by Scott Cook
“Plenty of time,” She tittered.
“Oh, you’re just full of it tonight, huh?”
“I’m trying…” She squeezed and then laughed. “And I meant for me, baby. You know all you have to do is… well, never mind. Get cleaned up and let’s go talk to your girlfriend again.”
I scoffed as I got into the shower, “Not my girlfriend, sugar britches. She’s with that Cooper guy… wonder who he is anyway? Cooper… Geez.”
Ray, Cooper and Nikki were already seated with drinks in their hands when Lisa and I came up the companionway from the wheelhouse. Ray indicated two drinks already prepped on the removable coffee table.
“All right, first question,” I started without preamble. “Who are you, Cooper? That is to say, how do you and Ray know each other?”
The blonde man frowned a little at that, “Am I being interrogated, here?”
“Please just answer the question,” I said. “I’m trying to get a handle on all of this.”
“Hey, I don’t owe you any explanations,” Cooper said, his hackles coming up now. There was clearly something else going on and it didn’t take a world famous investigator Naval Commander novelist and all around sexy bee-hach to see what it was.
Cooper knew about his girlfriend’s former association with me. He had probably read my first book, Choices, when he’d found out and knew all the gory details. He probably felt threatened or at least like he had to assert his dominance or something.
“Cooper operates my fishing charter in Marathon,” Ray broke in. “he runs my forty-two foot Viking charter boat. He’s the captain and a profit sharing partner. Does quite well, too.”
I grinned, “Cooper, I’m not trying to make you feel like you’re being interrogated. I just need to understand the players involved here. I’ve been hired by Ray to investigate some… odd occurrences… in his business of late. And I’m sorry, but it’s no coincidence your girlfriend is here. Is it, Nikki?”
Cooper had started to relax until my last statement. His frown returned but Nikki spoke before he could rebut.
“No, it’s not,” She said. “I assume Ray hired you because he suspects that one or more of his vessels has brought drugs into the country, correct?”
I nodded, “And you’re obviously stationed in the Keys again… and got wind of it yourself?”
“It’s no surprise that after Ravetti Fisheries, and their drug operation, was closed down that somebody would fill in the gap. Nature abhors a vacuum.”
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door…” I muttered. “Okay, and so you and the FBI also suspect somebody in Don Ramon’s organization is smuggling. The question is… why does it matter to you? You’re in the organized crime division still, right?”
Nikki chuckled, “Scott, any major drug smuggling is organized crime. Not the mob, necessarily… but there are lots of other groups. Russian mafia, the Chinese, Middle Eastern fanatics and of course South and Central American drug and war lords. It takes an organization to get dope into this country.”
Ray chuffed, “But why mine?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Nikki said.
“So are we,” Lisa added.
“By the way,” Ray said with a sigh. “My safe, which was located in my closet down below was opened.”
“A box man?” I asked. “Is that what that guy was? That seems… odd. Anything taken?”
Ray frowned, “No. There isn’t anything in it now. I only put important papers in there when I’m using the boat on business or on a long trip. I do keep some cash inside, about twenty thousand or so. It’s all there, though.”
“So it definitely wasn’t a robbery,” I said, rubbing my chin thoughtfully.
“Which means he was after something else,” Lisa said. “Something that might have been in the safe. Do you have other safes?”
Ray nodded, “In my home and in my office. I also keep some important papers at the bank, naturally. No one has tried for the house or the office though…”
“Not yet, you mean,” Nikki stated.
“Security at both is quite substantial,” Ray said. “The office building has round the clock armed security and no one is admitted beyond the lobby without an appointment or approval from one of the tenants. My house has a top of the line security system and I also employ an armed staff. Can’t be too careful these days.”
“Sounds pretty thorough,” I said. “My advice, though, Ray, is to alert both and let them know that somebody may be interested in breaking in. Increase the alertness. So Cooper… have you noticed anything odd down in the Keys? Any strange charters or requests to meet your boat offshore or anything?”
