Watching-Part 2

[mjcmmv]

PART 2
Chapter 5: Reliance
July 1992
Sonny

Castillo was flipping pages in a binder and staring at mug shots with an air of detachment.  Sonny had just been summoned. 

“You wanted to see me, Lieutenant?”

“Sit down. We have a lot to go over.”

The detective picked the couch, but immediately regretted it. The faux leather was cracked in places and he could feel the sharp edges dig into his legs through his thin linen trousers.

“How does he sleep on this?” Crockett wondered.  

“I want you involved in the Pedrosa case,” Castillo was saying, looking up at him.

“Gina and Trudy’s case.”

“Yes.”

“And you want me to step in?”

“Trudy’s taken a back seat on this one and Gina’s going in solo. She's under deep and I’m concerned she may be in over her head.”

“Fill me in. I was out on assignment when she presented the case last month.”

Castillo handed him the file. It included a report from the DEA concerning the murder investigation of one of their agents. Sonny’s uneasiness grew as he scanned the single-spaced type. 
 

Carlos Pedrosa Age: 42; Height: 5’11”; Weight: 180 lbs.; Hair Color: Brown; Eye Color: Brown; Country of Origin: Columbia;  Port of Entry: Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Date:  July 8th, 1988; Present Address: Unknown.  

Sonny opened the small pad he’d brought with him and began to take notes. The DEA had their eye on Pedrosa for some time. Pedrosa was known to run a tightly controlled organization. Informants were scanty or nonexistent. Pedrosa had moved to Miami in 1992, earning a reputation as a dealer who was smart as well as ruthless. At this point, the DEA’s Miami Office, has taken over, looking into reports that Pedrosa was smuggling large amounts of coke into the state. They want OCB to work on the case with them in tandem.  

Sonny stopped reading. “So, how does Gina fit in.”

“Last month, Lauderdale and the Feds were giving us their intel. When they mentioned Pedrosa loved Jazz and he frequented the clubs, I thought of Gina. She knows the business. When I talked to her about it, she jumped at the chance. 

Sonny remembered her involvement with singing at the Blue Note Jazz Club during the Herzog case back in ’87. The set-up was similar. 

“She’s got his attention,” Castillo continued. “He sends flowers and champagne to her dressing room after her performance. He’s invited her to sing at his yacht parties and she’s gone a few times. At first, it was just a business arrangement. But the last time, he made sure they were alone.”

Sonny’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not good, Lieutenant.” He was trying to hide his anger. Castillo glanced at Sonny and closed the file. “Maybe I should turn this over to Tubbs.”

Sonny sighed. “No, no, It's okay. Tell me the rest.” 

“She managed to get out of it. He had too much to drink and passed out. But, the next party is this weekend. She may not be as lucky this time.”

“Is it worth it, keeping her on the inside? 

“She overheard some valuable conversations … Pedrosa and local dealers discussing merchandise and delivery dates.” 

“I’m surprised he let her be within earshot.”

“He trusts her and that’s made him careless. Some of the photographs she taken, tie him in with some heavy-duty players. She’s even heard rumblings about a future summit meeting, and she wants to hang on until she finds out when and where. The DEA liaison was ecstatic.” 

No wonder Gina never told him the details of this case. She knew he’d go ballistic. But now,  he was the least of her worries. Castillo was about to step in. Sonny was right when he said she  would be upset.

 

“I’m this close to nailing this guy and now Castillo might pull me out? You’ve got to help me, Sonny. I’ve put a lot of time into this case. Please, he’ll listen to you.”

“I’m not so sure I disagree with him, Gina. I don’t think the risk is worth it either.”

“Not you too!” she shouted in disbelief.

“Easy there, now. I didn’t say I wouldn’t help. But if I do, it has to be my way.”

“And what does that mean.”

“I’ve heard he needs some reliable transportation. Introduce me to him, and if the vibes are right, I’ll tell him about the Scarab.”

“Pedrosa will lose interest if a new player shows up now.” She stood and glared. “He might even become suspicious.”

“Gina, cool down. The Lieutenant’s concerned. He showed me the file, and I don’t like what I saw, either. Pedrosa’s the prime suspect in the killing of an undercover cop, not to mention a few rivals along the way. And, I understand his interest in you is more than just infatuation.  This isn’t good, Gina. You’re all alone out there. You need backup.”

“I can handle him. I don’t need a guardian angel.”

“No one should be above asking for a help now and then. Look at it this way. I’ll watch your back, and when your boy’s detained in the interrogation room, I promise, you’ll get all the credit.”

“It’s not about credit, Sonny. If you come into the picture now and start acting like a partner, you’re going to blow my cover. Give me a chance to show what I can do.”

Castillo had come back into the office. “It’s all been arranged.” His stern look spoke volumes; there’d be no room for arguments. Sonny saw the disappointment on her face. 

“You mean you and Crockett discussed this without me. This is my case, Lieutenant. I wish you had invited me to the party.” She stared at Crockett.

