by Matt Lincoln
“Yes, sir,” I made my way forward to stand at Watson’s side.
“Remember our conversation yesterday. Observe. Take mental notes.” Watson was way more alert than he was yesterday. “We got a tip on a potential drug shipment for this area here.” Watson pointed at the notepad in front of him, and I saw scribbled-down coordinates. “We are headed there now, and then Driscoll will be monitoring the radar.” Watson gestured over to the radar screen.
“Okay, got it,” I replied, looking around and absorbing as much as I could.
I wasn’t a stranger to drug busts or the hustle and bustle up on the bridge. My last unit was on a larger ship up in Virginia. I was the Weapons Officer on that ship and had witnessed multiple drug busts, especially when we’d crossed through the Panama Canal to hit up EASTPAC. The Eastern Pacific had a lot of drug traffic, which was a huge change from the one measly drug bust we had gotten on my first patrol here on the FRC. It was exciting to be up here to see it from the CO’s point of view, though. I was ready to absorb as much information as I could.
“I know you wanted to be on the Boarding Team,” Watson said as he turned to face me. “I promise I will make that happen. For tonight, though, I want you up here.”
“No problem,” I replied casually. “I wasn’t expecting it to happen that quickly anyway.”
Watson smirked at me. “Here we go!” he announced. Then he cleared his throat and reached for the intercom.
“Now, set the go-fast bill,” he projected into the intercom. A chill of excitement ran down my spine, and I knew the entire boat had just come alive.
4
Linda
When we reached our destination, it was pretty uneventful at first. CS3 Rodriguez, one of our Culinary Specialists, had brought up breakfast burritos and coffees for those of us who couldn’t leave, and we sat there in silence in the dark, munching on our breakfasts and taking appreciative sips of coffee while we waited for the action to start.
I knew that down below, the Boarding Team Members were gearing up, grabbing their vests, gun belts, and firearms. They would be up here shortly for the brief. Other crew members were also getting the boat deck ready and prepping the small boat to launch.
I looked out through the front window in appreciation. We were sitting in the dark with all of our lights off, which meant there was nothing to dull the glow coming from the stars overhead. There were so many stars up there, and I soaked in all the beauty that would otherwise be washed out by all the city lights.
It wasn’t long before the Boarding Team Members were up on the bridge, along with ET2 Rogers, who was the QMOW, and it suddenly felt very crowded up there. GM2 Slade was among the team, with a look of determination on her face.
I stepped forward to address the team. “We received intel of drug traffic heading through this area. We are monitoring the radar, and we have an aircraft searching the area as well. As soon as we see something, be ready to go.”
A chorus of agreements echoed through the team.
As if on cue, Driscoll saw something on the radar.
“I have a target of interest heading our way,” Driscoll announced. “Moving northbound on the radar, looks to be about eight miles out. They’re moving fast. Best guess, about thirty knots.”
A target of interest, or TOI, heading our way right as the brief ended seemed to be perfect timing. I turned to look at CO, who had his eye on the water. He grabbed the intercom.
“Launch the small boat for intercept,” he ordered.
Immediately, everyone went into action, and before I knew it, the Boarding Team was down on the lower deck, and the small boat was prepping for launch. I hated that I was up here on the bridge when what I really wanted was to be on that boat in the midst of the action.
I saw the crew discussing their tactics amongst each other as they waited for the boat to be ready. The cutter slowed down and turned, launching the small boat before turning back and picking up speed in the same direction as the boat. I watched as the Boarding Team took off in the direction OPS had seen the activity.
We all watched on the screens as the small boat approached its target. ET2 Rogers was at the QMOW station, plotting everything in real-time. His red hair matched the intensity in his blue eyes as he worked. I knew the Boarding Team was working in the darkness as well, operating solely with their compass and chart plotter.
That’s when BM2 Murphy came over the intercom. He was the PMC, or Pursuit Mission Commander, so he would be the voice on the small boat for this entire mission.
“Got them,” he muttered.
The QMOW turned around and confirmed, “They’re right behind them.”
I looked out into the darkness before me. I knew they were out there somewhere. Suddenly, the entire small boat lit up. Someone had turned on every light they had.
“Surprise!” I mumbled to myself with a chuckle, and then I saw the target speed off, our small boat right on its tail.
“We’re in pursuit!” Murphy’s voice rang through the bridge.
I got in touch with Sector back in San Juan and relayed the latest updates, just in case we needed backup. Everyone on the bridge had a job to do. The QMOW was scrambling to keep up with the plotting, Driscoll was tracking the radar, I was communicating with Sector, and CO was overseeing the entire process. We were a seamless team with no time for small talk or distraction.
I watched as our small boat sped off, presumably in pursuit of the target we could not see in the darkness. Murphy’s voice faded in and out with directional updates, and I heard the small boat’s siren wailing in the background.
“United States Coast Guard! Stop your vessel!” Murphy’s voice rang through the bridge. The pursuit did not slow.
“¡Guardacostas de Estados Unidos! ¡Alto tu barco!” They were getting further from us now with no sign of stopping.
