He relented. "I take you wherever you want to go. But you're asking for trouble.”
"The cartel?”
"Si. Bad hombres.”
I smiled. "We’ll be careful.”
We loaded our gear aboard Antonio’s centerconsole. He took the helm and fired up the twin outboards. I cast off the lines, and he navigated us out of the slip.
The moon hung low in the sky, shimmering the water. The outboards howled, and mists of seawater sprayed. The air was hotter and thicker than in Coconut Key. In the day, it could get hot in the direct sun. At night, you’d be feasted on by the mosquitoes, especially in the jungle.
JD and I were decked out in our jungle camo, tactical vests, and night vision optics. We kept the guns in the duffel bag for the time being.
Once we got far enough away from shore, we pulled them out, locked, and loaded.
Antonio didn't bat an eye. I got the impression this wasn’t the first time he’d taken people with guns on an adventure. But I don't think he took people to go up against the cartel often.
"So, what do you want me to do? Drop you off?"
"We need you to stick around and pick us up as well,” I said. “That was the deal," I said, getting the distinct impression he didn't want to be anywhere around once we stirred up the beehive.
"What if you don't come back?”
"We’ll come back," I assured.
"How long do you think this will take?”
I gave him a look.
"I just need to have an idea of when I should start to worry." He smiled.
"You won't have to worry. But if we don't make it back to the rendezvous point in two hours, contact Isabella.”
He nodded.
JD and I painted our faces on the trip. It took about an hour to get to the island. I told Antonio to come in against the wind and cut the engines at a distance. We’d paddle in to minimize our sonic signature.
We circled the island and came in from the east side. We paddled the boat into the shallows, then JD and I hopped out with our gear and the briefcase. I brought it along as a bargaining chip in case things went south.
I told Antonio, "Stick around. Don't go far. We may have to leave in a hurry.”
He nodded again, but fear lingered in his eyes. I'm sure the guys who ran this island had a reputation.
"I'll be right here," he said.
"There's an extra thousand American in it for you if you’re here to pick us up.”
"No problem. You can count on me, boss.”
I had an uneasy feeling about it.
JD and I ran up the beach to the tree line and regrouped.
I pulled up the satellite images on my phone and studied them, matching landmarks.
“We’re here,” I said in a whisper, pointing. “The compound should be over this ridge.”
Dense and dark, the jungle was not friendly. The canopy was so thick that barely any moonlight seeped through.
