3 Mango Bay

by Bill Myers

  “We've been out here most of the morning, hoping to hitch a ride.”

  Captain Jim shook his head. “That just ain't right. What kind of person steals your boat and leaves you stranded?”

  I didn't answer.

  “So if you've been out here all morning, you must be pretty thirsty. We've got water and beer. Your choice.”

  I smiled. “Water sounds good. And maybe a bowl so I can pour some for the dog.”

  One of the women produced a plastic jug of water and a small bowl. Handing them to me, she said, “If you're not in a hurry, you could spend the day with us. We're celebrating.”

  A celebration sounded good. But not today. “Sure wish I could join you, but I've got to get the dog back home. He's had a rough day.”

  She somehow managed to smile and pout at the same time. How do women do that? “Well, if you change your mind, let me know.”

  Behind us, Captain Jim revved the engine, signaling that we were about to start moving. He backed away from the beach, and then steered the boat north, toward Chadwick Park and home.

  CHAPTER FIFTY TWO

  The small motor on the party barge didn't move the boat very fast, but according to Captain Jim, they really weren't in any hurry to go anywhere. They were coming up from Port Charlotte and were just out to enjoy the ride and have a little party.

  It took us about twenty minutes to get to the Chadwick Park boat launch. And another five minutes to securely tie off the boat.

  Now that we'd reached shore, I needed to call someone to come get me. But my cell phone was back in the Jeep. And Polly's phone was at the bottom of Lemon Bay.

  I turned to Captain Jim. “I hate to ask this, but do you have a cell phone I could borrow.”

  He shook his head. “One of our rules is no cell phones out on the boat. They're too distracting. So we travel naked – no phones.”

  He pointed to the convenience store across from the public beach parking lot. “I'm going over there to get some beer. If you want, the girls can watch your dog while you go over there with me. I'm pretty sure they've got a phone.”

  I nodded. “That sounds good.”

  I reassured Oscar that I was coming back, and asked the girls to make sure he stayed on the boat while I was gone. I wasn't too worried about him jumping ship. His little legs weren't long enough for him to get off the boat and up onto the dock.

  As Captain Jim and I were walking toward the convenience store, he asked, “You jump off a drug boat?”

  “What? No! Why do you ask that?”

  “Because when we came through Stump Pass there were Coast Guard and DEA boats stopping and checking everyone.

  “I figured something was up. They were looking for somebody and when I saw you stranded on the sandbar, I figured maybe you were involved.”

  I shook my head. “They weren't looking for me.”

  Captain Jim smiled. “If you say so.”

  When we reached the convenience store, I wasn't surprised to see that there was no pay phone. Most of those disappeared years ago.

  Inside, I asked the clerk if I could borrow his cell phone. He shook his head. “Nope. Nobody uses my phone but me.”

  Then he pointed to a display on the counter. “Forty dollars will buy you a phone with sixty minutes talk time.”

  I'd left my wallet in the Jeep. But I had four twenty dollar bills in my pocket. A little wet from wading in the water, but otherwise still intact.

  I put three twenties on the counter. “I'll take one.”

  The clerk smiled, “What color?”

  “I don't care.”

  He reached for the pink one.

  “Not pink. Give me black.”

  The clerk grinned, took my money, and rang up the sale. He handed me my change and I stepped aside as Captain Jim put a twelve pack of beer on the counter.

  I pulled out a twenty. “I've got this.”

  Jim smiled. “Well, all right then.”

  We headed back to the boat where the girls were waiting. As soon as they saw us, they started waving. We waved back and made our way onto the boat.

  Captain Jim asked, “You sure you don't want to come with us?”

  I shook my head. “I wish I could. But I need to get Oscar back home.”

  He nodded. “I understand.”

  He pulled out his wallet and handed me a business card.

  Captain Jim Morgan

  Attorney at Law

  Port Charlotte, Florida

  The card had his phone number, email address and office location.

  “If you ever need legal help, call me. Me and the girls can take care of just about anything.”

  I thanked him, picked up Oscar and stepped off the boat. Captain Jim and the girls waved as they pulled away from the dock. Jimmy Buffet was singing, “It's Five O’clock Somewhere.”

  The phone I'd purchased showed the local time as 3:00 pm. Six hours since I'd made contact with Darrell in the funeral home parking lot.

  I still hadn't heard from Agent Harris or any of the Homeland Security Agents who were supposed to be tracking me during the package exchange. That bothered me. But it wasn't something I could do anything about.

  Right now, I needed to call someone to come get me and Oscar. My first inclination was to call Buck. But I didn't have his unlisted number with me. It was on my phone, which was back in the Jeep.

  I could call Polly. She'd be thrilled to learn that Oscar was safe. But she didn't have her cell phone. I'd dropped it into Lemon Bay this morning.

  Next on my list was Lucy, Polly's daughter. This time of day she'd probably be hard at work, selling trucks.

  I punched in her number and made the call. She answered on the third ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Lucy, it's me, Walker.”

  “Walker, where have you been? We've been worried sick. Have you got Oscar?”

  “Yes, I've got him. We're here at Chadwick Park and we need a ride.”

