Naked Came the Manatee by Elmore Leonard, Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen, Tananarive Due, Edna Buchanan, Paul Levine, James W. Hall, Brian Antoni, Vicki Hendricks

is no proof that he is dead. And without proof, the deal is off. Fidel will stay put. As long as his enemies know he lives, power is his only protection."
     
    "Yes, I know," Mike interrupted. He felt the sweat flowing from his armpits. "But this is only a small detour. Most of the work is done."
     
    "Of course," said Robertico, "especially since we supplied you with the head to begin with."
     
    "You didn't expect us to do that?" Mike said, seeing an opportunity to regain the momentum. "After all, we just don't do that sort of thing in the States. Now you, on the other hand… "
     
    "Sure, sure," said Robertico, waving his hand dismissively. "But let's stick to the point."
     
    "Well, we never anticipated Castro would reject the head after we altered it."
     
    "Of course he rejected it. There was something missing," said Robertico, lifting his cigar high in the air.
     
    "Yes," said Mike. "But it was such a small detail. We didn't think it was important."
     
    "Not important! Anyone close to him would have noticed," said Robertico. "The head has to be perfect."
     
    "It will be perfect," said Mike, nodding.
     
    "But now you have lost it."
     
    "We'll get it back, I assure you. Give us another week," insisted Mike.
     
    "Forty-eight hours. That's all he'll agree to. If Fidel doesn't have the head fixed and in his hands in forty-eight hours, the deal is off!" With that Robertico took a deep puff from his cigar, as if in slow motion, and walked out.
     
    This was one tough bird, Mike mumbled to himself.
     
    Fay rushed the words out, her eyes fixed on the silver canister on the glider.
     
    "Granny, where did you find that canister?"
     
    The glittering object was pulling at Fay; she had seen it before.
     
    "Booger found it in the water and I lugged it up from the beach, just now."
     
    "You went swimming by yourself again?" said Fay, turning her attention back to Marion, who was sitting on the wicker rocker.
     
    "You don't expect me to wait until one of you shows up, do you, dear?"
     
    "Oh, I know, Granny, I'm sorry," said Fay, as she reached down to give Marion a kiss. "Since I opened up the dive shop, I haven't had a chance to come."
     
    "Don't worry, dear," said Marion. "But tell me what's the matter. You look troubled."
     
    "I need your help, Granny. But I want to know about the canister. Have you opened it yet?" asked Fay, unable to contain her curiosity. She yanked the strands of her blond hair tighter in the ponytail as she looked back at the canister.
     
    "No. To tell you the truth," said Marion, "I was too excited to open it. But that can wait, Fay. Tell me what's wrong."
     
    "Oh, it's Phil again," said Fay. She didn't look so tough as she rested her body against the weathered siding on the porch. The dawn's salmon hues colored everything, including Fay, with a delicate touch.
     
    "Phil? I thought you weren't even talking to him."
     
    "I'm not," said Fay. "It's very complicated, Granny. The bottom line is, he's gotten himself mixed up in some shady business with Cubans—he lost some merchandise he was being paid to deliver. I promised to help him, and he let me go. I know, I shouldn't have, and it's all over between us, but I think he's really afraid of these Cubans coming after him."
     
    "Let you go?"
     
    "It's a long story, Granny, and I'd rather not get into it."
     
    Marion was not surprised. This would not be the first time Fay had bailed Phil out of a jam. She remembered another time Phil had gotten involved with shady business. It had had something to do with a crooked Miami commissioner accused of accepting kickbacks from the Society for the Salvation of Sea Rigs. Phil had been one of the people caught breaking into his office attempting to gather proof. The commissioner had gotten reelected and Fay had called her to post bail for Phil. Marion remembered she had made the promise then never to get involved in her granddaughter's private affairs again.
     
    "What merchandise?" Marion asked