Cooper bristled again. Clearly I’d stepped on his toes and his male ego was having none of it, “Hey, I didn’t come here to be questioned, man. Especially not by some fuckin’ wanna be cop private eye. I don’t need—“
“Cooper,” Ray said in a tone that while calm, clearly held some steel in it. “I hired this man to help me. That means I expect full cooperation from everyone who works with me. This isn’t a contest. Please just answer the questions.”
“I’m sorry, Ray,” Cooper said without sounding the least bit apologetic. “I just don’t like this guy’s attitude. He acts like he’s some kind of big deal who expects people to do whatever he wants. I haven’t done anything wrong and don’t need to defend myself.”
“Nobody’s asking you to,” Nikki soothed. “Scott just wants to know if you’ve noticed anything. He’s not accusing you, honey.”
Cooper’s boyish face reddened at that, “Oh, Scott wants? And we just give Scott whatever he fuckin’ wants, right, Nick? Well, not this fuckin’ guy! Mr. Tavares, for you I’ll say that no, I haven’t noticed anything. Things have been going great lately, now that folks are starting to live again after the pandemic. Nothing odd though, your usual tourists, fishermen who want to go offshore and divers. As for you, Jarvis… you can kiss my ass!”
Cooper rose, stalked over to the hatchway and disappeared below in a huff. The four of us just stared at each other for a long moment.
“Well… that went smashingly,” I muttered.
“You didn’t have to intimidate him,” Nikki said to me in a mildly reproachful tone.
“I wasn’t trying to intimidate him,” I protested. “Just asked if he’d seen or heard anything.”
Nikki frowned, “Well, he obviously felt picked on.”
Lisa scoffed, “Oh, come on, Nikki. That’s not what it was about and you know it.”
Nikki frowned and Ray’s brows went up.
Lisa continued: “Cooper is intimidated by Scott because he knows about the two of you and probably feels insecure and maybe inadequate. That’s the kind of thing a beta male feels around an alpha. Especially one who’s bigger, stronger and better looking.”
“You mean… you two…?” Ray asked tentatively, looking between Nikki and I.
“You should really read his books, Ray,” Lisa said with a grin. “Specifically one and three.”
“I’ll do that,” Ray said thoughtfully.
Nikki’s face flushed a little, “Yeah, Lisa… you may be right. But that was a while ago. Scott and I are just friends now. You don’t seem bothered.”
Lisa shrugged, “Not anymore… but I was at first. After you… reappeared. You’re beautiful and I know what you meant to him… besides… I think your boobs might be a little bigger than mine.”
Nikki chuckled and the tension seemed to have broken. I cleared my throat and swallowed a healthy gulp of the whiskey.
“Maybe you should go and soothe him,” I said to Nikki.
“He’ll be fine,” She said. “I’ll talk to him when we’re done here.”
“On that note,” I went on. “What do you know about all of this?”
Nikki sighed, “Honestly… nothing. But when Mr. Tavares here contacted Jeff Pelton, Jeff contacted me. We’ve alerted Harry Bride, too. Everybody is keeping a weather eye open, as you’d say.”
I nodded,
“Makes sense. Neither one of them is a fan of Feds, as they’ve stated… but I think they’re a fan of yours, after what happened three years ago.”
“Well, if none of us knows anything for the moment,” Ray said, getting to his feet, “then I suggest we join everyone for dinner. I assure you it’s not one we’ll want to miss.”
“Here, here!” I said. “I simply ravven!. Wolverines ain’t in it!”
“You’re always hungry,” Lisa pointed out.
“That’s true,” Nikki said with a wry grin. “It’s like he can never get enough.”
I flushed now, either detecting or imagining the hidden meaning in those words, “Hey, fighting off hordes of murderous madmen, spending hours in a raging sea and having to claw my way to safety might make anybody a bit peckish.”
“It was one dude that you outweighed by forty pounds,” Lisa pointed out.
“And you were in the drink for like ten minutes,” Nikki stated.
“And the sea is calm,” Ray added with a grin.