I heard shots ring out, the flash bangs temporarily lighting up the scene as they exploded in front of the target. This did nothing to slow down the pursuit, as was made apparent as our small boat continued following at high speeds.
The next shots that rang out were different, and I knew we were no longer sending warning shots. Murphy’s voice piped through again.
“We’ve struck their engine,” Murphy informed us. The target must have slowed because I saw the small boat slow down from where I stood.
“Hands in the air, hands in the air!” Murphy’s voice was commanding and clear.
As we approached the scene, we saw the crew onboard the target vessel, all their crew with their hands up facing our Boarding Team Members. Our team had their pistols drawn and pointed at the crew. We all hustled on the bridge. I reached out to Sector to get permission to bring them on board.
Watson grabbed the intercom. “Great job, guys. Hang tight.” He looked at me and nodded. There was nothing we could do now but wait for their government to give us permission to detain them.
After a couple of long hours, Sector finally confirmed that we had the permission we needed, and we pulled up alongside the small boat to help them out. The crew went to work, getting our newest detainees on board and cuffed and shackled while we scoured their boat for evidence. There were multiple packages onboard, adding up to an insane amount of cocaine. Once it was all loaded up and the small boat had been returned to its home on our lower deck, GM2 Slade went about shooting the now-empty boat out to cause it to sink. I was up to my eyeballs in paperwork, but it was great to see the pursuit from this vantage point. I did have to admit, though, that being down in the small boat had to be ten times as exciting.
With detainees on board, we would have to pull in to drop them off. We made our way back to San Juan with much more energy than when we had left. The DEA met us at the pier, and I helped the crew quickly unload the detainees, along with all of the evidence, before handing it all over to them. One thing I noticed as we unloaded the cocaine, was a large stamp on each package. The stamp was of a rabbit, the long ears pointing straight up and the eyes open and eerie-lo
oking. I knew that different cartels sported different identifiers for their drugs, but I hadn’t seen this one before.
By the time everything was all said and done, we were all completely exhausted, but we knew it was time to gather up on the bridge for a final debrief before getting back underway, and hopefully for most of us, back to sleep.
When we were all gathered up there, I clasped my hands together and looked around at my disheveled yet smiling team.
“You guys did great tonight,” I announced. “That was a huge haul, one that will never reach its destination. We made a difference tonight. Now, let’s get some rest.”
The team broke off, shedding their gear as they headed down below to drop it all off. Everyone seemed satisfied, but even though it was a successful mission, something wasn’t sitting right with me.
I’d tackled plenty of drug busts on my previous boat, and I had always been driven by the adrenaline and excitement of it all. I was there for three years, though, and the flow of drugs never slowed.
I had told my team we had made a difference tonight. But had we really?
We pulled into our home port of San Juan a few days later, and I still had a lingering feeling about that drug bust. Thankfully, I knew just who to call.
5
Jake
Waking up in Aguadilla was the equivalent of waking up in Heaven. The windows were all still open from the night before, and the cross breeze carried the scent of the Caribbean across the room.
The crisp linen sheets felt cool against my skin, providing a nice contrast to the warmth of Maria’s legs wrapped up in mine. I shifted slowly away from her, careful not to wake her, and slipped out of bed, grabbing a pair of boxer shorts on the way out of the room.
I had been speaking to Maria over the phone for a few weeks now while I looked for a place to live. She had grown up on the island, and I knew she’d be the perfect person to help me find the right spot quickly. I loved this little corner of the world. The only downside was that Wraith couldn’t be docked here, so I needed to search for a place that would allow me to keep her close. With all of the highly-coveted and not-quite-legal tech on board, I wasn’t about to let her out of my sight for too long. Leaving her temporarily with Rosa was fine, but I didn’t want to saddle her with that responsibility long-term. Luckily, with the help of Maria, I had found a nice spot that I was working on getting my hands on.
I headed into the kitchen to make myself some coffee. Other than a place to hide a supercavitating boat, I didn’t really need much down here. I had presumed that if I found a secure place that could dock my boat, it would probably have other higher-end amenities also. It turned out that I had presumed correctly. Hopefully, Maria would be able to make some progress on the contract today. She may have gotten a bit distracted yesterday, but this was important, and she would need to be on her game today.
I heard my phone vibrating, and I scanned the room to try to decipher where I’d left it last night. I found my jeans on the living room floor, my phone in my pocket. When I saw Linda’s name on the screen, I cringed. If she knew I was here and hadn’t told her, she’d flip out.
“Hey,” I said casually into my phone. “You’ll never believe it.”
“You’re coming to visit me?” Linda squeaked excitedly.
“Close!” I braced myself. “I’m already here.”
“You’re already here, and you didn’t tell me?” Linda’s voice raised a few octaves. Oh, boy.
“Yes, but I just got here yesterday. I was going to call you today.” I sighed and ran my fingers through my black hair.
“Mmhmm, sure.”
“It’s the truth, honest.” I looked at my watch. “Why are you calling me at seven in the morning, anyway?”
“I need to see you,” she said. “It’s… well, it’s work-related, but it would probably be a better conversation to have in person. You up for a visit?”
