by Nash, M. G.
Their conversation ended when two of the men strolled back into the lobby. Storing his bag behind the office Bob walked with them into the bar where they found Jose chatting with the fishing boat captains.
“Are we ready to catch some marlin tomorrow?” greeted Jose as the men pulled up stools at the bar. He introduced the fishing boat captains and served cold Coronas to everyone. “The fishing boats did well today,” Jose reported. We weighed in a big marlin at the scale – over one hundred pounds. And, we got hits on some grouper.”
“Both boats will be ready to go by eight,” Bob reminded everyone. “The contest runs for six hours so whoever catches the biggest fish wins five hundred dollars.
As all the men gathered, Bob guided them to the dining room tables where a Mexican buffet was prepared.
Early the next morning Bob met Alfredo as he and Jose ate breakfast together in the café. Alfredo was about the same age as Jose, but he had a more tailored Latin look from his business experience. Bob noticed the manicured nails and expensive watch when he joined them at their table.
“Nice to meet you, Bob,” greeted Alfredo, “I understand we’ll be fishing on the same boat today.”
“Yes,” Bob agreed, “Jose and I are leads for each team. He’s got his secret fishing place and I’ve got mine,” he joked. “When this tournament is over today, I’d sure like a few minutes with both of you tonight. Is that possible – maybe right after dinner before any serious drinking begins at the bar?”
“Sure,” Alfredo confirmed turning to Jose, “Will Marta be OK if you have another long weekend with the boys?”
“I’ve been preparing her all week that this tournament was important for the motel. We are full for three days in a row, she can’t complain about that.”
Alfredo looked at Bob and commented, “Maybe we can talk a little on the boat. I’ll catch you up on our conversations,” as he nodded to Jose.
The three men rose from the table to head toward the boat launch area. They could feel the camaraderie of the men as they approached the fishing boats. Jocular exchanges filled the air. The tales about the fish that got away had already started.
Jose loaded up his team and headed out across the water. Right on time – that should make the gringos happy, he thought to himself. He was determined to win today so he could show Alfredo and Bob that he could run a good tournament.
Bob had his team ready so they hit the water right behind the first boat. He watched as Jose’s boat turned to the right. He had fished in Jose’s favorite spot before and he wanted to try ten miles further out where he thought the marlin were running in open water. His captain revved up the engines to cross the water quickly. When they were several minutes out, the captain called Bob over to report an engine light had come on.
“It ran fine yesterday, senor, I don’t understand why it’s overheating now” explained the captain as he and Bob looked at the steadily climbing temperature gauge for the right engine. Bob called Alfredo over just in case some translation was needed. After briefly discussing the problem, Bob asked Alfredo to communicate with the captain in Spanish.
“Has this ever happened before so quickly from the shore?” Bob asked. Alfredo translated his question and the captain shook his head. Bob looked at the gauges again and tried to be logical; Is the engine getting water, or has a water pump gone bad, maybe another belt? As he asked himself these questions, Bob looked at the stern noticing one exhaust was not spitting water.
“Can one of the boat mates dive under the boat to see if the water intake to the engine has been blocked?” Bob asked.
Alfredo nodded, “That’s worth checking out. The bay in La Paz gets so littered we had a plastic bottle block the intake valve on my boat last year.”
Bob instructed the captain to stop so they could check under the boat before they turned around. Within minutes the young mate was over the side with a snorkel and mask, and Bob was explaining to the fishermen that they would have a brief delay.
It wasn’t long before the mate’s head was bobbing in the water. He held up a white plastic bag in his hand and swam back to the boat. “I think we found our problem,” Bob said grimly watching the captain help the mate aboard. The young man immediately chattered quickly to the captain and Bob turned to Alfredo for help.
“He says the bag was stuffed into the water intake valve for the engine. He had to pull it out; it was wadded up and pushed in tightly.” Bob watched the young man’s hand motions and knew intuitively that someone had to do that on purpose. Was this another message to him? He thought silently. He shook his head and set that thought aside.
“Let’s get this boat moving,” Bob ordered and turned back to share the good news with his team. They took the story in stride as a small problem. Confirming the engine was cooling down and spitting water out of the exhaust, Bob grabbed his first beer of the day to salute the captain. Once the boat was churning through the water, he let out a sigh and slipped away to tip the boat mate for his good work.
Bob and Alfredo had their heads together over a map that showed the gulf’s depth. They were almost at the right place for the best fishing. The men were busy preparing their lines so Bob took a moment to share his thoughts with Alfredo. “I think we just witnessed a second sabotage by the timeshare company. They don’t want fishing parties coming to this cove to make it profitable,” Bob said quietly.
“I did learn this week that the timeshare company tried to buy controlling interest in The Spa Motel in Los Barriles,” Alfredo said, “But there were too many family members involved to get agreement. Maybe they think Pleasure Cove is an easier target.”
“Now you see why it’s so important that we talk tonight,” stressed Bob. “I haven’t told Jose, yet, but Dave’s plane was sabotaged last week. They aren’t doing anything serious, just enough trouble to convey a message.” Alfredo nodded his head and returned to the map to pinpoint their fishing location.
