Smugglers 1: Nikki (5 page)

CHAPTER 7

The “Major” came out and said that he had heard about Auschultz, that he was sorry and asked Nikki if he could be of any help. After delivering his condolences, he went to his car. Nikki stayed a few minutes more talking to Mercedes then went to work on the dock.

Soon it was Sunday, and Glenn thought he would take Nikki and the people on the Pipefitter out on his boat and go bar hopping.

They had not been out more than an hour when the first DEA boat stopped them and went through the boat from stem to stern, and from bimini top to water line. They even made Glenn blow in a device to do an alcohol test at noon. That was one of three stops that day, all with searches and questions about the guests and Jim.

When they got back to the dock, they all went to Nikki’s apartment and had more to drink. Patrick went to get his coke. They all partook except Glenn. It was four in the morning when Patrick and his friends finally went back to their boat. Nikki and Glenn made love until the sun came up, then fell asleep in each other’s arms. Glenn didn’t wake up until 11 o’clock. When he opened his eyes, Nikki was just laying there in his arms staring at him with a tear running down her face.

“What was that all about yesterday with the DEA, the Coast Guard, and the Water Patrol? What the hell is going on? Why are they on your shit so bad? And don’t tell me that it’s because you were Jim’s friend. Shit doesn’t go on like that if you two were just friends! Glenn, they’ve been on this dock three or four times and stopped us three times in one day. What was Jim doing or what were you and Jim doing? Look, Glenn, I’ve been in the Keys for over fifteen years, and I know smugglers when I see them. What’s going on? What happened to Jim? Where were you that night?” she said with concern.

“I was here, asleep upstairs. I don’t know anything about Jim or his business,” replied Glenn. He took his coffee and went outside to his boat.

On the way he ran into Dave, the cop from apartment two. It was his day off. He walked to the boat with Glenn. Glenn could smell the whiskey on his breath and saw that his glass was full, too.

“They have your cell phone records for the past several years to see if you called Jim or any big boats at night,” Dave said.

“They’ll see I called Jim a lot. He was my best friend, and we went fishing all the time,” exclaimed Glenn.

Little did they know that every time Glenn went to Miami he made several stops and bought three or four Trac phones. So he never called the mother ship on his phone, and the Trac phones couldn’t be traced, and those phones got the deep six treatment on the way back from each run. He never used the same phone more than once, and they were not in his name. He always paid cash in several stores in Miami, and he never bought them at home.

Glenn thought, ‘As far as what Dave said to me about my cell phone bills and the cops, this business is like a real high stakes Texas Hold’em game. You get more from what your adversary does and says than the cards. Empty wagons rattle the most. It’s better to be quiet than speak up and prove you’re a fool. My dad and mom were bush smugglers here, and my granddad and grandma ran rum and scotch before them. Consequently they never, that’s never talked to strangers as you would end up in jail.’

Glenn took the boat out for a while and ran it at one hundred mph. Then he tied it back up. The ride felt great and gave him time to think about his next move and what the cops would do when they found nothing in his cell phone bills or his being friends with Jim. His finger prints were all over Jim’s house but they were supposed to be. He was his friend for many, many years.

It was Saturday, and Glenn was having coffee with Nikki and several of the tenants. Dave the cop was sober and at work in town. There were five cops in the department all together including the Chief. They had very little to do. They were either old and close to retirement or young and stupid with nothing to do. Being a cop in town meant they were all badge heavy rednecks. They had grown up in the Keys, and either their grandparents, parents or themselves  had been or were involved in the smuggling business. If you stopped one of these cops to ask how far Key West was, he would tell you and pull off without saying another word or even goodbye. You just didn’t talk to strangers. Someone may see you and misunderstand and take you fishing out to the Ditch. It didn’t matter who you were, what you did for a living, or who your mother and father were.

They were all having Bloody Marys on the dock when Patrick from the Pipefitter came out to invite them out on his boat for a ride and drinks, and then maybe they would go to lunch. Everyone agreed to go.

Nikki and Glenn went home and changed, got something for drinks, suntan lotion and then got on The Pipefitter. Glenn told Patrick what happened yesterday and advised him to take everything off the boat that wasn’t legal, the bush, crack, money or guns, and leave them in his dock box.

When they left the dock the sun was hot, the ocean and sky were blue and the drinks flowed like water. They were only out about an hour when they were pulled over by the Water Patrol.