  “I can be there in fifteen minutes. Don't go anywhere.”

  She hung up.

  Two minutes later, she called back. “Is it okay if I call Mom and let her know you and Oscar are safe?”

  “Yes, call her. Let her know Oscar's fine. A little hungry, but otherwise in good shape.”

  “Good, she'll be so happy. And Walker, what about you? You okay?”

  “Yep. Just come get me and I'll tell you the whole story.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Lucy's white 4Runner pulled into the Chadwick Park parking lot. Oscar and I were sitting in the shade of the pavilion, and when Lucy saw us she flashed her headlights and headed over.

  As soon as she stepped out of her car, she ran over and gave me a big hug. She released me and stood back with tears in her eyes. “We were so worried. Buck said the feds lost track of you. They weren't even sure if you were alive or not.”

  She hugged me again. This time longer than before. I hugged her back. It felt good.

  When she finally released me, she took a step back and looked down at Oscar.

  “Oscar, your mom is going to be so happy to see you. Would you like a treat?”

  His little tail went into overdrive. He knew what the word 'treat' meant. And yes, he wanted one.

  Reaching into her pocket, Lucy pulled out a dog biscuit and flipped it to Oscar, who caught it in his mouth.

  “I always keep treats on hand for Oscar.”

  I nodded. “What about me? What'd you bring me?”

  She smiled. “I'm here. What else do you need?”

  “A burger and fries would be nice.”

  After loading Oscar into Lucy's 4Runner, we agreed our first priority was to get him back to Polly.

  According to Lucy, Polly hadn't slept since we'd called her the previous evening, and as the hours passed without hearing from me, she'd grown more and more worried.

  Seeing Oscar healthy and alive would be a huge weight off her shoulders. And seeing me wouldn't hurt either.

  Lucy was driving, I was in the p
assenger seat. Oscar was in the back.

  “I wasn't joking about the burger and fries. I'm starving.”

  “Really? You want me to stop?”

  “Yes, I don't care where, as long as they have food.”

  There aren't many fast food places in Englewood, but there is a Burger King, and it was right on our way. Lucy pulled into the drive through lane.

  She ordered a Whopper and a Coke for me, and a Whopper Junior for Oscar. After paying at the pickup window and getting our food order, Lucy pulled into a parking space.

  She handed me the Whopper, and gave the meat patty from the Whopper Junior to Oscar.

  He gobbled it down, then looked at me, hoping I was going to share my Whopper with him. That wasn't going to happen. I ate it slowly and enjoyed every bite.

  Lucy waited patiently while we ate and then pulled out of the parking lot to head home. Turning to me, she said, “Don't tell Mom I gave Oscar a burger.”

  I nodded.

  Two minutes later, we pulled into Lucy's driveway, Polly was outside waiting for us. I could tell she had been crying, but upon seeing us, her face broke out into a smile.

  Without waiting for us to get out, she rushed up and opened the 4Runner's back door where she found Oscar happy to see her.

  While she was busy with Oscar, I got out and went over to talk with Buck, who had come out of the house.

  He met me with a handshake, “Glad you made it back alive. You had us worried.”

  “I was worried too. Where were Harris's agents? They were supposed to back me up.”

  Buck pointed to the back yard. “Let's go around there and talk.”

  I followed him around the house and we stood beside the small boat we had taken out just one day earlier. It felt like weeks had passed.

  Buck started telling me the story.

  “After you left for the funeral home, Harris got a call from Washington. He was ordered to drop everything and to assist the Coast Guard. Apparently something big had come up.

  “Harris pushed back. Said he had an active mission with a civilian in the field. Said he couldn't leave you out there without backup.

  “The people in Washington didn't care. They ordered him to back off. Said it was an all-hands-on-deck situation with the Coast Guard.

  “Harris had to follow orders. So everyone in the office loaded up into cars and took off. No one was left to track you.

  “I had to call Polly to get a ride home. We haven't heard from Harris or his agents since.”

  I was stunned. They had abandoned me in the middle of a mission. They'd left me on my own after assuring me they had my back.

  When I was in the military we were always taught, 'No man left behind.' Surely Homeland Security had the same rules.

  “So let me get this straight. They left me out in the field with ten pounds of pot, no backup, no protection, and no rescue?”

  Buck nodded. “Yes. That's exactly what they did.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  Buck and I went back to the front of the house where Lucy and Polly had Oscar up on the porch, taking turns rubbing his belly.

  Seeing us coming, Polly came over to me. “You're my hero. You saved Oscar. I can't thank you enough.”

  She hugged me, then returned to the porch to be with her beloved dog.

  Lucy looked at me and shook her head. “You going to tell us what happened? Why you were gone so long?”

  “Sure, but there's not much to tell.”

  Lucy smiled. “Always the modest hero. Come inside. I want every detail.”

  We went inside and I told them the whole story. Starting with me driving to the funeral home parking lot, and ending with me being rescued by a Parrot Head legal team blasting Jimmy Buffet.

  When I was done, Polly spoke first.

  “My phone is at the bottom of Lemon Bay? It's gone forever?”

  I nodded. “Yes, it's gone. But it was either your phone or Oscar, and I figured you could always get another phone.”

