Page 20 of Snow Good to Lose
Caden
Amari was right. I had no reason to trust these guys. I had no choice. We wound through back roads for an hour and a half going 90 mph. The old truck held up fine.
We pulled off the main road and turned right down a dirt path no wider than the vehicles. How they found it in the dark, I did not understand. Perhaps they were used to smuggling people out of Panama.
They parked their car in the overgrown vegetation.I pulled in next to them. Branches and underbrush scraped against the truck. Amari leaned away from the door as if the forest would reach in to grab her. I shut off the engine and waited for further instructions.
Miguel stretched while the little guy high stepped it through the grass. He moved a bramble of leaves and twigs and revealed a small wooden deck. It extended three feet into the water. He stood at the edge and whistled.
I stepped out of the car. Amari slid across the bench and got out on my side.
A small boat approached the deck a few minutes later manned by another short guy. He and the little guy looked like twins.
“Leave the keys.” Miguel walked over toward us. “Our guys will pick it up and store it.”
I tossed the keys in the open car door and shut it. I grabbed our bags from the back of the truck.
“Jose,” Little guy called out, and his friend tossed him a rope.
“How long is it to Carlos’ place?” Amari asked me.
“About six hours,” Miguel answered.
“We’re riding in that little thing for six hours.” Amari hugged herself.
Miguel chuckled, but didn’t answer her.
“Come on.” I motioned to her. “It’ll be fine.”I placed an arm over her shoulder. She stepped away from me.I rubbed the tightness in my chest. Six hours was a long time.
Miquel jumped in the tender. He reached out and helped Amari. She took his hand without hesitation. I shook my head.
“Aye, señorita, my name is Jose.” He held his hand to his chest and bowed.
“Hi.” Amari smiled. He guided her to sit. The boat had benches running the length of each side.
I nodded, passed him our bags, and stepped into the small boat.
“Hola,señor.”Jose tipped his cap. I sat next to Amari and pulled her into my side. I didn’t give her a chance to protest.
Miguel sat across from us.
“Puta, Juan.”
Little guy’s name was Juan.
“Let’s go.” Juan moved his hand in a circular motion.
Jose sighed and guided the boat into the sea.
I hadn’t been in a boat like it since my days in the military. They were always transporting us to tiny villages in South America in small boats. Our visits were mostly unofficial.Back when Carlos and I met. We were kids, both barely nineteen. Kids with something to prove and failing miserably. We found common ground in our mutual disdain for authority. Him from his father and me from my superior officers.
When Carlos' father and two older brothers were gunned down, he inherited his role as head of the cartel and the money and power that came with it. My relationship with him proved advantageous to my commanding officers. Not willing to betray my friend, I quit.
We pulled up alongside a bigger boat. A twenty-two-foot cruiser. Big compared to the boat we were currently in. Amari sighed in relief.
We boarded the new boat. It had a captain’s perch and a small cabin underneath. Jose climbed up to start the engine. Juan went to the front to pull the anchor.
The engines rumbled. He eased it across the water before waiting for Juan to join him.
