Chance favors the prepared mind, I thought, looking toward the sun, now halfway down to the horizon. I went back into the salon.
“Get Chyrel back,” I said to Travis. “I have a small change in our plans.”
“What’s up?” Travis asked as he opened the laptop.
“We’re going to pull a switch,” I said, nodding to Michal and Coral on the couch.
Travis glanced at them and I could see he knew right away what I was talking about. “We have two couriers coming?”
“Germ and Scott,” I said. “Should be here in an hour, just before sunset.”
A moment later, Travis had Chyrel on the video feed and I asked if Germ and Scott had left yet.
“No, in fact they’re right here, just about to leave.”
Jeremiah “Germ” Simpson and Scott Grayson had both been Marine Recon dive instructors, before being approached by Deuce to work with the Caribbean Counterterrorism Command. Germ was a sergeant and Scott a staff sergeant. Over the past two years, the team had been cross-training, teaching one another new skills. All the team members were now accomplished scuba divers, among the many other skills each had taught to the others.
The two men joined Chyrel behind the monitor and I laid out my plan to them and to Michal and Coral at the same time. When we finished, Scott said that he had his doubts they could pull it off, but would give it a shot.
Travis ended the video connection as Coral stepped up to the settee. “And where are we supposed to go?”
“Don’t worry,” I said, taking out my phone and typing in a message to send to two people. “You’ll like it there.”
Leaning forward in his chair, GT watched as the lone figure came out the door to the boat’s cabin. All he could see was the guy’s feet, so he couldn’t be sure if it was Buchannan himself or his bodyguard. GT quickly moved to the balcony’s rail and went to the far end, but it didn’t afford any better view. The guy stood on the back of the boat for a few minutes and then disappeared back inside. At least the rest of the dock area was visible, so nobody could come or go without being seen.
For the next hour nothing else happened on the boat. Then GT heard the hotel room door close and looked inside. It was Byers, returning already.
“Find out anything?” GT asked as the little man stopped in the open balcony doorway.
“The guy working the bar was tight-lipped. Wouldn’t even look at your money. After I left, another guy came out of the bar, said he’d overheard and knew who the girl is. I gave him forty bucks and he told me that she’s the usual day bartender there. Name’s Coral, but he didn’t know her last name. Guy’s a tourist and she shot him down when he hit on her yesterday. Said she took a cab home after work, so didn’t live very close by.”
“Coral, huh?” GT said, standing up. “Keep watch on the boat.”
Without waiting for more, GT went inside and sat down in the deep recliner to think. Knowing who she was and where she worked was a help. When she and Grabowski left the boat, they’d be able to follow more discreetly, at least, knowing where she’d be the next day. If they couldn’t get Grabowski and the girl tonight, he’d have a couple of Brown’s guys waiting when she went to work tomorrow, figuring that not many bars gave bartenders two days off in a row.
A few minutes later, Erik returned. “Struck out both places, boss. The sign on the photography store said they don’t close until six, but they must’ve closed early. It was locked up. Just as I got to the fortuneteller’s place, she was getting into the same black taxi. I asked around about the taxi driver at a couple of places, but nobody I talked to would tell me anything about him, besides his name. Lawrence Lovett.”
“These locals are tight,” GT said. “Byers found out who the girl is. Name’s Coral something and she works days at Irish Kevin’s bar.”
Erik glanced out the open glass door to where Byers was sitting, watching the boat. “Be dark soon. Brown’ll probably be here in about an hour. What do you wanna do then?”
“Whatever it takes,” GT growled. “Maybe we can make up the loss of the product with the girl. I know some people that’ll pay top dollar for her.”
“Something’s going on down there,” Byers said from out on the balcony.
Rising quickly, GT and Erik joined him. Below, another boat had pulled up alongside Buchannan’s yacht. There were three people on it, but it was hard to distinguish any features because of the palm tree.
“You see what they look like?” GT asked.
