In the Blink of An Eye

by Jerry Baggett

  “Nearly five months, sir.”

  “Why did you feel you could get away with short-changing the bar register?”

  “I only took a few dollars, Mr. Marino. My momma and my little boy are both sick. You know it’s expensive going to doctors and I don’t have help with our living expenses. After I paid the doctor, I didn’t have enough left to pay the rent. The owner comes by personally to pick up the money.

  “Don’t hand me that sob story, Maria. You’ve been tapping the till for over a month now. We won’t have you supporting a boyfriend on the side. Don’t think you can ever lie to me. You know I always find out what’s happening in my clubs.”

  “My boyfriend got fired from his job. He took all the tip money out of my purse and ran off. He won’t be around anymore, Mr. Marino. Please don’t fire me.”

  He removed his cigar and coughed hard before continuing. “You are a good-looking woman, with sex dripping off you like sweat. You’re the kind of woman that keeps our customers coming back, Maria. We like you working the bar. What do you think I should do to you?”

  “I could pay you back out of my salary, you know, what I get from the club. Maybe I could get by on my tip money for a few weeks.”

  “You don’t even know how much money you stole, do you?”

  She started crying, shaking her head from side to side. “No, sir, I don’t.”

  Marino slammed his hand down on the desk. “In the last five weeks, you’ve peeled off one thousand two hundred dollars cash, stuffing it into your pocket. You know we keep up with everything going into the cash register. I’ve killed people for less than that.”

  She stood up and looked toward the door, saw it was blocked and sat back down. “Please don’t hurt me. I’ll do anything you want. I have to take care of my little boy and my mom.”

  “Let me think. Perhaps some of our customers would be able to pay that debt off for you. Listen carefully. This is a way out. You agree to entertain some men upstairs with the other girls and we’ll see what happens from there. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?” Maria hesitated, then nodded her head up and down. “Speak up, Maria. You know what’s going on upstairs. Do you agree to that?”

  She looked up. “Yes, sir. Will I be able to keep my job as a bartender?”

  He stood up and raised his voice. “If you steal money again it will cost you dearly, one finger off your hand for every fifty dollars you take from me, understood? That’s our agreement. Obey the club rules and you will be fine.”

  ***

  The nurse used her special key to unlock the rear door to the Jolly Fisherman’s Club. She pushed the door open with her foot. Always conscious of her surroundings, she held it long enough to look over the area behind the building. It was early evening, the place not yet open. She wanted to leave again without being noticed.

  She knocked at Harvey’s private office. The electric lock snapped open immediately. She knew a bank of camera monitors lined the upper wall in front of Marino.

  Her eyes locked onto his as she eased herself into a chair across from him. “Your girls are all together? I’m tired this evening, could use a drink.” He reached behind him, poured two fingers of Makers Mark for each, and they exchanged a few words of small talk.

  She studied the man. She’d always enjoyed his expensive liquor. Her concern – the tremendous leverage he held over her. They’d worked together for over twenty years, but that would make no difference. She figured him to be in his sixties, strong and vibrant. His full head of dark hair had started thinning and becoming grayer since the beginning. She had no doubt he would cut his mother’s tongue out and not flinch. Most who know that are already dead, she thought.

  He turned and put the bottle away. “The girls are all sitting around in the break room. I think you should draw blood for testing this week. You know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” He picked up the unlit cigar and rolled it around in his mouth. “Also, I don’t want our hookers on oxy or heroin. That shit burns them out too fast and the good ones are hard to come by.”

  Smiling, she said, “You’ve gotten mighty touchy about who you offer it to, haven’t you? That’s how you control most of the girls.”

  “We have a new horse in the stable, a good one. Give her a good look-over. We need to be careful with the exceptional women like this one. Treat them right, so they’re with us for the long run. Demand for the new one already exceeds her ability to deliver. Don’t want to scare her off the gravy train.”

  “Is this the bartender, the one with the cover girl looks?”

  “That’s the one. Treat her like family.” He carefully placed the wet cigar in the ash tray. “How are things on the farm?”

  “Fine. I’ll have an inventory of what’s left of that last delivery tomorrow. The oxy is almost gone, but the fentanyl goes a long way. Are we going to have problems meeting demand?”

  “I don’t believe so,” he said. “Were you able to repair the water leak in the outside door to the basement without assistance? There’s a lot of dough tied up in what we have in there.”

  “It’s good to go. One of our people used to be a roofer. He took care of it.”

  “From now on, the runners only make pickups from inside your residence. None should know about the basement. How many people have had access to the basement?”

  “Oscar Fortas, the big mule, was a runner. Now I use him to move goods in and out of the cave. He’s also the ranch manager, doing a good job keeping the place up. He came to us from here in California. No one else has been inside, but lord only knows how many of our people know what’s going on at the farm. The runners, you know, there filling orders for distributors.”

  “Well, there’s still no connection between the ranch and my place here on the island. Better be sure to keep it that way.” He turned and called loudly. “Hans, come in here. You know Hans. He stays on top of everything that goes on around the island.”

