Key Lime Blues

by Mike Jastrzebski

  I’d known what was coming when I cut the power so I was able to maintain my grip on the throttle handle. I hit the gas and swung the nose of the skiff at a diagonal to the oncoming waves. The boat steadied and I considered trying once again to dislodge Bob, but I noticed he had somehow managed to hang onto his pistol.

  The gun was pointed at my gut and the scowl on Bob’s face told me he wouldn’t hesitate to use it. “Find my brother.”

  I looked around and saw nothing but the dark hulls of moored boats. I kept the skiff running in a tight circle, and I still didn’t see Willie. When I’d about decided we’d lost him, a cloud slid from the moon. In that instant glint of moonlight, I caught a glimpse of the reflective tape from Willie’s lifejacket and I pointed.

  Bob turned his head, saw his brother, and slammed the gun against my leg once again. “Go get him.”

  I pointed the skiff in Willie’s direction and twisted my body so that I could keep my eyes on him. “Grab the dock line and be ready to throw it to him,” I called out over my shoulder. Another cloud blackened the moon and I lost sight of Willie.

  When I spotted him again I cut my speed and approached as close as I dared while yelling at Bob to toss him the line.

  Willie managed to grab it and his weight tugged our bow into the waves. I turned the skiff toward a large sailboat and towed Willie until we ducked behind it. The bulk of the boat protected us from most of the waves and I was able to bring us to a near stop.

  I idled the engine, and somehow I kept us behind the protective bulk of the sailboat while Bob pulled his brother into the skiff. I was tempted to gun the engine and try to knock them both back into the water, but Bob kept the pistol pointed in my direction.

  When Willie was back aboard, he slouched into the bottom of the dinghy and I turned up the throttle and headed us toward my boat. This time there was no talk about slowing down, but I was aware of the threat of Bob’s pistol the entire way.

  Ten minutes later we tied the skiff up alongside Rough Draft. While I held us against the ladder, Bob looked over at his brother and said, “Let’s go, Willie. It will be better up above.”

  Willie was shivering in the bottom of the small boat. If he heard Bob, he didn’t show it. Instead, he curled himself into a ball and made a mewing sound, almost like a cat in heat. Exasperated, Bob turned to me. “I’m going first. When I get up there, I want you to help Willie. You push and I’ll pull. If we need to I’ll tie a fuckin’ rope around him and we’ll drag him aboard.”

  I didn’t like the rope idea; it sounded a little too much like work so I started pleading with Willie. I told Willie that if he stayed in the skiff there was a good chance he was going back into the water. This threat seemed to motivate him to action. When he started up the ladder Bob grabbed onto the collar of Willie’s life jacket and tugged. At the same time I put my hands on his ass and shoved.

  By the time I climbed into the cockpit, Willie was seated in the corner shivering and crying. Some hit man, I thought. I slid past Bob, spun the padlock, and opened the cabin. I started to step inside, but Bob tapped my shoulder with his gun. “Willie first.”

  I moved away and waited while Willie went below. Bob went next, backing down the steps so he could keep me covered until I joined them. We were all soaked, and I cringed when the two brothers sat down on my settee.

  “First things first,” Bob said. “We’re not much taller than you and we need some dry clothes.”

  “You’re ruining my settee,” I said.

  “Tough shit,” Bob said. “Get us some dry clothes.”

  I moved across the cabin, opened my clothes cupboard and pulled out two pairs of jeans, a pair of shorts and three t-shirts. While we changed, Bob looked around.

  “Not much space on these boats, is there?”

  “It works for me,” I said.

  “You should have given Frankie the diamonds.”

  “I told you I don’t have them.”

  “Too bad. But you understand I’ve got to make sure, right? Willie why don’t you start searching.”

  I looked at Willie. The waves were doing a good job of rocking the sailboat, and he was still shivering and looking frightened.

  “I don’t think he’s going to be much help,” I said.

