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May returned from her morning jog on the beach at eight-forty-five, drenched in sweat. “The beach is already crowded,” she said to Alexander. “Is today Saturday?”
“It’s Friday. Didn’t Bat tell you? It’s the Fourth of July.”
“Bat didn’t come this morning. I went to get him, but he said he had work to do. Why are more people out today? Is it a holiday?”
“It’s Independence Day, the day the United States declared its independence from Great Britain.”
“Oh yes, I think I remember now. I just forgot. Cuban Independence Day is October ten. Some people say May twenty is Independence Day too. That’s the day the United States declared Cuba independent in 1902. Only October ten is a national holiday.”
“I didn’t know either of those. It makes sense you didn’t know ours. Americans are an egotistical group. They think everyone around the world should know all about them.”
“It’s the best country. Almost everybody you ask in Cuba wants to come here. Is that why Bat asked me to ask you if you wanted to grill hamburgers today?”
“Probably. It’s a tradition on the Fourth of July to barbeque.”
“Sounds fun. He said he had all the ‘fixin’s,’ whatever that is.”
Alexander laughed. “You’ll find out.”
“I hope it’s on my diet. I feel so good. I ran up the beach a long way and back without stopping. Look at me. A few weeks ago, these shorts were tight. Now they’re almost baggy. When I look in the mirror every day, I don’t see a difference, but I think I’ve lost some weight.”
“I think you have too. You’re doing great. I don’t think hamburgers are on your diet, but it’s a holiday. You’ll have to run a little farther tomorrow morning.”
“I will,” May said.
May went to her room to shower. Alexander poured a cup of coffee and walked onto his porch to look at the beach. May was right, it was getting crowded, and it was already hot out.
It wasn’t long before Alexander sought the refuge of his air-conditioned abode. After turning on his computer and stereo, he logged onto his email account and looked for any emails that weren’t spam. He tapped his foot to Stan Kenton’s staccato saxophone, streaming from Pandora.
The email from Stereophile informed him that a new online issue had been posted. He was about to click the link when his burner phone Bat had given him buzzed with a text message:
Just saw a big boat like the one in your picture.
Where? Can you see the name?
I can. Wait. Oh, the name is something Doctor. From Kemah.
Not the boat I’m looking for. Thank you. Keep looking.
It was the same boat Alexander had seen a week earlier near Tookies. An easy mistake. That was going to be a problem. If that big trawler, Aye, Doctor, was motoring around the bay, many people were going to think it was the Miss Jana and contact him. At least the fliers were working.
*****
IN GALVESTON BAY, ABOARD Miss Jana, Nestor walked onto the main bridge and closed the door behind him. Reymundo was at the helm, his attention was on the small sailboat tacking in front of them.
“Skipper, I talked to Rafael. He likes your idea. He said to bring home four girls. When Gorgonio calls him, he’s going to tell him the girls are off-limits. He’s not to touch them – any of them.”
“Man, the shit’s going to hit the fan when he hears that. I think you may need to keep an eye on him. Where is he now?”
“He’s on the aft deck with Barbara and Lily, the two he thinks he gets. He’s made them put on bikinis and dance around the deck. He was just sitting and watching them last time I looked.”
“That’s not good. He’s probably get’n all hot and bothered looking at them.”
“I don’t like how he’s looking at them either,” Nestor said.
“You got something going on with the tall girl?”
“Captain, I don’t know. She’s been hanging around me since we left Cuba. We talk, and she laughs at my stories and stuff. She’s put her hand on mine a few times and smiled at me. Last night, or yesterday, whenever it was, I was gonna get some sleep in one of them bunk beds. Well, she crawled right in with me. That’s a small bed. We was close. She kissed me. Kind of freaked me out. I get along good with Rafael’s hoes, but none of them ever hopped into bed with me. Least not without being paid to.”
“Did you—”
“No, sir. I kissed her but didn’t touch her. I wanted to, but at the same time, I didn’t want to. I don’t know if she’d let me or not. Maybe I was scared Gorgonio would walk in. I mean, I was afraid he might. I’d give him a fight, but he’d whoop my ass.”
“How will you feel when she’s working on the boat. You know what I mean?”
“I know what you mean. I think it will bother me, but it’s not like we’s in love or anything. I don’t expect a beautiful young thing like her to fall in love with someone like me. I figure maybe she thinks by cozying up to me, maybe I’ll protect her. She’s right. I would.”
“Just be careful. I don’t need you and Gorgonio going after each other. I got enough to worry about with Gorgonio and the girls, especially after he calls Rafael.”
“Yeah, he may be a problem,” said Nestor. “I’ll try to keep an eye on them.”
Reymundo glanced around the boat. “With him preoccupied with the two girls on the aft deck, he isn’t thinking about calling Rafael. That’s good, but he’s going to have to call soon. Look,” Reymundo pointed out over the port bow, “that’s the end of the Texas City Dike. We’re about three hours from the dock. We need to get the girls we’re handing over ready and the four we aren’t hidden below.”