“Yeah, the guy at the wheel is tall and skinny, light brown hair almost to his shoulders. The other two had their backs turned, but they’re both dressed in black pants and shirts and carrying black bags.”
“Sounds like a buy,” Erik offered.
They watched as someone came out of the cabin on Buchannan’s boat and the three people on the smaller boat climbed over the rail and joined him. All four disappeared into the cabin.
“Sure looks like it,” GT rumbled. “A buyer and a couple of hired muscle, carrying cash for my stuff.”
Plopping down in another chair, GT leaned on his elbows. “I’m gonna cut Grabowski a whole bunch of times. Real slow. But first, he’s gonna watch me screw that little girlfriend of his.”
A few minutes later, the door to the cabin opened again. And just like before, the palm tree, coupled with the glare from the setting sun, prevented them from making out anything more than the legs of four people as they came out onto the back of the boat.
A moment later, the smaller boat pulled away and started out of the little marina. All three men on board had their backs turned, so it was impossible to see much more than what Byers had described earlier.
“They left the two black bags,” Byers noted.
“That means there’s probably enough cash on that boat now to cover what Grabowski took,” GT surmised, looking at his watch. “Erik, call Brown and find out how long till they get here. We can wrap this up as soon as they arrive. Those turd fondlers don’t have any idea we know where they are.”
Erik disappeared into the hotel room to make the call. A moment later, he stepped back out onto the balcony. “They’ll be here in less than an hour, boss. Brown said they were on the Seven Mile Bridge. That must be that really long bridge before the island with all the deer and cops.”
“Good,” GT said quietly. “We can move in on them after it gets dark. There aren’t any other boats down there and I’ve only seen a handful of people walk by. I want Buchannan and that bodyguard of his dead. But I want to kill Grabowski myself.”
Returning to the air-conditioned comfort of the room, GT said, “Why don’t you call down and see about getting some food sent up here? And call Brown back and tell him to park in the side lot and call when they get here. You can meet them down there at the side door. We’ll wait until it gets good and dark.”
Once away from the little marina and moving north in Key West Bight Channel, Doc Talbot brought his small skiff up on plane and circled around to the east, heading back to the Coast Guard station where he’d picked up Scott and Germ. The three hadn’t had much time to catch up before arriving at Jesse’s boat just beyond the bight.
“We’re out of sight now,” Doc told his passengers. “Jesse said to drop you two off at the chopper and it’ll take you up to his island.”
Shrugging out of the oversized black sweatshirt and sweatpants, Coral neatly folded them and set them on the seat next to Doc. “Thanks, Bob. I don’t know if it’s possible that those guys would mistake me and Michal for those two you came in with. They’re pretty big guys. Michal, meet my good friend, Bob Talbot.”
The two shook hands, and Michal quickly shed the sweat clothes Jesse had given them both as the boat slowed down, entering the dock area of the Coast Guard station. “Mister McDermitt kept calling you Doc,” Michal said.
“Nickname,” Doc answered. “I used to be a Navy Corpsman.”
“And the two men you brought out?”
Doc glanced at Michal, then looked at
Coral and shook his head. “Probably best that you don’t know who they are. And forget that I was here, too.”
“Where’s this place we’re going?” Coral asked.
“Jesse’s little oasis. It’s an island about thirty miles northeast of here. Nobody around for miles, except the island’s caretaker and his family. You remember Carl Trent, he owns the shrimp trawler I run? He and Charlie and the kids live up there.”
“I’d wondered where they moved to. I see Charlie now and then, but never bothered to ask.”
“You’ll like it up there,” Doc said as he brought the little skiff up alongside the northernmost pier, where a ladder extended up from the waterline to the top. He nodded to a small black helicopter sitting at the foot of the pier. “That’s your ride. Just tell him who you are and he’ll have you there in ten minutes. Don’t bother asking him any questions, though. Likely he knows less than I already told you.”
Once tied off, Doc opened the storage box under his seat and took out a small briefcase, which he handed to Michal. “This is for you,” he said. “I’m told it holds your future.”
