“I haven't seen one of those old tubs in quite a while.”
“Me neither, until last night.”
“It's late in Washington. Miller's probably gone home.”
“Look up his private number in my database. Tell him it's important.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Club Med, Sonora Bay. It's about twenty miles south of San Carlos. I’m flying back to Key West tomorrow. Candice is heading to New York. When I get home, I'll check in at the office first then have one of the guys fly me down in the seaplane. Save everything until I get there.”
“You got it.”
“How are things going on your end?” Skyler asked.
“Nothing yet. If we stay here much longer, we're gonna have to start paying Cuban property taxes.”
“Well, don't give up, my friend. U-396's down there somewhere. She just knows how to hide better than most.”
“So what's this Yankee-class stuff about anyway? Those buckets should all be scrap metal by now.”
“I thought so, too, Mick.”
“Anything to worry about?”
“Not sure yet, but once we hear from Dick Miller, we may all have a great deal to worry about.”
“Now can we relax and have some fun?” Candice asked. The fashion photographer wrapped her arms around Skyler's waist and kissed his neck. “You've talked to Mickey Gates. He's hot on the case. You've reported everything to the police. They said they'd investigate. So there's nothing left to do but pamper and please me.”
They stood in the small garden of their cabana and stared up at the moon rising over the distant mountains. Skyler could feel the heat from the desert that stretched beyond the protected, palm-laden oasis of Club Med.
“I'm sorry, Candy. I guess I have been ignoring you. Spending the afternoon at the police station was certainly a total waste of time. How about dinner by candlelight, champagne and a scrumptious dessert.” He ran his fingers through her hair and brought her mouth to his. Her body pushed against him and caused an instant reaction — his cutoffs grew tight. As they kissed, she slid her hand into the front of his shorts quickly finding what made him so uncomfortable. He sighed as she wrapped her fingers around him.
“I want my dessert now,” she said, and gave him a push back into the room.
“And spoil your appetite?” His words came with a shortness of breath as he dropped onto the bed.
“I'll take my chances.”
Skyler lay on his back, arms outstretched. He felt a surge of passion as she unzipped his shorts, pealed his clothes away, and worked her tongue and lips over him. The warmth of her mouth drove him crazy, his breaths coming quicker. He closed his eyes and moaned as she took him in her mouth, knowing from experience just what pleased him.
Suddenly, Candice pulled away. Skyler opened his eyes and looked up. Two men stood at the foot of the bed. One had Candice by the hair yanking her head back. The other pointed an automatic pistol at Skyler, its barrel extended with a silencer.
“What the hell is this?” Skyler realized he was not only naked but also fully erect. He started to get up but the man aimed the gun at Skyler's groin.
“Don't try it or you've just had your last hard-on.”
Skyler recognized him as the steward from the ship, the one that had knocked him out. “Take your hands off her.” He leaned on his elbows, his erection fading fast.
Candice's eyes filled with fear as the other man pulled tighter on her hair. “You're in no position to give orders. Do what I say and your girlfriend might live long enough to give you another blow job.”
As the gunman pointed the pistol, Skyler kicked straight up hitting the man's forearm. There was a muffled pop and a slug slammed into the wall over the bed spraying chunks of plaster. Skyler dove at the gunman. The second man pushed Candice aside and brought his gun down across the back of Skyler's neck knocking him to his knees.
“You're a slow learner,” the gunman said, and tapped the back of Skyler's head with the silencer. “Now listen carefully.” He squatted to look into Skyler's face. “You've stuck your nose where it don’t belong. Be a real smart guy and forget everything. Don't bother going back to the police. If they ask you any more questions, you tell them you were drunk, fell and bumped your head.” He looked over at Candice. “It would be a real shame if something happened to her. A real shame.” He turned back to Skyler. “Understood?” He pushed against Skyler's nose with the end of the barrel.
Skyler said nothing. The second man brought the back of his hand across Candice's face. She fell against the wall with a yelp of pain — a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.
“Understood,” Skyler said through clenched teeth. He wanted to teach these men a lesson but he would do nothing to risk his lover's safety.
The men walked over to the open patio doors. “Have a nice day,” said the steward from the ship. Then they turned and were gone.
“What's going on, Matt?” Candice asked, sobbing. “Who were they?”
“One was the guy that slugged me last night.” He helped her to the edge of the bed. “I don't know who they are but you can bet I'm going to find out. Let's have a look.” He examined her lip. “There's a small cut on the inside of your mouth.”
Skyler got a wet washcloth from the bathroom and wiped the blood away. Then he pulled on his pants and shoes. “Lock the doors behind me.”
“Shouldn't we call security?”
“No, not yet.”
“Where are you going?”
“They paid us a visit, now I'm going to return the favor.”
“Are you crazy? They'll kill you.”
“Candy, they can't afford to kill me. I filed a police report. If something happens to me, it would confirm my story and bring the police down on top of the cruise line. No, they just want to scare the stupid American tourist so I'll go home and forget everything.” He dug into the bottom of his travel carryall and removed a 9mm Beretta.
“I thought you left that at home,” she said as she looked in the mirror and examined her face for any signs of a bruise. “Matt, don't go crazy. Those men weren't joking around.”
“Neither am I.” He checked the fifteen-round clip and stuck the gun in the waistband at the small of his back letting his shirttail conceal it. “Just lock the doors and don't let anyone in.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked out into the hot desert night.
“There were two men,” Skyler said, standing at the entrance to the main Club Med building. “One medium height with dark hair, the other short and heavy,”
“Si, Señor,” the young valet said after he brought Skyler's Jeep around. “They left just a few moments ago and headed toward San Carlos.”
“What kind of car?”
“A Ford, Señor, a blue Ford sedan.”
“Gracias.” Skyler shoved a hundred-peso bill into the boy's shirt pocket. He hopped into the Jeep and headed north on the highway to San Carlos. The two-lane road wound along the edge of the desert toward the coast. Traffic was light and it took only a few minutes for him to catch up to the blue Ford. He followed at a respectable distance along the winding desert road. They passed an old Spanish mission and entered the outskirts of the small seacoast village. Most of the stores and houses were dark, the town already asleep.
The Ford pulled into the dusty parking lot of a cantina called El Toro, one of the few along the highway that was still open. Skyler slowed and steered the Jeep to the edge of the road. He watched the two men get out and go in the bar. Then he parked on the other side of the lot and turned off the engine. After a few minutes he walked over to the Ford and tried the door. It was unlocked and he reached in and pulled the hood release. Opening it, he felt around until he found the ignition wires. He gave them a yank and then let the hood drop down quietly. Then he walked back to the Jeep and waited.