Glenn knew they just didn’t do this, not to a fifty-footer or bigger, and this was a fifty-footer. They boarded, went below, and went through drawers, closets, tool boxes, everything. They rummaged around for over thirty minutes. They gave Patrick a ticket for an unlocked through hole fitting, from the holding tank to the ocean. It could only be open or unlocked while out at sea. They finally left, but everybody on board knew what was going on. They were all involved, the Water Patrol, the Coast Guard, the DEA, and the Sheriff’s Department, but not the town cops. They were too close to everybody on the Keys. They had grown up here and would tell someone, who would tell Glenn what was going on. That was why the town cops were always kept in the dark.

The Pipefitter continued out to sea, and the drinking also continued, but everyone was quiet and uneasy. All six of them knew there was something amiss. The DEA knew something they weren’t sharing, but they had an idea that Jim and Glenn were connected some way, somehow. Patrick thanked Glenn for telling him to put his stuff in the dock box.

They went to lunch at a Bar and Grill then headed home. The laughter was at a minimum. The stop had taken the partying out of everyone. They returned to the dock, had a couple more drinks on the Pipefitter, and then went home. Glenn and Nikki returned to her apartment.

“Glenn, what’s going on? Why are we being stopped every time we go out no matter whose boat we’re on?” inquired Nikki.

“I don’t know. Because I was Jim’s best friend I guess,” replied Glenn.

“Bullshit! Don’t try to get me to swallow that shit. I don’t have to eat the whole cow to know its beef. You and Jim were dirty or you’re dirty! I’ve been here fifteen years, and I’ve never seen anything like this before. This is like a knife fight in a phone booth, there are no winners. They’re after you for something. Glenn, I must know now and for sure, was that money cool or not? There are more people involved than just you and me,” she exclaimed.

“Nikki, I told you it was nothing, but the fact that I knew Jim and was his friend,” Glenn replied again.

“Bullshit! Go home, Glenn. I need to be alone to think,” she said. Glenn went upstairs to his apartment.

CHAPTER 8

At around 2 o’clock in the morning Nikki was awakened by yelling and screaming on the dock. She got dressed and went out on the dock with a flashlight. There were people on the dock about half way down and all on the south side. She ran down to them and asked, “What’s going on?”

“James, the captain from the forty-five footer is really drunk and in the water swimming nude,” Mark said.

Nikki’s light landed on him. He was laughing and swimming around the dock. He had been banging on all the boats as he swam by. Mark said he was always drunk by 10 o’clock. Nikki talked to him and tried to get him to swim in, but he just kept laughing and swimming around.

“Mark, get a rope.”

“I’ve tried that several times,” he replied.

“Mark, where’s The Pipefitter?” Nikki asked.

“It pulled out about midnight. They left you a note in their box,” Mark replied.

“James, come out of there or swim to your boat but get out of the water and go to bed. Jesus, Mark! He gets drunk every night and does this?” she asked.

“No, just every other night,” he replied.

“James, get back on your boat now or you’re leaving in the morning,” Nikki exclaimed.

James finally got back on his boat and everybody went their own way. Nikki went to Jack’s box, got his note, and then went home. The note read, ‘We can’t be so close that we get stopped every day and searched. We are on vacation for a month. We love you two and like being with you, but we must live and be safe. P.S. We put all the stuff from the dock box into the dumpster. See you next year. Love, The 4 of us.’

Nikki didn’t get up until 9 o’clock Sunday morning. After she had her coffee, she went out on the dock and saw that Glenn’s Jeep was already gone. Funny, she didn’t see him last night when James was yelling and swimming.

She went to look at the dock and boats. There were two empty slips that wouldn’t be empty if it weren’t for Glenn and Jim. The “Major” was having coffee on the back of Don’s fifty-seven footer so she went aboard.

This time she didn’t have any Cuban coffee. It had taken two days to get her heart rate back to normal, so she just enjoyed the company. Mark came down the dock to have coffee with the three of them and talk about the last three or four days. Nikki saw Glenn coming down the dock so she went to meet him with a kiss.

“Didn’t you hear that drunken asshole at 2 o’clock this morning yelling and swimming?” She told him about all the people on the dock and the events of last night with James and then asked him where he was this morning.

“I went to see the cops in town and ask them if I’m under suspicion for anything. They said no, I’m not a suspect. Then I asked why I’m being stopped and searched from top to bottom every time I go out. The cops said the Coast Guard and the DEA are looking for a go-fast boat like mine. I asked them why was my friend, on a fifty-foot aft cabin stopped and searched if they are looking for a go-fast.  The cop was surprised. I told him he left during the night to ditch the heat, and they all think I had something to do with this. The cop said the Feds never tell them anything,” Glenn explained.

“Maybe you ought to go to the Bahamas or Key West for a month or so? Just to let things blow over,” she said.

