A Baby and a Baby.

The lovely dream of me flinging my jacket over my shoulder and cat walking out of the agency in slow motion is interrupted by knocking. I groan and move the blanket over my head. 'What?'.

'I have a surprise', Hugo says. 'What is it?'. 'I think you have to come out to see it. That's why it's called a surprise'. 'I'm not coming out until you tell me what it is', I reply grumpily. He laughs. 'Let me give you a clue. It has to do with tires'.

'Ha-ha. There are so many things that have tires. What is it?'. 'It's precious'.

'There's nothing more precious to me than me', I reply, digging deeper into the blanket. He scoffs. 'Alright. Last clue. You purchased it here in Cuba'.

I throw the blanket away and sit up. If he's talking about my car, then...I jump up and brush my teeth and wash my face. We can worry about a bath later. I am not leaving this room until I'm clean.

'Ivory? Are you there?'.

I comb my hair.

'Ivory?'.

Earrings...where are those earrings?

'Ivory? I'm coming in, okay?'. He's afraid I've run away; I get that from his voice.

He almost falls in as I open the door. 'Hey, what is it?'. 'You still haven't gotten it?'. 'I haven't'. His eyes depict annoyance. 'Where is the surprise, anyway?'. When he leads me outside, I can't believe it. It's my baby!

I jump into it and literally kiss it. 'I thought I lost you', I cry as I hug the steering wheel.

I drove it just once.

Hugo stands in a corner and stares at my over-the-top act. When I place my head on the sideboard, he laughs. 'Are you done with your charade? Because we have to talk'.

I suddenly realize that he's there. I look up and smoothen my hair. 'You did not see this. If Frederick asks you about my goings-on, you did not see this'. He laughs me to scorn. 'Of course I didn't. Well, except for the part where you steering wheel became your teddy bear'.

'Don't make me hate you', I growl and step out of the car, then turn to it and release a deep sigh, smiling. 'She's wonderful'. 'Now you're talking like it's your sister'. 'Stop. Where is my luggage?'. 'I'll bring it in. Unless you want to stay with your baby'.

I frown again, walk up to him, and jack my knee up. He groans but doesn't drop to his knees. Impressive. I walk into the house.

At the dining table, he drops his fork and stares at me as I drink water. I stop. 'What?'. 'I was just thinking...if you need help, I can help you'. I close my eyes for some time, then open them. 'What help do you think I need?'.

He looks at his salad. 'Well, considering the fights we've had, the men that have come here, and Mr. Deville's care for you...'.

'Ford's care for me? Yeah, right'.

He looks from his plate to me. 'You think he doesn't have any care for you?'. I scoff. 'I don't think. I know. He hates me. And I hate him too'.

'But...'.

'That reminds me', I interrupt, turning the salad cream with the carrot and veggie strips. 'I need another favor'. 'You haven't thanked me for the one I did this morning', he says.

'How did you know it was mine?'. 'I had been watching it. It arrived at that building the same day you did. And last night, I heard you moaning about your lost and found car. Sleep-talk, I guess. Then I saw your documents. The ones in your purse. Put two and two together, and...'. 'You searched my purse?'. I'm not safe. I'm not safe. I'm so not safe.

He laughs. 'I didn't find anything incriminating. Chill out'. That makes matters even worse, Hugo! I yell inwardly.

'So what's the favor you want me to do for you?'. 'Where would a criminal mastermind hide, here in Cuba?', I ask, devouring the mixture I have created out of my food. 'Is that the favor you want me to do for you?', he says, amused. 'That's not it. Answer the question'.

'There are lot of criminal masterminds in Cuba. In fact, there are a lot of them all over the world. Why do you...'. 'Do you know anyone that can supply information concerning massive killings or robberies, that sort?'.

He stops eating again. 'Now you're scaring me'. 'I need an answer'.

'I know one'. 'Who?'. 'Hugo'. 'Namesake, or yourself?'. 'Namesake'.

'Great. Where can I find him?'. 'This is the favor, isn't it?'. 'Yup'. I can't lie about that.

'You have to pay big bucks for information', he warns. 'I know that. There's nothing free'.

'Okay...are you sure you want to meet him?'. He sounds like he doesn't want me to leave his sight. 'Of course I am'.

'I'll take you to him later today'.

*

Roman answers on the third ring. 'What?'.