  Bob glanced at his brother and shook his head. “Damn. It looks like I’m going to have to do this myself. That means I’m going to have to tie you up, Darling. You’ve got to have some rope somewhere.”

  I nodded to a locker behind him. I was still waiting for him to let down his guard, but the damn gun never wavered, even when he stood, opened the compartment, and felt around. He drew out several short lengths of rope and ordered Willie to stand up. Despite his discomfort, Willie managed to do a good job of tying my hands and feet. When he was done, he plopped down alongside me on the port berth while Bob took out a switchblade knife and flicked it open.

  “Last chance.” Bob held the knife out and looked down at me.

  “I don’t have them.”

  Bob grinned, turned to the starboard berth and plunged the knife into the cushion. I groaned and tried not to watch when he slid the knife from one end to the other. He followed that slice with three more cuts, pulling out handfuls of the foam interior as he moved from one end of the cushion to the other. When he was convinced there was nothing hidden within, he turned the knife to the back cushion and repeated the process.

  “Come on,” I said. “There’s nothing hidden here.”

  Bob didn’t answer. Instead, he turned to me, reached down and grabbed the front of my shirt and swung me to my feet. I struggled to keep my balance, but he hurled me across the cabin and I fell onto the tattered berth.

  “You too, Willie,” he said.

  Willie looked confused, so Bob reached out, took his brother’s arm and helped him to the other side. Then he began slicing and dicing the other settee. When he finished there, he turned his attention to the front berth and my mattress and pillows.

  Over the next hour I was forced to sit and watch Bob turn my boat into a complete shambles. He emptied every cupboard, throwing tools, food and clothes onto the floor. He emptied containers of flour, sugar and hardware, and when he still didn’t find what he was looking for, he stood in front of me and laid the tip of his blade against my cheek. “I want those diamonds.”

  “I told you I don’t have them.”

  I watched the rage build in his eyes. For a moment I thought he was going to cut me. Instead, he pulled the knife away from my face, knelt down and cut the rope around my feet. As he stood, he said to Willie.

  “Let’s go. Frankie said if we couldn’t find the diamonds, he wanted to talk to the asshole himself.”

  “I ain’t going out into no little boat again, Frankie.” Willie spoke for the first time since coming aboard. “Not while this wind’s blowing.”

  “You can’t stay here,” Bob said.

  “I ain’t going.”

  “Shit.” Bob looked from his brother to me and shook his head before pulling his phone from his pocket. He called Frankie and explained the situation while Willie sat there and refused to look at him. Bob listened for several moments, closed the phone, and slid it back into his pocket.

  “Frankie wants to talk to this guy tonight.”

  “I ain’t…”

  “I know.” Bob shook his head. “You’re going to have to stay here for the night. Frankie said he’ll send someone out to get you in the morning.”

  “By myself?”

  “It’s either that or you come with me.”

  “You won’t let him leave me out here, will you Bobbie?”

  Bob gave his brother a sad smile. “Have I ever let you down, Willie?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you in the morning. That’s a promise, bro.” Bob pulled out his gun and pointed it at me. “Let’s get going.”

  I led the way back out into the cockpit with Bob following close behind. He stopped alongside of me and called down to his brother, “
I’ll see you in the morning.” He turned to me and added, “Close up the boat, and then you go down first. I’ll drive going back.”

  I held my hands up in front of me. “I don’t know if I can get down into the skiff tied up like this.”

  “You’d better hope you can because I don’t give a shit if you fall in and drown. Frankie will get over it. He’s gonna let me kill you when he’s done with you anyway, and I’m looking forward to it. This whole situation with Willie is your fault.”

  Bob pointed at the ladder with his gun and I considered my options. There didn’t seem to be any so I swung my leg out of the cockpit and climbed down to the skiff.

  When I was settled into the front seat, Bob tucked his gun into waistband of his jeans and followed.

  It would have been the perfect opportunity to escape, except that the engine wasn’t running and I wouldn’t be able to swim far against the waves with my hands tied, so I sat and waited until Bob was seated in the back. He must have been paying close attention earlier, because he had no trouble starting the engine this time. With his inexperienced hand on the throttle, we were soon bouncing our way back to the docks.

