2:30 p.m. EST
Outside at the San Luis Mall water fountain, Zack said to Jim, “Wait here, I gotta go make a phone call. Got a couple quarters?”
Jim said, “Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
Jim gave him two quarters.
“Be right back.”
Zack went to a pay phone next to the San Luis Cafe, inserted two quarters and, from memory, pressed the old Bimini Road number.
After two rings: “Tea Company.”
Zack recognized the thin voice of the owner, Jay.
“Is this The Bimini Road?”
“No longer Bimini Road, The Tea Company.”
“Is Mr. Joe Case, there?”
“Joe Case no longer here, nope.”
“Oh. Well, this is Carl at Verizon. We’re conducting research on pay phone locations. Do have a pay phone at your business?”
“Who is this? I’m busy here, Jessa Chriss.”
“It’s for environmental research, sir, do you have a pay phone there?” Zack asked again.
“Yes, by the entrance, but I’m not interest in monkeying around with you right now, everybody have cell…waste a money…busy as one-arm man in ass-kicking contest.”
Zack thought, He has that mixed up, said, “I understand, but just so I can complete my research, what is that number?”
“What number?”
“The pay phone number.”
“Jesus ChristI don’t know…nobody use…everybody cell…”
“Could you do me a big favor, get the payphone number, would appreciate it much.”
“Jesus Christ…”
“Please.”
Ten second later, Zack heard Jay say, “Number is 555-3552.”
“Thank you very much.”
Zack hung up and dialed the pay phone number.
After ten rings, Jay answered. “Ha-low.”
“Hi, Jay, this is Zack Stearn, editor of The Boca, remember me?”
“How could forget?”
“I got a fax from Joe Case, the former owner”
“You just call me? Telephone man?”
“Yes, your business phone is probably bugged.”
“Pinko basteeds.”
“What’s with the fax I got, up is down, first to know, Bohemia coming up, call for J.C. at T. T. C.”
“Somebody was in, you know, a Pi friend of Joe Case. Said you would be calling, said Joe need to see you. Have some kind of up-down, down-up, I don’t know, proof—he need to show you.”
“You’re kidding.”
“You’re kidding—from a big shot journalist? What is that?”
“I know, but what’s up?”
“What’s up? How do I know? Joe fucking crazy, you know Joe. He need see you, something. That’s all I know. You better go. Pi guy said if you call, give you message. I don’t know nothing. You think my business phone is bugged, huh?”
“I think.”
“Pinko basteeds.”
“Where?”
“Where who?”
“Where is Joe?”
“To Bimini, Pi guy say Brown’s Marina, go to quick.”
“But”
“But what? You confuse me, I don’t know nothinggotta gobusy as a one-arm man in an ass-kicking contest.”