Murder in Havana by Margaret Truman Page B

Company
. I wonder who coined that as a euphemism. Nobody calls it that anymore. Not important. In this instance, the CIA isn’t involved. Strictly a private undertaking on behalf of my firm’s client, Signal Labs. Cali Forwarding has been acting as a middleman for quite some time now for Canadian and European pharmaceutical companies selling drugs to Cuba.”
    “Why do they need a middleman?” Pauling asked. “We’re the only country prohibited from doing business with Cuba.”
    “Helms-Burton,” Gosling said. “Since 1996, when the Helms-Burton Act was passed—precise name, the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act—signed, reluctantly I might add, by President Clinton, we’ve been coming down hard on our allies who continue to do business with Havana. It’s made for some awkward relations with our friends. At any rate, rather than incur the wrath of Uncle Sam, some companies don’t sell directly to Cuba. Let’s say a Canadian company sells to a company in Colombia. That company resells to Cuba. The goods aredelivered from Colombia to Cuba and everyone is happy.”
    Pauling sighed and rubbed his nose. “What else is Cali Forwarding reselling? There wouldn’t be any pure Colombian Gold stashed with the penicillin and antacids, would there?”
    Gosling shrugged and motioned for the waitress to bring another round. “I’m hurt, Max, that you would think I’d get you involved in something shady, like drugs.”
    “I’ll want to see what’s in the plane before I take off.”
    “Of course. Believe me, it’s all on the up-and-up. You’ll be taking medical supplies and medicines to needy Cuban men and women. An admirable humanitarian effort. Yes?”
    “I always wanted to win a Nobel. Run the deal past me again.”
    “Really quite simple, Max. You know that Congress has opened up trade with Cuba allowing medical supplies and agricultural products. Only it’s a bit of a sham. Your lawmakers, bless them, say your American companies can sell those goods to Cuba, but have simultaneously prohibited them from seeking financing for the deals from your banks and other financial institutions. A devious bunch, your lawmakers. They can now proclaim themselves humanitarians, concerned with the well-being of the average Cuban, but making it almost impossible for these goods to reach the sick and hungry. Other countries that aren’t hamstrung in their dealings with Cuba are free to trade with Castro, provided they’re willing to anger your Congress. An intriguing scenario, isn’t it?” He leaned closer and grabbed Pauling’s arm. “But Max,” he said, a modicum of exasperation in his voice, “what you’ll be doing has nothing to do with embargoes or congressional double-talk. God, I hope your short-term memory hasn’teroded. Flying supplies from Colombia is simply your
cover
for being in Cuba. You’re going to Havana to see what you can dig up on BTK Industries.”
    “Dig up? What’s the archaeology to find?”
    “Whether they’re playing cozy with a German pharmaceutical firm, Strauss-Lochner Resources. Whether what the Germans are doing is for their own benefit—alone. Here.” He pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket and handed it to Pauling.
    “What’s this?”
    “Your contract with Cali Forwarding to transport shipments for them. Just to make it official. The initial payment was forwarded yesterday to your bank in Albuquerque.”
    Pauling slowly and carefully read the one-page letteragreement. Gosling answered questions to his satisfaction, so Pauling signed and handed it back to Gosling.
    “I convinced my superiors to include a bonus for you, Max, if you get what we’re looking for in less than a month.”
    Pauling finished his beer and pushed back from the table. “And all I have to do is dig up proof that McCullough’s company, BTK Industries, is using this German firm, Strauss-Lochner, as a front for trying to buy into Cuba’s cancer research?”
    “There you go, Max. You’ve