by Matt Lincoln
“Hopefully, we run into each other again before I leave,” he said quietly. There was a glimmer in his eyes I hadn’t noticed earlier. It immediately put a smile on my face.
“Yes, hopefully, we do!” I said with a wink as I headed out to my bike. As I started the engine and strapped on my helmet, I was glad I had opted to go out. It was a great evening, and I was glad for the opportunity to unwind with my crew. I took off and made my way back home, I was much more relaxed and at ease than I’d been the past few days.
14
Linda
The weekend flew by in a frenzy of moving boxes and packing paper. By Sunday evening, I was finally starting to feel settled in and treated myself to a glass of wine. As I sat down on my couch and looked around, I realized that I had handled the large items early, like the television and the bedroom items, but the other boxes remained stacked in the corner while I had been on patrol. The cardboard boxes were driving me nuts, though, so this weekend, I pored through them all.
When it was done, it felt much more like home. The artwork was hung on the walls, and the picture frames were propped up on the wall shelves. My books were organized in the corner in my bookcase, and my soft gray curtains billowed in the breeze coming through the sliding glass door that led to my little balcony. I sighed and sank deeper into the cushions, enjoying my little slice of paradise, listening to the music of the coquis down below my perch.
I thought back to this moment as I cruised through my work week, knowing that it would be a while before I would get another weekend like that. Before I knew it, it was Friday night again, and I was packing for my trip across the island to see Jake. It would just be a day trip, but Jake had mentioned a beach, so I packed a couple of towels and a change of clothes.
The next morning, I dropped the top on my Jeep, and bathing suit on beneath my jean shorts and a tank top, I headed out into the tropical sun. Highway 22 took me on a pretty straight route, and I blasted my music as loud as I could as I danced in my seat. Jake had asked that I meet him in Isabela instead of Aguadilla, which seemed significantly closer, and it was less than two hours from me.
Most of the trip was pretty uneventful until about fifteen minutes from the end when the road curved, and the trees cleared to expose a breathtaking view. The road bordered the edge of a cliff and down below was the clear blue water, crashing up against the beach and the cliff-face. Up on the side of the road was a small parking area where cars could pull over and appreciate the view, and it was punctuated with a large Puerto Rican flag rippling in the sea breeze.
My excitement reinvigorated after the long drive, I took in the sight as I rounded the corner and almost immediately found my exit. I turned off the highway onto the road that would lead me straight to Jake. It wound between the trees and plant life until it opened up and exposed the town. Jake was staying at a resort on the right side of the road, and when I pulled in through the entrance, he was standing outside already with a big grin on his face.
I quickly shifted into park and threw myself out of the Jeep.
“Jake!” I screamed as I barrelled toward him. He dropped his duffel bag and held out his arms as I crashed into him. Though he stumbled backward, he managed to steady himself and squeezed me back, burying his face in my hair.
“I’ve missed you!” I shrieked. “How’d you know I was close?”
“I was watching the clock.” He shrugged. “I only just got out here. I was getting antsy waiting in the room.”
“I can’t believe you’re here!” I pulled back and looked him over. He had on black swim trunks and a dark gray tank top. His thick black hair looped lazily over one eye, and his emerald green eyes sparkled in the late morning sun.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” he replied with enthusiasm. He reached down and snatched up the strap of his duffel bag, casually tossing it over his shoulder.
“So, the reason I had you meet me here,” he informed me, “is because I bought a house here. It should close within the next week or so, and I’ll be able to move in. I’ve been poking around the area, and I found a few cool spots we can check out together.”
“I love it,” I gushed. “Where to first?”
“Playa Jobos,” he said with a spirited grin. “Beers and sun?”
“Let’s do it!” I exclaimed, and I swung myself back behind the driver’s seat to await his company.
Once his duffel was in the back with my bag, I continued down the road, following his directions until we ended up in a small beachfront neighborhood. He had me pull over into a small, unpaved parking lot, and we hopped out into the open-air bar and restaurant that was nestled right next to a small gift shop. A strong sea breeze blew in past the wooden building, and although I couldn’t see it, the combination of seawater and sunscreen filled my nose, and I knew the beach was close.
He led the way inside, and I noticed for the first time that he was walking with a limp. We grabbed a couple of beers at the bar and walked down the adjacent pathway toward the beach. The trees parted and exposed a small beach anchored by a large cliff face on either side. Gas chamber waves tumbled toward us, hoisting the surfers up through the water in the center, while simultaneously crashing into the rocks along the edges. I watched the water crash and cascade over the rocks to create a waterfall down the sides within the crevices of the stone. The water puddled at the bottom and flowed back into the sea to repeat its journey.
“Hey, Linda. Come on, let’s go.” I turned to see Jake standing there a few yards away in a bare patch of sand. He had a smirk on his face, and I knew I’d been standing there, mouth agape, for a bit too long.
“This is so cool,” I gushed as I shuffled over to him.
He nodded silently as he shook out a towel and laid it down. I mimicked him, laying my own towel down and shimmying off my shorts and tank top.
“Come on.” He waved me over as he stumbled down to the water. “The view is better from down here.”
