Bullets By The Bay

Word count 300

Bullets By The Bay

         Sleeplessness made me antsy. Spotting my errant yacht five days later,
Charlie confirmed a drug cartel was using it to traffic along the coastline.

         I skirted the dock’s ramp, ripping stringed lights off railings, plunging the area into darkness. Charlie advanced aft; another FBI team stood watching. The lights had bounced off something shiny on the ramp. Stooping, I picked up my friend’s bracelet. That bracelet became a harbinger of friendship ending.

         Climbing aboard, I eased the safety off my gun, proceeding toward the cabins. Slipping inside and crouching, I observed the interior and a wrapped bundle. I swiftly moved to the bundle, revealing Andrea bound and gagged, her eyes wide as she stared at my masked face.

         Leaning into her ear, I removed the duct tape covering her mouth. “It’s Non, don’t talk.” The bracelet I’d given her was still attached to her wrist as I untied her.

         She started hissing something about her husband Steve.

         The cabin flooded with light, two blonde men charged us as we tried to escape. Throwing Andrea to the ground, I covered her while shooting, hoping I’d slam some slugs in them and better our chances. Aiming toward the light, I fired, as the remaining man shot. Pain seared my body as the room went black.

β β β

         My leg had a bullet hole. Charlie had two black eyes, and shared our final moments on the yacht with me.

         Andrea had tried warning me about Steve’s involvement in the cartel. The men I’d witnessed earlier, accidentally killed the woman Steve had hired to take Andrea’s place after he killed Andrea, so they were removing her. The bracelet was a duplicate to confuse people until Steve vanished with the woman.

         “All for the love of money.”

         Charlie laughed. “Go to sleep Non, you deserve the rest.”