Slipway Grey: A Deep Sea Thriller (4 page)

Chapter 8

The Present

Pensacola’s Quietwater Beach Road separated Frank’s Fish House from the public beach. It was 11 P.M. on a Friday night, and the parking lot was nearly full. Mandy parked the SUV and everyone piled out.

“Man! Looks like it’s happening here tonight.” Glenn pumped his fist in the air a few times.

Luke shyly grinned as Glenn playfully slapped him on the shoulder and shadow boxed empty air a few feet between them.

Desmond had Serena by the hand. He turned, and said, “You guys don’t get out much, do you?”

“I do my share of partying. Just because I don’t hang out with a group of jocks all the time doesn’t mean I sit in my room playing video games.”

“Whatever.” Desmond shook his head and rolled his eyes as Serena smirked back.

Mandy made it a point to cling tightly to Chet’s arm to inform how she planned on spending the night.

Sarah quickly caught up with Chet on the opposite side and walked a half-step behind. Chet glanced over to her and gave a furtive wink. She poked her bottom lip out and made sad eyes.

The entrance to the restaurant had a 1950s fishing boat to one side walling off the walk area. The hostess’ station was at the back where diners were able to choose between eating inside or in one of the many tables outside, under a full covered section. The area outside could seat nearly twice the amount of people as the inside. A beach bum strummed an acoustic guitar on a large stage on the opposite side of the outside bar, singing about sand and intoxicating libations.

“Inside or outside?” the short hostess asked. All the staff wore the same tropical shirts colored in bright yellows, oranges, and blues.

Large windows on the rear of the restaurant displayed the patrons eating inside. There was a mixture of old gray haired people and families with children of various ages.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Outside, of course.” Mandy unleashed a small exhale of exasperation.

The hostess frowned, turned, and said, “Follow me, please.” Three sides of the outside seating were open, allowing a clear view of the bay. The roof was enormous, and it would take winds from a hurricane to wet the tables on the perimeter. More tables with closed beach umbrellas sat between a volleyball net near the bay. The hostess seated them in the middle of the floor on a glorified picnic table.

Desmond slid to the end of his seat, Serena followed. Chet pointed for Mandy to sit opposite them. She moved to the middle of the seat and stopped. Chet plopped down and told her to slide over. She whispered a firm, “no,” in his ear. He looked at Sarah, who was waiting to join them, and shrugged his shoulders.

Sarah sat next to Serena, across from Chet. Luke and Glenn looked at each other as if waiting for the other to volunteer to be the odd man out.

“You two can sit here.” The hostess pointed to a small table for two a few feet away.

“Perfect,” Luke said.

“Your server will be here shortly.” The hostess smiled at Chet and raised annoyed eyebrows to Mandy before leaving.

As the hostess walked away, Chet’s gaze lingered on her ass in shorts two sizes too small while he tapped his hand to the beat of the music. “This place is rocking. What’ll we start with?”

“I’m going to have the usual. A tropical beach bomb,” Mandy said.

“Beach bomb?” Desmond said.

“It’s got four different kinds of alcohol and some other stuff. It’s either mixed with Coke or fruit punch. I like the punch. Don’t tell me you live in Pensacola and you’ve never been to Frank’s?”

“Eh? Don’t make it to the beach much. Already got a tan. I’m more into Big Ben’s BBQ. You know, down a few brews, and kiss the cow head.”

“Ew. That cow head’s been hanging on that wall longer than I’ve been alive. No telling what nasty-ass disease that thing carries. You don’t really kiss it, do you?” Serena asked.

“Yep. With the same lips I kiss you with.” Desmond puckered up and poked his face toward Serena.

“Stop!” she giggled and put her hands up.

“Kiss me. I’m a cow kisser.” Desmond smacked his lips loudly.

