Maggie asked, “How many people are on the crew?”
“Nine.”
“You really think this is the only way?”
“Give me another suggestion.”
Maggie and Abdul both clamped shut. I didn’t think so.
I said, “We’re talking about nine lives versus a lifetime of slavery for thousands.”
Abdul turned around and pleaded, “Nine people, Juno.”
“The greater good…”
Abdul’s sagging face sagged further in resignation. “Yeah, the greater good. How do you plan on doing it?”
“It’s beautifully simple, but I need your help.”
I had Maggie and Abdul onboard. The rest was up to me and my heartless exploitation of Manuel Hidalgo. After a month’s worth of carroting and sticking, he was my tool. I had his loyalty 100 percent. He actually thanked me for saving his life. He said he felt resurrected. He told me it was the first time in a long while that his life was heading in the right direction.
We met under a bridge. Children played in the river while their mothers roasted skewered geckos over oil drums filled with burning trash. I stayed in the shadows. I was going for a very cloak-and-dagger feel. He was into the spy gig. “Hidalgo,” I said.
“Yes?” he responded. He was wearing pressed whites, one hand in a cast. His hair was trimmed and slicked. His canker sores were in remission since I’d sent him to a doctor to treat his VD.
“Tell me about your progress.”
“I went on my first flight yesterday. Starting next week, I’ll be going regular.”
“Tell me about your cargo.”
“It’s like you said. They’re shipping peoples-all kinds of them: men, women, children. I’ve managed to talk to a few of them. Some got conned into it and actually believe there are high-paying jobs waiting for them, but most are being brought against their will.”
“Do you have the shipping schedules I asked for?”
“Yes.” He handed me a data chip. “I put the schematics you wanted in there, too.”
“Excellent. Go now.”
Hidalgo hung around like a puppy waiting for a pat on the head.
“Go,” I said.
He skulked away, thoroughly dominated. I waited until he was out of sight then stalked down to the riverbank and unmoored a rented skiff. I steered for open water, the motor putt-putting along. One step closer to my vengeance. I couldn’t erase the wicked smile on my face.
I gave the chip to Abdul and Maggie. They spent the next three weeks researching the nets, looking for optimal “camera” placements. When they returned the ship schematics to me, there were five red circles marking the spots. Their mood was somber. I had to keep reminding them-greater good.
Two more weeks passed before the time came to end my relationship with Manuel Hidalgo. I told him to come to Afrie’s.
I waited for him at a table, sipping my brandy, working up the courage to take the last step. I watched Hidalgo come in and sit down at the bar. He was dressed proper, sporting new duds and a stylish hat-no more cast on his hand. He’d gone from screwing johns to squarejohn in no time. I got up from my table and brushed by him on my way to the bathroom. He joined me a minute later.
“You’ve done well, Hidalgo.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ve exceeded my expectations these past few months. I have good news for you. There is only one more thing for you to do. I have no doubt that you can handle it. When you’ve performed this task, I will release you from our agreement-all debts paid. How does that sound?”
He looked disappointed. He was so hooked on playing spy that he was sad it was coming to a close.
“Take this bag. In it, you’ll find five cameras and a blueprint of the ship. The blueprint is marked to show you where I want you to place the cameras. The placements I chose don’t offer the best vantage points, but they are in out of the way places, so you should be able to escape detection. The cameras are already recording. All you have to do is put them in place and then leave them alone.”
“Do I need to retrieve them?”
“No, they’ll beam a signal back on their own.”
“Got it. I can do it; you’ll see.”
“I know you’ll succeed. When I start receiving the feed, I’ll transfer the money into your account.”
“Okay. Thanks.” He looked like he had more to say.
“Spit it out.”
“Can I ask a question?”
I nodded. He’d earned it.
“You work for the government, don’t you?”
“I can’t answer that, Manuel.”
“You’re going to expose the slave trade. I can help. I can testify.”
“I won’t let you testify. It would be too dangerous. You’ve done enough for your people. Now take the bag and get out of here.”
The instant he walked out my enforcer juices ran frigid. It was done. Lagarto was about to begin its spiral into chaos.
I spent the rest of the night at the bar, trying to warm my soul with a brandy bottle…
From my rooftop, I watched the Orbital cross the sky. It passed through constellations, drawing an arc across the heavens. I peeked at my watch. Carlos Simba’s solitary ship would be braking into our atmosphere in just a few minutes. I toasted Manuel Hidalgo again. Shit-bottle was empty. Niki padded across the roof. She’d set the alarm to wake her up in time to catch the show. She sat next to me, our feet touching.
“Do you think I did the right thing?” I asked.
Niki moved in close. “Does it matter?”
Not anymore it didn’t. I’d had Abdul rig the cameras. He’d taken out the guts and replaced them with explosives, nothing too powerful, but enough to ignite the fuel tanks. He’d set the timers for reentry. Let friction burn up the evidence.
I wished there had been a way to save Hidalgo. He’d salvaged a good life for himself. I’d gone through it over and over, but just couldn’t take the risk of him blabbing. He just wasn’t stable. If I could flip him, so could somebody else. There couldn’t be any ties back to me. I wasn’t ready to risk my life or those of Niki, Maggie, and Abdul over him. Call me a coward if you want. I’d just add it to the list of my sins.
Greater good. It was a powerful argument, enough to convince Maggie and Abdul, but I knew it wasn’t my main justification. They killed Paul. That was all the reason I needed.
I looked at my watch-started wearing it on my left.
Any second now…
There! A shooting star.
