Free Wood's Reef by Steven Becker Page A

Ft Myers and lay low for a while. His Keys career was likely over for now, so he was already thinking about his next move.
    The fog was clearing in the cab when he thought he saw a lone figure with his thumb out by the side of the road. He thought about speeding up to pass, but the road was narrow here. Water butted up to both sides of the highway as it ran like a land bridge. If he didn’t stop he might hit the man. He didn’t want to add vehicular homicide to the list of charges. Why not? he thought. He slowed down and stopped on the shoulder, waiting for the figure to move toward the truck. 
    The stranger leaned into the vehicle from the passenger side. “Need a ride or something?” Doans asked.
    “Please, I got carjacked by some freakin’ Haitians. I'm stuck out here,” the man answered.
    “No problem. Hop in, I'm heading to Miami,” Doans said, hoping the good samaritan act would change his karma.
    “Miami's good. I was heading to the airport to pick up a friend.” 
    “I’m good with that,” he said. “I can drop you there.”
    They drove in silence. Jerry started to nod off. The car started to swerve, the buzz of the tires hitting the centerline bumpers startled him awake.
    “I could give you a little bump, if you want.”
    “Really? That would be cool.” Doans felt that karma swing. Pretty impressive that he’d managed to hook up with someone who had that sort of thing available. And was willing to share.
    “Names Behzad,” he started to get chatty as he got more wired. “What kind of business are you in? You a fisherman or something, with all those coolers in the back?”
    “Kind of a part-time thing. I do a lot of real estate work. Financing, repos, flips, that kind of thing. Always looking for something new. Thinking about heading over to Naples or Ft Myers and try my luck there. It’s about run out down here.”
    Their friendship solidified with another dip in the bag. “Yeah, I think I’m in the same boat. My Key West days look numbered. Those Haitians took my stash and I can’t go back without a fistfull of dollars for the supplier.” Behzad loved the old movie clichés. 
    “Maybe we can help each other out,” Doans probed.

Chapter 16
     
    Mac sat in the waiting room, slumped in a chair, eyes closed, when Mel came storming in. She took one look at him and thumped him in the chest with both hands.
    “Where's my dad?”
    “Good to see you too. He’s in intensive care. They say he’s still critical but stable right now.”
    A nurse turned the corner then, and glanced at Mel. “Can I help you with something, ma'am?”
    “My dad, Bill Woodson. He just had surgery. Is there a doctor or someone I can talk to?”
    “Give me a minute and I’ll see what I can do. Are you two alright?” She looked at Mac for an answer.
    “Yeah, thanks, we’re good.” He wasn’t really sure if that was the case. Their relationship was uneasy on a good day. They’d known each other for years. Eight years older, he’d first been a big brother and later a crush. Mel had been incensed when he married when she was 16. Her feelings weren’t on his radar. An unhappy teenager, stuck without a mom in a place she didn’t want to be, she used Mac’s marriage as another excuse to turn against anything to do with the Keys. He’d noticed her as something different after his divorce, but the years of bitterness had taken their toll. The rage had subsided slightly, and Mel set her sleek frame into a chair. “Start talking, Mac. I want it all.”
    Mac recounted the events of the last two days. He started with the discovery of the bomb, then encounter with the Navy Captain and the crash. He watched her face as he spoke, hoping for some indication of sympathy, but got a stone cold stare instead. He saw the imminent explosion coming before she opened her mouth. 
    “Did you have to get him involved? Couldn’t you handle it yourself? He’s seventy if you haven’t forgotten.”
    “He was in the service