Smugglers 1: Nikki

by Gerald McCallum

  As night fell, she ended up at home, trying to relax. She thanked God that Rita was working, so she wasn’t waiting for her and in her face about more money. Nikki was anxious and kept pouring one drink after another, hoping he would call; she stayed home waiting for her phone to ring, but he didn’t call.

  She was tired and about to dose off when there was a knock at the door. It was probably Rita, Nikki thought as she dragged herself to the door. She opened it and came face to face with the no neck South American who had come with Armando. He was unarmed and stepped inside. He looked like an easy target to Nikki. He didn’t seem to be a threat. He spoke in broken English and was really stupid.

  “I here pick up money for boss,” he said.

  “I don’t have the money with me right now,” Nikki replied.

  She offered him a drink to get acquainted. As they talked and drank she tried to get Jeff’s full name out of him, but he wouldn’t tell. She decided to seduce him. When she went to the kitchen to freshen up their drinks, she slipped into her room and put on her robe and went back out and gave him his glass. As they talked she let her robe fall open so he could see her tan thighs and cleavage.

  He could tell she was inviting him to touch her, so he moved over to the sofa and sat real close beside her. He kissed her, placing a hand on her thigh. She kissed him back and made another attempt at obtaining the boss’s last name.

  Again, no-neck didn’t answer. He brought out a two gram bottle of coke, and they both had a cap full. Then he started to kiss her on the face then on the neck as he opened her robe and worked his way down to her belly. She kept kissing him and steering his head as he got hotter and hotter. Soon, she started to get caught up in the scene herself. She might as well enjoy herself while getting the information, so she grabbed his hand and led him to her bedroom where she dropped her robe to the floor and started to undress him. When he was totally naked and hard, she kissed him and whispered in his ear, “Have your boss call tomorrow or you can give me his number and I’ll call him?” No answer from no-neck.

  She didn’t get what she wanted, but she did get laid and put closure on Brett once and for all. He left before midnight and she got up to make a drink and thought of how she could find out who Jeff was and his phone number.

  In the morning after very little sleep she made coffee and sat thinking about her problem with the boss. She came up with the only plan she could, but she had to try it today, because he would be on her by the next day or two.

  After lunch she called no-neck to see if he could come over and go for a boat ride and swimming but she had to leave a message for a call back. He returned her call within a couple of minutes, which told her he was more than ready to spend the day boating, swimming and drinking.

  He got there about two, and after kissing and changing they went to her center console with beers. When they were out at sea, she stopped the engine and suggested they go for a swim to cool off. They did some lines and undressed. He was more than eager to do anything she suggested at that point and was at full attention.

  After some more lines, kissing, and heavy petting, he got into the water with a life vest to set his beer on. Nikki opened the locker on the boat and pulled out the spear gun. She aimed at his head and shot no-neck in the neck, missing her mark. There he was in the water with a dive spear sticking out of his neck with blood squirting out of it front and back.

  He kept twisting in the water trying to get the spear out of his neck. Soon the water was crimson but he kept trying to pull the spear out and yelling for help, but no sound came out, just air and foam. Nikki started the boat and backed it up to where the life preserver had floated, picked it up then kept backing away as no neck tried to reach the boat for safety. Soon with a few last grasps, no-neck went under.

  She watched him struggle for breath or the dive spear. Soon he was lifeless and out of sight. She turned the boat toward land and headed back. She felt nervous when she saw Jerry and some other people on the dock socializing, but they just waved and smiled at her when they saw her pull up to her slip. She felt relieved and casually joined in. No one asked where no-neck was, so they must not have seen him leave with her.

  The phone rang as soon as she arrived home. It was Jeff, the boss; he wanted to know where Jose was. Nikki said she had not seen him all day.

  There was silence on the other end of the phone, and then he said, “So you haven’t heard from him all day?”

  “No, he called and said he was coming over but that’s the last I heard from him.”

