Three The Hard Way

by Glenn, Roy

  The moment Mr. Elgin saw Black come through the door, he rose to his feet. "Mr. Black," he said as Black shook his hand.

  "Mr. Elgin!" Black said. Obviously glad to see him. "You are the last person I expected to see. I heard you had a stroke."

  "Yes, sir, yes sir, that is true. But you don’t think a little thing like that gon’ keep me down for long. So I make up me mind to beat it. Every day, I walk up here, sit and talk with the brethren and I walk home."

  "You must live at least two miles from here."

  "That is me exercise for the day and that is how me fight back against the stroke," Mr. Elgin said.

  "Well it’s damn good to see you, sir. I’m glad to see that you didn’t let it beat you," Black said and they sat down to talk.

  Meanwhile, at the dress shop, the ladies modeled their creations for CeCe. She was for the most part impressed with the creativity and originality of their designs. She saw the potential in what they had and how, if they negotiated a good price and could keep up with demand, she could make some money.

  As the mini fashion show continued, a woman came into the shop. Her name was Jacara Delbridge, the local entertainer who Black spent time with on his trips to the island. Not only was Jacara fine as hell, but she could sing and dance her ass off.

  She used to be a showgirl in Vegas and concluded that she would never be the headliner, so she decided to move on. She had come to the Bahamas for Junkanoo, a national festival in the Bahamas and for a short vacation, and decided to stay when the opportunity to be part of the show presented itself.

  "Hello, Jacara," one of the ladies said.

  "Hey, ladies," Jacara said and looked at Alan as she passed.

  Alan took out his cell phone and called Jamaica to let him know what was going on. He listened to what Alan had to say and looked at Black who was still talking to Mr. Elgin. He reminded Alan that his job was to protect CeCe and that included protecting her from Jacara, if it became necessary. He told Alan to let him know if things got out of hand.

  "What’s going on here?" Jacara asked, even though she already knew. She’d gotten a phone call the minute CeCe came into the store.

  "Oh, just a little show for a friend of Jamaica’s. She’s a big-time buyer from New York and we are trying to get her interested in buying some of our designs."

  "I don’t know about big time," CeCe said. "But so far I like what I see."

  "Miss Collins, this is Jacara Delbridge."

  CeCe stood and shook Jacara’s hand. "CeCe. It’s nice to meet you."

  "Jacara’s a singer who performs at a number of places ’round town. In fact, we design all of her outfits," the owner of the dress shop boasted.

  "And they do excellent work, too. Well I’m not going to get in the way. I’ll just come back another time," Jacara said, but didn’t mean it.

  "You are not in the way, Jacara. Why don’t you stay? Maybe you see something new for your show. That is if Miss Collins doesn’t mind, of course?"

  "Not at all. Please have a seat."

  "If you’re sure I won’t be in the way," Jacara said and sat next to CeCe.

  As the show continued, CeCe and Jacara chatted about the pieces the ladies were modeling. About CeCe’s store is in New York, and Jacara invited CeCe to come and see her show. Her purpose in being there wasn’t to make a scene. She only wanted to send a message to Mike Black. She wanted him to know that this was her island and he could not be there with another woman, and she not know about it.

  Once she had been there long enough to make her point, Jacara got up. "Well I got to be running on now, ladies," she said and turned to CeCe. "Miss Collins, it was very nice meeting you. I hope to see you at one of my shows."

  "I will. And if you’re ever in New York, I hope to see you at my shop," CeCe said.

  "Well," Jacara laughed. "I don’t make it to the States very much. But if I do, it will be one of the first places I visit," Jacara said and started out of the shop. As she passed Alan, she said, "Good-bye, Alan. Let Jamaica know that I said hello."

  When Jacara left the shop, Alan called Jamaica to let him know what was going on. Once again, Jamaica listened to Alan’s report and after he hung up, he looked at Black, who was still enjoying his conversation with Mr. Elgin. He decided that since Jacara hadn’t really done anything but make her presence known, he would tell Black about it later.

