Page 20 of On the Line

He huffed out a disgruntled something I didn’t quite catch. “Listen, Slick. There’s a big trip already scheduled for next week. I’m down a man with Johnny B. You help me with this, then we’ll call it even.”

“One last trip?’’ I held my breath. It seemed too easy. There had to be a catch.

“You do this for me, then you’re done. As long those lips stay sealed, you can forget you ever knew me,” he said.

Forgetting what I’d done with George the past two years was a long shot, but I’d keep my mouth shut. “You can count on me.”

“Good. Mateo will get you the details for that trip.”

“Thanks George.” I let out a relieved sigh, hoping he was a man of his word.

“Don’t mention it, Slick. Ever.”Click.

Ellie was less than thrilled when I walked into the Coral Grill. She barely acknowledged me when she looked up from taking an order. I waited until she left the table to try to catch her.

“Hey,” I said with a nervous croak.

She looked back toward the kitchen, then gave me an irritated glance. “I’m working.”

“I know,” I said, trying to catch her gaze. “I wanted to let you know I’m getting out. I just talked to George.”

She tucked her head and lowered her voice. “I hope for your sake that’s true. Don’t come in here talking about that stuff.” She took off barreling toward the kitchen, stopping to turn before she pushed through the swinging door. “Better yet, don’t come in here. Period.”

CHAPTER 10

Mateo pulled up to the Trading Post in his sister’s Jeep, no top or doors, with Waylan riding shotgun. I hopped into the cargo space in the back. “Why’re you in Doreen’s car?”

“Just switching it up,” Mateo said, glancing over his shoulder but not looking me in the eye.

Something felt off. I watched Waylan, wishing he’d turn so I could read his face. He was bent over, messing with something in the floor though. As we pulled away, I asked Mateo, “So what’s going on tonight?”

All I knew was to be at the Trading Post at midnight. Since there’s no dock at the little grocery store, I came in my truck, confused and half-hoping they’d called it off with all the heat coming down lately.

Mateo shook his head, shrugging. “He hasn’t told me anything except to get you two and go to the marina.”

This was not how the jobs usually went down. We never met at the same place at the same time. An invisible hand behind the scenes moved us around like chess pieces so no more than two people ever interacted. It made sense to me since it was less risky and harder to track. I knew George employed dozens, but I had only met maybe three others besides these two knuckleheads.

We got out of the Jeep in the marina parking lot, no one else in sight. “This way,” Mateo told us as he headed fro the dock.

Waylan wrinkled his brow, scratching his head.

“Alright,” I grumbled, following them down the dock. The sight of George’s enormous Hatteras motor yacht made me daydream for a moment, imagining what I could do with a 48-foot trawler big enough to double as a house.

A curly gray head popped out the back door, interrupting my reverie.“Get in here,” he barked. With that, George disappeared back inside as fast as he had appeared.I looked around skittishly as we stepped onto the boat. George onsite with us was definitely weird. I’d only met him twice before, and he didn’t say a word to me either time.

We stood around the chart table on the fly bridge. George looked serious, and maybe even rattled.

“Change of plans,” he said, pulling out a chart. “The drop is not in the Everglades. It’s now on the reef. You,” he pointed at me, “are taking Johnny B’s Mako and going here.” He tapped a spot on the map marked just past Alligator Reef Lighthouse, right on the edge of the reef. “Your skiff won’t make it in this wind.” He tossed a duffel at me. “Keys are in the ignition. Put the bag in the lobster trap that’s on the boat when you get to the right spot.” He tapped the X on the chart again.

I unzipped the duffel, glancing inside at the black trash bag. My face went cold when I realized he was making me the money man tonight. I stared at the package, dumbfounded, while he continued. “Make sure the buoy is secure before you chuck it, then get out of there.”

“You.” He tossed a second set of keys to Waylan. “Take the fast boat in the next slip,” he motioned with his chin toward the port side of the boat. “Keep an eye on Slick. Stay further offshore and make sure he doesn’t get pinched.”

“And you.” He tossed a smaller, second bag to Mateo. “You pay everyone. The bridge tender. The cops. These two when they finish. There’s a list and a handheld VHF inside. We’ll be on channel 22. Switch to 38 if anyone gets spooked. Meet up back here after it’s done.”

The three of us stood there looking back and forth at each other in shock. We were just dumb kids, never hands-on in any of the drops. We weren’t qualified for this. Neither of my companions looked any more convinced about this plan than I felt.

“Leave one at a time,” George barked. “Don’t be seen together until after it’s done.”

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