“Hello, everyone. My name is Ricky, and I’ll be your server tonight.” The server was older than most of the twenty-somethings working at the restaurant. He was old enough to be their dad, if not their grandfather. His shorts were a bit snug, too. Ricky’s belly hung over the front, and Mandy thought he would have a hard time finding his zipper to take a pee. White socks rose from his shoes to his knees, and his bare thighs had been cleanly shaven. His pockets had a row of different colored pens neatly arranged in rainbow fashion. “Can I see some IDs please?”

“Take mine first.” Mandy reached in her purse and opened her wallet. She handed Ricky a folded 100 dollar bill. His face showed genuine surprise that immediately shifted to indifference. The bill quickly went into his shorts’ pocket. “What can I start every one off with?”

“Tropical beach bomb,” Mandy said.

Serena followed with a, “Me, too.”

“I’ll take one, too. Chet?” Desmond said.

“Beach bomb with Coke.”

“They’re with us. At the next table.” Mandy motioned to Luke and Glenn.

Ricky called from across the table. “For you, gentlemen?”

“I’ll have what Mandy’s having,” Luke said.

Desmond burst out laughing.

Chet looked over and mocked in a high voice, “I’ll have what Mandy’s having.”

“Uh, I mean the other kind of beach bomb. Like Chet.”

“Dos beach bombs,
por favor
.” Glenn held up two fingers.

“Very good. I’ll be back shortly with your drinks.” Ricky turned and headed for the bar.

“Man. Look at all these fine girls here. I love the beach. I love bikinis. I love living in Florida.” Glenn’s head was on a swivel, unable to focus on a target.

“Hey. Calm yourself. I thought you were interested in Sarah,” Luke said.

“I am. That’s for later, though.”

“What are you getting at?”

Glenn turned his attention to Luke. “Hello, anybody home?

Isn’t it obvious?”

“No.”

“It’s a simple process of elimination. Desmond is with Serena. Chet is with Mandy. You’re ga-ga over Mandy. Sarah’s alone. I’m alone. At some point this weekend we’re going to be alone together, and I’ll have my chance.” Glenn wore a smug smile of confidence.

*

“When do you think that cousin of yours will get here?” Serena asked.

“I expect him tomorrow, more than likely late afternoon. He’ll be arriving in his boat to pay me a visit on his way to Key West,” Mandy said.

“He has a boat and he’s heading to Key West? You said he was twenty-five. Must be nice,” Chet said.

“My uncle’s loaded.”

“You ain’t doing too bad yourself,” Desmond said.

Mandy dropped her head. “My stepdad…my stepdad had a successful business that the estate lawyer sold and a good life insurance policy to take care of me now that I’m alone.” She placed a hand over her eyes and hid her face.

Serena jabbed Desmond in the side with an elbow. An uncomfortable silence drifted over the table.

“I’ve got your drinks right here.” Ricky balanced the tray on one hand and served them with the other. “The glasses are souvenirs for you to keep. If you bring them back, we’ll fill them at a two dollar discount.” The glass was big, with Frank’s Fish House painted in blue and white lettering. Each had a straw and a slice of lemon riding the rim. “Will you be ordering any food? The kitchen closes in a few minutes.”

“I don’t think so,” Mandy said.

“Very well. I’ll check on you later.” Ricky served Luke and Glenn, and then sashayed off to the bar.

Serena sucked down a few mouthfuls of her drink. “Hey, this is good. I can’t really taste any alcohol.”

“It’s pretty strong. It’ll sneak up on you,” Mandy said.

“I like it. I like beer better, but I like it.” Desmond pulled the lemon slice off and laid it on the table.

“I’m going to the bathroom.” Serena bailed off the seat and adjusted her shirt before heading off.

“Hells yeah.” Chet removed his straw and chugged half his drink. “Let’s get this party started.”

Sarah quietly sipped on her straw, gazing at the table.

“I’m going to stretch my legs a bit.” Desmond rose, took his drink, and meandered over to Luke’s table.

“I’m going to the bathroom, too.” Mandy patted Chet on the thigh and went inside the restaurant.

