David L Thornburg [Thornburg - Sooner Dead

The anxious lump in Lianne Ortega's throat grew as thesmuggler's boat got closer. In the darkness of the humid Tulsa night, thedistant engine left a wake that trailed behind the powerful motorboat. It movedslowly on the Verdigris River but could reach speeds of 200 mph on the openArkansas or Mississippi Rivers on its way to or from New Orleans.

Liannes presence there was out of the ordinary for a customscollector in so many ways: the late night, the cargo, and the fact that she wastaking a bribe. A big one.

Unlike the barges that came and went every day at the Port ofCatoosa, this shipment was a problem the Tulsa metro area didn't have yet enough heroin to turn a boutique drug business into a big enterprise with awidespread customer base.

The $50,000 Ortega expected to receive was for ensuring thedock was clear and the security cameras were aimed elsewhere.

She stood at the edge of the concrete abutment, under theenormous crane that spanned the river. Behind her the 3-story administrationstructure was dark.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and wentthrough the steps in her head. There were procedures to follow, even if theoperation was illegal. She guided a truck as it backed onto the loadingplatform. She signaled for it to stop 3 feet from the edge. Safety first.

She turned to monitor the progress of the boat, then lookeddownriver. Her eyes drifted to the end of the iron railing that led downsloping grass to the water's edge. She squinted. There were two people sittingon a blanket, fishing. She lifted her binoculars. Two boys, barely teenagersby the look of them. It was clearly posted that fishing was against the law.Why couldn't people just follow the rules?

"Hey!" she shouted, "you kids down there needto get out of here!"

She thought they hadn't heard her until one of them gave herthe universal symbol to mind her own business.

She didn't have time to go warn them. The boat thrummed to astop at the dock, and Paul jumped out and approached her. Paul probably wasn'this real name, but it was the one he gave when he came into Lianne's office aweek ago in a tailored business suit and shoes shined to a reflective sheen.

Now he was in cargo shorts, sandals, and a sweat-drenched teeshirt. A pistol was stuck in the front of his belt. The wild look in his eyewas far different than the smooth charm he'd exuded when he talked her into thebribe.

"Let's get this loaded!" he barked at the men inthe truck. The two who were in the boat with him began lifting boxes andsetting them up on the dock. He faced Lianne. "Your money iscoming..." He looked over her shoulder. "Who is that?" He hadseen the boys fishing. He glared at Lianne. "You had one job. Now I'vegot to take care of it."

"Wait!" Lianne said.

"Shut up or you're next," he growled, pulling hisgun.

She reached inside her windbreaker and pulled out her serviceweapon. She spread her feet and supported her gun wrist with her other hand."Stop! Police!"

Everyone on the boat and from the truck pulled out guns andpointed them at her.

Paul smiled. "Too bad you didn't get your money first.It would have paid for a nice funeral."

Behind Lianne, the administration center lit up. Searchlights on the roof illuminated the entire dock. A voice over a loudspeakersaid, "Police. Drop Your weapons."

Paul snarled, "You stupid b..."

Lianne took advantage of the blinding light and kicked thegun from his hand. As he scrambled for it, she sprinted for cover behind ashipping container.

The smugglers fired toward the lights. The police unleashed abarrage of bullets, and the men from the truck dropped to the ground.

Paul dashed for the boat. He jumped from the dock, landing inthe craft as it roared away. It seemed to barely touch the water as it pickedup speed.

Lianne glanced at the boys on the grass. They were standing,pointing at the boat, and she heard them say "Awesome!" and"Cool!" across the distance.

A squad of officers was on the concrete dock, securingweapons and checking the truck. Two lone boxes of product sat at the edgewhere the boat had been.

"What were you thinking, Ortega?" Her captain wasstanding next to her.

"Civilians, sir."

"We could see the civilians. They were covered. Yousinglehandedly blew a 6-month operation. We have nothing to show for it. Whydidn't you follow the plan?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came.

"That's what I thought. Get back to the station. Wehave so much paperwork to do."