  She said, “Oh yeah,” and looked at Hans. “Of course, I know this redneck bastard. Haven’t seen you around much.” There’s never been a need for Marino to know about our long-time connection, she thought.

  Hans smiled at her. “Not since you took that bullet outta my leg. How you doing, hon?”

  She laughed and stood up to greet the big man. “Not getting around much. Don’t have time to play around anymore.”

  Harvey interrupted. “I liked what you put into your last report. You’re doing a good job over there. Just remember, Hans here is my right-hand man. Call him if you can’t get hold of me, in an emergency. There’s been too much rumbling coming from our contacts in the sheriff’s department. I’ve got a feeling the shit’s about to hit the fan somewhere.”

  Oh yeah, she thought. That stuff always flows downhill. This smart bastard will come out clean, smelling like a fresh-picked rose. God help everybody else.

  Chapter 6

  Dick checked the GPS before leaving San Diego. Straight north, on I-405, to Long Beach. He could catch a shuttle boat to the island from there. A nice drive. He was eager to get behind the wheel. Some of his best thinking was done while driving. He connected his phone to the car’s Bluetooth and found his way onto the interstate.

  The visit with Dam and Robbin had been highly productive. He would consider their offer and make a decision after gathering a few more facts. He knew the offer was time-sensitive. His mind shifted to Robbin and how life had changed since he and Dam had met up with her at Virginia Beach. Their very first meeting. Her companion had been murdered while sleeping in Robbin’s bed. It was all about the enormous inheritance she was to receive. Their world had changed since then and he was happy for them. A couple now. He’d give them another call on Tuesday, back on base by then.

  He switched his thoughts back to Samantha, feeling deep down, she would be a key player in his future. His carefully calculated plans were changing. She might be the most important consideration in the most critical decision of his life. He thought about due diligence,
gathering of the facts, and considered it paramount, before moving ahead with his plans.

  “This is hard for me,” she said. “Please understand. We hardly know each other, Dick. I feel guilty just talking to you.”

  “You’re not turning me away after I’ve made the drive down, are you?”

  “No! I’m just clarifying our situation at this point. You will be sleeping on the sofa, and won’t make an issue of it. You promised.”

  “I did promise to be a good boy. We agreed this brief visit was only a test of our initial reaction to one another. Both agreed it was special. Didn’t we?”

  She hesitated a few moments. “I would never forgive myself if we’d lost contact and never met again. Yes, the feeling was mutual. I’ve never gone behind one man’s back to be with another. Please forgive me if I act like a school girl.”

  “Had you rather meet in a more public place, like a restaurant?”

  “That’s not necessary, regardless of how awkward I feel. I’m actually looking forward to seeing you. Are you near?”

  “I picked up the island shuttle boat in Long Beach. We’re pulling into Avalon. Meet me at the pier in about fifteen minutes, if you can. I’ll wait for you there.”

  Dick spotted the familiar figure strolling along the waterfront, only moments later. He couldn’t believe his luck. Sam was halfway down the pier, running to greet him, long tan legs grabbing his attention. She was even more attractive than he remembered. She pointed to a table near the railing.

  He waited until she walked up and kissed him lightly on his cheek. “Thanks for inviting me into your private life, Samantha. I’ll be on my best behavior, promise.”

  She picked up his hand and led him to a stool at the pier bar. “We’ve a lot of ground to cover, big guy. Might as well make it fun. Let’s have a beer and go back to my place. I’m a very private person.”

  Dick dropped his carry-on bag and looked over the comfortably decorated casual room, facing the beach, as if he’d never been there before. “Did I tell you how much I enjoyed seeing this wonderful view on my way through? My butt’s sore from sitting in a cramped space, talking with the skipper on the crossing from Long Beach. Do you mind if we walk down to the beach and back?”

  She looked down at his shoes. “Would you care to change into something more comfortable? The shine on those shoes will get ruined by the rocky walkway down and all that beach sand. I’ll grab a couple of beers.”

  He saw Sam kick off her sandals and step into the sand. He did the same, leaving his running shoes next to hers on a stone paver. She dropped the blanket near a boulder and grabbed his hand. “Watch out for jellyfish, this is the season for the annoying little buggers. I was glad when you texted your intention to visit, Dick. I won’t be coy with you. For some unknown reason, it’s important to be open and above board from the beginning. There are things about me that you may not be able to accept. I’d like to get that out of the way first and see where we go from there.”

  He stopped, pulled her around to face him. “We’re not in a fairy land where everyone and everything is perfect, Sam. Even the best possible relationships between men and women have to overcome obstacles along the way. Unless you’re about to tell me that you have some dreaded disease, I’m sure it won’t matter.”

  She pulled away and started walking. “It’s not anything like that. You’re exposing yourself to someone with an abnormal childhood and different upbringing from that of, so-called, normal people. She stopped and let him grasp her shoulders and pull her in close. “Should I continue, or would you rather look at this as a brief overnight thrill and be on your way again early tomorrow?”

  “I must say, you’re making me nervous, Sam. You don’t have to continue if it hurts to talk about your childhood, or whatever’s bothering you. Have you discussed this with Steven, Doctor Peyton?”