  Polly patted Oscar. “You're right. I can get another phone. You did the right thing.”

  She stood and yawned. “I didn't get any sleep last night. It's time for me and Oscar to go home.”

  She turned to Buck. “You riding with me?”

  “Yes, as long as it's okay with Walker.”

  I nodded. “Fine with me. But I need a ride to my Jeep. It's still in the funeral home parking lot.”

  Lucy reached over and touched my shoulder. “I'll take you. I'm going that way.”

  We all loaded up into our various vehicles and headed out.

  On the ride over to the Jeep, Lucy kept glancing over at me, but not saying anything.

  Finally, I asked, “Okay, what's up? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Just trying to figure you out. You show up pretty much out of nowhere. No job, no visible means of support, and living in a RV.

  “Then you start rescuing homeless people and saving damsels in distress. You fix my mother up with a movie star. And then you volunteer to chase down a drug dealer for the sake of a dog.

  “So I'm just wondering. Is this what life with Walker is usually like?”

  I shook my head. “Lucy, for the most part my life is pretty boring. But since moving to Serenity Cove, things keep happening. Hopefully, it'll stop soon.

  “Right now, all I want to do is to go home, feed Bob and go to sleep. No rescues, no damsels in distress, and no finding lost dogs.”

  Lucy smiled. “Good. Go home and sleep. No heroics for a few days. Can you do that?”

  “I'll try.”

  When we reached the funeral home parking lot, my Jeep was still where I'd left it. No one had touched it.

  Lucy pulled up beside it, and as I reached for the door to get out, she stopped me.

  “Walker, you were amazing today.”

  Then she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.

  “Now go home. Take a shower. Get some rest.”

  Smiling, I got out and walked over to the Jeep. I suddenly felt very happy, not tired at all.

  Instead of driving off, Lucy waited until she saw me start the Jeep. I guess she wanted to make sure I wasn't stranded twice in one day.

  As soon as she heard the Jeep start, she waved and drove off.

  While the Jeep warmed up, I opened the glove box and pulled out my cell phone. Five messages. One from Lucy, one from Agent Harris and three from Anna.

  I'd listen to them later. Right now I just wanted to pick up some food for dinner, and get back to Serenity Cove.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  All was quiet when I got back to the motorhome. Bob met me at the door, purring for a change instead of demanding immediate food service.

  I rubbed the top of his head with my thumb then headed to the back bedroom, Bob right on my heels. Apparently he wasn't going to let me out of his sight.

  I topped off his food and water bowls on the way. He would need more attention later, but not now.

  Right now, my plan was to take a hot shower and rinse off the sand, salt and wet dog smell I'd picked up during today's adventure.

  After the shower, I changed into clean clothes and plopped down on the living room couch. Bob settled in beside me.

  I checked the messages on my phone, starting with the one from Lucy.

  “Walker, where are you? We're worried. Give me a call as soon as you can.”

  She had called while I was stranded on the island.

  I deleted the message.

  The next message was from Agent Harris at 12:28pm.

  “Walker, we were reassigned at the last minute. Call me as soon as you can. It's not over.”

  No apology for leaving me stranded without a backup. No explanation. Just telling me it wasn't over.

  I pressed the call button. After three rings, a voice answered.

  “Harris.”

  “What do you mean it's not over?”

  “Walker, good to hear from you. We were starting to get worried.”

/>   “You left me out there without backup.”

  “I know and we didn't want to do that. But something came up. An all-hands-on-deck kind of thing.”

  “So that's the way you operate? You stick someone in the field, then abandon them?”

  “No, that's not the way we operate. I didn't want to leave you without backup. But it wasn't something I had control over. And anyway, it sounds like you made it back just fine.

  “So, how did the exchange go? Did you get the dog?”

  “Yes, I got the dog. And I spent five hours stranded on a sandbar down by Stump Pass.”

  “What about the drugs? You still have them?”

  “No, of course not. I exchanged them for the dog, just like we planned.”

  “So you don't have the drugs in your possession?”

  “No I do not.”

  “Well, that's not good. We signed them out to you. We either need to get the drugs back or find the guy you delivered them to.”

  I couldn't believe what Harris was saying. That somehow I was responsible for getting the drugs back. That was definitely not part of the deal. I was to do the exchange, get the dog back, and then I'd be out of it.

  “You've got to be kidding. You planned this whole thing. I executed my part. Your guys bailed. And as far as I'm concerned, my part's over.”

  Silence on the other end of the line. Then, “Walker, let's get together tomorrow and talk this through. I'll call you in the morning. In the meantime, don't leave town.”

  Harris ended the call.

  I couldn't believe it. They came up with the plan, they supplied the drugs, they told me what to do, and then they took off at the last minute and left me on my own.

  And now, I was somehow responsible for getting either the drugs or the guy holding the drugs back to them?

  That was crazy.

  Looking for something to take my mind off the mess, I turned on the TV and tuned to the local news. The screen showed an aerial view of a Coast Guard cutter approaching a large yacht. A scrolling message across the bottom of the screen read, “Coast Guard stops vessel carrying missile.”