I glared around at them, “Such insolence! I shall have you all lashed with a wet noodle, do you hear me, there? Soaking! Dripping wet, this noodle!”
“Wouldn’t you rather enjoy a lovely lobster bisque?” Lisa asked deadpan.
“Kay!” I enthused.
9
Supper was delicious. It started with lobster bisque, a Caesar salad and steamed peel and eat shrimp. The main course was actually a choice of filet mignon, stuffed lobster or roasted chicken… or all three if you were intrepid or if one of your legs happened to be equipped with additional storage space.
I had the steak and lobster but forewent the chicken… I’m not a gluttonous barbarian after all.
Then for dessert, or pudding as the English say, there was a yummy key lime crème brûlée. After the meal, people mingled in the saloon or went up onto the upper deck to enjoy the evening as we headed into Port Everglades.
Having had enough of hob knobbing with the carriage trade, I found myself once again on the flying bridge. George and Aleja joined Lisa and I and Ray came up not long after carrying a wooden box.
“Anyone for a fine Cuban?” He asked.
“Always,” George said playfully and squeezed Aleja’s knee. “A cigar would hit the spot, too.”
Ray laughed and passed out two Romeo y Julieta Churchill Reservas to George and me. He took one for himself also.
“What, we don’t get one?” Lisa asked.
Ray looked surprised, “You want a cigar?”
“Si,” Lisa said with a grin. “Yo esta Cubana authentica, meng.”
Ray laughed, “Forgive me… usually women don’t like to smoke cigars. What of you, beautiful Aleja?”
“I’ll share with my daughter,” Aleja said. “These Churchill’s are big enough for two.”
I did notice a slight flicker of something cross George’s face when Ray complimented his wife. To his credit, though, he didn’t react any more than that.
We lit up and I sighed, “Ahhh… now this is livin’. Where’s your lovely wife, Ray?”
“She’s mingling,” Ray said. “She said I could slip away for a bit and have a smoke.”
George grinned and made a whip cracking sound.
Ray chuckled, “She’s the boss. She enjoys the social aspects of business very much. I do, to a degree… but sitting out here on a beautiful night and enjoying a fine cigar and a fine whiskey… well, it’s hard to pass up. Especially with such charming company.”
“Thanks, I am rather fetching,” I noted.
Lisa slapped me playfully, “he was talking about mom and me.”
“Ow!” I whined. “That’s abuse.”
Lisa scoffed, “Yeah… child abuse.”
“Oh, that’s it, you’re cut off,” I grumped.
“Aww man…” Lisa whined.
Ray was laughing and Aleja was shaking her head, “You two are very silly.”
“It’s part of our charm,” I said. “So where’s Nikki and Cooper…? Cooper…”
“They were in the main saloon with the rest of the guests,” Ray said. “I asked them to join us, but the young man didn’t seem inclined.”
Lisa chuffed but made no further comment.
“Any word from security?” I asked Ray, “Have they tried to break into your home or office this evening?”
“Nothing as yet,” Ray said, puffing languidly. “I’ve alerted everyone but no attempt has been made.”
“Ray…” I began hesitantly, casting a quick glance at the Davises, “what might they find? I mean… what do you think they’re after?”
Ray sighed, “I do not know, honestly. I suppose important documents? Yet in truth most of what I keep in my safes is just that… deeds, titles, contracts and the like.”
I frowned, “They planted a thief aboard this ship and had a boat to take him off when he found what he was looking for… I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that they believe it’s something unique. Something only you would have. And that you might store it on your yacht… why would they think that…?”
“That does seem unusually strange,” Lisa pointed out, passing the cigar to her mother. “I can see breaking into your office first. That’s probably where most of your business papers would be. Then the house second, because that’s where personal papers would be. Yet the yacht? Why the yacht?”
“I wish I knew,” Ray said in confusion.
