“Tell me, gentlemen, why did we go to Tillie’s Bank on Wednesday, and why are we headed back there today when we know there are nolegalfish there to be caught?”
“Because it’s Friday,” Zach whispered, his hands still baiting hooks; using muscle memory as he spoke. He seemed…distracted.
Lace waited for him to continue.
When he didn’t, she tried again.
“And?” she prompted.
“And you’re never here on Fridays,” Ryan hissed.
The pieces of the puzzle settled into place. Lace’s eyes narrowed
“You’ve been going to Tillie’s every Friday that I’ve been out; catching undersized tuna,” she conjectured. “And that’s why we made the ridiculous trip the other day, to make me complacent withtoday’schange,” she speculated angrily.
Both young men shifted uncomfortably, refusing to validate her supposition.
“And then what?” she continued probing. “You have a buyer who meets you there, where there’s no one else around to see the transaction, to sell undersized catch?”
When neither Zach nor Ryan spoke, Lace knew she’d guessed correctly, and continued probing.
“So, the buyer was either unwilling or unable to change their scheduled pick-up to Tuesdays? My new day off? So Captain Shithead had to stick to Fridays. Am I right?”
Zach gave a short dip of his chin, acknowledging her suspicions.
“Well, that’s just crap,” she fumed, ready to go rip the captain a new asshole.
She turned to stalk away, and Ryan grabbed her arm.
“Don’t,” he warned.
“Oh, really?” Lace scoffed. “And just how does Captain Dickhead think I’m going to go along with this today?” Her voice rose.
Both her companions looked around, shushing her.
“Quiet,” Zach growled. “He’s… Here’s what’s he’s got planned. We’re supposed to lay our lines, then before we haul in or make contact with our buyer, Cap’s got something he’s going to put in your late lunch that will knock you out so you won’t remember anything that happens after you eat.”
“Seriously?” Lace bit out sharply. “And you two are just going to go along with that?”
“He threatened everyone,” Ryan admitted sheepishly. “And it’s either that, or something worse that could happen to you.”
Lace felt sick at heart that these two were poised to betray her. For…
“It’s money, isn’t it,” she stated in a flat voice.
Zach nodded. “What we get today?” he confirmed, his head hanging. “It’s equal to what we make our other six days, combined. And they pay us in cash.”
Lace tried to see it from their standpoint.
Part of her understood. These kids worked their tails off, and the rewards were few. But they had to know that breaking the law would eventually come back and burn their asses.
“Sorry guys,” she said regretfully. “I need to contact my bosses with what’s been going on.” Lace became resolute. “This is highly illegal, and once NOAA gets wind of what’s been happening here on aboard theWater Wrestler, they’ll be shutting this whole operation down.”
She wagged her finger in their faces. “You two will most likely be fined, and…” she shook her head. “…I doubt any other captains working hereabouts will want to hire you on once they find out what you’ve been up to.”
Lace had never, personally, met a dishonest commercial captain in her years at sea. It was a rarity. And she knew that everyhonestfisherman up and down the coast would ostracize this entire crew.
“Lace. Please don’t turn us in.” Zach spoke more loudly this time, becoming agitated. “You know I need the money for my mother.”