  “That stupid bastard, I can’t even rely on him for a simple assignment. I guess if you want something done right then you have to do it yourself. I will see you later.” He hung up.

  Nikki knew she had only a few hours until death arrived. If she didn’t think fast she wouldn’t have a chance to enjoy all the money she had. She searched and fumbled through the whole house to see what she could use to protect herself from Jeff. She found Glenn’s old cell phone and put it in her pocket. She arranged a few things around the house to get ready for him. She knew after seeing him at the warehouse the other day, he was big and probably very strong compared to her. The thought of having to encounter him gave her a chill that ran from her neck all the way down her spine. She would never forget his intimidating look.

  Hours of anticipation drained her energy, and she didn’t realize she had fallen asleep on the chair while waiting for him. She woke up with a start to a knock on her door. It was midnight.

  Her heart started to pound and she quickly poured herself a drink to calm down. She didn’t want him to see her fear of him, because she knew that’s what he wanted to see.

  She opened the door with a smile and casually said, “Hi Jeff,” and he walked in without acknowledging her.

  She offered him a drink.

  “I don’t drink. Where is my money?” She was startled by his shortness and fumbled for the correct answer that would not piss him off more.

  “Do you have my money or don’t you?” he asked. She started to tell him a story that she would have it in two or three days. He became even madder and said, “You’re lying to me! You don’t have my money, and you will never have it. I am not wasting any more time on you; if you don’t have the dough like I told you to, you’re dead!”

  Nikki could tell at this point that he was going to have her killed tonight. Nikki quickly reached into her pocket where she’d hidden Glenn’s old cell phone and pushed a button to make a call that she had already programmed in.

  Jeff’s phone went off. While he fumbled to answer the call she walked to the bar stool by the kitchen, reached under it and came out with the claw hammer and hit Jeff on top of his head with all her strength. Jeff had turned around and tried to duck down but unfortunately for him it was right at the level Nikki could manage. If he hadn’t ducked down he would have had a chance to live since Nikki didn’t have the strength to swing the hammer to reach his head. He slumped down in his seat and started to shake all over like he was having a fit.

  Nikki watched him until he was quiet then she sat down across from him and sipped her drink and just kept looking at him.

  A trickle of blood dripped down his face from the top of his head. Now what? she wondered, her thoughts scrambling. He must weigh two hundred pounds. She couldn’t move him, and the thought of cutting him up made her stomach turn. She made herself another drink and sat there looking at him and thinking.

  About 3:30 she heard Rita get home and went to greet her. She told Rita the story about Jeff and his coming to take all the money. Rita got mad about his attempt to take her two million dollars which was the reaction Nikki expected and wanted. She decided it was time to take Rita and show her Jeff. When they got inside Nikki’s apartment and Rita saw Jeff sitting on the sofa with a little blood on his face, Rita asked, “Is he passed out or dead?”

  “He’s dead!”

  “No shit! Are you sure? What happened?” Rita asked.

  “He was going to take all the
money, all of mine and yours and then kill us both so I had no choice.” she explained.

  “What are you going to do now?” Rita asked.

  “What am I going to do? Don’t you mean what are we going to do? I saved your two million dollars. If you leave this to me I ought to be able to keep your money, too, right?” Nikki stated.

  “Okay! What do you want me to do?” responded Rita.

  “Let’s get to work. They will be here in one or two hours. We got to get rid of his body and move his car.” Nikki started to go through his pockets to get his car keys.

  “First cover his head. I can’t stand to look into his open eyes,” Rita said. Nikki got a white kitchen garbage bag and put it over his head.

  “Oh, that’s much better,” Rita declared.

  “Now he looks like a new KKK member,” Nikki responded as she continued going through his pockets. She found eighteen hundred dollars in cash and his Lincoln Town car keys. Nikki split the money with Rita and said, “Let’s deal with the car later.”

