Exploit (The Abscond Series (Book 1 of 2))

by Les Goodrich

  Dolph pulled up to the boat; he had not heard from Colin and now he did not see him. Granted it was dark but he strained his eyes and could make out nothing. He grabbed the radio then stopped himself. What if he has been caught? What if the dockmaster or boat owner has snagged him? Then his earpiece crackled.

  “Hey, I’m ready.”

  “Stone where the fuck are you?”

  “I’m on the boat behind the Merritt. Come get me.”

  Dolph crossed under the dock to the other boat. Colin was on the swim platform with two full bags beside him.

  “What are you doing?” Dolph asked as he stopped the canoe next to him, “Are you crazy?”

  “Here,” Colin handed him a bag, got into the canoe, pulled the other bag in and pushed them off.

  ***

  By four a.m. they had loaded the truck. With a hammer and screwdriver Colin punched six holes in the canoe bottom and set it adrift. They put the bolt cutters, walkie-talkies and tool belt in three different bags to be dropped in different spots. Colin burned the rubber gloves on the shore and threw the black melted lump of rubber and sand into the water.

  Dolph started the truck and lit a cigarette. Colin got in. They did a three-point turn and headed back up the dark road without turning on the lights. Dolph hit the headlights when they reached pavement behind the Vista Del Sol condominium. He turned on to a side street that cut between some medical and office buildings. They came to a main road and stopped at the red light. A very few cars crossed the intersection under pink glowing streetlights. They were back among civilization. They turned right on Sunshine Avenue and headed toward I95. By five a.m. they would be in Miami.

  Chapter 13

  The interstate turned into US Highway One between downtown Miami and Coral Gables and, as it had a hundred times, momentarily threw Dolph off. He remembered the way and turned left on US One to head north through the city. They traded their sweatshirts for T-shirts and put the sweatshirts and the bagged gear in dumpsters at two different gas stations. Colin stayed in the back for most of the ride compiling a list of everything they had. When he finished he climbed back up front and read the list to Dolph who listened but did not hear.

  Dolph drove through Miami going exactly by the directions they had decided and he was glad to have that task to focus on. Captain Murphy’s Discount Marine was on the north bank of the Miami Canal. The canal was one of the system of canals that cut across the Everglades like propeller scars on a manatee and emptied into Biscayne Bay by one way or another simultaneously polluting the bay with sugarcane fertilizer or herbicides and draining the state’s main fresh water reserve.

  At four-fifty a.m. Dolph turned onto the delivery access road that ran behind the small canal-front row of warehouse outlet stores. They drove slowly reading the stenciled names above each delivery bay door passing by. The small gravel and little rocks along the pavement crunched under the tires and the crunching echoed from the metal buildings. The signs were hard to read in the dark and only appeared as the boys drove just under each one. The Carpet Connection. Patio Furniture Direct. Murphy’s Discount Marine.

  Dolph kept going and drove around to the front of the building. There were no lights and no one seemed to be around. He drove the empty parking lot and back out to the main road, which was dark in its path, under the twinkling city. They crossed the flat bridge over the canal. Traffic lights and neon sparkled on the water.

  Colin felt a bit let down but not in a bad way. Although Miami glittered at night like a girl in her night time makeup there was no one chasing them. Not yet anyway. And he was positive there would be no bikini models with shiny guns in Murphy’s warehouse/fish hook store. He turned on the radio and pushed scan hoping for a spooky instrumental but all he found was one rap song wedged between fifty screaming car dealership commercials.

  “Why don’t you try my favorite station,” Dolph offered.

  “What is it?”

  “W.O.F.F.” Dolph leaned over and turned the radio off.

  They stopped next to a pay phone in a small shopping center on the other side of the canal directly across from the warehouse store.

  “I’ll call him,” Dolph opened the door and felt in his pockets for Murphy’s business card.

  “I put it in here,” Colin opened the glove box, shuffled some papers and handed the card to Dolph who called the number and turned to watch Murphy’s store while it rang. It stopped ringing in the middle of the fourth ring and Dolph looked back to Colin letting him know someone had answered.

