Shark Killer

Lola peered intently between a crack in the drapes from room 112 of the Gulf Coast Inn east of Navarre. Should be any second now.
The tall raven haired beauty was cool and collected. Stunning to look at, she could easily pass for ten years less than her thirty-eight years.
Her oversized sunglasses added an aura of mystery to her cosmopolitan look. She had been in countless rooms such as this one,
and done countless jobs over the years, though in recent years they involved considerably more money.
Nowadays she felt anything less then upper six digits was beneath her.
But sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. And besides, this guy was kinda fun. For a while anyway. She would give him another roll in the hay tonight.
It would be his last roll with anyone. Ever. She knew how to finish him painlessly and would vanish in the night without a trace.
Lola turned her first paying gig at the age of thirteen and never looked back. She quickly learned there were more efficient methods of earning cash than using up her body.
She had seen the toll prostitution took on some women, especially when combined with drug use, something she strictly avoided.
She learned early on however, if one followed the cocaine trail in the right direction, it usually led to piles of money.
The men with the piles of money were the men she preferred to associate with. It was often profitable to do their bidding.
The occasional roll in the hay with one of these guys was worth immeasurably more than a night with a "date" from a Vegas escort service.
More importantly, Lola soon learned it was possible to manipulate some of these men to do her bidding. Power is the ultimate turn on.
It was no longer about the money. Since the age of thirty she has had a healthy off shore account of which she has never made a withdrawal.
She keeps telling herself she should head to Cancun or some such place and live out her days under one of her many aliases with her toes in the sand.
I really should do that, she tells herself for the hundreth time this week. But here she is screwing around with this wannabe hustler.
For no other reason than the cheap thrill of taking the twenty grand and leaving him dead in a motel room and riding off into the moonlight.
Well here comes the the young lad now.Lola confidently steps out the door as Chad pulls into the parking space, is opening the car door just as he stops.
Smooth motions, car rolling back as she shuts the door. At the entrance to US 98. Nine seconds have elapsed since he entered the parking lot.
Chad is on the top of his little world. Big man now. Done hustled the truck driver and the young dumb redhead with daddy's yacht.
Now he has this incredible, exotic woman at his side. She obviously recognizes his talent and sophistication he thinks.
So filled is his head with these illusions of grandeur that he is almost T-boned by the westbound white Chevy Malibu he pulled into the path off as he pulled into the median opening to head back east.
He had just enough of a look to recognize the redhead in the passenger seat screaming at the the driver.

 

It was just a slight blip on the screen that almost went unnoticed, primarily due to Penelope's incessant yammering.
With Chad only venturing about seventy-five feet off the highway, it almost went unnoticed.
Studly was gritting his teeth in an effort to refrain from telling her to please shut the hell up.
But experience had taught him that would merely worsen the situation. Best not to interrupt her coke fueled rant.
Trying to figure out what was happening with his quarry when seemingly out of nowhere the white rental car shoots directly into his path.
As crazy as Penelope was she had no trouble instantly recognizing Chad.
"Ram him! Ram him!" she screamed at Studly.
This chick is totally bonkers was the first thought that sprang to his mind. This is not a Smokey and the Bandit movie.
That stuff doesn't work in real life. Not to mention, the last thing one wants is to create a monumental disturbance on a public highway in broad daylight.
For one thing, his drivers license identifying him as Felix Rosas of Medly FL may seem perfectly legitimate, but it would never stand heavy scrutiny.
Not to mention the amount of cash, cocaine and firearms contained in both vehicles. Police presence would not be desireable.
Things could get ugly quick. Best thing is to get safely turned around and re-establish the trail.
But he didn't bother to attempt to explain any of this to his crazy companion. He needed to focus on the job at hand.
He was also summoning all his willpower to resist stopping the car and strangling the life out of this insane chick and beating a path back to Miami.

In his haste to avoid getting smashed by the oncoming car, Chad shot across the median opening and narrowly avoided the trailer tandems of an eastbound gasoline tanker.
He was clearly shaken, but Lola seemed perfectly composed. Just another day at the beach.

"Hey boss. That fella gonna get hiself kilt" James told Brother G as Chad spun it into the eastbound lane.
"Well I'll just be ######" G said as he looked through the windshield of the oncoming car."That be our boy right there"
G hit speed dial for Ninemil.
"Yall on 98 yet?" he asked urgently.
"Yes sir, for a few miles" Ninemil answered.
"Good deal. Now tell your wheel man it's time for some fancy driving in that big ole Pete. Need to get that thing crossways on the eastbound side.
Try to make it look like he got hung up trying to turn around or something, in case the po lice get there before we do"

 

Chad's fear caused him to press hard on the gas pedal. A veteran in these matters, Lola gently laid a hand on his thigh to get his attention.
When he turned to face her, she gave him an easy smile and said "Easy there, big fella. You did it. Don't screw it up over a simple speeding violation"
It seemed to calm him. She had that effect on men. Unless she was trying to excite them, that is.
"Yeah, you're right sweetie. We did it. We make a good team, don't we?"
Poor guy, she thought.