“Knowing when to accept guidance is one way to earn respect,” Castillo told her. His tone became softer as he continued. “I’m aware of the effort you put into this case. It took skill to get in as far as you did. But I’ve put you in danger. Crockett will be on board if Pedrosa gives you trouble.”

The negotiations were over.
 

 ********

The Blue Note Jazz Club, North Miami Beach
Sonny 

Sonny picked a table in the back of the club’s main dining room, hoping to blend in with the rest of the customers. It was ten-thirty and Gina’s performance on The Blue Note stage had just ended. The lights had been toned down and a soft blue haze hung over the room, giving it a foggy, dream-like appearance. 

He saw Gina at the bar, and she turned away when she noticed him. Sonny glanced around, hoping to catch sight of Pedrosa. He was hard to miss.  

He was powerfully built, with a commanding presence. He wore a black shirt, jeans and a leather jacket draped around his shoulders. A large onyx ring adorned his ring finger and a heavy gold chain hung around his neck. 

Pedrosa’s cold dark eyes scanned the room. Sonny saw him nod to one of the waitresses and she approached his table. 

“Brandy.” Sonny heard him say. “And give this to Gina.” Pedrosa handed her a small envelope. The waitress smiled and walked over to the bar.

Gina took the note, read it, and glanced up in time to see Pedrosa raise his glass to her. With a welcoming smile, she stood and slowly made her way to Pedrosa’s table.

                                                   

“Tomorrow night, Sonny!” she told him excitedly as she rode with him back to the St. Vitus. “ It will be a small intimate party, just a few couples.”

Sonny was not thrilled.

“Stop looking at me like that! There’ll be other people on board this time. He wouldn’t dare try anything.”

“We’ll see, Gina. I don’t trust him.”

 

“I want you on that yacht,” Castillo told Crockett when he heard about Pedrosa’s invitation. 

“I’ve already taken care of it. Gina and I won’t be connected in any way. It turns out the Columbian’s trying to establish a new trade route. My contact put a bug in his ear and he wants to meet.  I insisted on tomorrow night. It didn’t take much to persuade him.”

“Good,” Castillo said. “Keep me informed.”

Sonny nodded. 

“And Crockett…”

“Yeah?”

“Set him up and get her out.”

 

Chapter 6: Brown Haired Girl
Pedrosa’s Yacht: ‘La Morena’
1920
Gina

She knew she was late. She walked a little faster, watching for holes in the wooden dock, hoping she wouldn’t twist an ankle if one of her high-heels accidentally found one. 

She had performed for Pedrosa’ guests twice before and considered the one hundred and sixteen-foot motor yacht one of the most beautiful she'd ever seen. She noticed party lights strung up on the top deck of the vessel and smiled, realizing he’d done that for her. 

“I will decorate the ‘La Morena’ with stars. Anything to make you happy, Gina,” he told her last night at the club. 

She was dressed in a shimmering white cocktail dress, a simple diamond pendant around her neck. Her black hair was loose and fell in rich waves around her shoulders. Several of Pedrosa’s men were standing on the deck and they turned their heads to admire her when she made her appearance. 

Pedrosa was already waiting. “Finally!” 

He pulled her into a warm embrace. She tried to act pleased, and hugged him back. Then, she saw Sonny, sitting at the bar. 

“So, where are the guests?” she asked Pedrosa as he escorted her across the deck.

“They’ll be along. Soon. I wanted this opportunity for you and me to talk together. You left suddenly last time. I was disappointed.”

“You were drunk, Carlos. And getting very unpleasant.” It was a bold thing to say and she realized she might be pressing her luck. 

“If I overstepped my bounds, I apologize. I would hate to see one little indiscretion get in the way of a promising romance.”

She frowned. “Romance? We barely know each other.”

“And I was hoping you’d give me the opportunity to correct that situation very soon.”

“We’ll see.” She took a seat at the bar and glanced at Sonny.  “And who is this?” 

“He’s here on business. Let me introduce you. This is Sonny Burnett. Sonny, Gina…Gina Caliendo.”

“Pleasure.” Sonny raised his glass.

“You look lovely tonight, my dear. Doesn’t she look lovely, Mr. Burnett?”

“Yeah.” Crockett took a sip from his drink. “She’s something all right. Now, why don’t we get this show on the road, Pedrosa? Before the party begins.”

Pedrosa chuckled. “Not now, Burnett. Relax.”

He took two glasses of champagne from the bartender and led her over to one of the lounge chairs. He handed her a glass. 

“Comfortable?”

“Yes, very. Thank you.’ She drank in the view. “This is heaven.”

Pedrosa reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. She didn’t dare pull it back. 

“Tell me more about yourself, your training for instance. Who helped you develop your style? It’s quite unique.” 

“I was raised by my aunt and she made sure I had the best teachers.” 

It was true. Aunt Rose had always insisted on the best. Weaving some truth into her tale was better than embellishing a lie that could end up blowing her cover. 

“Your career path interests me,” Pedrosa was saying. “With your talent, and looks, I find it hard to understand how you just suddenly appeared on the scene.” His prying was making her uncomfortable. 