  There was a pause on the other end just enough to worry Dolph. He put his finger on the disconnect lever and waited for the other person to speak.

  “Hello,” It was Murphy.

  “Murphy?” Dolph turned back to look at the store across the canal. Still no lights to be seen from the outside.

  “Yes. Who is this?”

  “Do you have the money?”

  “Um, yes. But you are forty minutes early.”

  “Now or never.”

  “Okay. Around back. How soon?”

  “Now,” Dolph hung up. He had always wanted to say something final and hang up like that. He got back into the truck and pulled away.

  “Was he there,” Colin asked.

  “Yes he was there. He has the money.”

  “Did you tell him how much we got?” Colin looked back at their haul.

  “Well actually, I didn’t feel like having that conversation on a Miami pay phone standing next to a truckload of smoking hot gear.”

  They turned off behind the row of stores and backed up to Murphy’s bay door. They both got out and went to the side door. Dolph knocked. No one answered. He knocked again. No one came to the side door but the bay door rolled up suddenly disappearing into the roof.

  Captain Murphy stood to the far side of the doorway. Jeans. Black shirt. The same faded hat.

  “Back it on in here boys.”

  Dolph backed halfway under the door and stopped.

  Murphy flipped a switch and the large storage room, filled with shelves of boxes and boat parts, flickered then lit bright. The captain stepped up to Dolph’s tailgate and waited for the two to come around.

  “Let’s have a look at this delivery boys,” Murphy spoke a bit louder than a whisper and with a slight tone of condescension. He cupped his hands to the glass trying to see through the tinted window.

  Dolph got out and Colin followed him around the truck into the warehouse and stood to watch him open the back door and reveal the contents.

  “Shit,” Murphy stepped closer to look inside. “How many boats is this?”

  “Four,” Colin bragged. “Here’s a list of everything.”

  “Four?” Murphy took the list and looked it over. He raised his free hand to his chin and rubbed his scruff. “Okeedoak, let’s go inside and finish this.”

  The boys followed him through the warehouse, through a door in the back wall and out into the showroom. It was dimly lit and rows of fishing tackle and boat supplies were shelved and arranged like the aisles of a grocery store. They walked across the back of the store and Colin looked down each aisle as they passed. A brighter light slid under a door marked office that Murphy opened then said, “Wait here,” pointing to two displayed boat chairs and adding, “I’ll get your money,” before closing the door behind him.

  The two sat down.

  “Sweet place,” Colin said still looking around.

  “Sure. Anything a charter captain could ever want. How much cash are we gonna get?”

  “Well I rounded everything off as I made the list. I figure it’s worth at least a hundred-forty grand retail. Either we walk out of here with no less that forty-two grand or we leave here with the shit. There’s no way I’m gonna let—“

  “Shhh,“ Dolph held up his hand and turned his ear to the office door. “Is he talking to someone?”

  Colin stood and crept to the door. Listening, he looked back to Dolph in a blend of anger and fear.

  “The sonov
abitch is in there with somebody,” Colin said putting his ear to the door. “Or maybe he’s on the phone. I only hear him.”

  Colin listened. He hoped Murphy was negotiating price with his buyer but his voice was erratic and worried. Colin heard him clearly for the first time standing frozen and his friend ready to bail.

  “No! No! They’re here now. You said nothing was missing. These kids got a truckload of serious shit.”

  Colin flung the door open and Murphy slammed the phone down on the hook and spun around. Colin’s temper was boiling and he struggled to maintain.

  “Who was that? The cops?” Colin walked closer to Murphy.

  Murphy leaned on his desk in a fragile attempt to look unconcerned. Colin did not believe his gesture.

  “No,” Murphy said.

  “Then give us our money so we can leave,” Colin demanded.

  “I don’t have it.”

  Colin stood looking at Murphy. He thought of everything that had happened since the last time he saw him and his temper was lost on it.