  Rita got the dock cart and brought it to the house boat. They pushed, pulled and carried his body out the door to the dock and got it into the cart. When they got to Nikki’s boat, they noticed that the dock was two or three feet higher than the boat. They looked at each other, deciding in whispers to dump his body off the dock to the boat. As they tried that, his body tipped the dock cart over and it fell from the dock to the boat, sounding like the noise of a trunk closing or the door closing on a car. Nikki quickly got in the boat and covered him up with a tarp. Then they looked around and saw no lights had gone on so they put the dock cart back and took off in the boat for the deep waters of the trough.

  Once there, they attached the chicken wire and cement block to the body, and put it overboard to sink. When they were back at the dock Rita wanted to drive Jeff’s car to town. They decided to leave it behind Ken’s office as Nikki knew that if they found two grand on his person, chances are there was a trap full of money in his car. When they got there, she opened the trunk, then she looked under both seats and tried to find a hidden compartment in the car. She pushed on the CD player and it popped open and found one hundred grand and a pound of coke. She grabbed the money, toot, and jumped in the car with Rita. When Rita saw the money and toot she freaked out.

  On the way back Rita asked why a kingpin like him was driving a five year old Lincoln.

  “It’s part of his cover. Nothing too flashy so he fits in and it would have worked, too, if he hadn’t tried to take our money and kill us,” Nikki said.

  Back at Nikki’s place they divided the money up but hid most of the cash. After they did some lines, Nikki gave Rita a baggy full and they parted ways for the day.

  The next day, Cynthia came up to Nikki and some other people on the dock and said, “Well, Bruce found a girl who will cook for us on the trip to Key West. We’ll leave Friday morning. My question is who will be coming?”

  One of the men said “We talked about it and we’re all going”. But what does that cook look like? Knowing Bruce, young and nice, but most importantly she does Bruce.”

  Jerry and Loretta said they were coming. Mark said he would feel better next trip, and that he would stay here and watch the dock. Old Don said he would stay and keep Mark company.

  “You heard that, Mark. Don is your date this weekend,” Nikki teased.

  “Don’t worry, Nikki, we won’t be Frick and Frack when you come back.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Mark said while batting his eyes. They laughed again. After a bit they split up to work and make preparations for the trip.

  Later that day when Rita came out of her apartment, Nikki told her about the trip and what went on during the last one.

  CHAPTER 20

  Friday came and everybody was ready and on board. There was one stateroom left, so Rita and Nikki shared that room. They put their things on the bed and went upstairs to get drinks. At the table they met Bruce and the new cook, Caresse. She was about twenty five, thin, tall and tan of course. After introductions, they pulled out for Key West. Cynthia said to all at the table, “Well, I guess it will be Bruce and Caresse, and Jerry and Loretta for couples and us three girls if the two gals don’t mind sharing.” When the laughter died down Cynthia said, “I was kidding,” and they partied.

  About half way to Key West, Caresse made everyone sandwiches and snacks. After a bit Cynthia said, “Good sandwiches but not as good as Lucinda’s.”

  Nikki replied, “I think we need to ask Bruce. Is she as good as Lucinda in all things?” Jerry and Loretta were feeling their drinks and turned the Jimmy Buffett CD up and started to keep beat with the music.

  The Broward backed into its slip at the Hilton. They were greeted by the dock master and two hands to see to tying up the boat. Cynthia let Bruce register with the boat’s credit card while they set to changing and drinking. Everyone met back in the main salon about seven with drinks in hand and ready to go; the first stop was the pier to see the sites.

  There were people gathered around to watch the statue man with magnificent skills and the makeup to match. He could stay still with many distractions, so the tourists tried to see if they could distract him. Kids leaned closed to him to see if he was made of real metal and were startled when he started to move around. Another crowd watched the man who juggled live cats, and the cats didn’t seem to mind getting tossed around in the air. The place was full of spirit and some of the scenes were too much for some people.

  Next they stopped at several bars on Duval Street and had drinks. Nikki and Cynthia led the way from bar to bar because they had been there before. They came to a bar with very loud music. The place was packed with so many tall pretty women and also tall pretty hairy women. Rita and Nikki joined in with the crowd on the dance floor.