“Chicago was my last gig. I was there a little over a month. Working the clubs can be tedious and I don’t like to be locked into a contract. It’s much less of a headache to be a free agent. I can come and go as I please.”

“I imagine you would like to go further, though. You have a lot to offer.”

“I’m content.”

“I could make a few calls. Put you in touch with a good agent. The right people can make all the difference.”

Gina was getting impatient. “I’ll think about it. For now, I’d like to enjoy myself, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course.” He took a sip of his own drink. 

“Come, Burnett” he glanced at Sonny, and grabbed Gina’s hand. “Let me show you around my floating palace.”

Crockett frowned. He was impatient to make a deal and this little tour was going to create an unnecessary delay. 

“I insist.” Pedrosa said when he saw Crockett hesitate.

 

Chapter 7: Cover Me
Pedrosa’s Yacht: ‘La Morena’
Sonny

 

Pedrosa was proud of the luxury surrounding him. He led them through the well-stocked galley, complete with a chef and assistant.  He ushered them both down a second flight to the staterooms, making sure they noticed the marble tile and gold fixtures in the master bath. “Imported. From Italy,” he told them. Gina must have seen it all before. “Very nice,” she murmured, as she stared into space.

Crockett’s eyes wandered over the cabinets lining the staterooms’ walls and wondered what secrets were stashed behind the locked doors. “Nice storage on this tub. Bet that comes in handy when you’re on the lam.”

Pedrosa’s eyes narrowed. “I said later, Burnett.”

“Oh, sorry,” Sonny answered, giving Gina a grin. He heard her sigh. 

“So, how many can you sleep comfortably on this tub?” Sonny asked.

“Comfortably?” Pedrosa looked at him coolly. “Ten… maybe twelve. It depends on the sleeping arrangements, obviously.”

 “Obviously,” Sonny mimicked, glancing at the king-sized bed. “This baby alone could hold at least four, gee, maybe even five.” 

Pedrosa laughed. “I’ve never tried that, Burnett, but you may have a point.”

Sonny saw Gina glare and knew it was time to shut his mouth. 

As they headed back down the hall, a young woman carrying table linens, brushed by them and  Crockett saw her glance at Gina for a moment. 

“Make sure the caviar is well chilled, Angela,” Pedrosa told her.

“I’ll have Julio check on it right away,” she said.

Now, he saw the girl studying Gina closely. His stomach muscles tightened.

They marched through the narrow hallway, single file, until they reached the stairway to the deck. Pedrosa came up behind Gina and put his hands on her shoulders. “I can’t take my eyes off you,” he murmured, just loud enough for Sonny to hear. 

“Not now, Carlos. Mr. Burnett is watching.”

“He doesn’t mind, do you Mr. Burnett?” Pedrosa’s hands were wandering to places they didn’t belong. 

“Enough! Stop!” She pushed him away and glanced up at Sonny. “We’re coming, Mr. Burnett. Don’t start the party without us.”

Sonny was fighting to keep his temper in check. “Don’t mind me,” he said. “If you two need some privacy, I guess I’ll be on my way.”

“No, no, Burnett. Getting things warmed up, that’s all. Stay. We’ll talk after dinner, I promise.” 

They reached the deck and Gina wandered over to the railing. 

“The kitchen’s calling, for you, Señor Pedrosa.” The bartender reached over the bar and handed him a portable phone.

“Excuse me,” Pedrosa said to them both and he walked a short distance away to take the call.

Sonny came up behind her and cleared his throat.

“You’re impossible,” she said under her breath. 

Sonny picked up a handful of peanuts from a bowl on a nearby table. “Tell me again how you were going to handle him without me being here.” 

She didn’t answer. He popped a nut into his mouth. “So, guess I’ll be staying for dinner.”

“I’d better figure out a way to make a graceful exit, because I think he plans on having me for dessert,” she muttered, glancing in Pedrosa’s direction.

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Pedrosa was looking over at her with an odd expression on his face. He pushed the phone aerial back down and stared out at the sea. After a minute passed,  he stood and rejoined them by the railing.

“I apologize,” he said. “There was a small problem in the kitchen.”

He filled Gina’s glass. 

“I need to know when we’re going to get down to business, Pedrosa,” Sonny said.

“Right now, I have something more important I need to take care of.”

Sonny was annoyed but said nothing.

“So, my dear.” Pedrosa turned his attention back on Gina. “I have a question for you.  The gig in Chicago you told me about. When was it again?”

Sonny saw her puzzled expression. “The first week in May until mid-June. Why?”

Pedrosa stared back at her. He was no longer smiling. 

“How could that be? One of my employees said they saw you in Miami the end of May.  She insists you busted her for soliciting over the Memorial Day weekend. Angela Ramos. Ring a bell?”

Crockett saw a shadow of fear flicker across Gina’s face. “She’s mistaken.”

“She was pretty insistent.”