Sgt Billy Dalton had been with the Okaloosa
County Sheriffs department for sixteen years and knew his job pretty well.
He knew without a seconds hesitation that this young lady wearing a mini skirt and high heels wobbling down the right lane of this rural highway was clearly out of her element.
As he eased over on the shoulder and rolled up behind her, he expected her to at least acknowledge his presence.
"Looks like we got us a stubborn one here" Billy remarked to his partner.
"Yeah, I was noticing that. Probably thinks it's her boyfriend back to pick her up and she's doing the cold shoulder routine" Deputy Troy Akins responded.
Billy gave a short WHOOP with the siren. Then the unexpected happened, to the rational person anyway.
She calmly removed her highheels and took off running south, towards the beach.
"Oh man. Now why did she go and do that for. Reckon she thinks they're filming an episode of COPS" Billy said.
Neither man hurried to exit the car for they both knew she would be bogged down in the marsh about fifty feet from the edge of the asphalt.
Penelope was not only wired from the last big line she did, but she was furious at being humiliated by the Cubano thug.
How dare he! Didn't he realize what a prize she was? No man has ever dared treat her this way!
And she'd be ###### if she would let these hillbilly cops put their paws on her.
Sure enough, her daring escape ended about as quick as it started. Within seconds she was in muck over her knees and it wasn't looking any better ahead.
Billy and Troy sauntered over to the edge to greet the by now thoroughly frustrated fugitive.
"Might as well turn around and bring your butt outa there young lady, because I darn sure ain't messing up my uniform in that muck you done got yourself in.
"Oh my lord" the sergeant said when he saw her battered face.
"Billy, I want you to go to the car and turn it facing this direction, so we get everything on the dashcam. This has all got to be right by the book"
After the cruiser was repositioned, Billy pulled Troy back out of earshot and lowered his voice.
"You see what's going on here, don't you? She knows about the dashcam. Didn't want a record of her face when we first arrived.
Then she can claim we did that getting her back to the car. This should document that she is in the swamp with a busted face and we are are standing out here in dry clothes"
"Gotcha sarge. Reckon we ought to call somebody out to verify the situation?" Troy suggested.
"Not a bad idea bud, but probably wouldn't matter now. It wouldn't account for the time gap, which ain't much anyway.
Besides, a lawyer will protest undue delay in apprehension or some such nonesense.
Might as well get her out and see what her deal is. Dollars to doughnuts she just got roughed up by some scumbag boyfriend whom she will no doubt try to protect.
Same old garbage, different day"
"Alright miss. Want to come on up on dry land please?" ordered Sgt Dalton.
"I ain't done nothing for yall to be harrassing me. Can't a person walk down the road without being bothered?" Penelope retorted.
"Maybe so miss, except you were in the middle of the right lane of a major highway. We were concerned for your safety.
It also appears you have suffered injuries from a prior incident. So please come on out of there. This is the last time I will ask you nicely"
Reluctantly, she slogged out of the muck onto dry land. It was deputy Akins that noticed something amiss.
"Uh, sarge, didn't she have a purse when we pulled up behind her?" Troy inquired.
"Dang sure did deputy. Miss, you want to tell us what happened to the handbag you had just a minute ago?" Billy demanded.
"Don't know what you're talking about" she responded.
"Listen real closely" Billy said, fully aware of the fact that this was all being recorded."It would behoove you to be cooperative with us at this point. If and when we end up in court, some judge is going to be watching this.
Not going to benefit you one bit to be untruthful with us. So you might as well retrieve the handbag.
One way or another, we will see the contents of the bag. It's not helping your case to tack on an obstruction charge"
He and Troy both knew the major issue was that neither one of them savored the idea of going into that swamp.
It was bad enough, she would be tracking that mess into the back seat area.
Regardless, she succumbed to his reasoning and pulled the purse out of the mire where she had attempted to submerge it.
"We don't need consent to look in it, do we?" Troy whispered.
"Not by a long shot bud"

Although unknown to anyone at the time, this seemingly insignificant incident with an errant pedestrian was a lucky break for Ricky and company.
And a not so lucky break for Chad the would be extortionist.
Turns out the only other patrol car assigned to this stretch of highway was working a fatality accident on a nearby county road and no one was immediately available to direct traffic around a stalled eighteen wheeler four miles down the road.

