is, if I can line up just a few more investors to insure that I can indeed pay for any gambling loss.”
“So, if you have one million in gold,” said Char, “what the hell do you need other investments for?”
Block looked at the quizzical expression on Char’s face and answered. “Because yank, it’s just on loan, I can’t be giving that away.”
Block left a short time later, but not before giving a business card to all three of them—Char figured that provided the cover Block needed to better insure that he might see Carla again.
Chapter 7 - Fishing Trip
“The Commodore told me to take the banker’s boat out for a run this Saturday.” It was Friday—Char sat at the picnic table in back of the showroom that served as the official outdoor lunch and after work beer drinking area. He had just finished his lunch and was fishing out a smoke when Tommy appeared.
The banker was a New Yorker who spent winters in St. Pete living on his sixty foot ‘71 Hatteras. He wanted the boat ready to go at all times, so Tommy regularly took it out and invited friends, sometimes strippers from joints off Route 19 if he had extra coin, as they never offered their company for free, regardless of the surroundings.
“Aye, tis a beautiful boat the Hatteras is!” Opined Char in a mock Irish accent.
“Aye ‘tis, indeed” agreed Tommy. The two had taken the boat out several times before and always had good time fishing, cooking out, and drinking beer until close to sundown. Then they would rev those twin diesels and power up as soon as they cleared John’s Pass.
The Hatteras was built for sport fishing, but it was a plush boat nonetheless; she had a teak paneled salon, a dinette area that could accommodate six directly across from the galley, an under counter refrigerator , a four-burner cooktop, convection oven, and even a garbage disposal. She also sported three staterooms—each with their own head and shower. The boat could sleep 6 comfortably and Char figured that they could stay out overnight given a good enough reason. It presented an opportunity for Char to get a little closer to Carla. Tommy said he would clear it with the Commodore by claiming he needed to check out the running lights and navigation system or some such bullshit—rumor had it the Commodore used to get around.
Tommy had been seeing a stripper with the stage name of Aquarius, from a club in Clearwater. Her real name was Gladys, so he was comfortable calling her Aquarius. They hoped that Carla would be comfortable rubbing shoulders with her, but figured as long as they were fed plenty of food and drink, the situation would figure itself out.
That afternoon they stopped by the La Petite Grocery, the Quebecer’s market in the corner of one of the ou t building in the yacht brokerage and loaded up on groceries, several bottles of good French wine, a bottle of Jack Daniels, cheese, bread, sausages, eggs, and four frozen beef filets that were flown in from Montana. Char added some potatoes to that and a few ears of corn that Filipe had gotten that morning at the Farmer’s Market in Dunedin. If they had any luck, they would be able to add some lobster tails to the feast, as Char was bringing his scuba equipment along.
Later, they topped off the tanks, climbed aboard and drank beer in the main salon. Aquarius was working until eleven p.m. and Carla would not be free until the morning. This provided Tommy the time he needed to discuss his proposal with Char in private. Char sat down in the rich leather club chairs in the main saloon. Tommy handed him another cold can of Bud and remained standing.
“Ok ay, Tommy, what’s on your mind?”
“Come on, man, you know what’s on my mind, and it’s on your mind too. That ship will have a million dollars in gold on it and we can take it,” said Tommy.
“Many a slip between the cup and the lip, “said Char.
“Huh?”
“Easier said than done,” he replied.
Well,
“So, if you have one million in gold,” said Char, “what the hell do you need other investments for?”
Block looked at the quizzical expression on Char’s face and answered. “Because yank, it’s just on loan, I can’t be giving that away.”
Block left a short time later, but not before giving a business card to all three of them—Char figured that provided the cover Block needed to better insure that he might see Carla again.
Chapter 7 - Fishing Trip
“The Commodore told me to take the banker’s boat out for a run this Saturday.” It was Friday—Char sat at the picnic table in back of the showroom that served as the official outdoor lunch and after work beer drinking area. He had just finished his lunch and was fishing out a smoke when Tommy appeared.
The banker was a New Yorker who spent winters in St. Pete living on his sixty foot ‘71 Hatteras. He wanted the boat ready to go at all times, so Tommy regularly took it out and invited friends, sometimes strippers from joints off Route 19 if he had extra coin, as they never offered their company for free, regardless of the surroundings.
“Aye, tis a beautiful boat the Hatteras is!” Opined Char in a mock Irish accent.
“Aye ‘tis, indeed” agreed Tommy. The two had taken the boat out several times before and always had good time fishing, cooking out, and drinking beer until close to sundown. Then they would rev those twin diesels and power up as soon as they cleared John’s Pass.
The Hatteras was built for sport fishing, but it was a plush boat nonetheless; she had a teak paneled salon, a dinette area that could accommodate six directly across from the galley, an under counter refrigerator , a four-burner cooktop, convection oven, and even a garbage disposal. She also sported three staterooms—each with their own head and shower. The boat could sleep 6 comfortably and Char figured that they could stay out overnight given a good enough reason. It presented an opportunity for Char to get a little closer to Carla. Tommy said he would clear it with the Commodore by claiming he needed to check out the running lights and navigation system or some such bullshit—rumor had it the Commodore used to get around.
Tommy had been seeing a stripper with the stage name of Aquarius, from a club in Clearwater. Her real name was Gladys, so he was comfortable calling her Aquarius. They hoped that Carla would be comfortable rubbing shoulders with her, but figured as long as they were fed plenty of food and drink, the situation would figure itself out.
That afternoon they stopped by the La Petite Grocery, the Quebecer’s market in the corner of one of the ou t building in the yacht brokerage and loaded up on groceries, several bottles of good French wine, a bottle of Jack Daniels, cheese, bread, sausages, eggs, and four frozen beef filets that were flown in from Montana. Char added some potatoes to that and a few ears of corn that Filipe had gotten that morning at the Farmer’s Market in Dunedin. If they had any luck, they would be able to add some lobster tails to the feast, as Char was bringing his scuba equipment along.
Later, they topped off the tanks, climbed aboard and drank beer in the main salon. Aquarius was working until eleven p.m. and Carla would not be free until the morning. This provided Tommy the time he needed to discuss his proposal with Char in private. Char sat down in the rich leather club chairs in the main saloon. Tommy handed him another cold can of Bud and remained standing.
“Ok ay, Tommy, what’s on your mind?”
“Come on, man, you know what’s on my mind, and it’s on your mind too. That ship will have a million dollars in gold on it and we can take it,” said Tommy.
“Many a slip between the cup and the lip, “said Char.
“Huh?”
“Easier said than done,” he replied.
Well,
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