The Visit from Waldo Franks
Adam and Coyote packed their bags two hours before arriving at Suva’s harbor. Before unloading a cargo of coffee, they placed their bags on the pier. They unloaded the coffee from the ship’s hold onto the truck. As soon as the truck drove the shipment of coffee away, a feeling of finality fell over the crew of The Tramp Islander.
Makani had departed to visit relatives as soon as they docked. Trace told him to take a week and relax. Trace had the feeling Makani might decide to quit and seek another life with his share of the gold from a previous trip. He told him to give him a call as soon as he decides not to come back. Otherwise, return after a week.
When Makani parted, no one expected to see him again. It was almost like a farewell party.
Trace, Adam, Sage, and Coyote sat on the benches of the aft deck of The Tramp Islander. The sun illuminated a wild orange sky hanging over the etched tops of the green mountains to the west of Suva’s harbor.
“What are you two young fellers gonna do without us?” Coyote said.
“I don’t even want to think about it,” Trace grinned.
“No,” Adam said, “really, what’s next?”
“I’m staying on,” Sage said. “Trace said he’s not quite had enough of this place, and I’m inclined to think the same. Not because he does, but because that’s just the way I feel. If Trace were to up and leave, it would be on his own. Who knows, if he offers, I might even buy The Tramp Islander.”
“I feel like I’ve only tasted this place,” Trace said. “I’d like to settle in for a bit. I feel I’m needed here. I feel, for now, I've got things on the horizon and that is here.” Trace paused, “You really want to buy this?”
“Ah, don’t take me seriously,” Sage said. “It seemed to slip out without thinking. And I kind of wanted to see the look on your face.”
“Well,” Adam said, “I have a ranch to run and so does Coyote. I’m not speaking for Coyote, he’s told me as much.”
“Amen,” Coyote affirmed.
“I have a few old friends here, I’d like to say goodbye to,” Adam said. “And if Coyote doesn’t mind, I’ll drag him along for backup.”
“You gonna need backup?” Coyote asked as if waking up.
“Ya never know,” Adam said, “some old timers with grudges might still be around.”
“So,” Coyote asked, “what you young-uns got up your sleeve?”
“You're the captain,” Sage said, ushering his hand toward Trace.
Trace breathed deep and clicked his cheek. “It’s hard to make plans in this business. You just go where the cargo takes you. But, we are likely going to have to replace Makani. I don’t even want to think about that. Not only is he a good cook, but he knows what’s going on. He jumps in wherever needed, and nobody has to ask him. So, that’s mission impossible. The mission next to impossible is to find two guys to replace you guys.” He gestured toward Adam and Coyote.
“Ahh,” Coyote said, “you’re givin’ us way too much credit.”
“Let the boy speak,” Adam said, and smiled. “He’s making sense—finally”
“What I think will happen is that we hire a couple of guys, and they go AWOL on us at our first port,” Trace said.
“Here’s what I think,” Adam said. He leaned forward and spoke directly to Trace. “When I owned the Tiki, it had a reputation, a good one. You and The Tramp Islander have a good reputation. I’ve heard good things from several people around Suva. Good people will come your way. All you have to do is put out the word. They’ll come. You and Sage may have to sift through them, but they’ll come. Right, Coyote?”
“That’s Gospel,” Coyote said. “While ranchin’, we had some despicable hombres come our way. But if they worked for us, they knew what was required. I bet we reformed more desperados than the entire Texas prison system.”
“Didn’t you have to shoot a few?” Adam joked.
“Hey,” Coyote said, “I only shot one of ‘em. And that was an accident.”
“You liar!” Adam said, smiling, “The only accident was you shot his shoulder and not his head.”
“Well,” Coyote said, “it was reported as an accident and that’s official.”
They all laughed.
“It’s a pity this is coming to an end,” Trace said.
“Sure is,” Adam said.
“Yep,” Sage said.
“Amen,” Coyote said.
The conversation and laughter continued. As the sun sank further behind the mountains and the sun’s glow became dimmer, the conversation and laughter settled.
An hour after dark descended over Suva, all heads turned to a very strange sound: the rumble of several loud engines.
“Sounds like a motorcycle convention has come to town,” Coyote said.
“They don’t have gangs here, do they?” Sage said.
The sounds grew louder and closer.
Two police motorcycles turned onto the street adjacent to the pier. A police Land Rover followed them. And then two more police motorcycles behind the Land Rover. They stopped next to The Tramp Islander.
“Are they coming to get us for that business back in Raro?” Sage said.
“Geez,” Coyote said, “looks like they come ready for a shootout.”
They stood and craned their necks to see what would happen next.
All the motorcycle engines stopped. Two men slipped out of the Land Rover and stood at the back door. One man opened the back door. A man stepped out—a short man. He stood and stretched, and looked around. He smiled.
“Does anybody know who that is?” Adam said.
“I do,” Trace said. “It’s an old friend—Waldo Franks.”
“You say that like you’re not really friends,” Adam said.
“We’re not,” Trace said. “I helped send him to prison. He owned the casino where I won The Tramp Islander. It’s a long story, but I helped put him behind bars. This can’t be good.”
“What is he doing here?” Adam said.
“I don’t know,” Trace said, “but the last I heard, he’d be in jail for a very long time.”
“Yal zir,” Coyote said, “Ain’t none of this looks good.”
“The only time you use ‘good’ and Waldo Franks' name in the same sentence is to say, ‘goodbye,’” Trace said.
“I’ll meet them at the gangplank,” Trace said. “It’s obvious they’ve come to see me. Duck below. I’ll tell them no one else is here.”
“Let’s not start a web of lies,” Adam said. “We’re here, and that’s a fact.”
“This has to be something else,” Trace said. “He’s supposed to be in prison, and he’s not. This is a meeting. He wants something. Maybe he’s cut a deal and he needs me to complete it. It has to be big.”
“That’s for sure,” Coyote said. “Looks like half of the Fiji police force is with him.”
“You guys stay here,” Trace said. “I’ll go find out what this is all about.”
Trace walked forward, alongside the pilothouse. Everyone followed.
Trace turned around and glared. He said, “I thought I told everyone to stay here.”
“Here is where you are,” Coyote said. “That makes here, wherever you are.”
“Dern Texas logic,” Trace said.
“We’re coming with you,” Adam said.
“This has nothing to do with you guys,” Trace said. “It has to do with all that happened when I first arrived.”
“Makes no difference,” Adam bobbed his head forward. “Just lead the way.”
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