Brute Force

Chapter 46

The Feng brothers stood with Jiàn Zŏu under the eave of a small wooden shelter at the edge of the floating docks, waiting. Torn boat advertisements and commercial fishing notices were tacked to the plywood walls. Something that was not quite rain but a little more than mist drifted by on gray curtains under the feeble light. The smells of engine oil and low tide hung in cool air of the parking lot. The damp, combined with the darkness and an unknown future, sent a chill through Yaqub’s spine that shook his entire body. He could make out the dark shapes of a dozen boats floating on an even blacker ocean fifty meters down a grated incline in the small harbor.

“Where is he?” Ehmet said, looking toward the water. He’d pulled the collar of a wool sweater up around his neck against the cool air.

Jiàn Zŏu nodded down the ramp. “There,” he said.

A stocky man with long blond hair that stuck out like sheaves of wheat straw from a wool watch cap sauntered toward them. The coal of a stubby cigar illuminated a wide face and thick orange beard. High rubber boots squeaked and chattered on the metal grating. A pistol hung on a loose belt from baggy pants, as if he’d strapped it on as an afterthought.

The newcomer eyed the three men through the blossom of cigar smoke that surrounded his face, mixing with the mist. “I’m Gruber,” he grunted, clenching the cigar in teeth that were as yellow as his hair. “I understand you need a ride under the radar.”

“We do,” Jiàn Zŏu said, extending his hand. “Half the money is in your account. I’ll release the other half before we leave your vessel.”

“Wait,” Ehmet Feng said. “You do not know this man?”

Gruber raised a bushy eyebrow.

Jiàn Zŏu sighed. “Movement like this requires that we adapt.” He nodded to the skipper. “My friend vouches for him.”

“You are not even Chinese,” Ehmet said.

“I’m a businessman,” Gruber said. “And I got no love lost for the States. My great grandfather was moving cargo between Canada and the US over a century ago. If you wanna sneak a puny load of BC bud past the authorities, I’m not your guy. Something bigger… important enough to pay for… well, that’s a different kettle of fish altogether. My family knows the location of inlets, caves, and hidey-holes that Canadian and US Customs have never even heard of — and that stuff don’t come cheap.” He puffed the cigar to life, then spoke without taking it out of his mouth. “But if you got other transportation, I got plenty to do…”

Jiàn Zŏu cleared his throat. “No,” he said. “We do need your services, and are more than happy to pay for them.”

“That’s nice.” Gruber smiled. “I got three girlfriends scattered up and down the coast and they all seem to like the most expensive shit.” He nodded down the ramp. “I’m ready when you are.”

Ehmet raised his hand. “And how do you get past the authorities? I have studied the maps and charts. Even with your caves and secret routes, we must still eventually come into areas where US Customs boats do routine and random patrol.”

“Studied the charts, have you?” Gruber gave Jiàn Zŏu a knowing smile.

“I have,” Ehmet said, glaring.

“I hate it when customers study the charts…” Gruber muttered before leaning back his head to blow a plume of smoke into the air. “You are right though,” he said. “There’s a hell of a lot of water out there, but the feds are getting smarter. Sometimes I swear it’s like their patrol boats are running a blockade between the San Juan Islands and Anacortes. Some nights, the odds of getting through are less than fifty-fifty. They’re all looking to stop the next vessel full of weed coming across the border or hoping to save the lives of a bunch of poor illegals crammed into a shipping container like cordwood. Every one of them is on the hunt for that big arrest that will make their career.”

Yaqub’s mouth hung open. He took a half step closer to his brother. “If the authorities are so numerous, then what do you plan to do?”

Gruber winked. The coal of his cigar brought an otherworldly glow to his face.

“Simple,” he said. “We give them exactly what they want.”