“Nikki, the Feds are waiting for something or someone to make a break for it. I’ve told you I’ve done nothing to run from,” he said calmly.

“Bullshit! Something’s wrong. Glenn, I told you that it’s your hill to die on, if you don’t want help,” said Nikki.

“I told you to just forget it. I have nothing to fear. Do you want me to leave until things blow over?” Glenn asked.

“No,” she replied.

“Good, because I can’t, and I wouldn’t,” he said. And with that said, they both went to Nikki’s apartment.

Later that day Nikki was on the dock when Bill, her soon to be ex-husband, walked over to talk to her and said, “Boy, you’ve really got yourself and a lot of other people in trouble! You know your new boyfriend is a smuggler and maybe killed that DEA guy and Jim! Because of your relationship with him everybody on this dock is under suspicion. You watch, everyone is going to leave and the dock will be empty.” As he was walking away, he called over his shoulder, “Including me!”

Dave the cop was on the dock and heard everything Bill said. He went to Nikki and said, “Don’t worry about what Bill said. I’ve heard nothing about Glenn so far. If I do, I’ll tell you.”

Nikki thanked him, and they walked down the dock together. Just then they heard a gunshot coming from the “Major’s” boat, so Dave, not on duty and half drunk, knocked on the side of the “Major’s” boat and called out his name a few times. When he got no answer he boarded. By this time there were several people gathered around from the other boats. Dave came up, went to the railing, and threw up.

“Nikki, call the cops, and don’t come on this boat. The “Major” put a 12-gauge in his mouth and pulled the trigger. His head is everywhere. He’s all dressed up and sitting on his bed with no head. Don’t come on this boat,” he said and went to the rail to throw up again.

It was several hours before the cops and coroner were done. The “Major” had left a note for his brother. The cops told Nikki to stop by their office tomorrow, and they would give her a copy of the brother’s phone number. They told her that she shouldn’t go on the boat because it was a real mess.

Nikki went and had a drink on Don’s boat. Glenn was already there.

“What else can happen to me? Two people on the dock died in two weeks, I’m getting divorced, the dock’s got four slips empty and the marina is in foreclosure!” she said.

Just then, Bill came back from getting groceries downtown and found out about the “Major” from someone the second he stepped on the dock. He went to Don’s boat where Glenn and Nikki were and said, “Hey Nikki! What are you going do now, asshole? Not only do you have two renters on the dock dead, but you have a boyfriend that’s a smuggler and his best friend’s been killed!”

With that said, Glenn leapt off the boat and went after Bill. Bill dropped the sacks he had in his hands to get ready for the onslaught from Glenn. They were both very strong, six feet tall, and fast with their hands and feet. Glenn hit first and took out two of Bill’s front teeth. Bill went down and Glenn was on him like white on rice. Glenn straddled Bill on the ground, pounded him until his nose was broken and more teeth came out. Glenn finally stood over Bill who was out cold; his face looked like hamburger. He gave Bill three or four kicks, one that crushed his wedding ring flat on his finger and the others to break some ribs to make sure he couldn’t get up to fight again.

Many people don’t know that most fights last twenty seconds or less. Most people didn’t know that he who lands the first punch or kick likely wins, and most people don’t really want to hurt the other guy. They have never taken out eyes or knocked out teeth because they have never had to fight to stay alive or keep from going to the hospital for weeks at a time. Both men had experienced this, but Glenn got there first.

Glenn went to his apartment to wash up and change. Nikki went to Bill to see if he was still alive. He started to come around as four or five people stood around him to help him to his feet and take him to the Broward where he was living with Cynthia. He was bleeding profusely and was really messed up. One of the men got his bags and brought them to his boat.

Cynthia went nuts when she saw Bill. Teeth missing, bleeding, all swollen up and black and blue. She cried and screamed that she was going to call the cops, but everyone knew that Bill would talk her out of it. He knew he should have kept his mouth shut around Glenn, and he also knew that you didn’t call the cops here. You took care of things yourself, but you never called the cops or cried to your Mamma.

Nikki went to see Glenn, but by the time she got to his place, he was already gone. She went back to her office, made some calls, caught up with the books, and then went to the dock to see what she was going to do with the two slips that would be empty soon, maybe three or four. That would make six or seven slips that needed to be filled in the next sixty days, the four weekend slips, Bill and Cynthia’s and maybe Glenn’s slip if he gets busted. No, she thought, I take that back! Bill wouldn’t move as long as he is making fifteen hundred a month on rent given to him by Cynthia, and he will get his teeth fixed thanks to her cash, too. She’d better put in a live aboard ad in the Boat Trader and the newspaper. The live-aboard ads pull better than just slip ads. She’d write the ad tonight.