“She’s confusing me with someone else. She couldn’t have seen me. I only just arrived in Miami.”

Pedrosa was watching her carefully. “No, I don’t think that’s true.” He paused and took the glass from her hand. “This new-found information answers a lot of my questions. Like, why does your performance history only go back a few months? Or, how is it that none of the other Jazz musicians I’ve talked to, know anything about you?” His mouth had transformed into a grim line. “You’re a cop, that’s why.” Now he put her glass on the table next to the bowl of nuts. “You should have stuck to patrol cars and desk-work, my dear. You’re too well known on the streets.”

Sonny’s pulse rate had quickened, and he found himself instinctively focusing on the weight of the pistol strapped against his chest. He almost reached for it when Pedrosa suddenly raise his hand and slapped Gina’s face, hard. 

“You were setting me up!” he shouted.

Gina’s hand went to her cheek. Sonny saw tears pooling in her eyes.

“You’re making a big mistake!” she said. 

Pedrosa turned to Sonny. “Sorry about this, Mr. Burnett. But I cannot ignore a threat to my security. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

Sonny dismissed the comment with a casual wave of his hand and pretended to take another sip from his glass. His mind was racing in a thousand different directions. Timing would be key. Not to mention, a lotta luck. 

 Pedrosa signaled to one of his men, standing in the shadows. “Pat her down and see if she’s wearing a wire, Jorge.”

“With pleasure.” Jorge smiled.

One of the other men had grabbed her arms to hold her and Jorge ran his hands down the front of her dress, lingering longer than he needed to over her breasts. Sonny had all he could do not to catapult himself across the deck, but he didn’t dare react. He was Gina’s only chance now, and he couldn’t risk blowing his own cover. He bit his lip and watched helplessly as Jorge continue to explore. His hands were up her dress now, running up each one of her legs. A tear rolled down Gina’s face and Sonny had to turn his eyes away to control himself. 

At last, Jorge stood. “She’s clean,” he announced. 

“You came unarmed and without backup. That doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe that’s because I’m not what you think I am.”

“I’m willing to bet your backup is somewhere nearby. Perhaps I should be expecting company any minute. He dug his fingers into her arms. The expression on his face was ugly. “I trusted you.”

“You’re hurting me. Let go!”

Two of his men came closer. He pushed her toward them.

“Get the dinghy…and bring Ernesto with you.”

“No…wait…” Gina cried out as Jorge dragged her toward the ramp leading to the pier below.  

 “What a waste, Pedrosa.” Crockett gravelly voice intruded on the scene, stopping them all in their tracks. “How about you give me some time with her?”

“Really! What did you have in mind, Burnett?”

Sonny put down his glass on the bar and swiveled around to face them. “Oh, I think I could up with some interesting ideas.” 

He made a point of letting his eyes wander over Gina’s body. A suggestive grin lit up his handsome face as he slid off the barstool and walked over to the tight little group. 

“For one, I’d certainly like a chance to try out that king size bed.”

“Now wait a minute!” Gina shouted. Sonny glanced at her as if amused. “Good act, Gina,” he thought to himself. “Now hold it together, darlin’ and I just might get us out of this.” 

He stroked the side of her face with his fingers. “It doesn’t matter to me if you’re a cop. I find you fascinating.”

He saw Pedrosa eyebrows arch. “I thought you were in a hurry to leave.” 

It was hard to read Pedrosa’s expression, but Sonny couldn’t help but think the man was still making up his mind about him. Desperately stalling for time, he continued to dream up more dialogue for the little charade he had just begun. 

“Like you said, ‘the night is young’. If things go well, maybe I’ll go a little soft on the price I quoted earlier.”

It had gotten very quiet. No one moved. 

“Don’t take long. We sail in an hour.” 

Crockett ran his finger down Gina’s bare arm. “That’s all I’ll need.”  Then he wrapped his hand around her wrist and dragged her toward the stairway.

Gina tried to pull away from him. He pinned her arms to her side. “Come on now. Take it easy, honey. This is going to be fun.” He twisted his fingers in her hair and kissed her. “Mm,” he murmured, finally releasing her. 

She looked angry, but that was good. Better angry with him than frozen with fear. He grabbed her arm and headed for the sleeping quarters below. 

“Later, Pedrosa,” he said with a grin. 

“Oh, and Burnett,” Pedrosa called after him. “You’re sailing with us. Your other customers will have to wait.”

Crockett hesitated but then shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say. It’s a beautiful night for a cruise.”

“You’re hurting me!” she snapped at him when they reached the darkened hallway. 

Sonny kicked a state room door open and pulled her inside. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her again, long and hard.

As they broke apart, Gina glared at him as if he were crazy. “This is hardly the time, Crockett! Now tell me how we’re going to get us out of this?”

“You’re beautiful. Did you know that?” 

“Crockett. This is serious.”

“I know.”

He could see her trying not to laugh. “You’re going to get us killed, Sonny.”

He reached behind his back and pulled out the small caliber gun stashed in the waistband of his pants.

