by Cindy Bell
“You've fooled us one too many times,” the man shouted. “First you said the drugs were by the motel, then you told us that they were somewhere else, and now finally we're here where you swore the drugs were hidden, and you're lying to us again.”
“I'm not lying,” Paul said mournfully. “They should have been here. Maybe they are hidden in those woods.”
“No more maybes! I told you that we shouldn't have killed Trent until we had the drugs,” another voice said with irritation.
“This guy is supposed to be his partner, he must know where the drugs are,” the first voice growled.
“Obviously he doesn't,” the second voice snapped back. “Trent was playing all of us, what makes you think he wasn't playing this guy, too?”
“Well, if he was, he's of no use to us, now,” the first voice said with a grunt. “He's nothing but a liability. He doesn't know where the drugs are. If we don't find them, it's our lives on the line.”
Suzie tensed when she heard those words. She knew that if Paul wasn't worth anything to them, he would never get out of there alive. There were only moments to intervene.
“All right,” she heard Paul finally say. “I give in, I know where the drugs are,” he admitted.
“See,” the first voice said. “All it takes is a little persuasion. So, where are they?” he demanded.
“I can't tell you, I have to show you,” Paul explained.
“Another story that he's making up to save his skin?” the second voice said. “I don't trust it, he could be setting us up.”
“For what? A swim with the sharks?” the first voice asked. “This place is isolated, no one else is on this beach. He's got nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. If he lies to us, he dies. Do you hear that?” he shouted. “If you play a game with me you will regret it!”
Suzie crept closer to the window of the shack. She was so close that it seemed as if the men were shouting right beside her ear. She peered inside to see Paul tied to an old wooden chair. His hands were bound behind his back, and his feet were duct taped to the legs of the chair. There was no way that he could escape.
“I think he's lying right now,” the second voice growled. “If he knew where the drugs were he would have told us already.”
“I don't care what you think, I'm not going back to the boss with nothing to show,” the first voice snapped. Both of the men were burly, and they wore torn t-shirts paired with ratty shorts. It seemed that they were familiar with the criminal life as they commanded Paul with ease and authority. Suzie ducked back down as the taller man turned towards the window. Her heart raced as she wondered if he had spotted her.
“Gabriel, we need to get out of here,” the second man demanded sharply. “What if the coast guard spots his boat? We could be swarmed with cops any minute and you want to waste time on another one of his lies? We're better off just looking for the drugs ourselves.”
“So, what if the cops do come?” Gabriel replied harshly. “Then they'll just find the guy that killed his deckhand. The only question is will he be alive or dead to tell the tale. We're not looking for anything but the drugs, pal. If you give them up, you might get out of this still breathing.”
“Like I said, I can't tell you, I have to show you,” Paul repeated with determination. “Look I'm doing you both a favor, all of these inlets can be pretty tricky. If you try to find it by yourself you're never going to make it. Let's just get back on the boat and I'll take you where we need to go. You'll see, when we get there, that it was all worth it.”
“I don't know,” Gabriel said hesitantly. “You've been jerking us around for quite some time.”
“Are you really going to believe this idiot?” his partner asked. “He's going to lead us right into a trap!”
“I just want to live,” Paul said calmly. “I'm not ready to call it quits. You just want your drugs, I just want my life. We can do an even exchange, no need for police, or anyone else to get involved,” he said firmly. The way he spoke those words made Suzie wonder if he knew she was outside. Had he seen her when she peered in the window? She didn't dare to look again, or she might be spotted by the two men.
“It's risky,” Gabriel's partner argued. “If we're on the water the coast guard might see us.”
“This whole thing is risky, Joey, that's the point,” Gabriel snapped. “If we don't get the drugs, what do you think the boss is going to do to us? A whole lot worse than the cops ever will.”
“All right, all right,” Joey finally relented. “But I'm staying right next to him the whole time. If he tries anything shady, I'm putting a bullet in his head.”
“Fine,” Gabriel agreed. “If I don't do it first.”
Suzie's stomach twisted with revulsion. They were talking about Paul's life as if it was just another piece of garbage to be tossed aside. There wasn't a trace of remorse in their words.
Suzie heard a blade rip through the duct tape on the legs of the chair. She heard Paul grunt, and wince. Had the blade come too close to his skin?
“Get up,” Gabriel barked so loudly that Suzie jumped.
Suzie heard some scuffing of shoes. She knew that Paul was standing up.
“You stay in front of me,” Joey demanded. “You feel that?” he asked. “That's a gun in your back. If you try anything funny I will pull the trigger, got it?”
“Got it,” Paul's hardened voice replied. Suzie flattened herself against the outside wall of the shack as the three men walked out through the front door.
“You need to tell us where we're going, before we get on the boat,” Gabriel said with a growl. “I want to know exactly where or you're not making it off this beach.”
“It's about a mile further up the shore,” Paul said quickly. “Trent was going to hide the drugs here, but he thought it was too exposed, so we moved them up further where there are a lot of rocks.”
“Likely story,” Joey growled. “You want to know where I think those drugs are?” he asked with confidence building.
“Fine, genius, where are they?” Gabriel asked impatiently.