Glenn returned to the dock, came right to Nikki, and kissed her hello.  She said, “Bill looks like he’ll be okay in two or three weeks or when he gets his teeth.”

“I should have beaten him to death once I had him on his back,” Glenn said.

“You’re lucky you didn’t kill him, or you would be in jail and might be there yet if Cynthia had her way. Glenn, I know Bill, this isn’t over. I’ve seen him get up in the middle of the night and go to someone’s house and beat them to a pulp in their own kitchen; it makes no difference to him if it’s a man or woman who attacked him. You better watch out because he isn’t going to forget about you or the beating. With no witnesses at night he’ll get even.” She took in a big gulp of air. “Let’s go get something to eat for dinner. After all that’s happened today I don’t feel like cooking.”

Glenn and Nikki got home about 10 p.m. and after walking the dock, they went to Nikki’s place. Glenn thought to himself, ‘If Nikki is right, I ought to go down to Bill’s and finish it now.’

He got up at around five-thirty in the morning, went upstairs, made coffee, and then went out on the dock. He heard some noise; he looked over and saw Mercedes coming in by herself. It must have been a party or an out call deal. She went in as he sipped his coffee and looked out on the dock.

No one was up yet. It was peaceful and quiet. He started to smile to himself and then laughed out loud when he thought about the cops, the dock, Nikki, and Bill. He sat there for two hours just thinking, then showered, dressed, and went to his storage shed. The lock had been cut, and there was DEA tape all over the door.

When he got inside, it was a mess and some things were gone. He left and didn’t bother to shut or lock the door. He thought to himself, ‘how did they find this place?’ It was in his mother’s name and there was nothing there that connected her or him to the business or Jim. So the hell them! He went back to the marina never to return to the storage locker. On the way back he made a decision about what he was going to do regarding the cops, the marina and Nikki. He got back to the marina, found Nikki, and kissed her for a long time.

“Nikki, I love you, and everything is going to be all right. Just don’t ask me questions about anything. I’ll work everything out so we’ll not have to worry about this deal or money for the rest of our lives,” he said.

Nikki looked at him for a long time and then said, “You will take care of it? Are you sure that you don’t need any help? I love you, and I don’t want to lose you now that I’ve found you.”

“I love you, too, and I have a plan, so just leave it up to me,” Glenn replied.

They kissed a long time then went to bed and didn’t get up until they heard the ship-to-shore crackle to life. “Harbor Marina, Harbor Marina, this is the 36-foot Party Girl. Do you copy and do you have a slip for me?”

“Party Girl, this is Harbor Marina. I have a fifty-foot live-aboard slip. How long will you be here?” Nikki replied.

“Just tonight, then we go to Key West. How much per foot?” asked the caller.

“One dollar per foot, but you must pay for all fifty feet because even though your boat is only thirty-six footer, you occupy the slip. Do you want it?” she said.

“Yes, see you in a hour,” they confirmed.

“Slip number nine, see you then,” replied Nikki.

Glenn said goodbye to Nikki then he went upstairs to shower and change. When he was done he went to Nikki to say goodbye. When he walked out on the dock he ran into Cynthia helping Bill down the dock. She stopped.

“Glenn, you’re an asshole, you shithead! You didn’t need to do all this!” exclaimed Cynthia.

“I can do it again if you wish,” Glenn replied.

“It ain’t over, and you’ll see me again,” said Bill.

“Maybe I should end it here and now,” Glenn said.

Bill started walking with Cynthia’s assistance. Glenn just stood there looking after them, then he went into town to take care of some things and ran into Dave the cop. When Dave pulled up and rolled down his window, he said, “I heard you gave Bill an old style ass whipping.”

“That I did. He won’t forget it soon either. Say, Dave, what do you know about my storage locker?” asked Glenn.

“Nothing,” Dave answered. “What happened  Glenn?”

“The DEA cut the locks, searched it, took stuff, and made a mess out of everything in it,” Glenn explained.

“No shit! They must have gotten a search warrant without anybody in town hearing about it because if they used a local judge we would have heard. I’ll see what I can find out,” he said and drove off.

Glenn made one last stop and got a shovel from his storage locker, put it in the back of his jeep and went back to the dock. The new boat was in slip number nine and there was a cleaning crew on the “Major’s” boat. Bruce was having the Tollycraft surveyed, and there were other people on the dock. He had never seen so much action on the dock all at once. He walked into Nikki’s office and kissed her hello.