Instead of going to the bathroom, Mandy watched the table through one of the windows. Sarah immediately had come out of her shell now that she was alone with Chet.
Look at her. Batting her eyes and twisting her hair with her fingers. She couldn’t wait to make a play for him behind my back
.  Sarah worked her foot out of her right sandal and slid it up Chet’s leg until her toes reached his crotch. Chet’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

*

“You two guys gonna see any action tonight, or are you going to sit here and drool over each other?” Desmond asked, grinning.

“Me and my bro here are just chillin’ right now. The night’s still young.” Glenn leaned back and spread his arms. “I plan on mingling with the ladies when they start playing some music I can dance to.”

“Dancing ain’t action. What you two need is a little help.” Desmond pulled out a prescription bottle that had the label removed. “One of these pills in a drink puts a chick in a real mellow mood. Two pills and she’ll do whatever you want. Three would put her out for the night with no memory of what you and your buddy did to her.”

Glenn eyed the bottle. Luke concentrated on sipping his drink, obviously uncomfortable.

“Buy a girl a drink and put two in there. You can take her back to your car and fuck her. Just bring her back to the restaurant and leave her by the bathroom.”

Glenn turned to Desmond. “How much?”

“Take these for free. I’ll cut you a good deal if you want more.” He winked and sipped his drink. “This shit would be better if it had a couple of shots of tequila in it. Later.” Desmond left and headed for the bar.

*

“Cool it, Sarah. What if Mandy comes back?” Chet said, reluctantly.

“What? She’s going to crawl under the table and see? Chill out. Don’t tell me you don’t like it.”

“You’re giving me a boner.”

Sarah giggled. “I’ll give you more than that. When Mandy gets back I’ll excuse myself. Meet me in the ladies room, and I’ll reduce the swelling.”

“You’re going to get me in trouble.”

“I like trouble. It gets me off.”

“Hey guys. Where’s Desmond and Mandy?” Serena returned to the table and sat next to Sarah.

Chet composed himself. “Des wandered off. I think he’s over at the bar. Mandy is—”

“Mandy is right here.” The shapely blonde laid a bag from the gift shop on the table and slid next to Chet. She could tell from Chet’s body language that Sarah continued to massage his crotch.

Desmond sat, now holding a full drink and a bowl of cheese crackers and pretzels. “Hey, what’s in the bag?”

“It’s for later,” Mandy said.

Before he could inquire further, Sarah excused herself from the table and gave Chet a nod.

“Hold on. Serena and I will come with you,” Mandy said.

“I just came back from the bathroom,” Serena said.

“So did you,” Chet said.

Mandy rose and held up the bag. “You’ll see. Come on, Serena.” She nudged Desmond, and he reluctantly got up to let her out. The three girls left for the outside bathroom.

“What’s that all about?” Desmond said.

“I don’t know. Sarah’s usually the one coming up with wild ideas. I’m not sure what Mandy’s planning.” Chet’s drink bottomed out on a long draw.

“What’s up? You look nervous. Mandy didn’t find out you been cheating on her, did she?”

“No, and I want to keep it that way. I love Mandy and everything. But man, when a girl comes on to me I just can’t say no. I’m weak.” Chet paused.

“Yeah, but it don’t mean nothing to me. I’m a business man, and I will take a little ’tang in trade every now and then.”

Chet sipped air and melted ice. “How would you feel if you found out Serena cheated on you?”

“That bitch better not cheat on me.” Desmond frowned. “Ain’t no way I would put up with that shit.”

“Even if it was just once?”

“What the fuck, man? Yeah, even if it was just once. What you getting at? You know something?”

Chet quickly looked back at the table. “No. No.” He cleared his throat after having a difficult time answering. “I, I was just thinking how I would react if I caught Mandy cheating on me.”

“It’s in a man’s blood to plant his seed in as many women as he can. It’s evolution and shit.”

*

“Are you really going to spike a girl’s drink?” Luke asked.

“I don’t know, but now I have options.” Glenn leaned over and for another mouthful of beach bomb. “I should say,
we
have options.”