 

"Get 'em James" Brother G commanded.
By the tone of G's voice, James understood the need to be subtle had passed.
He expertly slung the Pontiac around in the next median opening and finally got to air out the 400+HP GTO. Felt good.
"Get close and stay there.Don't want any civilians in between us and him" G advised.

"Well, well" said Sgt Dalton, as he looked at the Florida drivers license Troy had fished out of the handbag.
When Penelope retrieved the bag from the swamp, she had been instructed to lay it on the hood of the patrol car.
That put everything in full view of the dash cam. Billy was especially glad he took that precaution now.
It seems their detainee had a very wealthy father, who would surely provide his little girl the finest legal assistance available.
"If it ain't Ms Penelope Pennyworth. Heard your name not too long ago. Something about a shootout on your daddy's houseboat"
Before she could respond Troy called out.
"Hey sarge, got something. Just scraped away some mud, and there it was. Come take a look"
Billy peered into the purse and let loose a low whistle.
"I'd say it's at least a gram or better" Troy surmised. "Not a boatload, but still a felony"
"Don't touch it Troy. Get the evidence kit out of the trunk. Pick it up with them tweezers and put it in a baggie.
Get out your Miranda card while your at it. Can't forget that.Wonder whose prints we going to find besides the current owner.Don't suppose you know anything about this, do you,Ms Pennyworth?"
"That sonofabitch musta put it there!" she blurted out.
"Oh, so you're ready to talk about who's car you were in?" Billy inquired, with a ####ed eyebrow.
With that she seemed spellbound for a few seconds, then said simply "I think I want a lawyer"

"Oh no! What the hell is that?" Chad nearly screamed.
"I can't believe some stupid truckdriver would pick now of all times to block the #### road"
Then the sick realization hit him that is was a very familiar truck indeed.

 

Looks like my timing worked out. Chad appeared to be the eighth car in line, in the left lane, with G and crew right behind.
An off duty Fort Walton Beach city cop was coming from town and couldn't help but notice the situation.
He crossed the median in front of me and drove up to my cab, with my rig blocking his view of the line of traffic, which served our need perfectly.
A quick text from G told me to stall for time as long as I could.
As soon as the officer approched, I launched into my country boy routine, talking nonstop.
"What seems to be the problem here driver?" the young policeman inquired."We have to get this thing moved ASAP. You can't be blocking a public roadway like this"
"Sir, I realize that and I'm just as sorry as I can be. I swear I am. I'm the last one to ever wanta cause any trouble, believe you me.
Just like you, I'm out here trying to do a good job and I don't want to be a hindrance to anybody trying to do theirs.
I know these fine folks have places they need to be and it pains me to inconvenience anybody"
"Hey slow down driver, what's wrong with your truck, you stuck or what?" the policeman was finally able to interject, when I took a breath.
"Well sir, that's a good question and I wish I had the answer. Truth be told, danged if I know. It done the same thing to me three weeks ago in Houston. No wait, I was in Beaumont I believe. That's right, darn sure was, cause I remember talking to Pam at the Petro. I normally wouldn't eat at a Petro, but that gal is somethin else, I tell ya.
I was making a left out of the lot. Had to swing out wide on acounta that ditch and cut it back real tight, just like I done here as a matter of fact.
And guess what? She just shut off on me, just like she just done here. Wouldn't start up neither. Dangest thing I tell ya.
Had traffic all blocked up just like this"
"Well what happened after that?" he asked me, seeming to be getting caught up in the story, which was my goal.
"Well sir, now that's the strange part. She would turn over and over, but never hit a lick. I knew I had plenty of fuel.
I went to the breaker box and checked everything. Heck I even opened the dash and looked at all the fuses. Finally I called the Peterbilt place.
The Texas DOT man wanted to call a wrecker, but with my bumper nearly hanging over that ditch, been nearly impossible to hook to.
And the way I got this spread axle set up, there just ain't no way to snatch it from the back. No sir, just can't do it"
"Well, what the heck did you do?" he asked me, seemingly more relaxed as I told my tale of woe.
It was relaxing to me as well, taking my mind off the gunman in my sleeper and his crew just over a hundred feet away.
"Well sir, that's where it gets strange again. The fella from the Peterbilt shows up and tells me to give it a try.
I told him it wasn't going to start and he says to try it anyway. And guess what? She just fired right up.
I mean to tell ya just started right up pretty as ya please"
About that time an urgent squawk emitted from the squad car radio and the officer raced to respond.
________________________________________________