  Shortly after that one of the tour operators, Clifford Springer, who paid tribute to Jamaica, came in. Everybody, including Black and Mr. Elgin, got quiet as the man slowly approached Jamaica. Before he left the island, Kevon had been very good friends with Mr. Springer. When Kevon noticed him, he spoke up. "Springer, my old friend! How have you been?"

  "Not too good, Kevon. Not too good I’m sad to say. Business has not been what I have become used to, nor that it needs to be," Springer said and looked at Jamaica.

  Kevon glanced over his shoulder at Jamaica. "Maybe you should take care of your business and we will talk when you are done."

  Springer held his head low and continued his march toward Jamaica. He handed Jamaica an envelope. "What excuse you come to offer me today, Springer?"

  "Well you see it’s not that I wish to make excuses; however, what I come to say is a fact."

  "And what fact is that?" Black asked.

  Springer turned quickly when he heard that voice. "Mr. Black." He immediately went over and shook Black’s hand, as well as Mr. Elgin. "I did not see you sitting there."

  "Please sit down," Black said.

  After inquiring about Mr. Elgin’s health, he continued his story. By this time Jamaica came and joined the three men at the table. Kevon also moved closer so he could hear what Springer had to say.

  "You see, the fact is that there is a new operator working the port."

  "What’s his name?" Jamaica asked.

  "Patrick Walker."

  "I never hear of him."

  "A disrespectful old cuss from Trinidad who has been running off or flat-out stealing me customers. He is making it hard for me to make a good living."

  "Is that why you come to me with this?" Jamaica said and held up the envelope.

  "Yes. That is the reason why I can not give you the amount we have agreed upon," Springer said and once again dropped his head.

  Black looked at Springer with his head hanging low and then to Jamaica. "You go on back to your boat now, Springer," Jamaica said to him. "Maybe I call ’pon this man. Have a talk with him ’bout the meaning of good business."

  "Thank you," Springer said and got up quickly. He said good-bye to Black and Mr. Elgin, and Kevon walked him out.

  "Don’t worry, Springer. This matter will be dealt with. You can count on that," Kevon assured his friend and went back inside.

  "What are you going to do about that, Jay?" Black asked.

  "Like I said, I will send someone ’round there to see what is really goin’ on with Springer."

  "I want to be the one you send," Kevon said.

  "That is not a bad idea. If this man is new to the island he won’t know you, and may do his tricks with you."

  "I’ll go with you," Black said. "We’ll take a run at him first-thing tomorrow," he said and continued his conversation.

  When Black was ready to leave he said good-bye to Mr. Elgin. Jamaica stepped close to him. "Let me talk to you for a minute," he said and pulled Black to the side and told him about Jacara’s appearance at the dress shop.

  "You know, Jay, as soon as you said she called you, I knew she was goin’ to do something like that. But as long as there wasn’t any drama, I ain’t gonna sweat it."

  "No worries then," Jamaica said and walked out with Black.

  "None."

  Chapter Ten

  Mike Black

  Bright and early the next morning, I left CeCe asleep in the room, and me and Kevon went down to the dock to deal with Springer’s issue. When we got there and saw Springer, we walked up to him right away. Kevon leaned close to him. "Act as if we have come to chart
er your boat for fishing."

  "As you wish," Springer said and went into his sales pitch. He showed us the boat and told us about his price and what we could expect from him as the tour operator. When Springer stepped away to prepare for the tour, it wasn’t long before another man stepped to us.

  "Good morning, gentleman. It is a fine day for doing a little fishing," the man said.

  "That’s what we come to do," Kevon said.

  "Well, if it’s fishing you want to do, I mean, if that is really what you wish to do, then this not the boat for you."

  "Is that right," Kevon said.

  "This is a fact that is beyond question. My name is Walker, and if you want to experience a top-notch fishing experience, then I only ask that you come take a look at my boat, hear what I have to offer, and I will make you this promise."

