[Chapter 99: Pulling Off a Big Score]
The white yacht burst out of the dock area and entered the vast Pacific Ocean, its impressive 200-foot body shrinking in size.
In the spacious lounge, Hawke and Johnson introduced each person to the group.
Erica and Dany needed no introduction.
Katherine and Eric arrived at Johnson's invitation.
Then there was a mother-daughter duo who looked almost like they were cast from the same mold: Joanna Faith and Allison Faith, whom Hawke had seen at the premiere of The Scorpion King.
Another guest was an 18-year-old actress named Lauren Hashian, who was Dany's client. They seemed to have a close relationship and were invited by Dany.
The last group present was the specially hired culinary team brought in by Johnson.
Apart from Erica, everyone either came from the entertainment industry or was closely associated with it, and the conversation continuously focused on Johnson's new movie and the album Allison was currently working on.
Hawke made it a point to ask Joanna, "Is the album production going smoothly?"
Before boarding the yacht, Joanna had heard from Johnson about the casting competition for the lead role and responded with a serious tone, "All the tracks for the new album are prepared, recording has begun, and we're also planning the music video for the lead single. You probably know how it is for Allison; rebounding isn't easy, and the label's resources are quite limited, nowhere near the level of Sony, Universal, or Warner."
Hawke pressed further, "What kind of direction is Allison looking to take with her comeback?"
"More of a sexy image," Joanna said, glancing at her daughter who was leaning against the window.
Allison was wearing a cropped t-shirt and a pair of ass-short ripped denim shorts, emphasizing her curvy figure.
Though only 18, the girl had already matured quite distinctly.
Joanna added, "Do you have any good ideas for a comeback?"
Hawke thought for a moment, "How about this: once you get back, send me a detailed profile of Allison and yourself. I'll take a look, and if I can think of something good, I'll reach out."
He quickly added, "But I charge a high fee."
Joanna looked over at her daughter, as if she were eyeing a money-making opportunity: "If it leads to success, money is no issue."
...
On the other side of the deck, Johnson and Eric were discussing their new films.
Hawke had intended to join their conversation but noticed Erica seemed quite bored. He wrapped up his chat with Joanna and moved to sit next to her, looking out at the ocean view.
He remarked, "Everyone here is a Hollywood player or closely tied to it; the conversation always circles back to the industry."
Erica smiled, "Listening to you guys talk is pretty entertaining. I looked into Steve Nutt and Dwayne Johnson; it's clear you're quite good at what you do."
Hawke feigned surprise. "Wow, you figured all that out?"
Erica was unashamed, "Because I'm good too! I aced the new recruit exam at the police department, came in first!"
She dropped her voice, "We won't even get started on Johnson; your handling of the Steve Nutt incident could be textbook material."
Hawke replied calmly, "I'm under a confidentiality agreement; I can't say anything."
Erica dropped the subject but, based on her collected intel, concluded that Steve's wife was definitely cheating on him.
She noted, "Your job seems interesting."
Hawke cautiously replied, "It often involves turning black into white."
Erica wasn't the type of overly righteous cop you'd see in a movie; instead, she said, "You know what the LAPD excels at?"
"What? Clearing out magazines?" Hawke quipped.
"Nope," Erica replied, her voice dropping lower. "Turning black into white."
Katherine came over, interrupting their conversation. "Hawke, I heard you introduced a very beautiful actress into the crew?"
Hawke casually replied, "A friend who wants to try out acting."
Eric chimed in, "She has a fair amount of talent."
Katherine shot Eric a glance, and he instantly went silent.
...
Outside, the sound of a foghorn signaled the passing of a Coast Guard boat.
Such large luxury yachts rarely faced inspections, and a brief radio exchange occurred.
The second mate even came over specifically to have Johnson chat with the Coast Guard.
He smiled and said, "This way, we can avoid a lot of hassle while we're out enjoying ourselves."
Johnson had cultivated his public persona as friendly and humorous, responding enthusiastically as he conversed briefly with the Coast Guard over the radio.
They were reminded to stay safe as the patrol boat promptly moved on.
...
In the afternoon, the yacht arrived at the first planned location.
Hawke returned to his room, changed into sun protection gear, and grabbed his fishing slingshot.
Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door. Erica, wrapped in her clothes, hurried in. "Ready yet?"
Hawke dug out a recorder as a gift from Megan, strapped it to his shoulder, and put on a pair of sunglasses. "Let's go."
When they stepped out, Eric and Johnson were already out on the foredeck, ready with their fishing rods.
Seeing Hawke and Erica heading for the back deck, Johnson shouted, "Aren't you two going to fish?"
Hawke had already asked the crew about the arrangements. "We're taking the speedboat to the little island."
On one side of the rear deck, the crew was lowering the speedboat into the water while another crew member prepared to drive.
Hawke stepped onto the boat, and Erica quickly followed suit.
