Retribution Road, Jon Coon [top business books of all time .txt] 📗

end to a killing spree that buried several cops. The way I look at it is like this: Let’s say we had the atomic bomb at the beginning of World War II and the day after Pearl Harbor we bombed Tokyo. How many millions of lives on both sides would have been saved? Sure, it would have been a terrible thing to do, but . . .”

“I get your point, but . . .”

“Yeah. But. That’s why we’re in this mess. Because we couldn’t get past all the ‘buts.’ Congress should change the laws and secure the borders, but. We should get rid of the gangs, but. We should be hard-assed enough to stop the drug pushers, but. It’s time to either get over the buts or just hand over the keys, because if we don’t have guts enough to put a stop to all of it, we don’t deserve this country anymore.”

“Then how?”

“One day at a time, son. One little victory every day until they crumble and fall like that wall in Jericho. Don’t give up. Don’t give an inch. Let it be a holy war. A jihad of our very own.”

Tom’s phone chimed “The Yellow Rose of Texas” melody as they were getting up from the table. He motioned to Gabe to wait and sat back down.

“Welcome to Mexico, Captain Bright. I hope you are enjoying your visit.”

“It’s beautiful as always. Gracias.”

“Your boat is ready for you first thing in the morning. While you are fishing, we will get your plane ready for the flight home. Once you are in the air you will be given instructions to a landing field within your fuel range. You will fly directly there, and when your cargo has been unloaded and inspected, you will be given fuel for your flight back to Texas. Any questions?”

“My grandson? May I speak with him?”

“Si, he is here. He is healing and wants to go diving. But I wanted your permiso first.”

“Grandpa, I’m doing much better. But I haven’t been able to do much. I’m still in my room all the time.” Paul sounded stronger, more relaxed.

“That’s great, son. You just be careful and don’t worry. Everything here is under control. I’ll see you soon. That’s a promise.”

Paul’s guard came back on the phone. “Señor, this is an important trip for everyone’s future. No surprises, no accidents. Just make the delivery and fly away. If everything goes as planned, I’ll call you with instructions in the next two weeks and you can plan your next fishing trip. Enjoy your day and be at the airfield at daylight. Comprende? Oh, about the diving, when he is strong enough?”

“I suppose so. It will give him something to look forward to. And yes, I understand. I’ll be there.”

Chapter 17

TOM PUT DOWN THE PHONE and looked at Gabe. “Well, we’re supposed to fly back day after tomorrow and drop a load before we can go home.”

“Do you think they’ll try to sabotage the plane like they did with the Bensons?”

“Probably not. I think they’re counting on using Paul and those girls as leverage to keep the task force in line. For now, we have to play along. We can’t risk doing otherwise.”

“It doesn’t look good, does it?”

“Don’t worry. Maria and her team will have something for us soon. For now, let’s go chase God’s fish. I remember one of my Jewish friends told me a story from the Talmud. He asked, ‘Do you know why God made the great whales?’ And do you know what he said?”

“No, I’ve never heard that one.”

“So he would have someone to play with.” Tom chuckled. “I love the feeling of that. God playing with the whales. Don’t you?”

It was a forty-minute drive to the marina. There was a row of twenty, multimillion-dollar charter boats with high flybridges, and colorful pennants flying from gleaming outriggers. The gloss from polished hulls was nearly blinding, and the racks of thousands of dollars of marlin rods and gold anodized Penn reels was impressive. Tom was dressed in white slacks and a brightly patterned silk shirt beneath a Panama straw hat with orange flowered band. Gabe wore jeans and a tee shirt topped with a well-worn University of Florida baseball hat.

They marched down the dock until Tom spotted the Enchantress, a seventy-foot Viking with all the bells and whistles. “Business is good,” Gabe said.

“And it sure isn’t fishing,” Tom answered quietly. “This baby cost three million or more. That’s a lot of fish.”

He stepped onto the finger pier and said loudly, “Tom Bright. Permission to come aboard?”

Two trim young men in white pants and tees appeared from the salon and welcomed them. Tom and Gabe stepped down onto the teak cockpit sole, then walked up two steps into the main salon. Tom smiled at the look on Gabe’s face as he surveyed the opulent decor. Glossed woods and rich fabrics, large windows with tinted glass, and a circular stair. A big screen TV that rose from a cabinet and a well-stocked wet bar. “Just like home, right?” Tom said.

“I’d miss the fireplace.” Gabe laughed, thinking of his RV.

A gray-headed, bearded man, also in white, descended the circular stair. Other than the faded tattoos on his bronzed arms and a deep scar going from chin line up into his hair line on his left side, he could have just descended from any movie set on the continent. He had a deep, rich voice and commanding persona.

“Gentlemen, welcome. Please call me Javier. Before we get underway, there is just the formality of the paperwork. Captain Bright, here is your receipt for the charter and the waivers and contract for our records. Your host has instructed us to guarantee you the very best day on the water, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Anything you desire or require will be provided. Our hostesses will be down in just a moment to take your drink orders, and we will have a light snack on our