  “God, some of these women are breathtaking,” Rita said. “I’m wondering what’s really underneath it!”

  Nikki broke into laughter. “They aren’t women, they’re all men. This is a transvestite bar, all stick pussy. I thought you knew that. That good looking blonde over there with the tank top on is a man, and he probably has given more head then you. Rita, didn’t you see the name of the place when you came in? It’s The Other Side, which says it all. In fact if you don’t believe me, go dance with that cute blonde and reach down and get a hand full of stick.” They had one more drink and started doing the Duval Crawl.

  They stopped at Dirty Harry, Sloppy Joe, Hard Rock and Margaritaville. Everybody was drunk and in a good mood as they tried to get two rickshaws to take them to the strip bar at the end of Duval street. “Is that another bar?” Loretta asked. “What’s that sign mean?”

  “No,” Nikki said, “the back door is a bed and breakfast motel with a twelve foot hot tub. It’s a gay bed and breakfast place, bed happens more than breakfast. I bet the boys have spent a weekend or two there.”

  They got into two rickshaws and went down the street to a strip club called The Office which was named that so married men could tell their wives they were going to the office. Outside of The Office they had a phone booth with no phone, so men could call home on cell phones without background noise. Also the bartenders wore no tops, and the floor was raised up to put their crotch at eye level for the customers. When they went in Jerry and Loretta went crazy.

  “This strip bar is nuts,” Loretta said to Rita.

  “You should have seen the Keys in the old days. It used to have the world largest nude marching band, a sixty piece band nude except for shades and flip flops. This place was absolutely wild.”

  Then Rita saw a stripper walking by that caught her eye and gave her a long full mouth kiss, which brought all the men who saw it to silence and heavy breathing. The stripper backed up a little and stepped in and gave Rita a bump and grind kiss, which attracted applause and cat calls from all the men in the bar.

  Nikki said, “I’ll give you thirty minutes to stop that, God you are making me hot.” Then Nikki gave Rita several kisses which had all the men in the bar
hot, and they began to whistle and applaud. The more Nikki kissed Rita, the more the men reacted. When they stopped, they started to dance in a very sensual way with Rita taking the dominant role as usual. Jerry and Loretta were at the bar drinking and watching the girls dancing on the bar. Nikki and Rita joined in.

  “Where’s Cynthia?” Nikki asked.

  “Last I saw her, she went outside with some guy,” said Loretta.

  “Watch yourself. You could get screwed here when you don’t want to.”

  They ordered more drinks and in a few minutes Cynthia came up to the guys with a man about twenty five in tow. She introduced him as Tim and said he would be going back with them for a few days. Nikki leaned over to Cynthia and whispered to her, “He’s so skinny and young!”

  Then Cynthia said, with a knowing smile, “Skinny, young, and the biggest anybody has ever seen. You just won’t believe it! Don’t worry, I’ll tell him to bring it to the boat.” They laughed.

  Finally Rita and Nikki announced they were going back to the boat. Jerry and Loretta said they’d come too. When they got to the rickshaws, Loretta wanted to race back to the yacht, so they set up a race between the two drivers for an extra five hundred dollars, and they took off. The four of them laughed as the drivers were killing themselves pedaling their bikes. About half way back the four called off the race and gave the drivers each two hundred fifty dollars plus the fare. Back at the slip, a sixty foot Sportfish had pulled in next to the Broward. The two guys who owned the sport fish boat were about thirty five or forty years old.

  “Nice boat!” said Nikki.

  “Come aboard and I will show you around! My name is Mike and my partner’s name is John.”

  Nikki gave their names and asked, “Does the look-see come with a drink?”

  “Sure, it’s mandatory.” So they looked around, with a drink in hand.

  After the tour John asked, “What do you two do back at your place?”

  When Rita started to answer, Nikki chimed in with, “We are both dancers at Girls-Girls-Girls.”