by KaLyn Cooper
Jack’s expression was one of concern. “Yes. You’ve heard us talking about it.”
Josh glanced to where the group stood waiting for Jack. “Send them on.”
“Why don’t you get Mom out of this heat?” Jack ordered. “I’ll catch up with you. Josh and Stacie want to go diving if I can get ahold of my crew.” He reached into his pocket for his phone.
Thank fuck the man could think fast.
The security guy excused himself and strode quickly down the street-wide dock toward the ship.
Finally alone, Jack asked, “What’s happening on the Breeze? And is it all ships or just the one we officially buy next week?”
“I’ve heard your family discuss buying a cruise line but I didn’t know which ships.” Josh watched Lilly pass several shops that overflowed onto the sidewalk then she disappeared through a door half a block away. “But I never put it together until right now.”
Jack stepped closer. “What the fuck is going on? And are you and Stacie...together?”
Starting with the last question, Josh tried to explain. “No.” He wiped his hand over his face. “She kissed me to maintain her cover. And before you jump all over me, yes, she works for me.”
“You have goddamned agents on that ship?” Anger whipped through Jack’s voice.
“Just Stacie.” They took a few more steps closer to the edge of the dock as a group of elderly ladies passed. “Look, Jack, there isn’t time to go into it right now. I promise I’ll tell you everything but not here. Not now.”
“Is there an op in play?”
How much to tell Jack? He wanted to protect his friend, but Jack no longer had a top secret clearance. Josh's stare would have to be Jack’s answer.
“Does it involve the Breeze?”
Josh continued to stare.
“Fuck me.” Jack turned his back on Josh and stared at the gigantic ship that would belong to his family within days. He was a smart man and well aware of who Josh worked for and exactly what division. “Is that fucking security chief involved?”
“Unknown, but Stacie doesn’t trust him.” Josh wondered if his friend knew something about the man.
Jack turned back to face him, a smirk on his tanned face. “Good to know I haven’t lost all my Spidey senses.”
“I need to know more about the ship’s personnel and processes. Would it be okay if I talked with your human resources person?”
“Sure.” Jack pointed down the street. “We don’t have a sign up yet but our offices are right there. Jessica came in from Chicago to oversee the hiring of the crews. Let’s catch her while she’s in.”
Excellent. It also gave Josh a reason to see Lilly. While he was unsure of what she’d seen, he was certain she’d heard his plans with Stacie.
As they turned toward the office, Jack pulled a sheaf of papers from his pocket. “I was going to give you these later, but you might as well get started on them. Jessica is wary of these people. Take a look at who’s on top of her list.”
Josh glanced down to see Yitzak Reisman, Director of Ship Security. “I’ll be damned.”
Moments later, Josh was seated at a small conference table with Jessica and Jack. The rest of the Girard family, including Lilly, were on phones in other offices.
“Before I run these names through our data banks, help me understand the hiring process for the cruise ships,” Josh asked Jessica. “I don’t want to waste resources repeating your efforts.”
Jessica smiled at him. “I’m not sure what your data banks are exactly and don’t want to know, to be honest. But thank you for helping us.”
“My pleasure.” Josh nodded and waited for her to continue.
“Most cruise lines employ staff from all over the world,” Jessica explained. “Currently, the Caribbean Breeze has one thousand twenty-six staff members and the Caribbean Dream has one thousand and twelve.”
“For how many guests?”
“Each ship can carry about twenty-five hundred guests,” Jessica stated.
Josh thought about the six thousand sailors and Marines that lived aboard an aircraft carrier during each deployment and wasn’t surprised at crew levels. “Do cruise lines have a high turnover rate?”
Jack sat quietly absorbing every word.
“Yes. Living in a tiny room, working without seeing the sun for days or even weeks, eating with hundreds of people, surrounded by the ocean, it isn’t for everyone.” Jessica explained.