It was a clear, hot afternoon as the boats returned at two o'clock. The men were in good spirits from their time on the water, especially since the fishing had been good. The hot sun had stripped them down to swim trunks and their skin gleamed from the ocean spray. When the catch was weighed, it became clear that Jose’s team won the day with a hundred fifty pound marlin. Jose lifted a beer to his crew and team, “Gracias, amigos. The first beers are on Bob. He’s such a good loser.”
Bob took the joking in stride and shook hands with everyone before arranging for the men to enjoy some of their catch in this evening’s meal. They had earned a feast with their efforts today. Of course, the rest of the catch would be shared throughout the village. It built such a rapport with the families that Bob insisted that nothing go to waste.
Once the men got their fill of grilled Dorado with beans and rice, they moved out to the palapa to enjoy the sunset. He could hear rumblings of a card game starting. Bob gave the bartender a box of cigars to share and a generous tip to keep the fishermen happy while he slipped away to meet with Alfredo and Jose.
Chapter 12
Jose walked into the back office in a confident mood. He was sure he had proven himself today. His mood quickly changed when he learned that the second boat had been sabotaged. “Jose,” Bob continued, “I learned from Dave that his plane had been sabotaged after all. I waited to tell you this in person because I suspect someone here at the motel is creating these problems for the timeshare company.”
“We know the same company tried to buy into The Spa last year,” added Alfredo. “So, what can we do to discourage them from this property?”
“If Marta had her way, we would sell to them and move to the mainland so the kids could get a college education,” Jose complained. “She thinks it will bring more jobs to the village and we would have a much better life with the payout. I could start my own taxi company. ”
Bob shook his head, “I disagree, Jose. They will give you a lowball offer and this village will change forever. Timeshare firms don’t treat their employees well becau
se it’s seasonal.”
Alfredo shook his head in agreement. “We do hear those stories from Cabo San Lucas.”
“Do you have any idea who’s working for the timeshare company?” Bob asked Jose. “Who is the last employee hired; maybe they were sent as a spy for information?”
“Pedro would know since he covers the front desk and all the employees check in there,” Jose answered. Bob felt he had the entrance he needed to talk about the private investigator.
“At this point, we have to wonder about Pedro, too, since he hears every phone call that comes in. He knows I’m involved and he understands English so he can report everything I do or say. I think it’s the right time to bring in a private investigator. Someone we plant right here to check out all the employees. I interviewed one this week who has worked in motels before and she’s available to start this week.”
“You mean spy on our own people,” frowned Jose shaking his head in disbelief.
“Someone is creating mischief for you, Jose,” asserted Alfredo with his arms open, “how do you suggest we find them?”
Bob sat quietly and let Jose think. He knew he should let the family members figure this out as much as possible. He waited patiently for one of them to speak.
“I think it’s a good idea but only for a short time,” Alfredo added calmly. “Let someone else do your dirty work, Jose, so you can step in at the end and be the leader solving the problem. The employees will respect you for that.”
“This lady comes highly recommended,” Bob jumped in, “She was willing to fly down tomorrow to meet you both, and thought she should work as a maid so she had access to the whole place.”
“And who’s going to pay her salary, my friend?” asked Jose sarcastically, “We can’t afford to add another worker right now.” He was unhappy that this meeting was not going the way he wanted.
“I will cover her salary for two weeks and pay her expenses to get here. Her name is Juanita Lopez and she knows the area fairly well. Alfredo, can she stay in your cottage if she’s very discreet about it?”
“We could always say I sent her down as a cleaner to get the house ready for summer, and she’s picking up extra hours at the motel,” Alfredo suggested. “What if we mounted a security camera inside my house? It could record anyone who walked into Mary’s house so we would have a good handle on the activity. Juanita could check the tapes for us.”
“That’s a great idea. It might tell us more about Miguel, too. Did you learn anything about him this week, Jose?”
Jose shook his head and leaned forward in his chair. “The bartender told me he worked on a cruise ship and ended up in Cabo before he found his way down here. I did chat with the local postman. He says the man who owns the lot with the palm fronds does that every year. He trims back the trees, piles up the fronds to dry them out then gives them to his cousin who does thatching.”
Bob pulled out the lanyard he kept as evidence. “Anyone know how this badge got to our beach?” He gave it to Alfredo.
“I don’t recognize it,” commented Jose as he watched Alfredo turn it over in his hands.
“My dealership has sold the golf resort a couple of trucks. Let’s show it to Juanita. We might be able to pick up some fingerprints from it. I have a friend in the police department in La Paz who will run prints for me.”
“Well, we answered some questions and raised some new ones. That’s exactly what I expected,” Bob concluded. “There’s just one last thing to discuss. I met with an attorney who has practiced law in South America. He suggested the quickest way to stall and discourage these timeshare folks is to put the motel in a family trust.”
Bob heard Jose’s moan in reaction to his statement. When he looked over, Jose held his head in his hands and was looking down at the floor. “No way,” Jose replied without making eye contact. “That puts a bank in charge of our money.”
