The camera closed in, and Paris asked questions.
I gave her limited details.
Brenda and her crew arrived on the scene and evaluated the bodies. They were bagged and transferred.
A wrecker towed the sheriff’s car away, and we caught a ride back to the station with a patrol unit. We filled out reports, surrendered our duty weapons, and were put on administrative leave.
“Look on the bright side,” I said to the sheriff. “Now you’ve got a few days to go fishing.”
He scoffed. “Are you kidding me? I’m going to have FDLE up my ass as well as Internal Affairs. The next few days are going to be anything but relaxing.”
All one had to do was look at the sheriff’s car, which had more holes in it than the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster. A clear case for the justified use of lethal force.
“I want you to find the scumbags responsible and get the girl back,” he said.
“We’re on leave.”
“I don’t care.”
It was hard not to take it personally when someone tries to kill you. The sheriff knew doing this by the book wouldn't get the results needed.
48
Ihad an ace up my sleeve—all because of a parrot.
The flight to San Montego was comfortable and relaxing. Isabella had chartered a sleek Slipstream G-750 for the flight down. Comfy leather chairs, glossy oak paneling, gourmet meals, cute cabin attendants, and stiff drinks—which we avoided in order to stay sharp.
This wasn’t a vacation.
That hadn't started yet, but I certainly was in the mood for one after all we'd been through.
With no extradition treaty, San Montego was a safe haven for ex-pats with shady pasts, drug dealers, cartel bosses, and other ne'er-do-wells who had run afoul of the federal government. With a slew of exotic islands off the coast, there were plenty of places to hide out and live a life of leisure if you were on the run. Local law enforcement was easily bribed.
A popular tourist destination, San Montego had all the modern conveniences—luxury hotels, pristine beaches, sumptuous restaurants, and a thriving nightlife. Guides would take you on excursions to the jungle or tropical islands or just about anywhere you wanted to go, for a price. You could even stand on the edge of a live volcano if you were brave enough.
Steeped in superstition and ancient religions, there were places the locals avoided. The jungle could be treacherous, and there were all manner of poisonous critters.
JD and I had an adventure or two in this part of the world before.
The kidnappers had set a warehouse in San Montego as the rendezvous point. A simple exchange.
It was a smart move on their end. It eliminated the chance that we’d bring backup and ambush them. In this part of the world, I'm sure they had co-opted the local police, militia, or possibly even the local cartel. The area was known for its heroin and cocaine. Plenty of fields on isolated islands.
We touched down at the FBO in San Montego, grabbed our bags, went through customs without issue, and met Juan on the tarmac. Isabella had arranged for pickup. She had assets all over the globe. Instead of trying to bring weapons into the country, we would just get them here.
Juan was a friendly guy with a thick mustache and brown eyes, and a bit of a belly. He enjoyed the good life in San Montego, and it showed. Juan greeted us with a warm smile and a handshake. "Welcome, my friends."
He grabbed our baggage and loaded it into the trunk of the town car. "Everything you requested is in the duffel bag."
Juan grabbed our doors, and we slid into the comfy leather seats. He hopped behind the wheel, tuned the radio to classic rock, and drove us from the FBO.
Juan looked in the rearview mirror with a grin, his brown eyes darting between the two of us. "I know you're here on business, but when you need a little fun, you call me. I can make arrangements."
I knew what he meant.
He zipped us through town to the Oasis. The luxury hotel overlooked the water. It was a place to settle in and regroup, but we wouldn't be there for long.
Juan pulled under the carport, threw it in park, hopped out, and grabbed our baggage from the trunk. He dug into his pocket and handed me a piece of paper with a phone number scribbled on it. "Antonio is waiting for your call. He will take you to the island and bring you back.”
