Shark Killer

The Planning

I told him everything from start to finish, leaving nothing out. Not even the embarrassing stuff, for a matter of this gravity required total honesty.
In matters such as these, an ommission could be costly, and Brother G played for keeps. I wanted to keep him on my side.
Got a chuckle out of him when I covered the session where I was unknowingly being captured on video. He called me a "freakydeaky white boy"

When I was finished, he just sat quietly, puffing lightly on his cigar, apparently deep in thought.
Not surprising, for I figured him for a tactitian in the classic sense. For he was in charge of over a hundred underlings.
He had at least a dozen hand picked captains to which he carefully delegated authority, who, in turn, had dominion over the lieutenants.
The lieutenants were responsible for controlling the foot soldiers, where the rubber meets the road, where life was in the balance and loose lips sink ships.
The turnover was somewhat high at that level, with soldiers usually moving out rather than up.
As in battle, they were the most necessary, and ironically, the most expendable.
Although not a master of the King's English, Brother G was a thorough and meticulous planner. He had a knack for anticipating his opponents next move.
He learned early on that being the hunter was always preferable to being the hunted.

"We both know what must be done Ricky. No need to speak of it out loud. Were you to ask, I would give you the 20 grand to clean up your little problem.
But there would be no honor in that, and besides, that ain't why you're here. You be a man of action. Done proved that.
Another thing, and I know you be smart enough to have figued this out, but lowlife scum like this ain't gonna be satisfied wit dat.
He'll be back for more. Maybe not soon, but one day he be short on bread, and be thinkin bout you again.
No sir, best nip this thing in the bud"

G was right. I had indeed thought of that. Always figured you could never fully satisfy a blackmailer. They are driven by greed and the weakness of others.

"I also been thinkin on if he has the only copy, which I think he does. Fella like that be too greedy to share much wid a partner.
I'm also thinkin this ho ain't been let in on the plan either, cause he ain't gonna be wantin to split wif nobody.
So when he disappears from this earth, he ain't gonna be missed by nobody, cept maybe his momma, and I wouldn't bet on that neither.
To use a white boy expression 'this ain't my first rodeo', so let me explain how this is gonna go down.
He's gonna want to set up a meet somewheres of his choosing. It will be a location to his advantadge, only natural.
This ain't necessarily no bad thing, mind you. It gives him a false sense of security.
And don't go trying to talk him into meetin somewheres else. Only make him suspicious. Besides, we be wantin him to think he's in control.
He done got arrogant and ####y, thinkin you all scared. We play into that. I like it when the hunter don't know he the one being hunted.
Yes sir, I be lookin forward to this. I ain't done no field work in a long time.
Be good to get out and stretch my legs, show these boys how the old pro can still get it done.
That's right Ricky, ole G gonne handle this personally, just me and a couple of my best men.
Now he gonna be callin you real soon wantin to set up a meet. Just as soon as he does, I mean the very minute, CALL ME.
Don't worry about the when or where, just call me. I givin you my direct number, ain't many folks have it, so when it rings, I answer.
One more thing. This boy might be a dum--ss, but he ain't entirely stupid neither. He gonna want to see some actual money.
He ain't gonna just get up and walk off with an envelope full of scraps of paper without lookin at it like they do in the movies.
Here's 20 grand in this envelope. When the time comes, let him have it, let him count it, whatever. Don't worry, he won't be having it long.
Once he has it in his hand, he thinks it's over. He be thinkin he done pulled it off, get really sloppy then. That's when the fun begins, my friend"

 

Stay tuned. Action coming soon.

 

Ring, ring. "Billy Bob's brokering, how may I help you?"
"Hey Billy, Ricky here. How's the freight business?"
"Dang boy, spected to hear from you this morning. Get unloaded alright?"
"Oh yeah. Had to take my truck to the Peterbilt place.
Those clowns that worked on it in West Memphis a while back apparently screwed something up" I lied.
"Oh well, whadda you expect. I got some freight in Memphis, but it don't load til in the mornin."
"I appreciate that, but I'm just going to deadhead back to Houston tonight, get back on my Houston-Miami turn, if you got one ready"
"If that's what you wanna do, fine with me.Just be over there any time before 1500, you know the deal. Here's your pickup number, 346C"
"Thanks, Billy. I'll holler at ya in the mornin"
OK, got that taken care of. I feel it's important to get back on my regular run.
When Chad the extortionist calls, I don't want to set off any alarms, let him think everything is business as usual.
Also been giving some thought to the amount he's aking for. Why not 50 grand? Or even a hundred grand?
Just as I thought, and confirmed by Brother G, he doesn't want to butcher the cow when he can have a steady milk supply.
If I give in to the first demand, he figures he's got himself a sucker. And he's keeping the amount low enough for me to raise.
Ask for too much at once, he can't get water from a stone. Don't really matter now though, because he's about to get something he didn't bargain for.
__________________________________________________ ______
Meanwhile, back in Memphis

