Key Manatee Read online

  “That’s some story. I take it Shark and his crew are all okay.”

  “Levita wasn’t there, I think being part of the trade for the mine was her idea. But the rest were all fit and frisky last I saw, getting drunk as skunks.” Which reminded Slip to drain his beer and motion to the waitress for another. He gave me a wink. “That Julie sounds mighty sweet on you. Kept asking old Shark about you and hanging on his every word. Not a bad looking gal in that lingerie and ammo belt outfit. You don’t know if she ever taught any school, do you?” I noticed a flurry of mischievous winks going on across the table.

  “I’ll ask when I see her next. So did you?” I held a spoonful of rice and peas over my plate in a questioning way.

  “Did I what?” I knew he knew what I was asking.

  “You know…” I let the food fall off my spoon.

  “If you must know, yes, I fell out of the damn tree. Sprained my ankle some but it loosened back up when I was running from the gang. Luckily they were all pretty well potted by then and none of ‘em very good shots.” The waitress brought a couple more Coronas.

  “Jimmy says that little trick on Grizzel you and him pulled went just fine.”

  “Yeah, I can’t wait to see the look on Grizzel’s face.” I was getting a sideways glance from my tablemate. “Actually, I ain’t seen your neighbor since y’all went fishing yesterday. How’d that work out?”

  “I pretty much won by default. I think the strain of the competition might have been a little much for Grizzel. He may have gone on holiday for a while to relax.” The sideways look continued.

  “Yeah, that’s kinda what Consuelo said. She also said to give you this. I guess for you to put your keys on.” He dropped a stainless steel pin and ring on the table.

  ♦

  I called Consuelo as soon as we got back to the marina. Slip went off to see someone he was supposed to help do some work on their boat.

  “I got the pin you gave Slip.”

  “Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything to him. I just thought you might like a little memento.”

  “Not really, but thanks anyway. I wanted to tell you I’m feeling a lot better and about to take a nap – on the bed in the master stateroom.”

  “I’m the only one here at the hotel. Wait, maybe I can get the guy across the street to cover for me. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, maybe ten.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I know why I couldn’t sleep right.”

  I told her about the fever dream I had and had just remembered the night before. When she cleaned and rearranged the houseboat she’d hidden the weird little gold statues, the chacmools, in the bedroom. I told her I didn’t know why, but I was pretty sure those had been causing the bad nightmares. She said she had to go because a busload of tourists had pulled up in front and most of its contents were spilling into the hotel. I told her I’d talk to her later and called Jimmy.

  Jimmy didn’t answer the phone. Ten minutes later he came aboard my houseboat. He looked worried.

  “You better not call me for a while, things have taken a turn.” I told him to take a load off and we both had a seat in the lounge. “My employers weren’t too interested in the information I came up with until I mentioned a possible sighting of the big boat.” He nodded toward me. “Not long after that some guys from another department showed up and hauled off everything I had, including my own computer.”

  “That sucks.”

  He shrugged and took a clear plastic package of small silver discs out of his shoe. “Always do a back-up, my friend.” He grinned and the discs went back. “I’ll start feeding your buddy Shawn some tasty bits of information. Between that and the little party out past the reef last night, I don’t think we have to worry about Blue Manatee anymore.”

  “Well, that’s good to hear. Seen in the paper the navy claims all that action on the water last night was just routine maneuvers.”

  He just smiled a little and winked. Guess I wasn’t going to find out what happened to the Big Black Boat.

  “What about those murders? The two Marty Manatees and the commissioner?” He tapped his foot.

  “Shawn’s going to be a busy newspaperman for quite a while. I wouldn’t be surprised if when it’s all over there aren’t people lined up to give him journalism awards and book contracts.”

  I gave him the cell phone and other goodies he’d loaned me. After he left I stretched out on the trusty old couch for some serious contemplating.

  After that good night’s sleep, a mighty fine feed at Gov’s, and another reminder from Jimmy that I’d done good for my country, I felt like I had all of life’s bases covered. Except one.

  I reached over and made a call, then took a pleasant, dream-free nap.

  ∨ Key Manatee ∧

  Twenty-Four

  I’d just gotten showered and dressed when Slip came by, all full of nervous energy.

  “Hey TB, you still feeling okay?”

  “Never better. What’s up?”

  I checked my watch and started tidying up the lounge.

  “Oh, nothing. I just need to use your phone a minute, make a quick call.”

  “Problem?”

  “No, no problem, not really. I just wanted to call Lefty, see if him and some of the boys over at the fire station could stop by Capt Roy’s in the next few minutes.” I tossed him the phone and started the vacuum cleaner. He made his call outside, then ran off.

  Later that evening, there was a soft knock at my door.

  “Julie, come on in.”

  “Hey, Taco Bob.” She was dressed different – a short black dress and heels, her long dark hair shining. I directed her toward the couch. “Shawn got an anonymous email this afternoon. Very detailed information on my brother’s murder. He got in touch with the police and it looks like they should have a case. There was some other stuff about Blue Manatee as well. With the construction already stopped it looks like they’re out of business around here.” She slid closer to me on the couch. “I don’t know how I could ever repay you for all you did.” She put a warm hand on my bare leg. I checked to make sure my robe was presentable.

  “Hey, glad to help. Sounds like you did your fair share as well.” I looked at the clock on the wall. “I’d offer you something, but it’s kind of late.”

  “No thanks, I’m fine.”

  “So, how are you and Shawn getting along these days?” The hand on my leg jumped and the dreamy look in her eyes changed. “He seems a good fella, hard worker.”

  “Uh, yes, he is.” She fiddled with the hem of her dress, then stuck her chin out a little. “In fact, that’s what I was going to tell you. He got his old job back with the Key West paper and we’re getting a place together. A real nice place, actually, just a couple of blocks off Truman. You’ll have to stop by sometime.”

  “I’ll do her! It’s nice to see everything work out for you.” Though she didn’t look too happy at the moment.

  “Yeah, thanks. I should go.” I gave her a quick hug at the door and escorted her to the dock so she didn’t have an accident with those high heels in the dark.

  As soon as I came back in and closed the door, the phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, it’s me. What’s shaking?”

  “Not much, Consuelo.”

  “Just thought I’d check on you, see how you felt.”

  “I’m right as rain, but thanks for asking.”

  “Well, if you need anything, I could come over. My sisters all ran off somewhere again, but Slip’s here. I think he’s hiding from someone. He can keep an eye on things if you need me to bring you anything.”

  “No, I think I got everything I need. Maybe if you’re free tomorrow afternoon we can talk Slip into going fishing on the Wilbur for a few hours.”

  “Okay, I gotta go. Capt Roy just came in.”

  I unplugged the phone and made myself a drink and one for the lady. She lay stretched out facing me on the big bed in the master bedroom, a towel modestly over her rear. Sh
e turned a page of my manuscript and took a sip of her drink before asking.

  “Well?”

  “Sorry about that. It doesn’t rain, but it pours.” I sat on the edge of the bed, pulled the towel away, and took a leisurely gaze at some pleasant bare curves. “Lady, you do have a lovely back.”

  “Oh, bloody right! I bet you say that back line to all the birds who flock around here!” She laughed and rolled over, dropping her mop of blue hair in my lap. She took my hands and placed them on her breasts. “But don’t you know, there’s two sides to Everything, eh?”

  She dropped the little doll inside the headboard drawer where the Chacmools had been and switched off the light.

  EOF