Alfredo looked at Bob and then at Jose. He could feel the tension building. So, he framed his response carefully, “It depends on the bank, Jose. I have my house in a trust to protect my family in case the business has difficulty. Why don’t I talk to my banker for you? If he agrees to reasonable guidelines, it could actually help the motel operate under a better budget.”
“That’s just it,” complained Jose in a hot rush. “All of a sudden we have to have an accountant, we have to record every expense, and it’s just a bunch of details that take more time.” He waved his hands in displeasure.
“If Pedro checks out OK, then maybe he could keep a ledger of expenses for you in his downtime at the front desk. He did impress me at how well he checked in the guests this weekend.” Bob stood and walked over next to Jose to force him to look up. “We can find an answer to each of your concerns, Jose. All we need is to protect this place as soon as possible so this sabotage stops. A quick legal maneuver is the simplest solution.”
“I will call my banker on Monday, Jose. Let me see what terms I can negotiate for you. Then you can drive up and meet him at my office so we can talk in private,” Alfredo said in a reassuring tone.
“I like things just the way they are,” Jose stood up in frustration and paced the room. “I can take care of everything. Why don’t you both just leave this to me?”
“Then why did you come to me asking for help and a loan?” Bob pressured. He was beginning to see that part of the problem was Jose’s leadership. He was a charming man who handled people well but he was undisciplined and stubborn.
“I talked to you about the loan before the timeshare company even contacted me,” Jose said defensively as he turned away from Bob.
“Yes, and the minute you started spending money, they made their move, right?” Bob reminded him. “They didn’t want you making improvements. That’s when the sabotage began. They could have been behind the bribes you had to pay for the building permits.”
Jose’s shoulders slumped. He could see that he was not going to win this battle. The victory of today was fading and he felt trapped. He needed time to think so he tried a stall, “Let’s take one step at a time,” he said impatiently slicing his hand through the air. “We’ll meet Juanita tomorrow and see what she finds out in her first week. If Pedro is the plant, I will fire him to send a message to the developers. If that doesn’t back them off, then we can talk about the trust, but I’m telling you right now I’m dead set against it. I’m in charge here.” His steely look at Bob conveyed his anger.
Everyone nodded agreement to the plan and stood to leave the room. “I pick up Juanita tomorrow at two,” Bob said, “Why don’t we meet with her at three? Write down any questions you have for her.” He walked up to Jose and patted him on the shoulder, “We all know this means changes, Jose, and you will bear the burden of them. We’re only to trying to help you hold on this place, amigo. Remember we’re on the same side.”
After Bob left the room, Jose turned to Alfredo, “Any words of wisdom from you?”
“No, I think we’ve said enough. Now we wait. Come on, Jose, I’ll buy you a beer.” He stood and touched Jose’s shoulder. “We need to leave this behind and join the guys. Remember they are paying customers.”
Bob walked outside and headed down the beach. He needed to let go of this frustration or he would simply drink himself into a stupor. He looked up at the sky and let out a deep breath. He noticed the stars were coming out and it reminded him of Carrie. They had stood on this same beach just a week ago. He wished she was here. Maybe he could call her for a minute. He pulled out his cell and dialed her number. The phone rang several times and just when he was about to hang up she picked up the phone.
“Hi, this is Carrie,” she answered in a breathy voice.
“Hi, it’s Bob, I’m looking up at the Big Dipper and I thought of you.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you called,” she replied after her voice returned. “I was doing pilates on the floor and had to run for the phone. How’s the fishing?”
“We had a great day on the water. There was a little boat difficulty this m
orning but we got it solved. The tournament was a success and the motel is sold out for the weekend.”
“Any more trouble from the timeshare company?” asked Carrie. Bob smiled knowing she was curious about what was happening. He thought it best to share some information so she felt included.
“We just finished a meeting about that subject. Jose is mad at me now because I’m insisting that we do something to stop them and he seems to think he can make them just go away by ignoring them.”
“I see,” Carrie said slowly, “Jose doesn’t wanna take orders from the gringo, huh.” Bob laughed at how well she grasped the situation. “I knew you could make me laugh, Carrie, it’s just what I needed.”
“Oh, I’m right there with you, babe. I bet you’re standing where we looked at the stars. I remember how you like to be outside at night.”
“Am I that predictable?” Bob asked as he turned to confirm her comment. Damn, she’s right, he thought and shook his head as he dug his feet in the sand.
“No way, Bob, you are full of surprises. I’m shocked you called lil’ole me while you’re on a fishing trip with the boys. Are you sure everything’s OK? Maybe you really just want phone sex,” she finished in a husky voice.
“That’s my girl,” Bob chuckled, “You could burn up this phone if you set your mind to it. I have no doubt about that.”
“Well, let’s see. I’m wearing a red leotard with snaps in the crotch. Oops, I just popped one. Wait, there goes another. Ah-h, freedom, I can spread my legs so-o wide. They want to wrap around you. Come closer now,” she whispered into the phone.
Bob laughed out loud, “I’m getting hard just listening to you. Thank you, love, I wish you were here with me. I would love to kiss you all over.”
“That’s probably the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I’ll call you the minute I get home,” he promised, “And I want to see you in that red leotard, sweetheart.”