“I can ask Gorgonio if he’s called Rafael. That will remind him. You know which girls you want to take back?”
“Yeah. The two Gorgonio picked out plus Eva and Carida. I think her name is Carida.”
“The two younger-looking girls. You want to take them?”
“Hell yeah. They’re cute as can be, and I think they’ll be easily trained. I plan to treat them well, not like Rafael. We should get more years out of those two than the older girls.”
“Good point. That’s why you’re the skipper.”
“Right,” Reymundo said, wishing he’d not made such good sense. It was a bit disturbing.
“I’ll go ask Gorgonio if he’s called Rafael.”
“Be ready for him to go ballistic. Yell if you need me. Leave the door open.”
*****
ALEXANDER’S BURNER phone buzzed again with new text messages. The first was another spotting of the Aye, Doctor, and the other was a late nineties forty-five-foot Carver aft cabin cruiser. A nice boat, but it didn’t look like the big Cheoy Lee in the flyer.
“You got quite a few texts,” May said. “There must be lots of boats out today.”
“Always is on a holiday weekend. I bet the bay around Kemah is a zoo. I wouldn’t want to be on the water today.”
“With all those boats, if the one we’re looking for came in, would anyone see it?”
“It’s hard to say. They’ve spotted several boats, but none were the one we’re looking for.”
“It’s gotten quiet too. Most of the texts were this morning. Those were the first in a while.”
“I hate to say it, but the people looking are probably fishermen. They were likely on the water at sun-up.” Alexander looked at his phone. “It’s one-forty-five and hotter than hell out there. All but the most dedicated fishermen have called it a day.”
“If the boat did come in now, maybe no one would see it?”
“Afraid so,” Alexander said. “Hey, did Bat say when he was planning on making burgers?”
“No. He said he had work to do today. It would be later. Maybe five or six. He said after the drinking light came on.”
“Damn,” Alexander said, “I was hoping it would be earlier. I’m hungry. Are you?”
“A little.”
“I’ve got some leftover rice and pork chops in the fridge. How ‘bout I heat those for lunch?”
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
Alexander microwaved the leftovers. The two ate in relative silence. Alexander continued to check his phone. No new texts.
*****
“WHAT THE FUCK YOU MEAN, hands-off? You said I could have the girls. I been good this whole trip. Man, I’m hornier than a three-balled tomcat. Let me have a quickie with one of them,” Gorgonio shouted into the phone at Rafael. “You fuckin’ promised. Man, that’s bullshit. I got this tall bitch all picked out. Been watching her prance around in a bikini all morning. I’ve just been waiting.”
“You’re going to have to wait longer. I made a deal with Reymundo. He’s going to work the girls on the boat when he gets back. You’re going to bring back four of them too. I want you to tell the guys picking them up that two got off the boat at the last minute. Only eight made the trip.”
“They ain’t going to be happy.”
“They can’t do anything about it. Have two of the girls take two purses. They’ll be happy they got the drugs. Make sure all four of the other girls are hiding below.”
“Will do. But why can’t I tap one of the girls later?”
“Remember what happened last time? Don’t screw this up. Call me when you get service in Florida.”
Gorgonio hung up the phone, his face was red with rage. Several of the girls were staring at him. They hadn’t understood the conversation carried out in English, but they could tell he was angry.
“He promised,” Gorgonio said to the girls in English. He looked at Barbara, undressing her with his eyes. “He promised. I’m tapping your ass tonight. I don’t give a shit what he said. I’m going to fuck you all the way to Florida. Don’t care what Nestor says either.”
Barbara glanced at the other girls who all appeared worried. None of them knew what he’d said, but they picked up on one word, and his tone was menacing.
Nestor topped the steps. “You don’t care what I say about what?”
“Forget it. I talked to Rafael. We’re bringing four girls back to Miami. He said I could take one tonight.”
“Bullshit. You know what happened last time. I talked to Rafael earlier. The girls are off-limits.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you say about it.”
“All the girls are going to go crazy if you rape one of them. They’ll jump ship as soon as we get in sight of land again. Rafael will shoot your ass – if the captain don’t. He’s going to use the girls on charters. You could say they’re his girls now.”
“I don’t give a shit about that asshole, either.”
“You should. But for now, you need to get the girls we’re dropping off ready. Captain wants to take the two you wanted, Barbara and Lily, and Eva and Carida back. Maybe you should sit and cool down. I’ll get the others ready.”
“Hell no. We’re going to do like we always do. Strip them naked up here, and give them the dresses. At least I get a good look at what I’ve been missing. Snap a few photos for later too.”
“Not this time, Gorgonio. It scares the hell out of them, especially when you start feeling ‘em up. I’m going to let them shower and get dressed below. You don’t need to be looking at naked women right now. You’re already actin’ crazy.”
Gorgonio snorted. “Just get them the fuck outta here. How long ‘til we dock?”
