Southern Comfort - Fern Michaels [53]
“About a month ago, the Coast Guard picked up two cigarette boats in the middle of the night. It was like the Fourth of July out on the water. Strobe lights, bullhorns, whistles, gunshots. Woke me up. Smugglers bringing in illegals. Didn’t make it to US soil. Saw on the Net the next day that there were over two hundred minors on board. The Coast Guard catches one batch, and two more are in the wings waiting to take their place. It’s like Plans A, B, and C. It’s almost like they know the first batch is going to get caught, so they bide their time, then bring in the stringers, who magically make it through. I’m thinking that’s what is about to go down. You’d be surprised at how many women are smugglers. This Key is the most logical place for it to happen since, in my opinion, there is no real law enforcement here other than the Coast Guard.”
Pete digested all the information his brother had just imparted. He leaned back and closed his eyes as he thought about what the coming hours would involve and what his own role would be. Watching Tick’s back, no doubt, the way Tick had watched out for him when they were growing up. He admitted to a small thrill of excitement.
A long time later, Tick spoke out of the blue. “So, Pete, which one of the women did you set your eyes on?”
Pete bolted upright, his eyes popping wide. Those words were the last thing he had ever expected to hear from his brother’s lips. He decided to play it cool and be noncommittal. He shrugged. He wondered if that would be the end of it. It wasn’t.
“So you’re saying neither one rang any bells. That’s pretty hard to believe, bro.”
Still playing it cool, Pete said, “Why’s that?”
“Well, you always liked the ladies even back in our sandbox days. I remember you putting the moves on Patty Baker when we had our sixth birthday party. She smacked you as I recall.” Tick guffawed at his own words.
“Yeah, I do remember that, and I also remember you told her I wanted to kiss her. One of these days, I’m gonna make you pay for that. I’m off women, too much trouble.”
“Ha! Come on, which one?”
Pete heard something different in his brother’s tone. He could tell he really wanted to know. “The dark-haired one seemed nice. What did you think?”
“I thought she might fit your criteria. You need to get over what’s her name.”
Pete bristled. “Her name was Serafina.”
“Whatever. You know what, I think I’m going to take a nap since we’re going to be out and about later this evening. I like to fall asleep with the rain hitting the roof. You used to like it, too, if I remember correctly.”
“Sounds like a good idea. So, should we set the alarm, or does that internal clock of yours still work like magic?”
“It works. We’ll get up around eleven and head on out after that. It’ll be well after midnight by the time we get all our gear together and swim down and around the tip. Sleep tight, bro.”
“Yeah, you, too. Where’s Bird?”
“In the shower, where else? He doesn’t like storms, and he’s scared to death of thunder. I don’t know why I think this, but I think he equates thunder with gunshots. You know how he’s always saying ‘bang, bang’? In a way it makes sense. The dark-haired one, eh? Her name was Sandy in case you forgot.” Tick laughed like a lunatic as he made his way into the house.
Chapter 11
Are you sure you want to do this now, in this weather?” Sandy asked Kate, while the two of them dressed for their evening adventure—dark shorts and T-shirts.
“Of course I’m sure. I don’t know why I’ve waited this long to investigate that monstrous place. It’s not like Jelly is here looking over my shoulder. Besides, these storms never last long. The worst of it will be over by midnight.”
“True, but what do we tell our neighbors if we just happen to bump into them at that ungodly hour?”
Kate tied her hair up in a ponytail. “I doubt they’ll be out traipsing around the beach at midnight. If we’re lucky, they drank too much and are both