“We only know for certain that Trent was in two places. This guy's boat, and that bed and breakfast where he spent the night. My money's on Trent hiding the drugs inside of that old place. It's huge, he'd have plenty of places to hide them. Why would he risk taking them out on the boat when he was already planning on double crossing us?” he demanded.
“No,” Paul said quickly. “Not there. They aren't there, I know it. Don't look there,” he insisted.
“Actually, he has a good point,” Gabriel said. “Maybe Trent just let you think he had the drugs on the boat. It would make sense for him to leave them behind, somewhere he could easily find them when he was ready to take off. He wouldn't be able to drive a boat himself. He wouldn't be able to make it through all the tricky inlets you keep telling us about. I think you're right, Joey, for once. I think those drugs are back at that bed and breakfast.”
Suzie's heart stopped beating for a moment. She thought of Mary back at Dune House, all alone with no way to protect herself. If these two men decided to invade it she would be in grave danger. With her cell phone having no service, and no boat to get back to the mainland, Suzie would have no way to warn her. She was certain that if those men got on the boat, it would mean that Mary would be in danger. Not only Mary, but the young couple who were taking their first trip away from their young baby. These men wouldn't care who they killed in order to get their drugs.
“No,” Paul said firmly again. “I told you, I know where the drugs are. I can take you to them. It has nothing to do with that place.”
“You seem so certain,” Joey said slyly. “Almost too certain. Don't you think, Gabriel?” he asked.
“He is acting a little strange,” Gabriel said. “Are you still trying to keep those drugs yourself?” he asked Paul sharply.
“No,” Paul said again. “Please, I told you. I just want to live. I don't care about the drugs. I just want to get back home, in one piece, so I can con
tinue with my life. We're on the same side here. I want to take you to those drugs, as much as you want to find them.”
“If that was the case you would have told us right away,” Joey roared. “Instead you've had us roaming all over this water and this beach looking for something you knew wasn't here. Were you hoping we'd get picked up by the coast guard before you had to part ways with the drugs?” he accused.
“You've got it wrong,” Paul insisted. Suzie could hear the panic forming in his voice. He was as worried as she was that the two would end up at Dune House. “If you want your drugs I'll take you to them.”
“No,” Gabriel said slowly. “I think I'm going to go with Joey on this one. It just makes so much more sense that Trent would hide the drugs there. I think we'll take you along for the ride, and if it turns out the drugs aren't there, then you can bring us back to this other place.”
“That's not wise,” Paul argued.
“Now, he's advising us,” Joey laughed. “This guy's playing us, Gabriel. Let me take him out right here. Then we don't have to worry about getting rid of the body.”
With Joey's words, Suzie's panic went into full force. She knew that if she didn't do something, Paul would either end up dead, or they would all end up heading for Dune House and she would be left behind with no way to warn anyone. Without much time to think about what she was doing she stood up and walked around the side of the shack. She walked right through the door, knowing each step might be her last.
Chapter Eleven
“Paul, I've been looking for you everywhere,” Suzie said impatiently as she entered the room. Then she fell silent as the two men turned and pointed their guns directly at her. Paul's eyes were wide and filled with horror as he saw Suzie in the line of fire. “Who are they?” she demanded. “Are you trying to cut me out of the deal?”
“Who are you?” Gabriel growled and released the safety on his gun. His finger was pressing lightly on the trigger, just waiting for a reason to push harder.
“I'm his girlfriend,” Suzie said breathlessly. “I was supposed to meet him here and…”
“Shut up!” Joey screeched. “This is insane. It's like a circus around here!”
“Who is she?” Gabriel growled sharply at Paul.
“She's uh,” Paul hesitated. Suzie knew he was trying to think of a way to protect her. “She's my partner,” he finally said.
“Another partner?” Joey demanded. “I just want the drugs and to get out of this place!”
Gabriel had turned back to glare at Suzie.
“I have the drugs,” Suzie said as she stared into Gabriel's eyes.
“What are you talking about?” he demanded. “How could you have the drugs?”
“Trent was staying at my B&B,” she explained. “I overheard his plans. I knew that he was going to make a lot of money from double crossing you. I needed some money, so I talked to Paul, and we made a plan together, so that we could sell the drugs ourselves.”
“How?” Gabriel asked as he slowly stepped closer to her. As Suzie had hoped he would, Joey turned the gun from Paul, to point it at Suzie.
“Suzie, no,” Paul breathed, his eyes wide with fear.
“We waited until Trent put the drugs on the boat, then the plan was that Paul would find out where he was hiding them. Then we were going to get rid of Trent, but you took care of that before we could,” she reminded them. “Paul was supposed to move the drugs a few times so Trent would have no idea where they really were. We were going to take a trip,” she added wistfully. “Around the world. We were supposed to meet up here, and then go get the drugs from where Paul had hidden them.”
Suzie was putting together the ideas so fast that she wasn't sure if they even made sense. She only knew that if she kept talking, then no one was shooting anyone. If she could just buy enough time until Jason came back for her then he might find them and they might have a chance to escape.
Paul's eyes narrowed sharply. Gabriel turned to look at him and waved the gun in front of his face.
