The Smuggler's Daughter by Claire Matturro

Author:Claire Matturro
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: drug smuggling, smuggling, mystery, suspense, thriller, florida
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Published: 2020-06-03T00:00:00+00:00

PILOTING A SKIFF IN the early-morning light, Nicky spotted The Jackpot in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, just west of the mouth of Ochlockonee Bay. He pulled alongside the trawler. Tank tried to stand but slipped. Nicky and Dave helped him up and onto the trawler, where Bobby and Rock stood, both of them armed and frowning.

“Polky skipped,” Dave told the two waiting men.

Bobby cut his eyes at Rock with a message in the look, but Nicky wasn’t sure what that message might be. He didn’t really care, though he figured Polky was a dead man unless he was long gone.

“It’s just a matter of doing it all over,” Nicky said. “This time without Polky to screw it up.” He couldn’t make himself look Bobby in the eyes, so he glanced over at Tank.

“I can promise you—” Tank coughed. “My men and all them trucks will be there at midnight.” He coughed again so hard Nicky grabbed him by his arm and held on in case he fell. “On Bald Point. Just like before. I’ll go back... get everybody arranged.” Tank wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, but he didn’t pull out of Nicky’s grip.

“You could’ve stayed back at the motel,” Bobby said.

“My screwup, getting scared and pulling everybody off.” Tank leaned hard on Nicky. “I wanted to be the one to come tell you we’ll be there tonight.” He coughed again and sprayed blood on the deck, apparently too tired from the long night to get his handkerchief out in time to catch it.

“Why don’t I send Nicky back with you to keep you company,” Bobby said.

Tank nodded. He shook loose of Nicky and reached into his back pocket to pull out the bottle of cough syrup. “Yeah, I could use me some company,” he said then drank the codeine in strangled gulps.

“Let me grab some stuff.” Nicky wanted his rifle if he was going back among that strange army Tank had collected at the motel.

Bobby followed Nicky, and once they were out of Tank’s hearing, he grabbed Nicky’s arm to stop him. “First damn thing you do, you get Tank into a hot shower then to bed. When he wakes up, if he doesn’t look any better, you take him to a doctor.”

“He won’t go. Me and Kitty tried our best, but after that last time, he won’t—”

“Don’t ask. You understand me?” Bobby poked him in the chest. “Just do it.”

“Yeah, all right.”

“Next thing you do, you round up the men Tank hired, and you take a good, long look at them. If Tank’s able, get him to stand with you. Any of them don’t seem cool, you cut them loose right then. But pay them.” Bobby let go of Nicky’s arm, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a thick billfold with a rubber band holding it together. “Nothing in this but money that can’t be traced. I’m trusting you.” He thrust the wallet into Nicky’s hand.

Nicky nodded and tucked it into his jeans pocket.

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