“Actually, no, not yet.” I looked into the bedroom and saw Maria still asleep and wrapped in my sheets. “I’m currently in the middle of a few things. I’ll have to ask for a rain check until I get settled. I’ll always lend you my ear, though. What’s up?”
Knowing that this may be a more lengthy phone call, I walked back into the kitchen and poured myself a mug of coffee. With the phone pressed between my shoulder and my ear, Linda began her story.
“I’ve told you about all the drug busts I’ve done over in EASTPAC, right?”
“Sure,” I said, replacing the carafe under the machine as I grabbed my mug.
“Well, I’ve always been so excited for them,” she continued. “I felt like I was really making a difference. It wasn’t until after I left that I realized that, despite all of our busts, the flow never eased up. It was constant for us.”
“So?” I re-adjusted the phone back into my hand and made my way over to the balcony. Damn, it was gorgeous out here.
“So,” she replied slowly, “we really hadn’t made the dent I thought we were making. I realized this on this past leg of our patrol. We had a huge bust, and it went smoothly, but I realized that we would just keep encountering more of the same, no matter how many times we go out there. When we pulled in this morning, it was still bothering me. I don’t think we are making much of a difference.”
“Well, every bust is a load of drugs that will never make it to its destination.” I walked up to the edge of the balcony and propped my elbows on the ledge overlooking the water. “You are doing a lot by catching what you do catch.”
“What if it’s not enough?” There was doubt in her voice, which I never liked.
“One bust may not be enough,” I replied, “but it’s your boat plus all of the other boats doing their busts all at once. It’s a huge dent.”
“What if I want to do more?” I felt like she wanted something from me, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure it out.
“What do you mean?” She was going to have to spell this one out.
“I just mean I wish there were a way to really hit them where it hurts. Track the drugs back to the source. Stop the flow before it even starts. We know they’re all from the same source, too. This damn rabbit stamp with some eerie eyes.” She sighed.
“I know it’s frustrating,” I said absentmindedly as I took a sip of my coffee. I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“It is frustrating,” she replied, “and I wish I could do more, but I can’t. I feel like we are barely making a dent.”
“Hey,” I said sharply, straightening up and placing my mug down on the ledge. “You are making a dent. You can’t change the world, Lin, and you can only do so much. Do yourself a favor. You just got back today? How long are you in for?”
“Two more days,” she replied.
“Go out,” I ordered. “Go explore. See some of this gorgeous island. Go visit your dad. Just get your mind onto something else. There’s no use stewing over something you can’t change. Don’t waste this opportunity to do all of these great things just because you are preoccupied with work.”
“You’re right.” I heard a sigh of concession. “Okay, I’ll do that. I’ll explore. But next time I’m in for a while, we are getting together, do you hear me?”
“I promise,” I replied with a grin. “See ya.”
“See ya, Jakey.” She hung up.
I looked out over the rocks and the greenery that tumbled down to the water below. Truth be told, Linda was right. They weren’t making the difference they thought they were making. There was a lot they were missing due to no fault of their own. The Coast Guard can’t exactly hit these drugs at the source, though. That’s not their jurisdiction. The only one who could theoretically make that happen would be someone like… me.
That was a ridiculous thought. I picked my mug back up and took a few thoughtful sips. I heard the rustle of fabric behind me, and then Maria’s warm hands were wrapped around my waist.
“Hope that wasn’t a girlfriend,” she purred.
“It was a good friend,” I said to th
e water in front of me, before turning and breaking off the embrace. I looked down at her, her dark braids rippling in the breeze.
“Come in,” I said as I made my way back into the living room. “I made coffee, and we need to get back to work.”
“Realtors never rest,” she said with a smirk and followed me inside.
6
Linda
I had the next couple of days off, and I decided to take Jake up on his recommendation. It had sounded more like an order than a recommendation, but I hadn’t taken him too seriously. Most people were intimidated by him, but I knew him better than that.
I started off my morning by taking the top off my Jeep. I popped off the half windows in the front and unzipped the back and rear windows, then rolled back the soft top and secured it all. If I was going to drive through a rainforest, I was going to get the best view possible. I packed some road snacks and tossed them all in the center console before taking off. It was about a forty-five-minute drive to get there, and then I would be driving through the entire rainforest, so I wanted to be prepared.
Once I got off the highway, it was pretty easy to follow the signs. It was a weekday, so I had my fingers crossed that it wouldn’t be too terribly busy. As I passed the welcome sign and officially entered the rainforest, I was incredibly glad I had dropped the top on the Jeep.
The greenery arched over the road as I ascended the hill. The air felt incredibly clean in my lungs and smelled just as clean and fresh. The road wound its way uphill, the blacktop cutting through some incredible foliage. Beyond the road’s edge, the forest was largely untouched.
As I approached a large curve, I saw a gift shop up ahead. It appeared to be mostly trinkets and other typical touristy pieces, but the scent wafting out of there pulled my Jeep in its direction. I shifted into park after nosing into one of the empty spots and scanned the building. Off to the right was a small building with food offerings. I hopped out and walked over. Most of what was on display was of the fried variety, but when I looked up at the menu, I saw pasteles listed.