“Guess you and I’ll have to storm our way out of the castle. Take this and make sure you make it count.” He handed her the weapon, then proceeded to check his own pistol in the cabin’s soft light. 

“We could continue down the hallway toward the crew’s quarters. I saw a door on our little tour leading to another stairway.”

“And then what? Jump overboard?

“Naw.” 

Sonny lifted his t-shirt to show her the wire tapped to his chest. “ Stan’s been on standby. After all that interesting chit-chat up there, he should be on his way by now. And bringing the troops with him, I hope.”

Gina sighed. “Smart.”

He leaned out of the doorway and looked over at the stairway. No one was there. He signaled for her to follow. The light in the hallway was subdued, but there was just enough to see the door at the end. As they made their way, they heard the yacht’s engines begin to hum. Gina looked at him with alarm.

“Now that he figured out you’re a cop, he must be trying to make a quick get-away,” Sonny said.

“Oh, no. Do you think so?”

He shrugged. “Makes sense.”

“Where does that leave me?”

He  hesitated. “Floating face down in the big, bad ocean, if I don’t get us out of here.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, right.”

Sonny turned the knob and pulled the heavy metal door open. Pedrosa and two of his goons were waiting on the other side.

“Did you really think I would fall for your little distraction, Señor? I grew up on the streets of Bogota and there, you learn to trust no one.” 

Two more guys had come up behind them. Jorge was one of them. He twisted the gun from Gina’s hand and held her. 

“Drop it, Burnett,” Pedrosa said. “And then I want you to explain to me what you really do for a living,”

 

Chapter 8: Keeping Afloat      
Gina 

 

After frisking Sonny, they found the wire. Now they knew the truth. 

Gina lost track of how long they’d been beating him. Sonny’s  face wasn't too bad, just a cut above his eyebrow, blood flowing into his eyes. But the blows to his body were brutal. Jorge was taking great delight in kicking him with his metal tipped boots. Gina could hear Sonny’s muffled grunts. 

Jorge grabbed Sonny by the hair and pulled his head up. His eyes were closed, and she heard him struggling to breathe. She prayed none of his ribs were broken.

“No more, please!” she begged. 

“He’ll be out for a while,” one of the men said.

Pedrosa’s attention turned to Gina.

“Another cop. So, he was your backup. Very clever. I would have never suspected he was bugged.” 

Pedrosa was pacing, now. He signaled to Jorge. “The police can’t be far. You and Ernesto. Get them off the yacht and as far out to sea as you can get. You can use Burnett’s boat. Tow the dinghy with you. 

Jorge nodded. 

“And Jorge. I don’t want any bodies surfacing, do you understand?”

“Si,” he answered.

They tied Sonny’s hands behind his back, and Ernesto and Jorge yanked him roughly to his feet. His chin dropped to his chest; his knees buckled under his weight. Another man took Gina by the arm and sat her down hard on a deck chair.

 

Stan

“Oh, man, oh man.” Stan was in a panic, shouting into the two-way radio in his hand. “Answer, Rico. Damn it!”

Finally, a familiar voice came through. “Yeah, Stan. What’s up?”

“Rico! Pedrosa made them. Gina and Sonny are in trouble.”

“What!”

“Yeah… one of Pedrosa’s employees recognized Gina. Then, the shit hit the fan!”

There was a pause. “Okay, Stan. Notify the Coast Guard. I’m on my way.” 

Stan was relieved he had gotten his message across. Now he wasn‘t alone with this disaster! But he wasn’t satisfied to just sit by and twiddle his thumbs while he waited for the cavalry. Sonny had left him on the St. Vitus with strict instructions to stay put and monitor the radio. But after what he heard, all bets were off, and he was going to think for himself for a change. 

He knew Crockett had a dinghy tied up by the St. Vitus. 

First, he put a may-day out to the Coast Guard, identifying himself, and updating them on the status of the operation. Then, he gave them approximate coordinates where Pedrosa’s yacht might be.

Now, he had to plan the best strategy. This was his opportunity to show what he was made of. He was going to prove to the Lieutenant he was worth more to the team than the guy who set up surveillance and listened to tapes all day long. 

He turned on the two-way radio back on. “Rico…Rico…”

He heard static and then, Rico’s soft voice floated through the receiver. “Yeah, Stan.”

“I notified the Coast Guard and I’m launching Sonny’s dinghy. I might reach them before the Guard manages to get their act together. I’ll keep you updated.”

A pause…”Okay, Stan. Sounds like a good idea. Makes me feel better we have eyes and ears out there. Good thinking, buddy!”

Stan beamed. He had waited for a long time to hear words like that. And coming from Rico, it meant a lot. He switched off the radio  and began to gather his gear. 

 

Sonny                                                              Music: “One Way Out” by Jan Hammer

 

Sonny opened one eyes and saw the sea wash over the Scarab as it skipped across the waves. His side was on fire, and the vibrations from the throbbing motor made his head feel like it was about to explode. 

Finally, the boat stopped but continued to bob up and down on the water. He heard Gina calling out. “Stop it, let go of me!” 