“Captain said he just turned toward the channel. Should be in Kemah in less than an hour. He said with all the boat traffic, it could be forty-five minutes or more to the dock. So, less than two hours. Maybe less if all the boats are moving along.”
Nestor gathered all the girls in the main salon. He explained that eight of them were to shower. There was a suitcase full of party dresses in the big stateroom. Each girl should pick one that fits, put it on, and come back to the main salon. They were encouraged to hang out on the aft deck or the foredeck. In the sun, the foredeck would be hot, so he told them not to stay long and get hot and sweaty.
The girls all appeared to understand the instructions. Nestor told Barbara, Lily, Eva, and Carida they would be staying on the boat. When the other girls came back up, they were to hide in the staterooms. They could take it easy, but whatever they did, they weren’t to look out the windows.
*****
IT HAD BEEN A COUPLE of hours since Alexander’s phone last buzzed. When it finally buzzed again, he didn’t get too excited. This time it was a phone call.
“Hello,” Alexander said, hoping for the best.
“Are you the person looking for the big yacht?” the person on the other end asked.
Disappointed it was not the kid from the bar, he sighed and said, “Yep, that’s me.”
“Well, I’m standing here at the end of the Kemah Boardwalk, and a big ol’ boat like the one in the picture just came through. I almost didn’t notice the name on the back ‘cause of the hot girls partying on it. At least five or six of them. All dressed in short dresses too. I’ve seen lots of girls go by in bikinis today. I’m telling you, the girls in those skimpy dresses were the sexiest.”
“Did you see a name on the boat?”
“Yeah, Miss Jana, Miami, Florida. Like it says on the flyer.”
“You sure? Not that I don’t believe you, but I need to make sure.”
“Sure, I’m sure. I’ll admit I almost didn’t look at the name on the boat. I was too busy admiring the girls.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it. How long ago did they go by?”
“A minute or two. They’re going under the bridge as we speak.”
“Thanks again. I’ve got to run. I’ll get back to you.”
“No problem. Glad I could help.”
Alexander hung up the phone and immediately texted Bat with his other phone: Get here now!
“May,” Alexander yelled. “The boat is here.”
May ran out of her room. “Did you say the boat was here?”
“Yes, in Kemah. We need to hustle.”
Bat walked through the door as Alexander was telling May about the sighting. “That was fast,” he said to Bat.
“I was on the steps when I got the text. I needed a break. What is it?”
“I just got a call. Someone spotted the boat in the Kemah channel. It was going under the 146 bridge. We gotta run.”
“Were they sure?”
“He said it had Miss Jana on the back and several attractive girls in party dresses dancing on the deck.”
Bat sat on the couch with his arms crossed and shook his head.
“What are you doing?” Alexander snapped. “We need to hit the road.”
“What time is it?” Bat asked.
“What? I don’t know.” He looked at his watch. “It’s almost three.”
“How long do you think it will take them to get from the bridge to the dock?”
“I don’t know. Maybe ten or fifteen minutes.”
“Yep, maybe five or ten to dock then a few minutes to unload the girls.”
“I see where you’re going. They’ll be unloading the girls in less than a half-hour. No way we can get to the dock. I’d still like to catch up to the boat. Maybe have a little heart-to-heart with them.”
“Think about it. After they unload the girls, another ten or fifteen to the fuel dock. If they take on a thousand gallons of fuel, it could take up to an hour to pump. Still, that’s only an hour and a half, two at the absolute max before they’re off.”
“Two hours,” Alexander said and sat down.
“It’s early, but it’s the Fourth of July. I checked earlier. The wait for the ferry is already over an hour. The ride across and the drive to Kemah would take at least two hours. We’d never make it.”
“I thought we could try. Maybe the boat has engine trouble or runs aground on a shallow sandbar, but you’re right. At best, we’d make it just in time to see it go back up the channel. Damn! This is our only chance. What if I call the fuel dock? Ask them to stall?”
“You think they’d risk losing a several thousand-dollar sale because you ask them to stall? They could maybe turn the pumps on slow. It would take longer, but if it took too long, I’m sure they’d get suspicious, pay for what they got and leave. If it wasn’t enough to get all the way home, they could head down to Corpus or across to Tampa to refuel.”
“Damn it. I hate letting them get out of here without talking to them. I hate missing the chance to follow the SUVs.”
“This means we aren’t going to find Briana, doesn’t it?” Tears appeared in May’s eyes. She knew what the answer would be and didn’t wait for it. She excused herself and retreated to her room.
“Should you go in with her?” Alexander asked his friend.
“Jeez, I don’t know. Maybe let her be alone for a while. What about the boat? Any ideas?”
“Not unless you know someone with a boat we can use.”
“Nope. Funny, we live on what’s fundamentally an island, and neither of us has a boat.”
“It’s probably best. I don’t know if they’d take too kindly to us motoring up on them in the middle of the bay. Not after they just off-loaded their Cuban contraband. If we had a boat, I’d be tempted, but I’d end up getting my ass blown off.”