Josh glanced at Jack who kicked up one corner of his mouth. They knew exactly what that life was like. Welcome to the Navy.
She continued, “The staff speaks dozens of languages, so it’s easy to feel left out. And they do this while serving guests from different countries with varying lifestyle standards. Not everyone can handle it. Some quit after a few weeks. Of course, there are some who prefer life at sea, but the standard cruise line employee contracts are only six months. Some will jump onto another ship with a different line then return after that contract is completed.”
The turnover rate was considerably higher than Josh had expected. “Would you walk me through the hiring process?”
“We run all potential employees through an international criminal data base, drug test them often, and they’re given extensive language tests.” Jessica then admitted, “We repeated this process with all the new cruise line employees but not all the results are back. We have...I mean we will have...employees from nearly seventy countries. Some of these places barely have electricity to say nothing about computerized records.” She shrugged.
Josh was well aware of the shortcomings of third-world countries. He also knew a few dollars in the right hands would cover any previous problems someone had with law enforcement. “Okay, let's say I’ve passed the language tests and your background checks. Now what?”
“You would be interviewed by someone in the Human Resources Department and depending on the position, maybe even two or three people. When you accept the offer to hire, you’re told where to meet the ship and sent travel information and the necessary tickets.” Jessica took a drink of her soda then continued. “You’d need the hiring confirmation letter to get on board. That gets filed with your passport in the security office when they issue you a name badge and a staff card.”
She showed him a hard plastic card that looked like a combination of picture identification, credit card, and electronic hotel key. “Access to all staff areas require a special pass key and the bar code is used every time you would enter and exit the ship.” She smiled. “We’ve used a similar system to track employee movement at several of our manufacturing facilities. In the high security research and development areas we use palm plates, and in some cases retinal scanning. Nothing like that is needed for the ships.”
“So how do they get paid?” Money was always a good way to find a bad person.
“We require direct deposit.” She finished her soda and tossed it into the trash.
Josh fought to hide the satisfaction he felt inside. He knew how they did it, and it was genius. “Thank you, Jessica. I appreciate your time.” Rising, he shook her hand.
“I’m not sure how much help I was, but if you can assure me those people,” she nodded to the stack of papers in his hand, “are good employee candidates, I’d be very thankful.”
Jack followed him out the door and into an empty office. When the lock clicked he turned to Josh. “Tell me.”
Josh just stared at his friend.
“I saw the minute you figured it out,” Jack accused. “I must have missed something. But first tell me now, what’s going on.”
Josh evaluated the man in front of him. He knew Jack’s experience and skills and more importantly, he trusted him. He might need Jack’s help at some point, and his friend might be able to add to the existing intelligence. He already had something on the ship’s security director.
“Human trafficking,” Josh admitted.
Jack shook his head. “Not your divi—” His jaw dropped. “Fuck. No.”
&nb
sp; “We’re not sure.” Josh raised a hand, letting Jack know there was more. “Intel has at least five tangoes moving through the Los Zetas cartel’s human trafficking system. They arrived in Cancun a few days ago. That’s all we have right now.”
“And they're being smuggled onto the Breeze?” Jack raked his fingers through his shoulder-length sandy-blond hair as he paced the small office. “Fuck. This could ruin us.”
“We’re not sure how they’re transporting the tangoes, but we are sure they’re using the ship to move women to the United States and into the sex trade.” Josh hadn’t told Stacie he had confirmation on that fact, although he was sure she’d put it together.
Jack spun around and glared at him. At the fury in his eyes, Josh cautioned, “Hold off. That’s not my division but I know they’re getting ready for a major crackdown.”
“That’s not happening on my ship,” Jack warned.
“I have to get the ISIS terrorists first.” Fuck. Josh should have known better than to tell a civilian. But this was Jack. He just hoped his friend wouldn’t go off and do something stupid.
“How do they get the people on the ship?” Jack was on task. Excellent.