  "What is that?"

  "I will gladly beat whatever price he offered you," Walker said.

  Kevon turned to me. "What do you think?"

  "We could at least hear what the man has to say," I said.

  "Right," Walker said and led us away to his boat. Once we got to his boat, Walker went into his pitch. "If you’re looking to do some serious Bahamas’ fishing then look no further. It’s no secret that the Bahamas has some of the best sports fishing you’ll find anywhere in the world. The waters that surround Bahamas’ seven hundred islands are teeming with the most prized game fish."

  "As I said earlier, that is what we come to do," Kevon said and looked back at Springer. He was standing on the deck of his boat, shaking his head, but smiling to himself knowing what Walker would face.

  "This is a small charter, so you will receive personalized attention and instruction if need be. I am an experienced, energetic captain, and my goal is to make sure you have a great time. And I never come home without fish."

  "How much for how long?"

  "Four hour charters include free bait, and all of your equipment is provided. All fish are cleaned, and you keep all that you catch."

  "How much?"

  "What was Springer’s price?"

  "How much?"

  "Only sixty dollars per fisherman."

  Kevon looked at me, and I nodded my head in agreement. "Deal. When do we leave?"

  "Right now, if you are ready."

  With that Walker, his two young crewmen, along with me and Kevon, boarded the boat and set sail. As we headed out for open water, Walker continued. "More and more fishermen come to Grand Bahama Island to deep-sea fish to catch the big one, and many leave doing just that. The warm tropical waters surrounding Freeport are home to some of the biggest and best deep-sea game fish on Earth. Just a few hundred yards offshore are marlin, yellow-fin and blue-fin tuna, king fish, barracuda, and wahoo. Deep-sea fishing the way it’s supposed to be."

  "The water is a bit rough today," Kevon commented to one of the crewmen.

  "There is a hurricane coming this way."

  "I hadn’t heard that," Kevon said and glanced at me. I hadn’t heard that either, and thought that we should make plans to get off the island before it hit.

  "They say it might hit the island in a day, maybe two."

  The entire way out I relaxed and enjoyed the ride. I wasn’t into fishing at all. In fact, I thought it was as much fun as watching grass grow, but I loved being out on the water. I gave serious thought to buying a boat of my own. I had come close to getting one while Cassandra was alive, but since she didn’t share my enthusiasm for the water, I figured it would be a waste of money.

  Once the boat was at sea and anchored for fishing, Walker and his crewmen began to breakout the tackle for me and Kevon to begin our day of fishing.

  It was at that moment that Kevon chose to approach Walker. "Listen, mon, let me ask you a question?"

  "Tell me what I can answer for you?"

  "Do you think it was right what you did to the other tour operator?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, we had made a deal with him to take us out, and then while his back was turned, you sneak in and promise to beat his price."

  Walker laughed. "Well, you know, it was your choice to take advantage of my charter as opposed to his. I did not force to you get on this boat."

  "That’s true, all very true," I finally stood up and said. "But I get the feeling that this wasn’t the first time that you stole a customer from Mr. Springer."

  Once again, Walker laughed, but this time it was more of a nervous laugh as me and Kevon stood close to him. "What you must understand is that this is business and sometimes in business, you must be aggressive if you wish to do well."

  "Nobody understands that point better than I do," I told Mr. Walker. "However, Mr. Springer is a good man with a business to run, too."

  Kevon put his arm around Walker. "You think what you are doin’ is fair? I mean fair to Springer?"

  "All is fair in business."

  I laughed. "Mr. Springer is a very good friend of mine, so what you’re doin’, it ends today. From now on, if somebody approaches him, you will leave them to him. If somebody approaches you, he will extend you the same courtesy. And tomorrow morning, another friend of mine is goin’ to come around, and he’ll let you know how much it’s gonna cost you to do business at my dock."

  "Are you trying to intimidate me?"