  Dolph was coming up to the doorway when Murphy came flying through it. The captain stumbled backwards into a standing display of big game rods.

  “Goddamn you,” he huffed over the clatter and before he could fall completely Colin had him again. Colin grabbed him by the hair with his left hand and demolished the side of his face with a wild right. His class ring embedded in the older man’s cheek splitting skin and breaking bone.

  “Fuck,” Murphy slurred grabbing Colin around the waist and they both fell into one of the aisles scattering coffee can sized spools of fishing line that tumbled an rolled in three directions. Colin hit the ground on his left side but was up before Murphy, who was on his knees and one elbow holding the side of his face.

  “Sonovabitch,” Murphy spat and fumbled a grip on the handle of a gaff in the mess on the floor near him.

  Colin stomped on that wrist. Murphy began to stand but Colin stepped back and met Murphy’s sternum with the powerful upswing of his right foot. Murphy rolled to his back from the blow and Colin was down on him again.

  “Goddamn you,” Murphy coughed. “You weren’t even supposed to show up.”

  Colin pushed Murphy’s face to the floor with his left hand and drew his large fist back as far as he could.

  Dolph grabbed that arm and yelled, “Wait wait. What did he say?” Dolph pulled Colin back and jumped down to roll Murphy over and ask up close to his bleeding face, “What did you just say?”

  The captain held his chest. His face bled badly and he shook to sit up. His eye was swelling shut and he shook his head and squinted to focus on anything. On something not spinning. The floor or the base of the shelf in front of him. Breathing and consciously focusing his single eyesight. He tried to shake off the beating Colin had given him. His head was spinning but he had felt worse. He righted himself and spoke in a manner suddenly clear and calm.

  “They didn’t think you did it, so they didn’t give me the money to pay you.”

  “What are you talking about?” Dolph asked holding a hand up to Colin and both of them now powerfully aware that something well beyond money was wrong.

  Murphy’s equilibrium was back along with his attitude.

  “You assholes don’t even know what you’re doing,” he spat on the floor and wiped his mouth on the back of his wrist. “And now you just fucked yourselves,” he said laughing a single huff. Had it made in the shade but you fucked that up bad.”

  Colin pushed Dolph’s arm away to grab the beaten but smug man by the shirt.

  “What the fuck are you talking about? I will kill you so help me God if you don’t tell me what you’re talking about.”

  Dolph pulled Colin away again who let go but really did not notice it. His rage was complete and he only saw Murphy.

  Dolph leaned down with both hands on both knees to assure the captain.

  “Tell us what’s going on here or I’ll turn him loose on you and this time I will not stop him, I will help him.”

  “You guys are so damn stupid. I know all about you. I know more about you than you do because I know your future.”

  “That’s it,” Colin lunged but Dolph grabbed him and held him back for the third and he hoped the last time and Colin reluctantly eased.

  “Listen,” Dolph said as a threat to Murphy and a promise to Colin. “If you don’t cut the bullshit right now, you’re done.”

  “Okay,” Murphy coughed and spit again. “Why did you charter my boat?”

  Dolph was curious but far worried. He absently took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth but did not light it. Colin was still flushing red as he spoke.

  “I got the name of your charter from a flyer in my dad’s office. He fishes you sometimes if he comes down without the boat.”

  “Correct,” the captain said. “And remember how you screwed your dad into giving you his car for the trip?”

  An impossible empty feeling sunk into Dolph’s stomach and he closed his eyes. Colin looked at Murphy in disbelief and could barely speak.

  “How do you know that?”

  Look, I don’t know your whole life story and I don’t care. I’m just a hired hand and my job is done and I’m tired of getting my ass beat over it so if you could shut the fuck up I’ll tell you what I know.

  “Do it,” Dolph said and Colin nodded. Murphy spoke and the boys listened.

