Contraband

44

Stone got a chilled bottle of Stolichnaya vodka from the study fridge, covered a silver platter with a linen napkin, and set out small crystal glasses. He found some demitasse spoons in the silver drawer, then he went to the kitchen, boiled an egg, then chopped it, along with some Bermuda onion.

Dino let himself into the house with his key, and when he arrived in the study, Stone was ready for him.

“What’s this?” Dino asked, taking a seat.

“This, my friend, is the almost unobtainable beluga caviar.”

“And given that, how did you obtain it?”

“It came from the refrigerator of the late Randall Hedger.”

“He could afford a refrigerator?”

“Let me tell you the story,” Stone said, which he did while removing the seal from the tin and handing Dino a spoon. “There’s onion and egg there, but try it plain.”

They both did.

Dino savored the flavors of the roe. “So Randy was in the smuggling game?”

“Yes, and he bothered with nothing that wasn’t compact, easily concealable, and very rare. I made a couple of calls and someone who knows about these things told me that there are plenty of customers for beluga at twenty thousand dollars a kilo.”

“And how big is this can?”

“Half a kilo. And he also smuggled in Castro’s favorite cigars, which go for twelve thousand a box, or six hundred dollars if bought individually.”

“I’m glad you got the beluga instead of the cigars,” Dino said.

Stone poured them each a glass of the icy vodka. “It goes well with this.” He raised his glass. “The tsar.”

Dino raised his glass and drank. “Wow,” he said, digging his spoon into the shiny black eggs. “We could just make dinner of this,” he said.

“That would be too greedy,” Stone replied. “One more spoonful, and I’ll return this to the fridge for later binges.”

During dinner, a thought came suddenly to Stone. “I’m very slow on the uptake,” he said to Dino.

“How’s that?”

“You remember the airplane that sank next to us at Fort Jefferson?”

“How could I forget?”

“Remember the suitcases in the rear compartment that disappeared overnight?”

“I remember you telling me about them. I never saw them.”

“I think those suitcases were packed with Castro’s favorite cigars and beluga caviar.”

Dino’s eyes widened. “That would explain why they went to all that trouble to take them from the wreck. That cargo, at the prices you’ve mentioned, would be worth more than cocaine.”

Stone got out his phone and called Max.

“This is Max.”

“And this is Stone.”

“Hey, there. Have you reconsidered coming to Key West?”

“I believe I have,” Stone said, “and I may be able to solve part of your case.”

“Which case, the stolen bicycles?”

“Something much more valuable. I’ll tell you when I see you.”

“When will that be?”

“Give me a day or two to do some investigating at this end. Then I’ll wing my way south.”

“I guess I can stand your absence for another day or two. Let me know when, and I’ll meet you at the airport.”

They hung up. “Feel like a few days in Key West?” Stone asked Dino.

“I certainly feel like it. I’ll see if I can shake loose and what Viv’s schedule is like.”

“Dino,” Stone said, “you remember that I got a visit from those Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms guys a short while ago?”

“I remember.”

“I think they were interested in tobacco, not so much the other two.”

“I see your point,” Dino said. “You know, now that we know what Randy Hedger was involved in, that might give us another avenue for investigating his murder.”

“Maybe he’s the first guy to ever get offed over cigars and caviar.”

“You have a point,” Dino said.

“Now, all we have to do is find out who Randy’s accomplices are.”

“Maybe I’ll pay the lovely Roberta a visit tomorrow.”

“And maybe I’ll join you,” Stone said.