  Chapter 16

  I spent the entire trip back to the docks trying to figure out how the hell I was going to get rid of Bob, at least when I wasn’t fighting to keep my dinner down. I had never been seasick in my life, but with my hands tied I was forced to lie in the bottom of the skiff in order to keep from being tossed out. Being thrown all over the place was playing havoc with my stomach, and the hamburger I’d eaten earlier was threatening to rebel.

  As Bob pulled up to the dinghy dock he jumped out. I tried to follow, but I was feeling dizzy and shivering so badly that my knees refused to support me. Bob laughed, and reaching down he yanked me out of the skiff like I was nothing more than a stuffed toy. This show of strength shocked me. I realized I’d underestimated the man after our first run in.

  Bob started up the dock, but turned back when he realized I wasn’t following. He considered my shivering figure and shook his head. “I’m not carrying your sorry ass across the parking lot.”

  “Cut my hands free or I’m not going anywhere,” I said.

  “Not gonna happen.” He pointed his gun at me and cocked the hammer. “Now get moving.”

  “Go ahead and shoot me,” I said. I hoped I hadn’t misjudged his allegiance to Frankie. He’d told Willie that Frankie wanted to see me. I was gambling he wouldn’t kill me until after he’d completed his assignment. I needed to buy myself some time if I wanted to have a chance to survive. He wouldn’t want to have to explain to Frankie what had happened. I slumped down onto the dock and looked up at my captor.

  A surprised look flashed across Bob’s face. His lips curled into a cruel smile and for a moment I thought he was going to take me up on my invitation.

  “I can’t wait until Frankie’s done with you.” He poked the barrel of the pistol against my nose hard enough to bring tears to eyes. “When the time comes for me to kill you, you aren’t going easy-that’s a promise.” He slid the knife from his front pocket, and opened it in one fluid motion. My stomach quivered, but instead of cutting me he sliced the rope binding my hands.

  “You know the gun’s not necessary,” I said, trying to push my luck. “If you’re going to be tagging along with me people will begin to wonder why you’re pointing it at me. Someone might even call the cops.”

  “You think I’m stupid?”

  “Bob, I’ve been trying to get the diamonds back for Frankie since you and I had our little run in. I’m not looking to screw you over. I don’t need you and Willie and Frankie all coming down on me. Why don’t you put away the gun before we head out?”

  “If you keep screwing with me, I’ll kill you. If anything happens to me, Willie will kill you.”

  “I get all warm and tingly when you sweet talk me, Bob.” I started walking up the dock. “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere without you.”

  Of course that was a lie. There was no way I was going to follow Bob to a meeting with Frankie. I might as well commit suicide. Somewhere between the dock and the car, I planned to make a break for it. Bob was not going to be any too happy with me. Neither was Frankie or Willie. I tried to put that thought out of my mind.

  The dinghy lot was well lit and filled with cars, something I’d failed to notice when Bob and Willie were manhandling me through it earlier.

  A green trash bin overflowing with garbage bags offered up a slight stench. Across from the bin several bike racks were loaded to overflowing. Most of the bikes were old and rimmed with rust. I toyed with the idea of grabbing one and taking off. Unfortunately, many of the people living on boats out in the mooring field depended on these bikes for their major transportation needs, and even the most dilapidated of them was likely to be locked.

  While we walked under the bridge a car passed overhead. Somewhere in the distance a motorcycle revved its engine.

  I needed to make my escape soon and I was looking for any opportunity to make a move when a shot reverberated in the still night air.

  I heard his gun hit the pavement and Bob stumbled against my back nearly knocking me down.

  Bracing my legs against the sudden weight I spun around and grabbed his arm. While I struggled to support the weight of his body a second shot rang out and caught him in the side of the head.