“Follow me as I talk my way through this.” Just like old times. The two of them had talked their way through preparing for an op more often than Josh could remember. Each would act as the devil’s advocate, blowing holes through one scenario after another until they had it figured out. “Jane Doe is a real person who goes through the steps Jessica outlined to get hired. When she decides to quit after a few weeks, Yitzak Reiman—”
“Shit Sack,” Jack interrupted.
“Nice, I like it,” Josh admitted, then continued. “He tells her that he’ll process her out. Of course, he never notifies human resources that Jane has quit. He takes her ID card, standard operating procedure, but then tells her he needs her banking info because they’ll be closing that account. Of course the account remains open but he now has control of it and her ID card.”
“Got it.” Jack picked up the trail. “So Shit Sack replaces Jane with someone provided by the Los Zetas. They pay him to get her to the U.S.A., he certainly isn’t going to pay her while she works on the ship that week, and he pockets all the money the cruise line is still paying Jane Doe.” Jack stopped pacing and held completely still for a long minute. “That explains why our benefits don’t match employment.”
Josh nodded.
Jack continued, “Some of the supervisors would have to be in on it.”
“I’m figuring at least one, probably whoever is in charge of cleaning the ship at night.”
Jack agreed, “It would be the best place for them to work. The least guest contact and yet their jobs would get done. I’ll find out who that would be. So far, it would only take the Security Director and that supervisor.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Josh was amazed at how simple it would be to smuggle people onto a cruise ship. “They keep to themselves working vampire hours, the nametags remain consistent, and with the high turnover and multiple countries represented, no one would question it.”
“Once they reach the States, they don’t even need a passport. That staff card is a guarantee to immigration that the cruise line has that person’s passport on file.” Jack shook his head. “Shit Sack would collect the cards as he hands them over to the next person. He’s the one who guarantees that there is a passport in the safe corresponding to the card. He scans the cards on the way back in and holds them until Tuesday when the ship is in Cozumel. Repeat.”
Jack glared at Josh. “This has to end before we take over the ships.”
“Then you may have to delay the purchase because I’m not stopping this underground train until I get my tangoes.”
“Fuck.” Jack fisted both hands and paced away. He marched back and stood a foot away.
“I want in.” Jack’s demand stunned Josh.
Chapter 16
Lilly could barely keep her mind on what her assistant in Chicago was telling her about an upcoming legal case. She really needed to concentrate, but Josh was in the next room with Jack and it sounded like a heated conversation.
“Fuck.” Jack’s word, and frustration, permeated the thin wall between them.
“Claire, I’m going to have to call you back. Something has come up here that requires my immediate attention.” Lilly hung up the desk phone and strode to the next office with intentions of scolding both men.
Through the door’s window she saw them facing off, a foot apart. Her brother’s tension was a living, breathing entity bouncing off the Caribbean Sea colored walls. Josh nodded once and it was over. Jack’s shoulders relaxed and Josh looked...resolved? Maybe even thankful.
When Josh’s eyes caught hers, heat rushed through her entire body. She was going to melt into a puddle of want and need right there in the narrow hall. Then she remembered the scene on the street ten minutes before.
No. She straightened her back and squared her shoulders. He was seeing Stacie in a few minutes and spending the evening with her. Probably having sex with her. Maybe even afternoon sex. Lilly couldn’t remember the last time she’d been able to have a little afternoon delight. She had two boys and an entire corporation that filled her afternoons, mornings, and most evenings. She didn’t have time for a man, least of all one that would step out on their relationship. Never again would she be such a fool.
Josh said something to Jack. Damn, Lilly wished she read lips. But when both men turned to walk out, Josh’s intent was clear.
“Lilly, I need to talk to you a minute.” He gestured to the office she’d vacated. Closing the door behind him, he snapped the blinds over the door window shut, giving them total privacy.