  It was the day you guys drove to Key West. I knew it was your dad (pointing to Colin with his bleeding head) when I saw the seaplane circle and land in the bay. He pulled right up into the marina. A racket that thing makes. I thought he had heard about the marlin they were catching along the wall and flew down to fish it while it was on. But when he stepped on the dock he had a suit on. Had your dad (looking at Dolph) with him. They said they wanted to talk so we went up to the bar. Mr. Stone told me about you blackmailing him. Said it made him question if you were the person to hand his business over to. Everything he had built over a lifetime. Something like that. Said that when he told the story to Mr. Stephenson he began to wonder the same thing and the family name and all that bullshit. They said you two were on your way down. Driving. I said that it was a very touching and tragic story but that I had work to do and got up to leave. That’s when Stone put an envelope with ten grand in my hand. Told me they wanted to test your character. (And Murphy spoke the last phrase in a sarcastic mocking tone echoing Mr. Stone’s upper-crust terminology.)

  Colin’s rage had been drained by the severity of the situation but he spoke involuntarily.

  “That bastard wanted to test my character.”

  Murphy continued.

  That’s when they explained to me how to tempt you into robbing Stone’s boat. I thought it was all bullshit. I could care less about doing it but I couldn’t turn down the money. When you guys walked into that bar I thought it was fate. When nothing came up missing they thought you hadn’t done it. That’s why I don’t have any money to pay you stupid asses. They never figured you’d do anything else. When you actually called me I didn’t know what to think. But when you showed up with all that shit I knew what had happened. Didn’t know what to do so I called Stone. That’s who was on the phone.

  Murphy held his head in his two hands, looked to the floor and said, “God I’m spinning.”

  Colin and Dolph stood silently. Blank. Lifeless. The still unlit cigarette hung from Dolph’s lips. He took a hit from it. Colin grabbed him around the shoulder with one arm and walked him out of the office and then back through the tussled showroom leaving Murphy sitting, coughing and bleeding on the short pile grey commercial carpet. Dolph walked under Colin’s arm which led him to the passenger door where he got in and sat. Colin walked around the back of the vehicle, closed the rear door, then got in the driver side, slid the seat back and pulled out of the warehouse.

  A scarlet dawn was rising over Miami tinting the buildings and the streets with morning light that cast no shadows. Everything looked deserted, abandoned and meaningless.


  Chapter 14

  Colin drove randomly through the outskirts of the city. The sun was not yet up but the sky was glowing a brighter pink in the east. A few cars scurried about and one by one the streetlamps were shutting off. The world was waking up.

  It was another world, however, inside the black Pathfinder that drove anonymously among the light traffic. Dolph and Colin’s world had been decimated. A deafening silence throbbed around them with that piercing triple whirl that could never quite be understood or pointed to. It felt as if they were standing idle and the buildings and roads were moving past them. Everything that was solid and real was falling away from them. Dolph felt helplessness for the first time in his life and that helplessness spoke and it was as if he just listened or heard it speak and though he could not believe the words he knew them to be true.

  We’re dead. We are fucking dead. Don’t speed because if the cops stop us we’re dead. We can’t just take this shit back and apologize. My dad isn’t gonna get our asses out of this and neither is yours. We’re on our own now for real. No shit. Absolutely no fucking shit.

  He lit the cigarette that had been in his mouth for an hour and went on.

  “We don’t have a dime. I mean not now or ever. If we aren’t lucky enough to end up in jail we’re gonna be shit outta luck on the damn street. I knew it. We’re done.”

  “Listen,” said Colin taking some sort of charge. “I know what to do with this stuff. I know a kid from back at school. Don’t think you know him. He’s cool.”

  “Is he Greek?”

  “No. He’s Colombian.”

  Dolph looked at Colin flatly.

  “Actually I’m not sure what fraternity but some shit. His name’s Richie. The point is his dad lives in Miami. He’s big-time. Heavy. Understand?”

  Dolph nodded. He understood perfectly. Some crook.

  “He’ll take the shit,” Colin continued. “I’m sure of it. Get some cash to buy some kind of time with.”

  “So call the kid and ask him first.”