckles. 'Without you, I wouldn't have got the money. So, we both have something to be grateful for'. 'Yes. I agree'. Of course I agree. Leave me alone before I blast your head off your neck. I still don't trust him.

'Did you store my number?'. I roll my eyes. 'Since it's the fifth time you've asked me; I should probably check my phone'.

'Sorry'.

He looks like he wants to say more, but an announcement comes on informing all the first class boarders to make their way to the airplane. He gives me a quick hug instead and takes off. I shake my head and walk back to the car, periodically looking behind me and checking my body to be sure there's no gadget on me. I'll hunt down and kill him if there is. Really.