I followed him down to the water, which was surprisingly warm. Wading in further, I looked around at the other beachgoers enjoying the perfect day. As I scanned the water, listening to the waves crash and inhaling the scent of the sea, I had that resounding thought return to my head. I live here. This job was tough sometimes, but at times like these, I truly appreciated the opportunities it provided for me.
The water was so warm that coming out of the water was actually more refreshing than going into it. We made our way back to our beach towels, and I sprawled out under the Caribbean sun with a huge grin on my face. I let the rays soak into my skin, and when I opened my eyes a few minutes later, I saw Jake sitting next to me, watching the waves crash.
“What are you thinking?” I inquired.
He looked over at me in thought for a moment before turning back to the water.
“I’m thinking about the mess we are about to get into,” he mused. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to best protect you.”
“You know, Jake…” I propped myself up on my elbows and looked pointedly at him. “I’m a grown woman. Considering this was my damn idea, I don’t think I need protecting.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You know damn well I will always try to protect you. It won’t matter how old we get or whose idea it was.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I know.”
We watched the waves in silence for a while.
“So,” I broke the silence as casually as I could muster. “Are you going to tell me how you hurt your leg?”
A slow smirk crawled across Jake’s face. “Nope,” he muttered.
“Aww, c’mon.” I nudged his arm with my hand. “I love a good story.”
He snorted. “It’s not a good one.”
“Ooh, mysterious,” I prodded. “So, you can worry about my safety, but I can’t worry about yours?”
“Pretty much, yeah.” He turned to wink at me before closing his eyes and turning back into the direction of the sun. I had a hunch I’d never get the answer to that question.
&nbs
p; “So, for all of your thinking, have you figured any of it out yet?” I slid my arms down, resuming my prone position on the towel as I closed my eyes.
“Yes, actually,” he said a bit more enthusiastic at the change in conversation. “I’m taking my team down to Colombia the day after tomorrow. We’ll start digging into what’s going on down there and see what’s going on. When do you go back out?”
“My boat gets underway again in two weeks.” I popped one eye open and glanced at him. He was still staring out at the water, and he looked to be deep in thought.
“Okay,” he said suddenly. “The plan is to feed you information. You do your job, and it will hopefully help me to do mine.”
“So, you’ll be feeding me intel?” Both of my eyes were open by this point.
“Yeah, pretty much,” he said. He looked over at me expectantly.
I was confused by the expression on his face. “What?”
“You’re not going to argue with me? Demand to be more involved?” Jake raised one eyebrow, and it disappeared under the dark fringe of his hair.
“Nope,” I replied casually. “If you’re feeding me intel, then I end up looking like a rock star at work while helping you at the same time. It sounds like I get the best of both worlds.”
“Precisely.” He nodded in confirmation and turned back to the sun.
We stayed there for a few hours, enjoying the heat and the people-watching that Playa Jobos provided. We took turns heading back up to the bar for drinks and made some small talk between sips. After a while, I felt him look over at me, and I turned in his direction.
“What’s up?” I pressed.
“I’ve got one more place to show you.” He grinned.
“Sounds good, let’s go!” I popped up to standing, and the two of us began gathering our things. He stopped at the bar to pay our tab, and when he came back to meet me, he had two greasy bags in his hands. Once we were back in my Jeep, I turned to him.
“What’s all that?” I tried peering into the bags, but he kept them from me.
“Snacks,” he replied simply. “For our next stop.”
“Okay, then, where to?” I asked, ready for adventure.
“It’s not far,” he replied mysteriously. “Just go down this road.”
Jake navigated me through the neighborhood, one hand wrapped around my roll cage as we went. I noticed a scar sticking out from beneath the leg of his swim trunks. Whatever had caused his injury, it looked like it hurt like hell. I just hoped the limp wasn’t permanent.
We arrived at a much quieter beach, and when Jake told me to drive onto the sand, the view was spectacular. I carefully maneuvered a u-turn and backed up to the beach. When we hopped out and made our way around to the back of the Jeep, I opened up the back door and sat on the edge of the cargo area, gesturing for him to do the same. He hopped up next to me, placed the bags between us, and opened them to expose the fried snacks he had purchased.
The alcapurrias were my favorite things in the bags Jake had bought. They were yucca and plantains stuffed with ground beef and then deep-fried. The result was a flavorful explosion on my palate, and I selfishly saved exactly none for poor Jake. He narrowed his eyes at me slightly once he realized what I’d done, but he didn’t complain.
We sat in silence, watching the waves crash against the rocks in silence. This was not a beach to swim in. The waves were mean and deadly, and the rocks looked slippery and sharp. The angles at which the waves hit the rocks sent water in unpredictable directions, and I found I could sit there all day. It was mesmerizing to watch, and I was in no rush to leave.
15
Jake
I had brought Linda to my favorite spot in Isabela, and based on the expression on her face, she was loving every minute of it.
“You hungry?” I asked as I looked inside the bag of alcapurrias and noticed it was already empty.
“Starving,” she smirked.
The breeze blew her dark curls across her face, and her hazel eyes sparkled in the sun. She looked truly at peace, and I was so glad I was able to bring her here to experience this.
