CHAPTER 40 - THE ARREST
If truth be told, Ramon had offended his orishas any number of times. The first instance occurred when he conferred the high-ranking Santero’s necklace around his own neck. Anyone who achieved such rank through proper initiation would have known to remove the beads when bathing or with a woman, and Ramon’s repeated failure to do so was an open insult to the orishas.
Over the years, as Ramon continued to transgress, the invisibles lost their patience. They argued among themselves as to how matters might be set right. In the end, they finally agreed as to how this would be accomplished. And, as for his imperfect alliance with the Baka, Ramon had put Joseph, his right hand, too far from him too often. Worse yet, he'd committed the unthinkable sin of losing the symbol of his bargain, the black stone.
Back at the hotel that night, lying beside his wife in the dark, Jacob whispered his fear. "Ramon forced us to sign, but he has never kept his promise. Each day he carries off our profits. But the price of the hotel and our salaries, we have never received. Both of Jose's children are now dead, Goldie. Behind it, those men were! Why it has not yet been our turn, I do not know."
"I tremble every day! The waiting . . ."
"We leave here tomorrow, my dear wife. To our friends in Santo Domingo. Our passports we will take. Now, here is my plan."
The next morning, the couple rose and dressed as usual. After breakfast, Goldie took the reception desk while Jacob retired to his office to work on the accounts. Lunchtime came and went. It was almost dark when Jacob stuck his head out the office door, insisting the accounts were hopelessly jumbled. He needed Goldie's help.
"We have worked straight through lunch," she complained. "Without my supper, I will not go, Jacob."
"Then," said Jacob, noticing that Joseph was within earshot, "we will order in." He buzzed the kitchen. "Sandwiches. Any kind. And coffee. To my office." Goldie began counting the cash from the register. When the tray arrived, she took the cash and the tray into Jacob's office, calling over her shoulder to Jose. "Work the desk, Jose. Give us at least an hour." Then she went into the office and closed and locked the door behind her.
Since Ramon never allowed anyone, except Joseph. into his private suite, not even to clean it, this left the chore to Joseph. Without the need to spy on the Tannenbaums, he abandoned his other duties and went off with the cleaning cart and vacuum cleaner.
Inside the office, the elderly couple gulped down the coffee and sandwiches. Then they slipped inside the secret passage leading to the second wine cellar. They quickly located their knapsacks and flashlights and entered the escape passage. Minutes later, they exited behind the tool shed. Clutching each other for support, the two walked and stumbled through the forest until they came to the other side of Cristo.
And there was the police building right in front of them.
"We should tell, Jacob!"
"If we delay, overtaken we might be," Jacob insisted, hoping to hitch a ride to Santo Domingo. Then he saw she would not be dissuaded. "All right, Goldie," he sighed. "Just pray they believe us."
To the Tannenbaums' surprise, the police did believe them. In the next room, they were told, sat a very tearful Maria. She had just made a similar complaint. The police had been unable to capture Maria's brother, but they hoped to have better luck with his evil accomplice, whom it was said shared Ramon’s accommodations at Las Naranjas. Men were instantly dispatched to arrest the Haitian.
Joseph was propped up in bed, watching TV, when the police arrived. They had a long list of complaints, beginning with murder, kidnapping, and extortion. The big man was dragged to his feet and taken away.
At first, Joseph refused to respond to questioning in the belief Ramon would magically intervene. As time passed and the rescue didn't materialize, Joseph panicked. By the following afternoon, he'd broken down completely and told them everything they wanted to know, including the location of the hut, adding many details they'd never hoped to hear. He ended by sobbing that all he'd ever wanted was to have a little finca in the campo. A place where he could live with his wife and daughter.
"A country farmer? Ha! I do not think so!" snorted the investigator. He ordered Joseph returned to his cell. Perhaps, if they hurried, they could catch Ramon at the hut. Maria begged to go with them, insisting, "My children might be there!" The inspector grudgingly agreed and they set off.
Immediately after the Tannenbaums had lodged their complaint, they returned to the hotel to await the outcome. They left the knapsacks and flashlights in the usual hiding place and made it back to Jacob's office just in time.
The phone was ringing!
Jacob snatched up the receiver and endeavored to speak in the bored voice of a man who'd been slaving over accounts. It was Jose calling from the desk.
"It is so late. My meal must be very cold by now."
"Of course, my boy, go home. Track of time, I have lost. Go! Go! Tomorrow is another day."
He and Goldie straightened their hair and clothing, then exited the office as if nothing was amiss. They held their emotions in check until they reached the privacy of their darkened suite. Once the door was safely locked behind them, they fell sobbing into each other's arms.
And then they prayed.