Free Suspicion of Rage by Barbara Parker Page B

She dropped her sunglasses back into place, hiding her eyes. She went down the steps, then came back. "Maybe we can talk sometime. Just to talk."
    Anthony looked over her head and rocked in his chair.
    She said, "I have to tell you something, love. You should be careful when you visit José Leiva. They're watching him. They take pictures."
    "I know, from the house across the street. They probably have some of me."
    Olga came closer, holding her portfolio tightly to her chest. She wore a gold bracelet with a heart dangling from one link. In the center of the heart, a diamond so small that Anthony was stirred to feel sorry for her. When she was younger, her lovers had been more generous.
    She said, "If they come to his house, and you're there with him, they could take you too. There are rumors about getting tough on the opposition. I speak sincerely."
    "Thank you for the warning."
    "Anyway, you can't trust Leiva. I lost the best job I ever had in television because of him."
    "An old complaint. You should let it go, Olguita."
    Her teeth caught her lower Up before she said, "Anthony, love... I need to talk to you. A big favor. Please."
    He shook his head. "As you say, may this be a better year for all of us."
    She looked at him a moment longer through her sunglasses before turning away. He watched her go, swaying on her high-heeled red sandals. She walked like her hips had been dipped in hot oil. Each half moved independently—the glorious backside of the Cuban female.
    Halfway between the house and her car, she looked over her shoulder and laughed. "¡Oye!" In English she said, "If you change your mind, you know my phone number."
    He could only grind his teeth and pray that Gail wasn't still standing at the upper window. He put the beer to his lips and drank.
    In a cloud of diesel smoke, Olga's car turned the corner and was gone.
    It was hard to say what Olga Saavedra knew, much less what she believed in, beyond her own survival. She seemed to be surviving well enough, despite her complaints about Cuba. Everyone complained about Cuba. He considered the warning she had passed on to him. The dissidents had become a constant, low-grade headache for the regime, but he didn't believe that José Leiva would be picked up and sent back to prison. He was known by the international press. They would start howling if the political police dragged him down to Villa Marista for nothing.
    He heard the door open. His daughter came out and held onto the scroll of decorative metal on the porch support. She swung out over the edge.
    "Hola, mi angelita. "
    "Dad, does your cell phone work in Cuba?"
    "No, m'ija, no funciona aquí en Cuba."
    "Oh, God, please don't make me speak Spanish. My brain is exhausted. That's all Gio and Janelle speak. I know it would do me good to practice, but I can't right now."
    He held out an arm, and she came over to stand next to him. "Are you having a good time, sweetheart? Do you like it here?"
    "I guess so. Yes, it's all right." She gave him a hug. "Thank you for bringing me."
    "What do you think of your cousins?"
    "They're fine. I like them, but... Janelle is so immature for her age. I can't believe she's fifteen. She just giggles and hangs on to me. It gets very tiresome. Danny and Gio are hitting it off great." Her beautiful, soft brown eyes went to his. "Papi, do you think I could use Tía Marta's phone to call the U.S.? I would pay for it."
    "You want to call Bobby," he guessed.
    "Please?"
    "All right. I'll ask Marta for you. Don't worry about the cost. I'll pay for it."
    "Thank you, papi." She put her head on his chest.
    He smoothed her silken hair. "Angelita, life is long, and there are many opportunities, many adventures ahead of you. The Miami City Ballet isn't the only company in the world—"
    "I don't want to talk about it."
    "All right. Where is your brother?"
    "He's with Giovany playing Nintendo.It's not even a new game."
    "Danny comes to Havana to play Nintendo?" Anthony considered