By edRogers
[Reviewed here on the novel’s publication day, October 6, 2018: “Coming soon to a Barnes & Noble store near you?”]
Margot placed the cell phone back in the drawer and came back to her couch and glass of wine. She knew she was using Charlie, but it was more than that. Despite the few years age difference, she was very attracted to him. She was also fond of him and knew that what Charlie was doing was important. It was the last chance to turn around the wholesale killing of every shark in the ocean.
She picked up her normal cell phone and called Diego Acedo.
“Hola, Margot. It is always good to hear your voice.”
“I wanted you to know I have someone on the inside and I may need your help to get him out if things go bad.”
“We spoke about this, Margot. You cannot do this thing outside of government channels.”
“Diego, you and I both know there are no government channels that will go after the shark finners. I’m going at it from a different direction. I’m going to prove the finning is a cover for drug running.”
“Even then, it will do little more than to get a few fishermen arrested.”
“I plan on turning the information over to the U.S. government. I’m sure the D.E.A. will be very interested in drug shipments that are being protected by the Costa Rican government.”
“You’re playing with fire. If something goes wrong there isn’t anything I’ll be able to do. There is no one I can call to help you. The Coast Guard, the police, even my unit, they’re full of informants.”
“You must know one or two people that you trust.”
Diego thought for a minute and even though he thought it to be a long shot, he told her, “There is someone, he is retired, but maybe he’ll do a little work on the side. You can trust him, he was the most honest cop I’ve even known.”
“Please, call him for me. I can’t pay a lot but I can pay.”
“He’ll be reasonable – if he is willing to do it at all. I’ll let you know within a day or two.”
“Thank you, Diego, I owe you one.”
“Goodnight, Margot. But you owe me many more than one.”
“Night, Diego.”
She laid the cell phone next to her on the couch and let her mind wander back to when Diego and she had first met.
It had been nine years before, in the Port of Quepos, a small town on the southern west coast. Three boats had been captured by Diego and his Special Fishery Unit. It was back when Costa Rica was fighting for its soul and was clamping down on corruption of all kinds. The S.F.U. worked with the Coast Guard and the local police and had racked up a large arrest record. Margot had found out about these boats coming in from an informant and called Diego. It was the first time they had met face to face, although she knew of his work and had already become a pain in a lot of people’s ass, so he knew who she was also.
After everybody was arrested, the boats placed under lock and key, and the fins taken to be destroyed – or that is what she and Diego thought at the time – they went for drinks. The drinks led to a hotel room and a two-year affair.
The affair broke up about the same time Costa Rica stopped pretending they cared more for the sharks than the money. The fins Diego had captured weren’t destroyed, but held in a government warehouse. The new president saw millions of dollars piled up in that warehouse and took the country in a whole new direction. After two years of fighting corruption, the government was once more open for business.
The Special Fishery Unit was still a government agency, and Diego was still in charge. The only individuals who got arrested anymore were the ones who had not paid off the right people. Or to be more precise, Mr. Tai.
Margot opened her computer, turned it on and waited for it to boot up. With the password Diego had supplied her years before, she was able to get on the Coast Guard website and, by entering the number of a boat, could track that boat’s beacon wherever it went. She opened the letter from the lawyer and found and typed in the number. Within a few seconds, there she was, the Santa Renée. She touched the dot on the screen. “Good luck, Charlie.”
Meanwhile, Edgar and Rufino were drinking by the swimming pool. Rufino spoke in a loud, drunken voice, “We have to get rid of this gringo. We have his money, we need to throw his stinking ass overboard.”
“You forget there’s a contract. He borrowed that money, so if he dies we get a new partner, who may be worse than this asshole.”
Rufino finished his beer and threw the bottle into the pool. “I say we talk to Mr. Tai and explain our problem to him. Maybe he can get rid of the gringo for us.”
Edgar opened a new beer and took a drink. “Man, do you not understand? We both signed a contract, and the last person you want involved in this is Mr. Tai. Maybe after this first trip we’ll have enough to buy Charlie off, but that’s the only hope we have of getting rid of him, and of whoever he borrowed that money from.”
Rufino stumbled over to the cooler and got out a beer. “What are we going to do if Mr. Tai wants us to meet up with one of his drug boats?”
Edgar smiled. “I’ve got that old camera. We’ll get pictures of Charlie cutting the sharks and unloading the drugs. If he opens his mouth, he goes to jail with us. Besides, it might be just the thing to get him to sell his interest back to us.”
Edgar stood up and grabbed Rufino’s arm. “Come on, we need to go to bed.
| Copyright © 2018 by Ed Rogers |
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