  “God no. I’ve never felt there was good enough reason to air my secrets with anyone, much less Steven. I’ve just received some puzzling news and it has me nervous. Forgive me for my outburst.”

  He tilted her chin up for eye contact. “I’m capable of handling most anything that doesn’t kill me instantly. Why don’t you unburden yourself and let’s see if I drop dead? I’m flattered that you’re willing to share this personal burden with me, rather than Steven.”

  Samantha looked at him and smiled. “It was not my intention to become emotional with you. Hold me for a moment while I compose myself.” She wiped her cheek with the heel of her hand. She glanced back toward her cottage. “Something new has developed since we first met and I’m a little frightened right now. The sheriff just told me the man who murdered my mother was released from prison. You’ll understand more in a few moments. I need to go back to my childhood briefly.” She was obviously having trouble.

  “Just breathe slow and easy for a while,” he said. “Let’s go back to the blanket and relax.”

  She sat down and pulled her legs up, crossing her ankles. “I might as well get this over with. I’ve never really shared my life story with anyone. My mother was a well- known anchor person on the evening news in San Francisco. She was shot to death by an intruder after my step-father left her. I was only four years old, in bed with Mom at the time.”

  “Good Lord! Were you harmed?”

  She hesitated. “I don’t know. Everything’s blank in my memory for the next few years, and nothing before she died. My earliest memory, now, is living with Aunt Clara in Santa Monica. I can’t even remember my mother.”

  “What about your real father? Wasn’t he considered in the matter?”

  “I never met him. He and my mother were living together when she became pregnant. He and another man were killed in a horrible accident on an overpass bridge before I was born. Aunt Clara told me Mom died believing he left to avoid responsibility for the child coming.”

  She sat there and thought for a while. “My mom panicked and married another man who had been pursuing her. He became my step-father, yet I have very little memory of the man. None of it endearing. She was divorced from him when she died. According to Aunt Clara, my step-father had no interest in children. He felt the child would be better off with her and agreed to that in court. She was a wonderful mother to me.” She stood up and looked down at Dick. She could see he was deep in thought. “Now do you see why I feel the need to unload on you?”

  “Hell, Samantha, perhaps you should write a murder mystery, just about your life story. No wonder you have so many pent-up emotions screaming for the light of day.” He stood and gently pulled her up into his arms. Do you stay in touch with your step-dad?”

  “No, they were divorced after a few months. I was told that he found another woman soon after that and they moved away. My mom and I lived alone until she was killed. I hardly remember him.” She ducked down and picked up the blanket. “You need to know this, Dick. The real reason I’m worried. An officer from the sheriff’s department came by to see me this morning. The man who killed my mother spent twenty-five years in prison. He served his term, was released three days ago and hasn’t reported in to authorities as required. That’s why I’m concerned. There’s no way of knowing how this thing will play out.”

  He stood there watching her shake sand from the blanket and turn back toward the cottage without looking at him. “Wait, Samantha. Why are you turning your back on me?”

  She waited while he held the door for her. “It’s just bad timing for you and I. Wouldn’t you prefer to let things work their way out before you become involved with someone you only recently met, burdened with something this horrible?” She turned to face him. “Actually, having the police express concern is what has me on edge. I’m puzzled why anyone would have a problem with me unless it’s connected to my mother’s murder. I was only a child at the time.”

  He sat down, and stretched his legs out. “It’s been a long time since I felt this way about anyone, Samantha. I believe we have a chance at something wonderful. You can’t evaluate or underestimate this threat
until you have more information. We will face the problem together.” He patted the cushion next to him, indicating she should sit down. “I’m willing to share the peril but believe we have to resolve that other small problem while we’re together.”

  She puzzled for a moment, then realized what he meant. “Of course, you mean my relationship with Steven. That is the elephant in the room, Dick. I’m sorry for that.” She moved away slightly and looked up at him. “Honestly, that will work its way out, in time. I don’t want to hurt him. He’s my mentor and employer as well as my part-time lover. If that’s a problem for you, I don’t know what to say. The relationship is rather complicated.”

  “I understand that,” he said. “Just tell me you are in love with the man and I’ll walk away. My own principles would not allow me to interfere in something that serious.”

  She touched his knee. “Maybe we should take that walk on the beach, before cocktail hour. The water’s unusually warm right now, we may enjoy wading in the surf.”

  He placed his hand on top of hers. “Why not? We know where we stand, at the moment. Let’s not ruin a perfectly good evening because of a few ugly facts.”

  Dick laughed as a wave broke over their heads. “It didn’t take us long to get wet and start playing in the waves, did it? The tide’s taken us some distance down the beach. Are you OK with that?”

  “I’m alright if you are,” she said.

  He held her tight against his body, enjoying each moment. He let the swell lift them off the bottom, hold them briefly, and move on.

  She whispered softly into his ear, “Forgive me, Dick, I didn’t want things to move so fast. Please don’t think I’m leading you on.” She flinched suddenly, and pushed away. “Dick! Someone’s in the water with us. I’m frightened. Something brushed against my behind. I saw what looked like a woman with long hair.” She pointed. “The tide carried her farther down the beach.”