“Is this all true?” he demanded. “Is this why you've been running us all around?”
Paul was silent. Suzie knew that he didn't want her to be involved, but it was too late for that the moment she had stepped inside the shack. He nodded a little and closed his eyes briefly.
“That was a big mistake,” Gabriel growled as he turned back and pointed the gun directly in Suzie's face.
“I see that now,” she said and swallowed thickly. “I didn't realize what powerful men Trent was working with,” she added hoping that a little flattery would ease their anger. “If I had known, I never would have touched the drugs.”
Gabriel glared as he took a final step closer to Suzie.
“You should have known better,” he growled. “Now, you're both going to pay. You first,” he added and his arm tensed.
“No!” Paul shouted. “No, I swear if you shoot her I'll never tell you where your drugs are,” he said desperately. “Please, I'll do anything,” he added.
Gabriel lowered the gun. “Aw how sweet,” he said with annoyance. “A true romantic, willing to give his life for his girlfriend,” he turned back and pointed the gun directly in Paul's face. “Let's see if she'll do the same for you, lover boy.”
“This is getting out of control,” Joey complained. “How are we going to get the drugs if they're dead?”
“We only need one of them alive,” Gabriel snapped. “I'm not getting on the boat with both of them. They might try to plan something.”
“All right fine,” Joey huffed. “Which one do you want me to take out?”
“We need someone to drive the boat,” Gabriel reminded Joey as if he was an idiot.
“Oh right,” Joey nodded. He grabbed Suzie hard by the arm and started to pull her out of the shack.
“No!” Paul shouted and lunged towards Joey. “No don't!”
Gabriel tackled Paul easily to the ground and placed the gun at his back. “Stay down,” he commanded him.
Suzie was in a full panic. She knew the moment Joey got her outside of the shack she would be dead. She realized that no matter how hard she had tried to save Paul, she had failed.
As Joey pulled Suzie out of the shack they nearly collided with Jason who was running up along the beach. He must have heard all of the shouting. Jason drew his gun and aimed it at Joey.
“Drop your gun,” he snapped sharply. Suzie could barely take a breath she was so terrified. Jason was now in danger as well. She didn't know if he even knew that Gabriel was inside.
Joey started to raise his gun to point it at Suzie who was struggling hard to escape his grasp. When he did, she was able to lunge a short distance from him. Jason shot him in the shoulder that was holding the gun. Joey cried out in pain and dropped the gun. Suzie quickly picked it up, but her hands were shaking. Jason met her eyes in the same moment that Gabriel emerged from the shack.
“Drop them both or he's dead,” Gabriel threatened. Jason had already spun to face Gabriel.
“Lower your weapon,” he commanded Gabriel. Gabriel had his arm around Paul's throat and his gun to Paul's head.
“You drop yours,” he growled back. “Or this guy's a dead man!”
Suzie was trying desperately to hold onto the gun she was pointing at Joey who was writhing on the ground in pain. Gabriel's threat left her even more terrified. Jason held his gun steadily pointed at Gabriel.
“If you pull that trigger you're going next,” Jason said sternly. “I don't think you've come this far just to die in the sand.”
“You don't know anything about it,” Gabriel said in a seething tone. “We're getting on that boat, and if you so much as look in my direction, he goes, and so do you.”
“Let him go,” Suzie demanded. “Or Joey is going to die.”
“You think I care about that?” Gabriel laughed. “We're going to get on the boat,” he said again and began pulling Paul towards it.
“There's no way off this beach if you shoot me,” Paul struggled to
say. “A boat's no good if you don't know how to drive it. Think this through, Gabriel. Handcuffs are a lot better than a watery grave.”
“Shut up!” Gabriel insisted. It was clear that he was getting more frustrated and frightened by the moment.
“The coast guard is on its way,” Jason warned him. “The moment you hit the water they will be on top of you. So, how many deaths do you want on your head?” Jason asked. “Because no matter what, you're not getting out of here in anything but handcuffs or a coffin.”
“There is no escape,” Paul croaked out. “It's over, Gabriel.”
“Drop the gun,” Jason demanded. “Just drop the gun and put your hands on your head.”
The expression on Gabriel's face shifted. It went from anger, to a strange look of serenity. For a moment Suzie was certain that he was going to pull the trigger. He pressed the barrel of the gun hard against the side of Paul's head.
“No,” Suzie whispered. “Please don't.”
Paul looked into her eyes. He didn't have to speak for her to know what he was saying. Suzie thought that it would be the last moment they would share. Then abruptly Gabriel lowered the gun. He dropped it to the sand beside him.
“Put your hands up,” Jason ordered him.
Gabriel reluctantly released Paul and raised his hands into the air. Paul lunged away from him and scooped up the gun that was resting in the sand.
“I'm having a rough day,” Gabriel muttered as he placed his hands on the top of his head.
“You aren't the one that got shot!” Joey complained from the ground.
“Get on your knees,” Jason commanded him. As he walked around behind Gabriel to handcuff him, Paul rushed over to Suzie. He took the gun from her trembling hands and held it on Joey.
“Are you okay?” he asked her desperately.