A deep male voice laughed and then another began chattering excitedly in Spanish. He heard someone’s harsh breathing and then the sound of fabric being ripped. Gritting his teeth against the dizziness, he managed to focus on what was happening a short distance away. 

Gina was on her back and two men were struggling to control her. Sonny twisted his wrists, praying he would find some slack in the ropes He looked back again and saw with relief, Gina’s eyes were focused on him. 

“Get. Off.  Me,” she screamed. She turned her body side to side and one of the men started to lose his balance. Sonny had already rolled himself on his back and was sitting up. Leaning against the side of the boat, he slid up until he was almost standing. He took a deep breath and  hurled himself across the short distance, smacking into the man full force. The momentum sent them both hurtling over the side. 

Water filled his nose and mouth. Kicking his feet, he rocketed to the surface and began to cough violently. Letting his shoes slip off, he tried to concentrate on loosening the ropes around his wrists as his legs churned desperately to keep his head above water. The effort was exhausting but he refused to give up, despite the painful pounding of his frightened heart.

Then a wave smacked him hard and his head went back under. Breaking the surface, again, he began to pull in large mouthfuls of precious air. He could hear shouting from above, and saw the boat rocking back and forth.

The guy who fell out of the boat with him was floating face down a short distance away and he was surprised to see the man wasn’t moving. He smiled.

Gee…guess ya couldn’t swim…

The weight of his water-soaked clothing began to pull him down, and he flipped himself on his back. Skittish waves buffeted against him.

“Sonny!” he heard Gina call out.

He closed his eyes, his heart full of regret. “Sorry, darlin’.” 

Another wave caught him, only this time instead of dragging him further away, it slammed him against the side of the Scarab. Then he felt someone’s fingers tangle in his hair and he almost cried out when sharp pain shot through his scalp. Before he could react, his head crashed hard against the hull of the fiberglass boat. Sheer panic took over when he realized he was going to pass out.

I’m gonna drown  

Whoever had him by the hair, tugged viciously, and his vision began to blur. He thrashed like a furious fish caught on a hook. 

Another wave hit him in the face and salt water filled his nose and throat. 

“This is it, Crockett,” he thought, as his air supply ran out.

 

Chapter 9: Recovery
The Bayside Marina
Rico

 

Castillo was in the marina parking lot, squinting into the glare of the early morning sunrise. Rico sat in his Caddy. Still stunned by the events that occurred over the last few hours, he needed some time to get his thoughts together before he faced the Lieutenant.

He glanced at the radio in his hand, imagining he could still hear the static, when Stan had started shouting for emergency backup. Sonny had left him on the St. Vitus to monitor the Pedrosa party from the bug under Sonny’s suit jacket lapel. Stan heard the commotion when all hell broke loose, and he knew Sonny and Gina were in trouble.

Rico had raced to the marina with two squad cars following behind him, their sirens screaming full blast. He remembered yanking a pair of binoculars from his glove compartment and stumbling out of the Caddy, peering anxiously out onto the dark horizon.

Stan had already started out after the Scarab in Sonny’s outboard dinghy, all the while trying to update Rico on the radio. 

 “I didn't see the yacht but I saw a Scarab hightailing out to sea. It looks like Sonny's. I'm following it to make sure....okay. The Scarab's slowing down. I think they’re going to stop. I’m cutting the motor, so they don’t hear me coming. Okay, they’ve stopped…. I gotta get closer somehow. I’ve got oars here somewhere. The Scarab’s dashboard lights are on… it is Sonny's! Two men on board. I don't see Sonny or Gina, though.From what I can make out these guys seem to be pretty distracted so maybe they won’t notice me.”

Rico didn’t dare imagine what Stan meant by the word ‘distracted’.

"I saw Sonny. He and another guy went over the side!"

 Ten minutes stretched into an eternity.

“Hurry, Stan. Hurry,” Rico remembered whispering.

“I see Gina now…. but no sign of Sonny… Rico, I’m getting too close for radio contact… they might hear me… Okay, I’m going to sign off. Hope you guys are on your way.”

Just as the radio went dead, Rico saw the Coast Guard cutter pull out from the dock and head out to sea. Again, the minutes crawled by, and Rico put the binoculars down to wipe away the anxious sweat. He couldn’t see anything out there anyway. He waited and prayed until the radio came back to life.

“I got them!” Stan sputtered. “I radioed the Coast Guard to let them know where we were and they're here!”

“Do you see Sonny?” Rico asked.

“Looks like Gina managed to topple one of the guys overboard. Another guy's dead. Sonny was floating on the side of the boat and Gina was trying to hold him up by his hair. He’s knocked around a bit and he’s coughing up a lot of water, but he’s alive!”

“Thanks Stan…great news.”

“Thank God,” he muttered.

“Report!” Startled out of his reverie, Rico noticed the lieutenant approaching the driver’s side of the Caddy. 

“Stan got to them in time,” Rico answered. “We’ve got one dead, one man in custody…and Pedrosa’s yacht managed to disappear.”

