“Give,” she ordered.
I just handed her the envelope. She could take it away if she wanted to, so I figured this was for the best.
◊◊◊
The horror! Caryn had used the money the studio had sent for my first-class ticket to upgrade everyone to business class. None of them had any sympathy for me. At least I wasn’t jammed into a middle seat. In reality, business class wasn’t all that bad, but I wasn’t going to let Caryn know that.
Cassidy claimed the aisle seat next to me. I usually wanted the aisle for my long legs, but Fritz had made it clear that one of my security people should be between any danger and me. I’d agreed because I had been attacked on a plane before. Something else he’d insisted on was that I had to wear my birth-control, black-rimmed glasses that acted as a bodycam. I’d gotten used to wearing them, so it wasn’t a problem.
Turned out, Cassidy was terrible security. She slept the three hours it took to fly to Miami.
◊◊◊
In Miami, we were directed to customs, where we had to produce our special papers for travel to Cuba. When I’d gone to the UK, I’d only had to show my passport, but for Cuba, you needed a special entry visa. We were sent to a different section where we found the rest of the cast and production crew who were to fly to Havana on our chartered flight. There were twenty of us altogether, and we were the last to arrive. We soon boarded a much smaller plane than we’d come on. This time there was no choice about seating class.
When we arrived at Havana, it was nothing like I expected. London had the feel of history, as did Havana. As we rode in our taxi to the hotel, I caught glimpses of seductive beauty sidled up to spectacular decay. It was obvious that the city had gone through some hard times. While clean, many buildings showed signs of neglect. There was also a unique odor, a combination of papaya mixed with tobacco leaf, gasoline, and a musty, moldy smell.
On top of the odor, you couldn’t help but notice the heat and humidity. It must have been at least 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity. It didn’t help that the taxi was a 1957 Chevy with no air conditioning. The heat and humidity were almost physical, weighing you down. It was hard to get your breath, almost as if you were breathing under water. I was confident that my deodorant wouldn’t survive for long.
The movie was being filmed at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, and we would stay there as well. The grand entrance featured a long drive with palm trees lining the median. It was built in 1930 and had a Miami feel because of its Art Deco design. You walked in to check in and found yourself in a hall that had a twenty-foot wood ceiling. It had plaster arches with Spanish tile around the bases and along the front of the check-in counter.
While everything was top notch, you got the feeling that you’d stepped back in time by about sixty years. I think what gave it such a dated feel was the furniture. It all seemed to be right out of the 1950s. When I got to my room, that feeling was reinforced. There was a French provincial couch that looked as though it had recently been bought at an antique shop.
While unpacking, I found another problem: the electrical outlets were for two-pronged devices with round pins. I couldn’t even plug in my new cell phone to recharge it. I should have discovered that because I’d done my research on Cuba, but never came across that particular piece of information.
While I puzzled out what kind of adapter was needed, I began to worry that it might be a different voltage. It would totally suck if it fried my phone. Caryn would give me a ration of shit about breaking it the first day.
While I finished emptying my carry-on, there was a knock on the door. It was a porter with my boxes that had been shipped. He had some helpers, and they were delivering them to everyone else as well.
“Do you speak English?” I asked.
“Sí, a little.”
“Can I tip you in dollars?” I asked.
“Sí, of course.”
I pulled out a twenty and saw his eyes get big.
“Would this be enough for everyone?” I asked, indicating the two other men.
“More than enough. I am Cedro. If you need anything …” he responded and snatched the twenty.
I got the feeling that for another twenty, I might be able to have someone killed.
◊◊◊
Dinner was in a private dining room that held about thirty people. All the folks who had flown in today were there. Then there was a head table where Laurent Vance sat with a few other people who looked to be important.
When everyone arrived, the waitstaff brought us salads, and a young woman stood up at the head table.
“I’m Anita Haig, the production assistant. I want to introduce a few people if I may. Seated next to me is Laurent Vance, our director. Next to him is Kitty Ellis, assistant director, and Roger Brooks, our producer.
“I also want to point out a couple of people who’ve joined us: David A. Dawson, who will play Rick; Stewart Thatcher, who plays Callum Ascot of MI6; and Heath Rooter, playing Mike Carter of the CIA,” Anita announced.
Stewart looked like he could play James Bond, while Heath was a character actor I’d seen in many movies. He had to be almost sixty.
“While you eat, I’m going to give you the dos and don’ts while you’re in Cuba. First of all, I know some of you have discovered the outlets in your hotel rooms. I have a box of adapters with me. Please see me before you leave, and each of you can have a couple of them.
“Let me give you a little background on Cuba. Until 2011, there was an import ban on cars in Cuba. That means that most of the cars on the road are classics from the ’50s. It’s against the law to hire an unlicensed taxi. You can tell if it’s a licensed one if it has a meter in it. Also, make sure they turn the meter on when you begin your trip.
“The average gross national income per capita of Cuba is officially $5,539, but the take-home salary for most Cubans is around $20 a month. There are separate currencies for tourists and nationals. While it’s not illegal to possess American dollars, it is discouraged. The hotel can convert your money for you; just ask for the manager, and he will help you.”
That might have been why Cedro had seemed excited when I tipped him for delivering the boxes. Anita continued after the main course was brought out, a chicken breast with black beans and rice.
“Please remember: safety first. Always have someone with you when you go anywhere. Don’t wear anything flashy or carry a lot of cash. Cuba doesn’t have a high crime rate, but with such low incomes, it can happen. First priority: look out for street hustlers. Don’t fall for the free picture, because there will be a fee.
“Something else you need to be careful of is to never take a picture of the police or military. It’s against the law here. I would also avoid making negative remarks about communism or Fidel Castro,” Anita continued.
I would have to remember to be careful when taking pictures and remember that Cuba wasn’t a free country like the US.
“One strange quirk is it’s considered rude to blow your nose in public. Also, Cuba has suffered from years of embargos. Something you’ll find missing is variety in your food choices. They’re a bit lacking if you’re used to condiments like ketchup, hot sauce, pepper, jams, cinnamon, and peanut butter. They simply don’t have them.”
I might go through withdrawal without hot sauce.
“What about Internet access?” a girl in the back asked.
“There are three considerations to keep in mind: it’s expensive; it’s slow; and realize that your access may be monitored. Only five percent of Cubans have access to the uncensored, open Internet,” Anita answered.
“How should we tip?” I asked.
“Good question. The majority of locals in Cuba working at your hotel—such as your housekeeper, bartender, waiter, and hotel desk staff—have trouble affording hygienic or personal-care items. That’s why many tourists bring along extra toothbrushes, mouthwashes, tubes of toothpaste, floss, pantyhose, etc., to leave for them as gifts. Believe me, locals are incredibly grateful for these items. We have a stockpile of these you can pick up to give as gifts,” Anita suggested.