The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba - Chanel Cleeton Page 0,54

are far more concerned with keeping things as they are so as to not affect their wealth and power than they are with upending the system to make the world a better place.

Carlos moves away from the doorway, allowing me to enter the room.

My cheeks heat as our gazes connect. I’ve never been overly concerned with my appearance, but I’m uncomfortably aware of how much has changed in my physical appearance, manner of dress, and toilette since he last saw me. A rush of gratitude fills me at the respect he affords me and the lack of pity he allows to slip through his expression—he treats me as though I am the same person I was, as though he understands my pride.

Whatever Carlos’s involvement in this, it must be important, since clearly, he’s better informed on what to expect than I am.

I cross the threshold and wait while Carlos shuts the door behind me.

Another man sits in the room quietly, his gaze trained on me.

The American.

Carlos makes the introductions as I settle into one of the chairs in the room, and then the American man whom he introduces as Karl Decker takes over. There’s no time for pleasantries; meeting like this is already risky enough as it is. If we are caught together—

“I’ve heard you’re able to get messages to prisoners in Recogidas,” Decker says. “That you’re familiar with the prison.”

I nod. Doing some of the jail’s laundry has given me access to the women imprisoned there, and I’ve carried messages back and forth for a few of the political prisoners.

“Does this look correct?” Decker asks me, sliding a plan of the prison in front of me.

I scan the diagram contained there.

“Bryson got it a few months ago,” Decker adds. “He also has a list of the guards and the schedule for when they do their rounds.”

Is this Bryson another American? What’s their interest in Recogidas? I can’t think of an American prisoner there at the moment, but I don’t know everyone.

“From what I remember, this looks correct to me,” I reply.

“There is a girl in Recogidas—her name is Evangelina Cisneros,” Carlos says.

The name is familiar. I’ve heard the whispers about her, although I’ve never met her myself. They say her father was imprisoned as a revolutionary.

“We need to break her out of Recogidas,” Decker adds.

I gape at him. “That’s why you’re here?”

This has escalated from dangerous to deadly. Recogidas is a fortress.

For a moment, I contemplate getting up and walking out of the room. It is one thing to take risks when Cuba’s future is on the line, but I don’t see how breaking this woman out of prison serves Cuba.

“What’s the Americans’ interest in all of this?” I ask Decker. “Why do you care about a Cuban woman in a Cuban prison?”

“I’m a reporter for an American newspaper in New York City. My employer has taken an interest in Miss Cisneros’s plight. We’ve tried to free her through diplomatic means to no avail. We now believe it’s time to act outside of normal channels. I’ve met with Miss Cisneros, but now we have a problem—Weyler has cut off our access to her.”

I turn toward Carlos. “And you? What is your interest in her? Is she a friend of yours?”

Given Carlos’s reputation as a bachelor, and Evangelina Cisneros’s reported beauty, I can’t help but wonder if she’s more than just a friend.

“I’ve never met her,” Carlos answers.

“Then why?”

“Because we aren’t winning this war. And we need something to tip the odds in our favor. I’ve seen the articles the Americans have written about Evangelina. I’ve spoken with others who have been following the public response to her case. She might be what we need to prompt the Americans to throw their support behind us.”

Women and children are dying in the camps; it’s hard to believe that in the face of all that suffering, it will only take one woman to inspire the Americans to act. Where was their outrage when the Spanish put us in reconcentration camps? Where was their anger over dead Cubans? Why is Evangelina’s life worth more than others? Why does she merit rescuing while the rest of us don’t?

“And it’s just the two of you attempting this?” I ask.

Decker is hesitant for a moment. “There are others concerned with her situation.”

They must have some diplomatic help from the American consulate to even attempt this. The Spanish check documents for people entering and leaving the country, so getting her out of Cuba will certainly be a