PAUL G. TREMBLAY
careful with this one. We waded in the shallow and warm bay water up to our waists. The gentle tap of ocean against wood echoed, almost musical, the plinks of a xylophone. I pulled out my water-proof flashlight, but it didn’t help much. Wood and water extended beyond us into darkness. “Are we there yet?” he said, whining in falsetto. “Bet you’re wishing that you didn’t wear the suit now, huh wise-guy? Almost there. Harry is about a five minute swim once the water is over our heads.” He stopped walking. “That, I will not do. No, sir. Harry didn’t say anything about swimming.” This was interesting. Harry always made it a point to let a client know about the dip, as he liked to call it. I couldn’t decide if Harry had forgotten to tell him, or that he’d done this on purpose, to push some buttons, to get an advantage. Either way, it was up to me to get this guy in the water. “That’s the deal, pal. We swim out,” I said and gave him my smile, my you-don’t-know-as-much-as-you-think-you-do smile. And it felt damn good. “Typical,” he said. “What’s typical?” “I thought I was dealing with a pro. The great Harry Faulk. And he goes and pulls this Mickey Mouse shit on me. A pro doesn’t leave out details. A pro covers all the bases.” “I don’t know what to tell you, other than get swimming.” He said nothing, but then he clapped his hands a couple times and let out a big laugh. This guy regained his composure awful quick. And there was that smile again, all teeth. He said, “I want a boat, fat-ass, or I ain’t coming.” Can’t say I liked the fat-ass comment, even if it was true. I said, “There is no boat.” “I’m not swimming stroke-one.” “What’s the matter, little boy? Are you afraid of the water?” I said it trying to keep this guy on edge. But it didn’t work. Because it sounded just like something my father would say. Something that sounded so mean but had long since lost its bite. So the guy said, “Nope. I dig the agua like a whore digs her heels.” “Christ, what’s the problem then?” “There’s lots of problems. If I’d known about the swim, we’d be all set. I would’ve had time to prepare.” 66