“Where’s Sonny and Gina now?” Castillo asked.

“Jackson Memorial’s ER. Stan told me the doctors want to keep Sonny overnight. He’s got some cracked ribs, a concussion and, and it looks like he swallowed a stomach full of the Atlantic Ocean, so they want to keep an eye on that, too.”  Rico shook his head and sighed. “Gina, she’s pretty shaken up, but all she got was a split lip and a sprained wrist. They were lucky, Lieutenant. If Stan hadn’t been on the ball, the story could have been a lot different.”

At first, Marty didn’t answer, but turned back around to look out to sea, as if searching for a sign of the fugitive yacht. At last, he spoke. “Stan used his head. His actions were well thought out and he saved their lives. I’ll speak to him in the morning.” He turned toward Rico. “Tell them both I’ll be by to see them in a little while.” 

Rico waited for a moment before realizing Castillo was finished. Climbing back into the Caddy, he settled in against the soft leather upholstery. It had been a long night, and he needed sleep. But before he collapsed into bed, he wanted to see Crockett and Gina for himself.

                                                                     
He pulled into the ER parking lot and jogged in through the ambulance bay entrance. Nodding to one of the cops writing out a report on a clipboard, he flashed his badge and asked him if he knew where Crockett was being treated.

“He’s behind curtain number three,” the young patrolman said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. “And he’s not happy!” he added.

Sonny was sitting up on the side of a stretcher, holding an icepack over his eye. His shirt was open, and Rico noticed a binder strapped tightly around his chest. Gina, her arm in a sling, was on a chair next to him, holding onto his hand.

“Hey, Rico,” Sonny muttered.

“Hey, yourself. How’s the head?”

“Well, the room stopped spinning about an hour ago. I guess you could call that progress. But I want out of here, and they’re insisting on holding me over night, no matter how much I threaten them with bodily harm.”

Gina looked over at Rico and gave him a rueful smile.

“Sounds like a good idea to me. Only way I can think of to keep you out of trouble.” Rico could almost see steam coming out of Sonny’s nostrils. 

“What happened to Pedrosa?” Crockett asked.

“He took off while we were fishing you out of the drink.”

Sonny snorted. “Figures. All that pounding for nothing.”

“Well, look at it this way. At last, we have something solid to charge him with. We’re bound to catch up with him, sooner or later.”

Now, Rico focused on Gina. “How about you?” he asked. 

“I’m okay.” Her voice was so soft,  Rico had to strain to hear her.

“Want me to take you home?”

“No.”

“Gina…” Sonny groaned. “I’m fine. You need to take it easy. Go back to your apartment and get some rest.”

“I could use a hot shower and a change of clothes,” she said, glancing down at her ripped dress.

“Good.” Rico stood up. “Then let me go and get your discharge papers. Be right back.”

A half hour later, he returned with a medicine bottle filled with capsules and a list of written instructions.

“Pain medication,” he told her.

“I don’t need it, Rico. And I’m not going home to stay. I’ll get a few essentials and come back here. Then when Sonny’s discharged, I’ll go and stay with him on the St. Vitus.”

Crockett squeezed her hand. “Go home and get some sleep and I’ll call you before they spring me.”

“Yeah. Sleep. I don’t think I’ll being doing much of that for a while.”

“Sure you will. As soon as your head hits that pillow, you’ll be out. You’re exhausted, only you don’t know it yet.”

“Maybe.” She shifted her position and grimaced.

“See? You are hurting!” Rico insisted.

“Not really. I think it’s my ego that’s suffering the most right now.”

“Listen, Gina,” Sonny interrupted. “No one could have predicted what was going to happen. I’m supposed to be the one with the crystal ball, and I never saw it coming either.”

“Having Stan as backup was key,” Rico added. “He outdid himself this time.”

“Yeah. I owe him plenty.”

“And I guess I owe you one too, Crockett,” Gina said. “If you hadn’t been there, this would have ended up much worse.”

“Oh, I don’t know. You handled things pretty well up until that girl recognized you. We had no way of predicting that!”

“That’s decent of you. Thanks for not gloating.”

“Who me? Gloat? Never!” 

Gina’s face was serious. “The ‘Sonny-of-old’ would never have let me live this down. I can hear you now, dismissing me as if I were a helpless incompetent! “Ever hear of reconnaissance, Gina? Undercover 101?’” she mimicked.

Rico saw Sonny wince as he remembered a case from long ago. “That was the other me. I don’t say things like that anymore.”

"I've noticed," she said, with a dreamy look on her face. She leaned over to kiss him. Putting the icepack down on the stretcher, Sonny took her face in his hands and kissed her back. It was a sweet, lingering kiss that went on and on, without a hint of ever ending. Rico turned away, pleased to see the romantic heat between Gina and his partner go up a notch, right before his eyes.

"I'll go find a wheelchair," he muttered, trying hard not to grin. 