"Yo, James" Brother G addressed the large silent man still standing by the door, which is apparently his job.
"Go find Skinnyman, LTD, and lets see, hmm,Ninemil. Tell em to I want to see them ASAP"
Within minutes, the two captains and one lieutenant were standing before his desk.
"Relax fellas, have a seat. We are about to embark on a serious mission and I want my best men on this. And I will personally be on this one.
This has to do with Latisha, my little cuz, and I want it done right. And Ninemil, I been gettin good reports on you, young man.
When this is over, you be a captain, so show me something out there.
LTD, I want you to call the airplane man. Tell him to gas that bad boy up, and be ready to ride at a minutes notice. That goes for all yall.
Have somebody cover whatever the hell you got going on and stay right close. When I get the call, we gotta go.
And don't bother askin me where we going.
You'll find out when we get there, and besides, I don't know yet. Don't be bringin no big eguipment. Most likely be close in work.
Gonna be out in public, away from our home turf, so you must be able to conceal. That's all men. Dismissed."

 

Just don't ask me to put out an audio version.

 

Go Time

The day started off smooth enough. Got loaded up without a hitch and went by Billy Bob's and picked up the balance on the Memphis load,
along with half of the Miami money. As much as me and Billy Bob bicker, we know it's all in fun. Nowhere else could I have a deal this sweet.
Roughly 600 miles each way, loaded to and fro. Turn two a week, sleep every night, and run legal. Clear 3 grand, give or take, after fuel.
Mostly flat easy running and never see snow. Not bad, no sir, not bad at all. Having that hot Florida girlfriend was icing on the cake. But no more.
There's always that waitress in Beaumont. Kinda on the old side though. She claims she's 30, but I'm thinking closer to 35. No matter, she's pretty nice...

CHIRP..CHIRP
The Blackberry brought me back to reality. Check caller ID. Yep, it's go time.
"Helllo, Chad" doing my best Seinfeld imitation.
"Don't be so glum, Ricky. Look at the bright side. You can put this unfortunate business behind you and go back to your trashy trucker's life
of banging hookers and doing meth. Or whatever the hell you lowlifes do when you aren't running cars off the road."
"Oh that is so sweet of you Chad. I knew you had my best interests at heart" I responded.
"Ok, enough flirting, time to get down to business. You might want to pull over and write this down"
"Who said I was driving? I'll just ask the bartender for a pad and pen"
"Very funny, now listen up. I know you just left Houston, so don't tell me you can't do this. Get off at exit 56 in Florida. You know the one.
Come on into Ft Walton and stay on Eglin Parkway.
When you get to Huges Street, you will see a shopping center in the southeast corner of that intersection. Turn left on Hughes Street and
you will see the truck entrance on your right.
I done checked it out. You got room back there. Around front, on the northend you will see a rib joint/sports bar. I want to see your ugly mug
walk through that door at 1230 tomorrow. Not early and not fashionably late.
Listen carefully to what I want you to bring. I want the 20 grand in stacks of ten hundreds per.
Just like they come from the bank, with the cute little paper band.
Spread them out evenly in a large freezer bag,will only be two layers thick.
I want to be able to see both sides, and don't even think about getting slick.
Next thing. Pick up the latest copy of Sports Illustrated. Slide the baggie inside the magazine and roll it up.
A man with a copy of SI walking into a sports bar will look normal enough. No stupid briefcase or anything. This ain't no businessman type place.
I will be in the booth against the wall on your left as you walk in. The camera will be above us, in case you're wondering, but can't see us, once we're seated.
So just walk normally and keep your head down. When you sit down, act as if you just can't wait to show me that magazine.
Then we are going to have a pleasant meal together and go our separate ways. Any questions"
"Yeah, did your mother have any children that lived?"
"Now, now Ricky, let's keep it pleasant between us. It's only business."

Time to call Brother G.
"Sup man" he answered.
I layed it out for him, every detail.
"Not too bad" G tells me. "He's done this before, but theys a lot of holes. Piece of cake for us. Almost too easy. The boy ain't gonna know what hit him.
Now he was smart picking that spot. He knows ain't no way in hell to get that truck outa that shoppin center and try to follow him.
He be long gone fore you could get outa da lot.
Only thing got me thinkin is how he knew where you was. Don't think it was a bluff cause he was confident you could make the meet.
Still say he'll be alone. But if he ain't, we can handle that too. Most likely he got somebody in Houston, just watchin. Called when you left.
You just do what he says and leave the rest to me. I will call you when we touch down, and fill you in on your part.
Like I said before, I know you be a man of action, make it fun for everybody"

Meanwhile, back in Memphis

"LTD!" G yelled. "Get ahold of the airplane man and tell him to fire that bad boy up. Skinnyman, call that brother you know in Pensacola and tell him we need a car.
Not a #### rental either. A good clean car, with good plates. Yall check your ammo, get some travelling cash too. James, bring the car around front.
Time to saddle up boys. Lock and load."