06-11-2020, 11:26 PM
Surely a sweet thing like Natalie didn’t contemplate the manner and means of her own demise. She would pass a little old lady asleep in her bed, maybe after tossing some jewels into the ocean. Or something to represent the release of an epic life. Her alternative made him smirk, and there was no denial that just such a thing was a bad use of time. The suggestion swirled momentary distraction, enough that he almost forgot where they were going. Maybe turn from the path completely and find a secluded resort somewhere in the jungle. A little hut maybe. The kind without doors and nothing but flimsy curtains wafting on the ocean breezes. He could hunt for crabs and urchin and fish. Damn but he loved fishing. Probably the only good part about growing up in Iowa. Creekside. Better yet, lakeside. Rod in one hand. Coffee in the other. Watching the sun come up. Water steaming in the dewy morning air.
They could do that now. Turn the car another direction. Cash in the trunk. Head east. He’d seen the Caribbean plenty of times, but usually at night from the side of a helicopter. It was probably very nice during the day. Nicer in some beach shorts with a beautiful girl to hang out with. Natalie would look incredible in a sarong. Hiked up high on one hip. Bikini top slipping from her shoulders.
The daydream was a poor attempt to block out the rest of Natalie’s explanation. He didn’t want to hear about Axel, nor what the guy thought of Jay in return. It didn’t matter. They saved each other’s life when the cause was needed. Except this time. The favor couldn’t be returned. As his jaw clenched, he’d rather think about that beach hut. Maybe get one of those hammocks.
The tapping of keyboard keys was a decent sign that they’d moved on from honoring the fallen. It was a good thing. He couldn’t listen to much more.
He tried to look while driving, but it was a bad angle. First chance, the car stopped and he studied the videos as insisted. It was fortified. Looked like same or similar setup to the estate they stormed the night André was shot in the face. It took him a few moments to grasp the implication, that someone clearly Custody-loyal, was rubbing shoulders with Amengual.
”You think they’re waiting to ambush us.” He continued to swipe through whatever screens were available.
One paved-drive in and out. There were likely two or three dirt-paths behind the house.
House was on high ground. Blue glistened on a high overhang. “Shit look at that pool. Must be a fucking great view,” he cocked half a smile at Natalie.
Guards. Guns. High ground. Walls. Cameras. Probably a few drones hovering. Seemed fairly standard to him.
“You know I was once part of a four-man team that crawled onto a yacht while it was at sea, neutralized the hostiles and brought back our point man without a single shred of evidence anything happened. Or at least, evidence of who did it.” He grinned, looking to impress her. Not like this shit was classified anymore. Or he didn’t care if it was.
Though it was a little sobering, he replayed the scene of people arriving. There wasn’t much to decipher, except that they could be any enemy of the cartel. Or shit. Knowing Zacarías, could be his cousins coming for a swim. Jay didn’t recognize Scion Marveet, but Natalie’s warning was taken seriously.
”Amengual was at the ball. Ascendancy probably sent someone to keep an eye on him. Better yet, to bend him to his will without anyone being the wiser. Unless there’s a connection between your grandfather and Marveet you know about?”
It was with a great deal of quiet thought that the remainder of the drive was concluded. Jay was thinking through scenarios. Running out dozens of different plays in his mind of how events may unfold once they arrived. Eventually, he purposefully missed a turn and stopped the car at the bottom of the mountain on the far side of the compound.
They could do that now. Turn the car another direction. Cash in the trunk. Head east. He’d seen the Caribbean plenty of times, but usually at night from the side of a helicopter. It was probably very nice during the day. Nicer in some beach shorts with a beautiful girl to hang out with. Natalie would look incredible in a sarong. Hiked up high on one hip. Bikini top slipping from her shoulders.
The daydream was a poor attempt to block out the rest of Natalie’s explanation. He didn’t want to hear about Axel, nor what the guy thought of Jay in return. It didn’t matter. They saved each other’s life when the cause was needed. Except this time. The favor couldn’t be returned. As his jaw clenched, he’d rather think about that beach hut. Maybe get one of those hammocks.
The tapping of keyboard keys was a decent sign that they’d moved on from honoring the fallen. It was a good thing. He couldn’t listen to much more.
He tried to look while driving, but it was a bad angle. First chance, the car stopped and he studied the videos as insisted. It was fortified. Looked like same or similar setup to the estate they stormed the night André was shot in the face. It took him a few moments to grasp the implication, that someone clearly Custody-loyal, was rubbing shoulders with Amengual.
”You think they’re waiting to ambush us.” He continued to swipe through whatever screens were available.
One paved-drive in and out. There were likely two or three dirt-paths behind the house.
House was on high ground. Blue glistened on a high overhang. “Shit look at that pool. Must be a fucking great view,” he cocked half a smile at Natalie.
Guards. Guns. High ground. Walls. Cameras. Probably a few drones hovering. Seemed fairly standard to him.
“You know I was once part of a four-man team that crawled onto a yacht while it was at sea, neutralized the hostiles and brought back our point man without a single shred of evidence anything happened. Or at least, evidence of who did it.” He grinned, looking to impress her. Not like this shit was classified anymore. Or he didn’t care if it was.
Though it was a little sobering, he replayed the scene of people arriving. There wasn’t much to decipher, except that they could be any enemy of the cartel. Or shit. Knowing Zacarías, could be his cousins coming for a swim. Jay didn’t recognize Scion Marveet, but Natalie’s warning was taken seriously.
”Amengual was at the ball. Ascendancy probably sent someone to keep an eye on him. Better yet, to bend him to his will without anyone being the wiser. Unless there’s a connection between your grandfather and Marveet you know about?”
It was with a great deal of quiet thought that the remainder of the drive was concluded. Jay was thinking through scenarios. Running out dozens of different plays in his mind of how events may unfold once they arrived. Eventually, he purposefully missed a turn and stopped the car at the bottom of the mountain on the far side of the compound.
Only darkness shows you the light.