Gannon had tried to talk to him about it, about what a .50-caliber bullet could do to a young man’s future, but every time he would explain how unwise it was, the amiable young man would just giggle until he stopped.

Little Jorge was giggling now.

“I was actually starting to get a little worried this time,” Gannon said.

“Worry? No, no, Captain Mike. About me? Never. Like the man says, ‘Don’t worry. Be happy.’”

Gannon rolled his eyes then laughed himself at the goofy, crazy kid as he shook his head.

“So tell me, did you replace Buster yet?” Little Jorge said.

“No,” Gannon said. “I keep forgetting.”

“I miss watching the lines with old Buster,” Little Jorge said. “So what is it, Captain Mike? Where are we heading out this morning? The resorts? Is it diving or fishing or both?”

“No, I’m heading to the States for a bit, but I have some fishing appointments coming up, and I was hoping you could cover for me.”

“You mean you want me to go out on the Rambler on my own?” Little Jorge said, blinking at him in shock.

Gannon blinked back. He was a little wary about it himself, but he wanted things to seem as normal as possible while he was gone.

And who knew? Maybe the responsibility would do him some good, Gannon thought.

“First time for everything, Little Jorge. I thought you could take Peter with you.”

“No, my brother Peter is away, but Andre is here.”

“Go with Andre, then,” Gannon said. “The boat’s at Davis Head. We need everything. Water and gas and bait. Oh, and a new radio antenna. I left some money under the seat with the schedule.”

A touched expression crossed the young man’s face when Gannon handed him the boat keys.

“I’ll take good, good care of her, Captain Mike,” Little Jorge said, looking down at his hand.

“You damn well better,” Gannon said, giving the kid another clap on his back before he went up the steps for the store.

24

Inside the store, Mama Lizbeth’s grown daughter, Joni, was manning the cash register. Gannon waved, but as usual, she ignored him as she turned to the little TV that perpetually played from the edge of the beat-up Plexiglas counter.

Joni was usually all smiles with everyone, the locals and the day-tripping boaters who came in on their grocery store’s dock, but for some reason, she seemed to hate Gannon’s guts with a fierce-burning passion.

Why? he thought for the millionth time as he passed down into the aisle.

What had he done? Run over her dog and not noticed? Looked like someone who’d robbed the store?

He could never figure it out.

He walked to the back. On the shelves, products were laid out in no particular order. Soup cans next to paper plates next to shaving cream.

He saw there were some packages of Oreos on a shelf.

When was the last time he had eaten one? he thought as he picked them up. But then he checked the date on them and put them back.