  "Not at all," I said. "I’m not trying to intimidate you. I’m tellin’ you how things are gonna be from this point forward."

  Walker turned to his men. "Pull up the anchor and take us back to the dock right away. I want you off my boat."

  Kevon took out his gun and pointed it at the two crewmen. "Don’t do a thing."

  Walker looked at Kevon and then back at me, by that point I had my gun out and was pointing it at Walker’s head.

  Kevon leaned close to Walker. "Are you intimidated now?"

  Walker raised his hands slowly. "Yes," he said quietly. Kevon punched him in the stomach and Walker fell to his knees.

  "You there," Kevon said to one of the crewmen. "Get me a rope," he said and turned back to Walker. "I don’t think you have a good understanding of what I am saying just yet."

  "I understand," Walker said, still on his knees gasping for air.

  When the crewman returned with the rope, Kevon told him to tie one end to the bow and the other around Walker’s ankles. When the rope was tied, Kevon turned to the crewmen. "Now you can pull up the anchor and get this boat moving." They did as they were told and took off slowly.

  Me and Kevon helped Walker get up and carried him to the side of his boat. Then we picked him up by his legs and slowly lowered him, face first, into the water.

  "Okay, you can stop now," I said and looked at Kevon. "Pull him up."

  "You understand now?" Kevon asked Walker.

  Walker began spitting out water and trying to catch his breath.

  "I don’t think he’s got it yet," I said, and we lowered him back into the water. "Move it a little faster this time."

  By this time, Walker’s crewmen were smiling and gladly did what they were told. They thought that Walker had it coming to him and seemed glad to be a part of it.

  "Okay," I said again, and they brought the boat to a stop.

  Once again, Kevon asked, "You understand now?"

  "Yes, yes," Walker spit out quickly before he started coughing and spitting water.

  "Good, man," Kevon said, and we pulled Walker back into the boat.

  "You can take us back now," I said. "But take your time. I love being on the water."

  Chapter Eleven

  It was already raining early the following morning. While Black was making arrangements for them to leave the island before the storm hit, he got a call from Chang. He had just returned to Freeport from his trip to Cuba and was anxious to get together with Black to discuss the details of their venture.

  "To be honest with you, Chang, I was making plans to get off the island before you called," Black told Chang. "Why don’t we get together when we get back to New York? This way Martin w
ill be able to sit in with us."

  "Here is the situation. I spoke with Cristóbal several times while I was there. He is still here on the island. He still feels that we should make an investment in oil development."

  "I understand that. It puts him in a better position financially. But we all agreed; oil is not where the future is."

  "And that is still my position. That has not changed. As you said, when the oil is gone it’s gone. You can always grow more sugar cane."

  "Exactly. So if that’s the case, why are we even talking about oil?"

  "I only agreed to speak with him as a courtesy to Clemente Eustaquio. As I said, Clemente is a trusted old friend, whom I have done business with for years."

  "I can understand that."

  "I assure you that we will take care of our business and be off the island long before the storm hits."

  "So when does he want to get together?"

  "Early this afternoon over lunch, so please bring your associate with you. Martin tells me that she is quite charming, in addition to being very beautiful."

  Black looked at CeCe who was sitting across from him packing. "She is that and so much more."

  "After that, I am leaving the island going back to New York on my private jet. I would be honored if you would join me."

  "I accept your most gracious offer."

  "Excellent. My limousine will pick you up at your hotel at noon."

  "We’ll be ready," Black said and hung up the phone. He looked at CeCe, who was looking at him.

  "Two things," CeCe said and held up two fingers.

  "Yes."

  "One; have our plans changed?"

  "Yes. Before we leave the island, we are going to have lunch with some business associates. And then, Chang, the Chinese guy I told you about, invited us to fly back to New York on his private jet."

  "Private jet?"

  "Yes, his private jet."

  "Why don’t you have one of those?"

  "Not this week; next week maybe. What’s the second?"

  "What am I and ‘so much more’?"