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Authors: Devan Sagliani
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as well just announce you've got ransom money. Besides they'd just slow us down with the ladies,” said Dave, wriggling his eyebrows for maximum effect.
Another thought struck Zack as they strolled along. He turned to his friend. “Remind me again how are you going to score drugs off that guy later if you won't let him know where you're staying?”
“That's easy,” Dave explained. “We'll place the order in town. It's safer that way anyway. You never know who is listening in to your calls down here. Front desk clerks are known to sell information to local thugs in exchange for a cut of the action. That's why you never let them plan your vacation activities either. Everything you do should be last minute, totally unscheduled. Cuts down the chances of them picking up on your routine and lying in wait for you when you don't have one. Am I right?”
“Wow,” Zack laughed, coming to a halt to stare in awe at his friend. “That settles it. You really are the most paranoid person I know.”
“Sorry man. Old habits die hard. I'll dial it back. I promise,” Dave said as a dark look flashed across his face. “It's just that when you've had people come after you for your money you start to second guess everyone you meet. It becomes like a defensive instinct. I don't even notice I'm doing it.”
“It's cool man,” Zack said dismissively, hoping to change the subject to something lighter. “We're on vacation now. Just try to relax and enjoy yourself.”
They walked up the long driveway to the front of the five star resort to find young men in fresh-pressed uniforms parking cars and helping guests carry their luggage. One of them tried grabbing Dave and Zack's bags but Dave waved him off.
“ No gracias mi amigo ,” he said with an amused chuckle. “My bags stay with me.”
I guess he's right , Zack thought. Old habits do die hard.
Near the front of the resort lobby they passed a parked police car with the trunk open. An older looking cop with a barrel chest and a thick black mustache was picking up a row of pink suitcases one at a time off the sidewalk and loading them into the back. He stopped and stared menacingly at Dave and Zack as they passed. Dave stared back with a defiant smile but Zack looked down at the ground all the way until they'd reached the front doors of the hotel.
Inside the resort was a large aquarium in the lobby full of some of the most beautiful tropical fish Zack had ever seen. There was a row of brochures for everything from fishing expeditions to parasailing to the fabled booze cruise party boat. Zack flipped through them as Dave went to the front to check in. The concierge was a nervous little man with a name tag that read MIGUEL. He had bulging eyes and a receding hairline. He fidgeted nervously as he informed Dave that his room was still being cleaned. He asked Dave to wait in the lobby while the maids finished up.
“Have a seat over there,” Miguel motioned towards Zack on the couch.
“How long is this going to take?” Dave asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance at having to wait.
“Not long,” Miguel simpered with a practiced smile. “I promise you.”
Dave sulked over to the sofas and plopped down next to the exotic tank, staring listlessly at an orange-and-blue striped Clarion Angelfish that had turned to watch him. Zack joined him, bringing along a handful of pamphlets for activities like bungee jumping and zip lining through the jungle canopy.
“This fish right here alone is worth over twenty-five hundred dollars back home,” Dave said. “And that's if you can find one.”
“Twenty-five hundred dollars for one fish?” Zack asked incredulously, his mouth hanging open in shock. “That's insane!”
“Exotic fish are no cheap hobby my friend,” Dave said. “Some of them cost tens of thousands. This little fellow's from Mexico though. Down here they're probably a dime a dozen. It's once you try to get him out of the country that you get shafted.”
Dave laid
Another thought struck Zack as they strolled along. He turned to his friend. “Remind me again how are you going to score drugs off that guy later if you won't let him know where you're staying?”
“That's easy,” Dave explained. “We'll place the order in town. It's safer that way anyway. You never know who is listening in to your calls down here. Front desk clerks are known to sell information to local thugs in exchange for a cut of the action. That's why you never let them plan your vacation activities either. Everything you do should be last minute, totally unscheduled. Cuts down the chances of them picking up on your routine and lying in wait for you when you don't have one. Am I right?”
“Wow,” Zack laughed, coming to a halt to stare in awe at his friend. “That settles it. You really are the most paranoid person I know.”
“Sorry man. Old habits die hard. I'll dial it back. I promise,” Dave said as a dark look flashed across his face. “It's just that when you've had people come after you for your money you start to second guess everyone you meet. It becomes like a defensive instinct. I don't even notice I'm doing it.”
“It's cool man,” Zack said dismissively, hoping to change the subject to something lighter. “We're on vacation now. Just try to relax and enjoy yourself.”
They walked up the long driveway to the front of the five star resort to find young men in fresh-pressed uniforms parking cars and helping guests carry their luggage. One of them tried grabbing Dave and Zack's bags but Dave waved him off.
“ No gracias mi amigo ,” he said with an amused chuckle. “My bags stay with me.”
I guess he's right , Zack thought. Old habits do die hard.
Near the front of the resort lobby they passed a parked police car with the trunk open. An older looking cop with a barrel chest and a thick black mustache was picking up a row of pink suitcases one at a time off the sidewalk and loading them into the back. He stopped and stared menacingly at Dave and Zack as they passed. Dave stared back with a defiant smile but Zack looked down at the ground all the way until they'd reached the front doors of the hotel.
Inside the resort was a large aquarium in the lobby full of some of the most beautiful tropical fish Zack had ever seen. There was a row of brochures for everything from fishing expeditions to parasailing to the fabled booze cruise party boat. Zack flipped through them as Dave went to the front to check in. The concierge was a nervous little man with a name tag that read MIGUEL. He had bulging eyes and a receding hairline. He fidgeted nervously as he informed Dave that his room was still being cleaned. He asked Dave to wait in the lobby while the maids finished up.
“Have a seat over there,” Miguel motioned towards Zack on the couch.
“How long is this going to take?” Dave asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance at having to wait.
“Not long,” Miguel simpered with a practiced smile. “I promise you.”
Dave sulked over to the sofas and plopped down next to the exotic tank, staring listlessly at an orange-and-blue striped Clarion Angelfish that had turned to watch him. Zack joined him, bringing along a handful of pamphlets for activities like bungee jumping and zip lining through the jungle canopy.
“This fish right here alone is worth over twenty-five hundred dollars back home,” Dave said. “And that's if you can find one.”
“Twenty-five hundred dollars for one fish?” Zack asked incredulously, his mouth hanging open in shock. “That's insane!”
“Exotic fish are no cheap hobby my friend,” Dave said. “Some of them cost tens of thousands. This little fellow's from Mexico though. Down here they're probably a dime a dozen. It's once you try to get him out of the country that you get shafted.”
Dave laid
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