have enough air left.”
Bubba leaned forward. “Martin, we took care of it. It’s gone already.”
Martin seemed to relax. “How do you know this involved Sean and Preston?”
Dix looked at Wilfred, who nodded. “I hate to tell you this, Martin, but they were in serious debt, mostly from gambling and drug use. They owed a dangerous man close to one hundred thousand dollars. From time to time, they did small runs. This man relieved some of their debt, but it was supposed to be the last time. If it makes you feel better, they never did it while working for you. They never used your boats or gas, and they took every precaution to ensure there was no possible link to the lodge. The guys considered you a very good friend and didn’t want to make problems for you or your wife.”
Bubba nodded, then looked at Martin. “Yeah, and according to the local news, their bodies were recovered close to where we found the boat today.”
Wilfred nodded. “I saw damage to the boat’s engines. They looked shot up. The locals say Preston and Sean were shot.”
Martin drank a long swig of beer. Their host was obviously perturbed.
Wilfred leaned forward. “I had a call from Sean the night before they were killed. He told me a small job had turned into a monster, and he was looking for help. Sean asked if Bubba and I could pick up a truck and trailer the next morning and move it.” Wilfred glanced at Bubba for confirmation.
Dix pointed to Bubba and Wilfred. “They’ve told me they’re not drug smugglers. I believe them. ”
Picking up his beer, Martin said, “So what’s next?”
“ I have some ideas, but I have to think this through,” Dix answered.
Martin said, “Whatever you need…”
Dix ate more fried conch and took a swig of beer. Then he stood. “Gentlemen, I need to make a phone call. We also need to discuss how and when we let the local officials know about all this. Wilfred, did any more numbers pop up in your head from the speedboat?”
Wilfred appeared thoughtful. “For some reason, forty-five keeps coming up. Try putting a four and a five in the first numbers I gave you. You may want to swap them, too.”
Dix added the numbers to the back of the napkin and retreated to the guest cottage.
CHAPTER TEN
Based on the late hour, Dix realized he couldn’t call the Florida DMV. Thankfully, he had retired Miami-Dade Police Department Sergeant Andrew Snead’s home phone number. Snead had access at all times to such records because he was well-liked. By the time he retired, many people owed him favors.
Dix had been trained by Snead when he was a rookie cop. Over the years, Snead had been promoted and eventually became one of the most respected guys on the force. Wherever he could, Snead brought Dix along, and always found a way to get him good press and plenty of face time with the Miami-Dade Police Department administration.
They’d been involved in some big busts in Miami. Two of them involved serious firefights. In the chaos of the last bust, Dix had allowed a suspect to get behind him. The perpetrator raised his assault rifle to Dix’s back. As he did, Snead squeezed the trigger of his AR-15, and all three rounds tore through the suspect. Dix turned just in time to see everything unfold and dive for cover. From that point on, Dix and Snead had become close.
Dix dialed Snead’s number. It rang twice, and Snead’s southern drawl came across the line. “How they hell are you, Bill?”
Dix told Snead about the amazing lodge they were at and said the fishing was as excellent as the website had reported. He even told Snead that he would have to come along the next time. Snead asked, “Well, I can’t imagine you broke into your vacation just to brag about it. So what in Sam Hill do you really want?”
“ Andy, can’t a guy just call a friend to see how he’s doing?”
“ Tarnation. Any other local guy would, but I know that’s not why you called. So spill it.”
“ You’re right, as
Bubba leaned forward. “Martin, we took care of it. It’s gone already.”
Martin seemed to relax. “How do you know this involved Sean and Preston?”
Dix looked at Wilfred, who nodded. “I hate to tell you this, Martin, but they were in serious debt, mostly from gambling and drug use. They owed a dangerous man close to one hundred thousand dollars. From time to time, they did small runs. This man relieved some of their debt, but it was supposed to be the last time. If it makes you feel better, they never did it while working for you. They never used your boats or gas, and they took every precaution to ensure there was no possible link to the lodge. The guys considered you a very good friend and didn’t want to make problems for you or your wife.”
Bubba nodded, then looked at Martin. “Yeah, and according to the local news, their bodies were recovered close to where we found the boat today.”
Wilfred nodded. “I saw damage to the boat’s engines. They looked shot up. The locals say Preston and Sean were shot.”
Martin drank a long swig of beer. Their host was obviously perturbed.
Wilfred leaned forward. “I had a call from Sean the night before they were killed. He told me a small job had turned into a monster, and he was looking for help. Sean asked if Bubba and I could pick up a truck and trailer the next morning and move it.” Wilfred glanced at Bubba for confirmation.
Dix pointed to Bubba and Wilfred. “They’ve told me they’re not drug smugglers. I believe them. ”
Picking up his beer, Martin said, “So what’s next?”
“ I have some ideas, but I have to think this through,” Dix answered.
Martin said, “Whatever you need…”
Dix ate more fried conch and took a swig of beer. Then he stood. “Gentlemen, I need to make a phone call. We also need to discuss how and when we let the local officials know about all this. Wilfred, did any more numbers pop up in your head from the speedboat?”
Wilfred appeared thoughtful. “For some reason, forty-five keeps coming up. Try putting a four and a five in the first numbers I gave you. You may want to swap them, too.”
Dix added the numbers to the back of the napkin and retreated to the guest cottage.
CHAPTER TEN
Based on the late hour, Dix realized he couldn’t call the Florida DMV. Thankfully, he had retired Miami-Dade Police Department Sergeant Andrew Snead’s home phone number. Snead had access at all times to such records because he was well-liked. By the time he retired, many people owed him favors.
Dix had been trained by Snead when he was a rookie cop. Over the years, Snead had been promoted and eventually became one of the most respected guys on the force. Wherever he could, Snead brought Dix along, and always found a way to get him good press and plenty of face time with the Miami-Dade Police Department administration.
They’d been involved in some big busts in Miami. Two of them involved serious firefights. In the chaos of the last bust, Dix had allowed a suspect to get behind him. The perpetrator raised his assault rifle to Dix’s back. As he did, Snead squeezed the trigger of his AR-15, and all three rounds tore through the suspect. Dix turned just in time to see everything unfold and dive for cover. From that point on, Dix and Snead had become close.
Dix dialed Snead’s number. It rang twice, and Snead’s southern drawl came across the line. “How they hell are you, Bill?”
Dix told Snead about the amazing lodge they were at and said the fishing was as excellent as the website had reported. He even told Snead that he would have to come along the next time. Snead asked, “Well, I can’t imagine you broke into your vacation just to brag about it. So what in Sam Hill do you really want?”
“ Andy, can’t a guy just call a friend to see how he’s doing?”
“ Tarnation. Any other local guy would, but I know that’s not why you called. So spill it.”
“ You’re right, as
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