  Blood splattered across the front of my shirt. It painted my face and streaked my hair. Bob collapsed at my feet and there was no doubt in my mind he was dead. I let his arm slip from my grip, turned, and sprinted across the open lot. A third shot clipped the corner of the concrete column I was heading toward and I dove for cover when the gun spit again.

  I hit the ground, threw myself into a hard roll, and scurried across the last few feet of pavement, waiting for a bullet to find me. Just when I thought I was going to make the shelter of the column, I slipped on the wet grass. My feet flew out from underneath me, I lost my balance, and my head bounced against a rock.

  I didn’t black out, but I was stunned and unable to move. I fully expected to be shot at any moment. When the minutes ticked off and there were no more gunshots, I realized I was alone. Closing my eyes, I felt myself beginning to drift. In the distance I heard a siren.

  I forced my eyes open as a police car came whistling into the parking lot. The driver slammed on the brakes, and the car slowed to a crawl. At the same time my head was pounding as if someone was using it for an anvil. I was vaguely aware that the driver was swinging a spotlight back and forth. The light swept over me twice, and this time when I closed my eyes I passed out.

  When I regained consciousness an emergency tech was examining me and the lot was lit up like a carnival. Spotlights and flashing red and blue lights reflected off the water and the walls of the bridge. A gurney had been moved up to where I lay. I groaned when I noticed a nice pair of legs swinging over the edge. I looked up and saw Detective Davies smiling down at me. It wasn’t a pleasant smile either.

  “How is he?” Davies asked the man examining me.

  The tech focused a light in my eyes and moved his hand around a little on the top of my head. “I think he’ll be all right. He’s got a hard head. Whatever he hit didn’t even break the skin. Still, he should go to the hospital. He could have a concussion.”

  “Thanks, Sam.” Davies waited until the tech closed his bag before sliding off the gurney. She nodded her head toward where Bob lay. “Why don’t you go see if you can help with the body?”

  She watched the tech walk across the lot before offering up her left hand. I grabbed it and was surprised when she levered me to my feet without any apparent strain. Her grip was strong, and she held onto my hand when I tried to move away from her.

  “It would appear that you made out better than the other guy.”

  “His name was Bob,” I said.

  “A friend of yours?”

  “Not exactly.” My knees felt spongy, the flashing lights hurt my eyes and my head was throbbing to
the beat of the light show.

  I stumbled, and Davies reached out with her other hand to steady me. “You’d better take it easy.” She clamped her hand on my arm and marched me over to the gurney. “Sit down. Want me to get Sam back over here?”

  I shook my head and regretted it. “I could use a couple of aspirin.”

  “You all right by yourself for a minute?” she asked.

  “Sure,” I said, but I was filled with reservations. When she turned away my head began to spin, and I gripped the sides of the gurney, hoping I wouldn’t lose consciousness again. By the time Davies got back my equilibrium had returned, but the headache was now an angry drum roll playing riffs inside my skull.

  Davies handed me a bottle of Desanti water, flipped the top off the aspirin container, and when I held out my hand shook two tablets into it.

  I popped them into my mouth, threw my head back, swallowed, and said, “Two more.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked. “Maybe I should get Sam and let him decide.”

  I snatched the bottle from her hand and took two more tablets. “I don’t need Sam to tell me what I need. I’ve had headaches before.”

  She took the bottle back and stuck it into her purse. “So tell me what happened.”

  I chugged down half the bottle of water while I collected my thoughts. “We were walking through the lot when someone started shooting at us. It took us both by surprise. I didn’t even get a look at the shooter. Whoever it was took two shots at me after Bob got hit.”

  Davies moved closer to the gurney and locked her eyes onto mine. “I can’t help but notice our shooter managed to hit your friend Bob twice, but missed you. How do you explain that?”

  I’d asked myself the same question. I wondered if Destiny had told anyone besides Frankie where she was supposed to meet me. Someone seemed to be more concerned about Bob than about me. Perhaps it was because Bob was more likely to do whatever he felt was necessary to get the damn diamonds back to his boss.

  “I don’t have an explanation,” I said.