I pointed out the space under the rocks, where the water was calm. “Depending on when you come here, the tidal pool can be larger or smaller, and it’s actually super calm. A lot of people bring their little kids so they can play safely there. It’s pretty small right now, though.”
“Knowing you, you’d bypass all that completely and climb the rocks.” Linda smirked at me.
“Yeah, you know me too well. Do you remember when Carl used to yell at me for doing dangerous things?” I reflected.
“Sure.” Linda giggled. “Like when you decided to do some BMX stunts in the driveway and took that huge tumble when your homemade ramp collapsed beneath you.”
“Oh, crap, I remember that.” I chuckled. I had done a lot of stupid things as a kid, and that one had definitely made the top ten list. “He also told me that I was setting a bad example for you, and you shouldn’t ever do what I do.”
Linda busted out in a full belly laugh. “Look at us now.”
“Yeah, look at us. You followed me into the military, and now you’re the one roping me into trouble.” I looked over at her and smirked. “Oh, how the tables have turned.”
Linda giggled again. “I feel good about this plan, though. It’s solid. Plus, I get to stay safe or whatever.”
“Yeah, or whatever.” I narrowed my eyes at her in jest. “But seriously, I like it. Listen, if anything goes awry, and we need to pull back and stop operations, we need a code word.”
“A code word? What are we, nine years old again?” She looked at me as if I was being ridiculous.
“No, we are being careful,” I said slowly. “If anyone is monitoring emails from the cartels, I don’t want them to know we are tied together or that I am trying to warn you of something.”
“Okay,” Linda replied hesitantly. “So, what’s the code word?”
“Playa Poza Sardineras,” I said with a grin.
“What the hell is that?” she snarked.
“This,” I replied casually, gesturing to the scenery before me. “This is the name of this spot. It’ll be our little spot. If I invite you back here via email, you’ll know what it means.”
“Okay, noted.” Linda looked up at me. “Except I’ll never remember that.”
“Alright then, how about this?” I cocked my head to one side and raised an eyebrow. She was just being difficult. “If I invite you to a beach, any beach, via email, be alarmed.”
Linda dropped her head to her chest and giggled again. Her hair covered her face, which was a shame. I loved her laugh. I reached over to tuck her hair behind her ear. She looked up at me when I did so.
“Okay. I love you, Jake,” she said softly. “I’m so glad I have you in my life.”
“I love you too,” I replied, cupping her cheek in my hand before pulling back. “I think by now, we are just stuck with each other.”
Linda chuckled in appreciation. “I think you’re right.”
The day flew by way too quickly, and before I knew it, the sun was setting, and it was time to say goodbye. Linda drove me back to the resort I was staying at and dropped me off at the same gate she had picked me up at.
“When will we see each other again?” she asked hopefully.
“I should have my place here soon,” I replied with a grin. “Then, you can come by whenever you’d like.”
“I’ll miss you, Jakey,” She smirked. I rolled my eyes, grabbed her face with both hands, and kissed her forehead.
“I’ll miss you too, Lin. See you soon.” I hopped out of the Jeep, grabbed my duffel bag from the back, and slung it over my shoulder. “Drive safe.”
“I will.” She was the one rolling her eyes this time, but she smiled before shifting into drive and taking off in the direction of the highway.
16
Linda
When I went back to work after my trip to Isabela to see Jake, a strange rush of adrenaline-filled
me from the knowledge that he was out there doing preliminary research on our Colombian cartel. What was otherwise a mostly uneventful workweek was suddenly much more exciting knowing what was going on in the background.
It was a successful workweek as well. I would officially join the Boarding Team as PMC for this upcoming patrol, which meant I would be on the communications system while we went out in the small boat in the dead of night. The fact that this was perfectly timed with Jake’s investigation made it even more exciting.
BMC Sanchez stopped me on Thursday on the way off the boat.
“Hey, XO,” he called as I worked my way through the mess deck.
“Hey, Sanchez,” I replied casually as I slowed to talk to him. “What’s going on?”
“A group of us are headed out to La Placita on Saturday night. You in?” Sanchez’s infectious grin had me agreeing before I even knew what I was agreeing to.
“Sure,” I replied enthusiastically. “What is that?”
“La Placita?” Sanchez’s eyes lit up. “You haven’t been yet? Oh, it’s cool. It’s in Condado. Bars, live music, artwork, the streets basically get flooded with the locals, and it’s a huge party every weekend. If you haven’t gone yet, then this is no longer an invite. It’s an order.”
I laughed heartily. “I’m going to ignore the fact that you flipped the script on me and follow your orders.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m supposed to be taking orders from you. Allow me an exception.” Sanchez chuckled good-naturedly.
“Well, of course.” I grinned. “What time?”
“We are carpooling from housing if you want to meet us there. Gather at Slade’s unit? At seven?” He ran two fingers over his mustache to smooth it out.
“Sounds good, I’ll see you there,” I said with a grin and turned to walk out.
“Oh, don’t ride the motorcycle!” Sanchez yelled after me. “You’ll want to have a few drinks.”
