was in the past. He said that Gustavo was dead, he had the list, and the clients were his, as well. He said the best solution was to share the profits equally, that if Roberto didn't agree he'd contact them without Roberto's permission or help and supply them from other sources.
"Roberto tried three times to kill Arkadin. All the attempts failed. Then Arkadin told him, 'Fuck you, Gustavo's clients are mine now, go find yourself some other pigeons to feed.' I thought Roberto was going to have a coronary. I calmed him down."
"Your husband must've liked that," Moira said drily.
"My husband's a pussy, as you can see for yourself," Barbara said. "But he's devoted to me and he serves his purpose." She lifted her arms to encompass the whole of the estancia. "Besides, his business would be in the toilet without me."
The sun had slid behind the mountains in the west. It was growing dark very quickly now, as if an immense blanket had been thrown across the sky.
"Let's get back to the jeep," Moira said as she took the shell casing from Barbara.
On the way back to the hacienda, Barbara said, "You know Arkadin, I gather."
Moira knew as much as Bourne had told her. "Well enough to know that his next step will be to take over Corellos's business completely. That's how Arkadin operates." It was how he'd appropriated Nikolai Yevsen's arms distribution in Khartoum. He'd find some way to suborn a La Modelo guard or a FARC inmate or maybe one of Corellos's many women inside prison, pay them enough to assuage their fear of the drug lord. One day soon, Moira thought, Corellos would wind up dead in his luxurious cell.
"Arkadin is already pissed at Roberto and me," Barbara said as she guided the jeep over the unpaved road. "The latest shipment has been delayed. The boat had to pull in for repairs because its engine overheated. If you know anything about Mexico, you know that those repairs weren't going to happen in a matter of hours, or even overnight. The boat will be ready by tomorrow evening, but I know that's not going to satisfy him." Her hands were gripping the wheel so tightly, her knuckles had turned white as bone.
"I understand, Berengaria, honestly I do."
"Why do you disrespect me? I've been Barbara for years."
"I respect your real name. You should embrace it, not reject it."
When Berengaria did not reply, Moira continued. "Arkadin has his rules, and they're inflexible. Both you and Roberto will forfeit something for the delay."
Berengaria stared straight ahead. "I know."
"And listen, mami, if this shipment should fail to reach its destination, someone else will be paying you a visit, someone not nearly as kind and understanding as I am. You can be sure that's how Arkadin wants it and how it's going to be."
Berengaria thought for a long time. The sun had already slipped behind the purple mountains. The sky seemed scrubbed of clouds. In the east darkness was gathering. They seemed to drive for a long time, as if Berengaria was driving in circles, as if she was reluctant to return to the hacienda. At length, she braked and put the jeep in neutral. Then she turned to Moira.
"What if," she said with a particular ferocity, "that's not how I want it to be?"
Moira experienced the joy of the wheel turning, of Berengaria finally being in her sights. She returned her fierceness with a grin. "There I think I can help you."
Berengaria stared at her with an intensity that to another woman might have been disturbing. But Moira understood what it was she wanted, what their quid pro quo would be. She admired this woman, and pitied her as well. Difficult enough to be a strong woman in a man's world, but to maintain your strength in the Latino world was a task worthy of an Amazon. And yet, above and beyond her personal feelings was the knowledge that Berengaria was her target. What she needed from Berengaria she would get. Now she knew how to get it.
Leaning over very slowly, she took Berengaria's head in her hands and pressed her lips to hers.
Berengaria's eyes opened wide for just a split instant before they fluttered closed. Her lips softening, then opening, she gave herself over to the kiss.
Moira felt the moment of her capitulation with both a sense of triumph and compassion. Then she felt Berengaria's hand on the nape of her neck, the pressure of passion unleashed, and she sighed