“Maybe whatever the dude was looking for was so unusual that it might be kept on a boat…? Something isn’t right here…” I pondered. “Too many coincidences in too short a time. Tonight, the fire this afternoon… and the FBI poking its nose in…”
My musings were cut short when George’s phone began to chirp. He smiled apologetically and pulled his Galaxy from his slacks pocket, “Hello? Yes… Rachel… yes, they’re both with me now… okay, hang on.”
George passed the phone to me.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Scotty!” Came my grandmother’s distraught voice. “Where are you?”
“I’m coming into Port Everglades on a yacht,” I said. “What’s the matter?”
“Someone broke into the house just a few minutes ago,” Nana said, clearly unnerved. “They broke into our personal safe and… and your grandfather was shot trying to stop them!”
A cold wave of fear rolled over me and I gripped the phone tightly, “how bad?”
She sighed and sniffled, “Bad enough… not fatal, though. An ambulance just left for Martin Memorial and I’m here with the police. The EMTs think he’s going to be all right… but…”
I felt dizzy, “Okay… okay… did the cops get the man or men?”
“No,” She replied. “They tied me to a chair and left shortly after getting into the safe. I was able to get to the phone and call.”
“All right, Nana,” I tried to sound reassuring. “I’m a few hours away, but I’ll try and get there as fast as I can. What did they steal, do you know?”
She took a shuddering breath, “As far as I can tell nothing. But that’s only because what they were after wasn’t in the safe.”
That surprised me, “You… know what they were looking for?”
She sniffled again, “Yes… it was Katie Cook’s map. The one to El Dorado that we told you about this weekend. But it wasn’t in the safe. You have it.”
“I do?” I asked in confusion.
“Yes, it’s folded into the back of her journal. The men specifically asked about it. I said we didn’t have it. They looked all over the house and the safe and were convinced, I suppose. Your Pops tried to stop them and they… well, they left. It seemed like they were in a hurry. They were not happy.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Try to take it easy.”
“Scotty… if they know about the map and know that we should’ve had it… then they must know about you, too.”
“Makes sense,” I said.
“There’s no need for you to rush up here… I’ll be all right. Why do
n’t you come up in the morning? The police say they’ll post a car outside and I’ve got the alarm system.”
“Nana—“
“It’s all right, honey,” Nana reassured me. “But you need to keep that journal safe. I don’t know why those men wanted it… I know what we told you about the land claim… but honestly, it’s probably a hoax at best or worthless at worst.”
I pondered that for a moment, “You’re sure you don’t want me to come up?”
“Tomorrow,” She said firmly. “It’s all right. It’ll be late by the time you get here and I’m exhausted anyway.”
I heaved an unhappy sigh, “Okay, Nana… I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
I passed the phone back to George and swallowed the last of my whiskey in two large gulps. I held the glass out toward Ray.
“What’s up?” Lisa asked. The look of deep concern on her face and in her large sea blue eyes touched me.
I related what my grandmother had told me. Everyone’s eyes grew wide.
“I was going to go down tonight,” I said, “but it’ll be eleven or twelve before I can get there… she says she’s okay, so…”
“I’m very sorry,” Ray commiserated. “This is a terrible thing. Strange too, that at the same time as someone broke into my safe on board, somebody was trying to get into your grandfather’s…”
I felt heat rise into my face, “Yeah… strange. That’s a whopper of a coincidence. I wonder…”
“You think the two break ins are related?” George asked.
“Of course he does,” Lisa answered for me.
Aleja smiled and came over and hugged me, “your grandmother sounds very brave.”
I squeezed her back, “Thanks… yes she is… and Lisa is right. This isn’t a random thing. And I have an idea of what it’s about now, too… although I can’t imagine why…”
“What is it about?” George asked.
“It’s about El Dorado I think,” I stated. “Or my great, great, great, great, great grandmother. But I think she’s only incidental.”
“El Dorado?” Ray asked with a little amusement in his voice. “That dusty old legend?”
“In a sense,” I said. “Not the actual city of gold itself… or at least I don’t think so… but an old claim on some land around the Andes in Columbia. It’s a bit of a story…”