Before she could protest, he pulled her against his solid body and kissed her. It wasn’t a smooth, gentle seduction of her lips but a claiming of what was his. Her brain said to push him away, but somehow her arms didn’t get that message. Instead, she grabbed his broad shoulders and liquefied into the man who the night before had taken her places she’d never forget. She wanted to go there again. Now would be good.
“You look so sexy in that suit.” His lips crashed onto hers and his hand slid up her bare legs to cup her mound. One long finger slid under the lace of her panties, parting her wet heat and sliding into her. “You’re so wet.” He bit her bottom lip. “And hot.” He slid a second finger into her. “I can’t wait until tonight.”
Tonight. Back in Josh’s bed.
As though a cold Chicago rain had opened up and poured over her, Lilly found her sanity and pushed Josh away at the same time she stepped back. She wasn’t going to sleep with him tonight after he spent the afternoon screwing Stacie.
“No.” She pulled her skirt down and ignored the pulsing pleasure between her legs where his fingers had ignited every nerve. “There will never be a repeat of last night.” Damn it.
“Oh, yes, there will.” He held up two wet fingers. She could smell herself on them. “You want me, and I want you.” He ran the fingers under his nose like a man smelling a good cigar and closed his eyes. “Mmmm.” Then he shoved his fingers into his mouth and sucked her juices. “I want more than this little taste of you. I want you to come on my tongue tonight as I lick you until you scream.”
Her knees went weak at the suggestion. Tonight. The word brought her back to the fact that he wasn’t going to be there until after he’d been with the pretty little excursion director. True, they didn’t have a committed or monogamous relationship but she didn’t share.
In a totally bitch move, she taunted, “Sure you won’t be too tired after spending the afternoon, and evening, with Stacie? She’s young.” And damn it if that wasn’t irritating. “She looks as though she could wear down a man of your years, even one as fit as you.”
Josh smiled. “So you think I’m fit...for my age.”
Argh. Men. Of course he was fit. He had a beautiful body. Tight butt and toned biceps. And he damn well knew it. He could have a young, blonde with tiny hips
like Stacie in his bed every night if he wanted. Or every afternoon. Or both. So why on earth would he want her?
Her gaze scanned the length of him. Oh, my god. His erection pushed hard against the zipper of his khaki slacks.
“That’s for you. And only you.” He stepped closer without seeming to move. “You make me want you so much.” He was even closer to her now and reached to lift her chin up, pulling her gaze away from his pants. “Look at me, Lilly.” She raised her eyes to meet his. “Believe me when I tell you, that scene you saw with Stacie was only an act.”
Yeah. Right. And I’m that stupid to believe you. But it was there in his dark blue eyes. He was telling the truth. “You are spending the day, and evening,” she couldn’t bring herself to say the word night, “with her.”
Regret filled every line on his rugged face. “Yes.”
She watched his internal debate through eyes that tensed at the side.
Would he lie to her now? Would he give her the familiar line, I have to work late when he was really off with her? Or could she trust this man?
“Believe it or not, that’s work. I don’t have time to explain right now, and I’m sorry for that. I told you when we first met that this was a working vacation.” He gently laid his lips on hers then pressed his hard cock into her belly. “This is pleasure. All your fantasies. And I promised to fill each and every one of them. I keep my promises.”
“But what about—”
Josh kissed his way down her jaw and nipped at her neck over her carotid. God, she loved that. It was as though he injected passion into her there and her own bloodstream betrayed her as it carried passion through every part of her body. “You are the only woman I’m sleeping with.”
He stopped and lifted his head to face her. Frowning, he advised, “And I’d better be the only man you sleep with until I have to leave Mexico.”
“You are.” She stretched her neck, offering it to him. Now get back to the kissing and...
As if she’d said the last part out loud, he smiled and dropped his open mouth to her throat. He cupped one breast and gently caressed it before finding her hardened nipple and pinching it through too many layers of clothing. It wasn’t enough. She needed more.