“How are you, Ms. West?”
“As I said earlier, I am doing very well, but I am troubled by recent events.”
“As am I.” Black took a sip of his drink. “So I’m really hoping that you can tell me what this is all about.”
“All that I can tell you is that several months ago, Johnny came to me and said that somebody from The Comodoro Cartel wanted to speak with me. And once he explained that it was narcotics trafficking that he wished to speak about, I told Johnny that I had no interest in seeing him.”
“I see.”
“Since I heard no more about it, I assumed that the matter was closed.”
“What do they want to do?”
“They want to transport their narcotics through Grand Bahamas as opposed to Nassau, because of the distance.”
“I understand their interest. It’s only sixty-six miles from West End on the rock to West Palm in Florida. Speed boats, at night, makes for an easier run for them.”
“Logical,” Jada sipped her drink. “I’d be very interested to hear your feelings on the matter.”
“Although we don’t have any arrangement with Rodrigo Iñíguez, we do have an understanding.”
“Yes, I know.” Jada sat up straight and cleared her throat. “I don’t care how a man makes his money, as long as it doesn’t interfere with mine,” Jada said in her best Mike Black voice and then she giggled, and he smiled at her.
“So tell me, to this point, has it been a problem?”
“Not at all. In fact, several of Mr. Iñíguez’s associates are clients and they always spend money.”
“So, you’d say that to this point it’s been a good arrangement. You have no knowledge or involvement in their business, and they spend their money with you.”
“At several establishments.”
“Now I’d be very interested to hear your feelings on the matter.”
“My position on the matter of narcotics adheres to company policy,” Jada giggled. “No drugs, period.”
“I remember when that was true. That line is so blurred now.” Black drained his glass and stood up and started toward the bar. “You want another?”
“Please,” she said, and joined him at the bar.
“I’ve gone from no drugs period to having no knowledge or involvement arrangements with Rodrigo Iñíguez, Hector Villanueva and Leon Copeland.”
“Things aren’t as cut and dry as they once were.”
“No, they’re not. I’ve had to compromise my principles for the sake of peace,” he said, as he thought about Vickie.
“So what are you going to do? Because, despite the fact that Mr. Simmonds is dead, I fear that this is far from over.”
“As soon as I know.” Black raised his glass to her. “I’ll let you know,” he said, and drained the glass.
“Yes, I’m sure that you will.” Jada took a sip of her French Seventy-five and leaned on the bar. “You know, Mr. Black,” she smiled, devilishly, “You never did answer my question?”
“What question was that?”
“Come, come, Mr. Black, you know exactly what question that I'm referring to.”
“I do.” Black leaned on the bar. “You asked me if I ever missed us; what we used to be to each other.”
“Yes, that was the question.”