Cuban was consumed with private thoughts, his own grim memories, but Bolan's voice cut through the fog.
"I need your help," he said. "If this connects, I can't afford to go in firing blind."
Another hesitation, then Toro finally nodded.
"Raoul Ornelas." He pronounced the name as if it left a sour taste on his tongue. "My right-hand man.
Mi hermano."
Disgust was heavy in his voice. "You know I worked with Alpha 66?"
Bolan nodded. The computer files at Stony Man had kept him current on a host of paramilitary groups, their personnel — anything and everything related to the covert war of terrorism. While it lasted, he had followed Toro's progress through the Cuban exile underground, had been relieved when he affiliated with a moderate faction, had seen him rise into a leadership position, helping to direct the energies of soldiers who might otherwise have run amok.
"Raoul, he was not satisfied. More action... always more. He blames your government for all our problems. FBI or CIA, they're all the same with Castro to Raoul."
The Cuban downed his coffee, then got up to refill his mug.
"We quarreled over policy. I learned Raoul was acting independently, recruiting others. Bomb here, there... all the same to him.''
"He challenged you?"
The Cuban's eyes flashed back at him.
"I threw him out." The sudden smile was almost wistful. "No use. There is always somewhere for a man to go."
"Ornelas set you up?"
A casual shrug.
"Raoul, or one of his
soldados,"
Toro answered. "Before the trial, he is already meeting with my men, reminding them they cannot trust the government, inviting them to join him.''
Bolan saw the picture clearly, all the ugly pieces falling into place.
"You know the EAC — Exiles Against Castro?"
"Yes."
The Executioner was only too familiar with the exile splinter movement. Known to law-enforcement agencies since 1975, EAC was a tiny clique numerically — fewer than one hundred hard-core members had been publicly identified — but it exerted influence beyond proportion to its numbers.
EAC drew support from leading members of the anti-Castro bloc. Successful exile businessmen supported the guerrilla band with money, arms, a well-timed word in certain ears.
And for their efforts, they got action, right.
The soldiers of EAC had been linked with bombings from Miami to Manhattan, random acts of violence and intimidation. They were indiscriminate in choosing targets: federal, state or local offices; the homes and businesses of opposition spokesmen; foreign embassies and airlines. Voices raised against the terror were silenced by the bomb or sniper's bullet, and EAC won grim recognition as the most savage, most secretive faction of the splintered Cuban exile movement.
Freedom of expression had a fearful price in southern Florida, and everyone was paying. Everyone, that is, except the Communists
and Fidelistas
whom EAC was presumably established to combat. Strangely, and despite the rising tide of Cuban violence, little of the action seemed to be directed at the classic goal of liberating Cuba from the blight of Castroism.
"Raoul is influential in the group. Some say he leads it now, except in name."
"I see."
EAC.
Weapons, trucks and drugs.
The Mafia.
A link was not beyond the realm of possibility, Bolan knew, but he needed much more in the way of solid battlefield intel before choosing targets for elimination. Nothing was precisely what it seemed among the exiles; anything could happen, and the Executioner could not afford mistakes that might cost lives.
"What will you do?" the Cuban asked, his voice intruding on the warrior's thoughts.
"Start rattling cages," Bolan told him. "I don't have a handle yet, but somebody out there can give me one.''
"Raoul?"
The Executioner shrugged. "I recognize your claim," he said. "But if you shake loose something helpful..."
Toro spread his hands.
"Como no.
Of course. You are my friend. I owe you my freedom."
"You owe me nothing," Bolan told him solemnly.
"I need your help," he said. "If this connects, I can't afford to go in firing blind."
Another hesitation, then Toro finally nodded.
"Raoul Ornelas." He pronounced the name as if it left a sour taste on his tongue. "My right-hand man.
Mi hermano."
Disgust was heavy in his voice. "You know I worked with Alpha 66?"
Bolan nodded. The computer files at Stony Man had kept him current on a host of paramilitary groups, their personnel — anything and everything related to the covert war of terrorism. While it lasted, he had followed Toro's progress through the Cuban exile underground, had been relieved when he affiliated with a moderate faction, had seen him rise into a leadership position, helping to direct the energies of soldiers who might otherwise have run amok.
"Raoul, he was not satisfied. More action... always more. He blames your government for all our problems. FBI or CIA, they're all the same with Castro to Raoul."
The Cuban downed his coffee, then got up to refill his mug.
"We quarreled over policy. I learned Raoul was acting independently, recruiting others. Bomb here, there... all the same to him.''
"He challenged you?"
The Cuban's eyes flashed back at him.
"I threw him out." The sudden smile was almost wistful. "No use. There is always somewhere for a man to go."
"Ornelas set you up?"
A casual shrug.
"Raoul, or one of his
soldados,"
Toro answered. "Before the trial, he is already meeting with my men, reminding them they cannot trust the government, inviting them to join him.''
Bolan saw the picture clearly, all the ugly pieces falling into place.
"You know the EAC — Exiles Against Castro?"
"Yes."
The Executioner was only too familiar with the exile splinter movement. Known to law-enforcement agencies since 1975, EAC was a tiny clique numerically — fewer than one hundred hard-core members had been publicly identified — but it exerted influence beyond proportion to its numbers.
EAC drew support from leading members of the anti-Castro bloc. Successful exile businessmen supported the guerrilla band with money, arms, a well-timed word in certain ears.
And for their efforts, they got action, right.
The soldiers of EAC had been linked with bombings from Miami to Manhattan, random acts of violence and intimidation. They were indiscriminate in choosing targets: federal, state or local offices; the homes and businesses of opposition spokesmen; foreign embassies and airlines. Voices raised against the terror were silenced by the bomb or sniper's bullet, and EAC won grim recognition as the most savage, most secretive faction of the splintered Cuban exile movement.
Freedom of expression had a fearful price in southern Florida, and everyone was paying. Everyone, that is, except the Communists
and Fidelistas
whom EAC was presumably established to combat. Strangely, and despite the rising tide of Cuban violence, little of the action seemed to be directed at the classic goal of liberating Cuba from the blight of Castroism.
"Raoul is influential in the group. Some say he leads it now, except in name."
"I see."
EAC.
Weapons, trucks and drugs.
The Mafia.
A link was not beyond the realm of possibility, Bolan knew, but he needed much more in the way of solid battlefield intel before choosing targets for elimination. Nothing was precisely what it seemed among the exiles; anything could happen, and the Executioner could not afford mistakes that might cost lives.
"What will you do?" the Cuban asked, his voice intruding on the warrior's thoughts.
"Start rattling cages," Bolan told him. "I don't have a handle yet, but somebody out there can give me one.''
"Raoul?"
The Executioner shrugged. "I recognize your claim," he said. "But if you shake loose something helpful..."
Toro spread his hands.
"Como no.
Of course. You are my friend. I owe you my freedom."
"You owe me nothing," Bolan told him solemnly.
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