Free Just Different Devils by Jinx Schwartz

the States, we just throw things away and buy new ones, but the Mexicans fix 'em. We've learned a lot down here."
    Jan took a sip of coffee and cocked an eyebrow. "Sure have. We've honed our deceitful ways to a new pinnacle. Progress of sorts, I guess."
    "Whaddya mean?"
    "Might I remind you, Miz Hetta, we've left a perfectly safe dock for a rendezvous with an unknown someone, all for the purpose of what could possibly be ill-gained lucre. And in doing so we are thereby jeopardizing relationships with two of the best men we ever met."
    "Oh, come on, that dinero ain't ill-gotten. We're earning it fair and square, no matter where it originated."
    "I'm more worried about the origina tor ."
    "Phooey. All we're doing is renting out the boat for a month. I mean, what can go wrong?"
    I endured her guffawing with grace.
     
     
    After breakfast we slowly motored north using only one engine at a time to save fuel. Skirting Isla Ispiritu Santo, we were entranced by a rising sun painting volcanic rocks and striated cliffs tones of light pink to dark red. Verdant cactus seemed to defy gravity, clinging to what were once molten rock bluffs resembling honeycomb toffee. Pelican's wet undersides reflected turquoise water, painting them light green.
    I pointed to sandstone cliffs worn smooth by wind and water of the ages. "It still takes my breath away. With all my travels around the world, I've never seen anything to top the Sea of Cortez for sheer dramatic beauty."
    "A lot more drama since you arrived, I'd bet."
    "What's with you? Having second thoughts about being chief cook and bottle washer on our mystery cruise?"
    "Nah, I can deal with whatever being the galley slave part brings. I guess I'm just a little antsy about this squid thing. Where have most of those incidents taken place?"
    "Not around these parts. Or at least, I don't think so. Carpe Diem probably drifted down from up north on the tide after poor Freddie was killed. Best I can figure, and according to the coconut telegraph, the attack might have taken place somewhere between San Jose Island and Loreto. Which is close enough for me, thank you."
    "When Chino told me about that attack in Loreto last year, he said he was not convinced the story was true, and still thinks it was some kind of hoax."
    "I thought he went to investigate."
    "He did. He went to find the squid and tried to figure out what really happened. He told me he never met anyone who actually saw the attack, and suspected the one picture was Photoshopped."
    "But they caught the squid, right?"
    "They caught a squid, but it took him and his team over a week to find one, and even then he says there is no evidence the poor thing had anything to do with the alleged attack."
    "Why on earth would someone fabricate a story like that?"
    Jan shook her head. "Dunno. Maybe we should Snopes it."
    "I will, soon as we get anchored.  Sure is gonna be great having total communication on board for the next month."
    "And security. If one of those oversized calamari slimes his way onto Raymond Johnson's decks, we'll know."
    "Knowing and doing something about it are two different things. I sooo miss my guns."
    She patted my hand. "Poor Hetta. So many bad guys, so little ammo."
     
     
    We turned in early, anticipating our guest would arrive by lunchtime the next day. I checked my e-mail to see if we had an update from him, but no such luck.
    Googling, squid attack Loreto , I came upon the actual article in something called the Weekly World News, with a banner claiming it to be, "The world's only reliable news." The article featured a photo of panga fishermen being thrown into turbulent water, allegedly into the maws of Red Devils. Snopes, however, called the whole thing a hoax.
    Evidently someone out there has way too much time on their hands.
    Like me. I LIKED the Weekly World News on Facebook.
     
    We'd also e-mailed Jenks and Chino, a sticky wicket at best. We had not informed our men of this trip yet, feeling it is easier to ask for