'You out of your impatient state yet?', I sneer. 'I don't answer to you', he growls. 'Of course you don't. I'll go straight to the point. I need ten million dollars'.

Something falls on the other end. He grunts and picks it. 'What did you say?'.

'Ten million, Roman'.

'We gave you fifteen'. 'Five for expenses. It's not enough'. 'What are you doing over there, Ivory Irvine? I wish I kept tabs on you', he says. There's a slap. I don't know where it lands. 'Don't pretend you don't know all about Hugo'.

'I guess you've met him already?'. His voice holds sarcasm. 'I'm not asking for that. Get me ten million. Else'. 'Else what?'.

'Else I stop chasing these guys'. 'We'll just bring someone else in'. 'And I'll leave the company'. 'You can't. We have a deal'. 'You're messing it up. You aren't being supportive financially'.

'Goodness Ivory. I've always hated this about you'. I can imagine his face, his hand moving his hair up. 'You always know how to shift the blame'.

'In the end, I'm right'. I laugh to myself. 'So, when am I getting it?'.

'I'll send it to the Swiss account I created for you. There's a bank some kilometers away from your current location. Emerald. You can withdraw the money from there. Key: 190276'. 'Thanks'. 'You were never welcome'. 'Greet the others for me okay?'. I hear his sardonic laughter as I end the call.

'Are you done?', Hugo's voice calls from outside the room. 'You didn't happen to hear our conversation, did you?', I ask, cautious. 'No I didn't'. 'I'm done. Why?'.

'I wanted to ask if you're ready to go'. 'Sure. But I have to stop at a bank'.

*

With a huge amount of money in a case, I follow him to...a place.

We arrive at a wooden shed. I turn to Hugo. 'He lives here? From your description, he must be very rich. This is a dump'. He nods. 'He doesn't like showing his extravagance'. He opens the door. 'Except for the inside'.

My mouth gapes as I scan the interior. 'You're kidding me'.

The inside of the shed gives way to a long corridor, from which a huge door appears. Hugo opens the door and we step into a huge parlor. The designs on the wall are intricate. There's a cupboard full of gems; sapphire, jasmine, onyx...name it. I close my mouth. 'Are you sure he's the one? It looks like we are in the house of a business mogul'.

Hugo chuckles. 'He is a business mogul'.

'Senor Hugo!', a feminine voice cries and the owner of the voice appears. A lady in her late twenties. She smiles at the two of us; well, at Hugo. Her frown cannot be belied when she sees me. Hugo stiffens beside me. They have a past; I can see that.

'Hi', I say, itching to connect my palm with her cheek. The impact will wipe all of her makeup off. 'Hello. You do not speak Spanish, do you?'. She looks up and down at me like I'm some figurine that has a crack in it. 'No I don't', I reply.

She turns to him and begins to speak in rapid Spanish. So I didn't tell you. I understand the language perfectly. 'What are you doing here?', she says. 'I came to talk to Hugo. Call him for me'.

'Why?'. 'None of your business'. 'You couldn't ask of me? Is that how much you miss me?'. Her head moves up in a pose. I think it's meant to be striking. 'Funny. I thought it was the other way round'. 'Does she know about us?' she says as she regains her composure. 'No'.

'How sure are you?'.

'What does it matter if she knows? I ended things a long time ago Isabel. Stop pestering me'. 'But Hugo I still love and adore you'. 'We cannot get over the betrayal. You left me for Hugo'. Now this is interesting.

She drops her head when he says this. 'Hugo is lifeless. He has no love for me. Neither do I'. Tsk tsk tsk. Love and lies.

I'm tempted to sit on a nearby chair and yell, 'Action!'.

'You should have thought about that before leaving me for him. Just because I was poor doesn't mean I'm worthless. Now that I have established myself, you want to come back. I can't let that happen'. He says it like there's a bitter taste in his mouth.

'I hope you don't plan to stay with this...woman'. She says it like there's a bad taste in her mouth. I clench my fist when she says that. Who's she calling a woman?

'Even if I do, you have no say in it', he replies through gritted teeth.

'Hugo...'.

'She's looking uncomfortable. Stop'.

She tries to belie her hatred for me with a smile. I've never seen so much emotion in one woman's eyes. Hatred, pain, love...goodness, I'll get a headache if I keep thinking about this.

'I'll call Hugo. Excuse me'. She gives Hugo a lingering look. He turns away.