...then said simply "I think I want a lawyer"
"Oh you will. There's never been a question about that. What concerns me is getting this animal off the street"
Sgt Billy Dalton had taken on a sympathetic tone. It wasn't a ploy either. Looking at her battered face brought to mind his own teenage daughter.
He reach into her purse and located a compact mirror which he handed to her.
"Take a look at yourself, girl. And then explain to me why you want to protect whoever did this"
Having not seen herself yet, Penelope displayed genuine shock at her own appearance.
Her left eye was nearly swollen shut and her lower lip was split open, bleeding onto her chin. There were also some deep scratches on her cheek, most likely caused by a ring.
As she gazed at her shocking reflection, she was obviously deep in deliberation.
And then solftly but clearly, she spoke these words.
"His name is Chad Marberry. Six feet tall. Blonde prettyboy. Driving a rental car. White Chevy Malibu with Texas plates. Probably headed to Jacksonville"
"Get on the radio Troy. Send out a BOLO. And tell 'em to approach with caution, possibly armed and dangerous"

 

As much as I read, I was not familiar with Tim Dorsey, but I just looked him up. He is from Tampa(where I am currently sitting) and has 39 books.
I will have to check him out. Lately I have been reading Johnathan Kellerman and just started on a Harlan Coben.
Thanks for the compliment.

 

Not only did Brother G get a good look at the driver of the Malibu, he also recognized the passenger. What an interesting development.
What the hell was Lola doing here he wondered. She's way too high level to be working with this goober.Working him is more like it.
Hmm. This could be interesting indeed. Little Miss Lola and he made a great team on that fiasco in New Orleans two years ago.
"James, I want you to rattle his cage a little" G instructed.
"What you mean sir?"
G laughed."Don't play dumb son. I know you watch NASCAR. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. Now give him a bump. Not too crazy. I just want him outa the car"
Just as an already extremely jumpy Chad was coming to a stop James let the GTO roll an extra few feet and gave the rental car a firm bump. Just a little oops.
"Oh shoot, that's all I friggin need" Chad seemed on the verge of tears.
Lola sneaked a quick glance over her shoulder and made a half a second eye contact with G and thought oh my God. What in the world is going on here? Chad has been a busy boy in the making enemies department.
"Well, you going to get out and handle that?" Lola asked Chad.
He just gave her a blank stare.
Oh geez she thought.This lightweight is crumbling already.
"It's a rental. You're insured. Just handle it before the cops get here. It's not a big deal"
"But...there's a bunch of black guys back there" he stammered.
Oh man, what a wuss.
"Well hell, what a he-man. Don't worry your pretty little head over it" Lola cracked as she got out of the car, having already slid the SI magazine under her sweater during the confusion.
Lola puposely strode back to the GTO to be greeted by G who was stepping from his car at the same time.
He greeted her with a broad smile."Well if it ain't the lovely Lola. How you been girlfriend?"
"Same old deal G. You know." She answered as she cut her eyes toward the Chevy."Just doing a little favor for an associate"
"Uh huh, I figured as much. Looks like our boy been steppin on some big toes for you to be here"
"I was thinking the same thing G"
"Well, not my toes. I'm repaying a debt to that young man in that Peterbilt right yonder"
"I should have known this little road block wasn't random" Lola said with a laugh."By the way, this should cover any damage to your friend's car" she said as she handed him the magazine with the baggie full of bills.
It was G's turn to laugh."Oh, that was mine already. I'm looking to administer further punishment"
Lola gave him a wink and extracted a cell phone from her pocket. She spoke in a low serious tone to the party that answered.
He was able to pick up bits of her end of the conversation. Yes sir, white Chevy...hard drive...kids in motel...that's right highway 98 big traffic jam...no sir...just a concerned citizen...
In response to G's inquisitive look, "FBI toll free tip line. I left our friend a little going away present under the floor mat" she said as she tossed the cell phone across the median where it was promptly ran over by a westbound milk tanker.
"A client of mine is under investigation for kiddie porn. He paid me to dispose of the hard drive. Just so happens another client of mine has a serious grudge against our boy here. Figured I'd kill two birds with one stone"
"My oh my. You have been a busy girl. Remind me to not get on your bad side"
She gave G a warm smile and said "Not a chance friend. I would like to ask a favor though"
"Anything for you girlfriend"
"A ride to the airport would be nice. I had planned on leaving him in a motel tonight in Jacksonville with the hard drive under his pillow, but it seems there was a change of plans" she said with a grin.
"The sooner the better" she added."I predict a helicopter to be arriving shortly, and no telling what else"
"Just so happens I have a plane nearby sweetie. Be honored to give a lady a lift. And I can get that truck outa the way in about ten seconds too"
"Why am I not surprised. I always knew you were a big time operator"
In addition to the sound of approaching sirens, one belonging to Sgt Billy Dalton, the thump thump of an FBI chopper became increasingly evident.
Not wasting time with texting, G hit the speed dial for Ninemil. "Time to rock 'n roll son. Yall get that rig rolling"