Michal looked at the small case, then reached out and took it. “What about my belongings at the motel?”
“I don’t know anything about that,” Doc answered. Then to Coral he said, “Nikki’s gonna stop by your place and grab a few things for you. She can go to the motel and get his stuff too, if you like. We’ll all be up at the island tomorrow for a big shindig Jesse’s putting on. Can you manage until then?”
“Oh, sure,” Coral replied. “Charlie and I are about the same size and Carl might have something for Michal. Thanks, again, Bob.”
Coral turned and started climbing up the ladder as Michal and Doc shook hands. “I’m at a loss as to why all these people are doing so much,” he said.
“Simple,” Doc replied with a shrug. “Jesse asked. Now get going. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
Coral was nearly to the top of the short ladder as Michal waited to hand the briefcase up. He saw that she once more hadn’t worn anything under the loose-fitting green dress. Coral turned around at the top and reached down, taking the briefcase as Michal quickly climbed up to stand beside her.
“Do you ever wear panties?” he whispered.
“Don’t own any,” she said with a smile.
Below, Doc untied the single line and shoved off. As the little outboard sputtered away from the pier, he turned and waved. The two of them waved back and then turned toward the waiting helicopter.
As they approached, the pilot climbed out and opened the rear door for them. Moments later, they were settled into the backseat, and the pilot started the engine. They were soon airborne, flying out over the water and turning slightly away from the setting sun. They leaned toward the window on the left side, watching as the last of the sun disappeared below the horizon.
They both closed their eyes for a brief second, each mouthing a silent wish. When they opened them again, the sun slipped away below the horizon and a brief but dazzling green flash enveloped the cockpit.
Coral smiled and hugged Michal tightly. “I hope you wished well, Michal.”
“If I tell it, will it still come true?” She nodded eagerly in response. Michal looked deeply into her bright blue eyes. “I wished for just one more day in paradise,” he said. “With you.”
“Hate to interrupt,” the pilot said. “This is where I’ll be dropping you off.”
Michal and Coral leaned between the seats and saw a small island ahead. In the low light of twilight, they could make out the roofs of several small buildings and what looked like torchlights flickering in a square around the cleared interior of the little island.
Seconds later, the small helicopter touched down lightly in the middle of the square and the pilot climbed out and opened the door for them, the engine still running. He helped them both down and pointed to where Charlie and Carl stood beside a pair of large tables with their two kids.
Coral took Michal’s hand and led him away as the pilot climbed back in and brought the engine speed up. Once the two of them were well clear of the spinning blades, the tone changed from a high-pitched whirring sound to a heavy whump and the helicopter lifted off. Turning southwest, it quickly disappeared.
“Welcome,” Charlie said, stepping toward the two and hugging Coral. “So good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Charlie.”
Coral introduced Michal and was about to explain why they were there, but Carl interrupted. “No need to explain. Jesse texted me everything. Are y’all hungry? We were just about to eat.”
Michal suddenly realized they hadn’t eaten since breakfast and his stomach growled at the mere mention of food. “I know I am,” Coral replied for both of them.
“Have a seat and relax, then,” Charlie said. “I bet you guys are exhausted. Hope you like seafood.”
Charlie hurried off to a little house on the west side of the island with the two kids. “We’re having grunts and grits with janga soup,” Carl announced, turning to a large stone grill, a smile on his face.
“Anything I can help with?” Michal asked.
“Thanks, son, but everything’s ready. Just take a load off. We don’t have guests here very often. There’s beer and water in the cooler there.”
Sitting down on the big bench in front of the table, Coral took two bottles of water from the cooler, then noticed a small plate with lime slices and squeezed one through the neck of each bottle. “Exactly where is here?” she asked Carl. “I wasn’t paying much attention.”
“The Content Keys,” Carl said. “Jesse owns this little island and Charlie and I help him take care of it.”
There was a light breeze blowing out of the west, carrying the scent of iodine and brine from the sea. Coral smelled something else, but couldn’t place it at first. Then she realized it was ozone, just as a low rumble of thunder came rolling in off the water.