******

The ‘La Morena’
Pedrosa

 

His men were deciding for themselves if their leader had lost some of his strength. He could tell they were watching  him closely as the yacht rushed out to sea.

This debacle, with Burnett and the singer; why hadn’t he seen the signs? It had been a set-up from the moment he had laid eyes on Gina, but he had been too bewitched to notice.

And Burnett…. 

Pedrosa’s sources had convinced him the man was genuine: a runner with a fast boat and a reputation for getting the job done. His sources were wrong. Burnett was a cop. And, he was wearing a wire!  Anger boiled inside as he remembered Burnett’s smile, a smile full of contempt.

He signaled to a young man, standing in the shadows. 

“Come here, Roberto.”

“Si, Señor Pedrosa.” 

He told Roberto to sit. “I must go away for a while. It’s too hot for me in Miami right now. But you need to stay. You and Julián. Find out all there is to know about this Burnett, although I’m sure that’s not really his name. And the woman, Gina Caliendo.”

Roberto nodded.  

“Get your things together and tell Julián I want to see him. He knows his way around Miami… and he’s a genius with the computer.”

“Si, Señor Pedrosa. I will get ready right away!”

Carlos Pedrosa smiled at the young man’s enthusiasm. The lure of the hunt was in this young one’s blood. And, he was hungry for power. If Roberto Ortiz did what he was told and learned from Carlos Pedrosa, he would rise to the top like a shooting star.

Edited April 5, 2021 by mjcmmv

[Robbie C.]

Another nice addition! Well done!

[vicegirl85]

9 hours ago, mjcmmv said:

“I’m this close to nailing this guy and now Castillo might pull me out? You’ve got to help me, Sonny. I’ve put a lot of time into this case. Please, he’ll listen to you.”

You've got Gina nailed!

9 hours ago, mjcmmv said:

“Knowing when to accept guidance is one way to earn respect,” Castillo told her. His tone became softer as he continued. “I’m aware of the effort you put into this case. It took skill to get in as far as you did. But I’ve put you in danger. Crockett will be on board if Pedrosa gives you trouble.”

I think this is very Castillo, too

10 hours ago, mjcmmv said:

“Who me? Gloat? Never!” 

Gina’s face was serious. “The ‘Sonny-of-old’ would never have let me live this down. I can hear you now, dismissing me as if I were a helpless incompetent! “Ever hear of reconnaissance, Gina? Undercover 101?’” she mimicked.

I like it!

10 hours ago, mjcmmv said:

“I must go away for a while. It’s too hot for me in Miami right now. But you need to stay. You and Julián. Find out all there is to know about this Burnett, although I’m sure that’s not really his name. And the woman, Gina Caliendo.”

I'm fearful for the future!

 

[mjcmmv]

2 minutes ago, vicegirl85 said:

You've got Gina nailed!

I think this is very Castillo, too

I like it!

I'm fearful for the future!

 

So great to hear you liked it! Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it!

[summer84]

The part about Sonny and Gina undercover on Pedrosa's yacht was interesting. Very unexpecting to me, the turn the story took. And we got to see Stan in action for a change. I noticed there were some references to "Heroes of The Revolution" and "Give a Little." 

[mjcmmv]

1 hour ago, summer84 said:

The part about Sonny and Gina undercover on Pedrosa's yacht was interesting. Very unexpecting to me, the turn the story took. And we got to see Stan in action for a change. I noticed there were some references to "Heroes of The Revolution" and "Give a Little." 

Heroes of the Revolution, yes. Not sure where you saw "Give a Little" unless it's when Gina's insisting she can go undercover without backup. (Sigh) She never learns, does she.... 

Stan needed some recognition. A friend suggested it, and I agreed wholeheartedly. (Thanks, friend!)

 

Edited August 12, 2019 by mjcmmv

[summer84]

35 minutes ago, mjcmmv said:

Heroes of the Revolution, yes. Not sure where you saw "Give a Little" unless it's when Gina's insisting she can go undercover without backup. (Sigh) She never learns, does she.... 

Stan needed some recognition. A friend suggested it, and I agreed wholeheartedly. (Thanks, friend!)

 

Haha, yeah that is so Gina. Like, when Castillo advised in the episode "Give a Little," "don't get yourself compromised" and Gina replying, "they haven't invented a tricky situation, we can't handle."

And also the part in your story about, when she says to Sonny, that "there'll be other people on board this time."

Edited August 12, 2019 by summer84

[mjcmmv]

2 minutes ago, summer84 said:

Haha, yeah that is so Gina. Like, when Castillo advised in the episode "Give a Little," "don't get yourself compromised" and Gina replying, "they haven't invented a tricky situation, we can't handle."

 

Loved that quote!

[mjcmmv]

On 8/11/2019 at 9:46 PM, vicegirl85 said:

You've got Gina nailed!

I think this is very Castillo, too

I like it!

I'm fearful for the future!

 

Thanks, vicegirl! 

[sdiegolo78]

This was great! Kept me at the edge of my seat! And this Pedrosa sounds most dangerous than most MV canon villains!