“We’ll get some rain before this night’s over,” Charlie said, returning with a small pot in one hand and a carving board with a loaf of fresh bread in the other, the two kids walking carefully behind her. The little boy carried a stack of plates, bowls and silverware, and the little girl carried a large salad bowl.
“We grew the vegetables ourselves,” Carl Junior said, beaming.
Later, as Michal was helping himself to a second bowl of the delicious soup, he turned to Coral and asked, “I’ve never heard of janga soup. What is it?”
“Janga are freshwater crayfish in Jamaica,” she said. Turning to Charlie with a knowing smile, she asked, “How’d you get them up here?”
“We raise them,” Charlie replied, noting her smile. “We’ll show you in the morning, it’s too dark now. They’re actually just Louisiana crawfish, but Rufus calls them janga and I guess they’re closely related, or maybe it’s more the ingredients he uses for the soup, because it seems to have the same effect.” Smiling at her in the light of a tiki torch, Charlie nodded toward a house set high on stilts. “Jesse said to put you in his house for tonight.”
“Same effect?” Michal asked.
The three other adults laughed and Coral leaned over and whispered in Michal’s ear. “Janga are a natural aphrodisiac.”
Michal nearly choked on a spoonful and coughed. “Really?”
“That’s what they say,” Carl replied. “And I, for one, believe them. Y’all run along, I know you gotta be tired. We’ll get the dishes.”
Coral wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “Are you sure we can’t help you?”
“Y’all go ahead on,” Charlie said. “The house is unlocked and the windows are open. With that cooling breeze, it should be plenty comfortable up there.” The wind picked up then and another roll of thunder washed over the little island, closer now. “The shower is fed by a reverse-osmosis unit and all the electricity is twelve volt. Jesse never put his house on the grid, though, so use the oil lamps to save on the batteries. Do you have any clothes?”
“Only
what we’re wearing,” Michal said.
“Come with me, Coral,” Charlie said, getting up from the table. The two of them walked toward the little house on the western shore.
Once they were out of earshot, Carl said, “Jesse told me most of what was going on, son.” Then, in a serious tone, he added, “Nothing like that goes on here, though.”
“No, sir,” Michal replied, knowing exactly what he was referring to. “We threw it all in the water this morning. I’m starting fresh now.”
“Good idea. New place, new way of life. You’ll like it down here after a time. The heat and humidity takes some getting used to, but the people here are genuine and can be counted on when trouble comes. Especially people like Jesse.”
Charlie and Coral returned, carrying two small bundles. “Y’all just run along,” Carl said. “We get up with the sun here, so get some rest. If you want to help, I’d be glad to have some in the garden tomorrow.”
They said goodnight and Coral took Michal by the hand, leading him toward the tall house on the other side of the clearing. At the top of the steps, away from the flickering light of the tiki torches, Michal looked out over the water to the south and the sky above it.
“Whoa,” he whispered, coming to a stop halfway across the deck and looking up into the sky.
Coral looked up into Michal’s face and saw the light of a billion stars sparkle in his eyes. “I bet you never saw a sky like that back home.”
Michal blinked, sure that his mind was playing tricks on him. “It’s beautiful. Is that janga soup some kind of hallucinogen, too? I’ve never seen so many stars.”
“You have to be away from the city to see them,” Coral whispered, taking his hand in hers. “Do you remember my rules?”
“Rule one: Coral makes the rules.”
He could see her smile in the brilliant starlight as she twirled one of her dreads. “Rule two,” she said. “Coral always comes first.”
Once the sun went down, I doused all the lights except the one in the guest cabin and closed the door. The interior was almost totally dark inside. Outside, I wanted the appearance that nearly everyone had gone to sleep. I’d gotten the gear we’d need from under my bunk after Coral and Michal had left, and the four of us were nearly prepared.
Fallen Honor: A Jesse McDermitt Novel (Caribbean Adventure Series Book 7) Page 17