...
On this calm sea, the feeling on the small boat was completely different from that of the larger vessel.
Erica asked, "You're from Wyoming, so you won't get seasick, right?"
Hawke replied, "And you?"
Erica said, "I often took boats out for fun before work." She checked the compass on the dive watch and pointed to a small island to the left. "Let's head to the southwest side; I remember the water is clear there, and the fish are plenty."
On the back deck, Alison, in a bikini, called out, "Hey, can you guys take me one?"
Erica eyed her; the girl was pretty much wearing strings. "Sorry, we're full."
Hawke told the crew, "Start the boat."
...
The speedboat shot out quickly, soon rounding to the southwest side of the island. Because of the tides, the water was exceptionally clear that day, and from the boat, they could see the rocks below.
Schools of small fish swam near the rocks.
The fish arrow couldn't penetrate too deep, so Erica asked the crew to slow down, bringing them closer to the rocks just under the surface.
Hawke scanned the water, looking for signs of fish.
Erica focused on the other side.
Hawke warned, "I've tried it before. Within 15 meters, it can only hit 30 centimeters underwater at most. It won't be very powerful if it's deeper."
When it came to this sport, hitting a fish was secondary; the main thing was enjoying the process.
He deliberately turned on the recorder and asked Erica, "Do you mind?"
Erica replied, "As long as it doesn't get out."
Hawke nodded, "Of course."
Erica pointed to the boat's stern. "Over there."
There were some fish swimming close to the surface coming from afar.
Hawke loaded the fish arrow, saw a fish approaching the surface, felt the distance was right, stretched the rubber band, and shot the arrow tied to the line, which pierced through the water with a splash.
His wrist reel spun rapidly as something clearly tugged from the other end.
Hawke flipped his hand and gripped the line, pulling it back with force.
"Did you hit anything?" Erica asked.
The water's refraction played tricks on the eye, but Hawke had practiced long enough to know how to compensate.
As he reeled in, a mackerel over a feet broke through the surface.
"First catch!" Hawke exclaimed, pulling the fish onto the boat and removing the arrow.
Erica took the fish, pulled out a knife, and said, "If we're eating it, we need to bleed it for freshness."
The crew brought up a bucket of water.
Hawke, unfamiliar with the procedure, asked, "Where do you bleed it?"
"Watch closely," Erica instructed, plunging her knife into the fish's gills and stirring it a bit before tossing the fish into the bucket, splattering blood onto her gloves. She casually wiped it off with a towel and slid the knife back into its sheath on her waist.
Some of the mackerels that were scared away just now swam back.
Hawke pointed, "Now it's your turn."
Erica pulled back the rubber band and, with a snap, the water splashed as she brought a second mackerel aboard.
Hawke took the knife from her waist and bled the fish.
As the arrows continued to fly, the deck was soon covered in fish blood.
Most of them were mackerels; this type of slingshot couldn't get to deeper fish.
The largest catch was a bonito.
Erica pointed at the rocks along the island's edge. "Look over there; it seems there's a pelican."
Hawke was uninterested in the pelican and looked up at the sky. "Isn't that a bald eagle circling above?"
Erica recognized that he shared her wild spirit and warned, "You can't kill those; they're protected."
Waiting for the crew to clean the fish, she lowered her voice. "One day when it's just the two of us, let's bring a shotgun and see what they taste like."
Hawke gave her a thumbs-up. "Great idea."
Erica added, "This time, you treat me to fishing, and next time, I'll take you to Florida to hunt alligators."
"Sounds good." Hawke noticed the winds had picked up a bit. "Let's head back."
This sport was all about the novelty. Once that wore off, it was just usual. Erica sat close to Hawke as the speedboat headed back.
...
When Johnson and Eric saw the two return, they rushed to the rear deck to check their catches.
Eric rummaged through his haul. "Dwayne and I caught a couple of grouper."
Hawke chuckled, "The joy of fishing and hunting is in the process, not in how many you catch."
Katherine, having a more robust figure, approached wearing a swimsuit. "Hawke has a point; you're not quite as convincing as he is."
Hawke handed the bucket of fish to the crew. "Take this to the kitchen and have the chef prepare some extra."
Weather on the sea can change quickly, and now the wind had started to pick up. Everyone returned to the lounge.
The yacht continued southward.
...
In the evening, the yacht prepared a sumptuous feast, kicking off the celebration party.
Johnson announced at the party, "Tonight we're heading to Guadalupe Island in Mexico. It's the mating season for great white sharks, and Guadalupe is a hotspot for shark watching."
Hawke jokingly quipped, "Does that mean we'll be soaked in blood when we go swimming to see them?"
Johnson replied with a straight face, "If you want to go that way, I won't stop you." He continued, "We'll refuel at 2 AM, and by morning we'll be at the island."
...
By now, it was getting late in the cockpit. The captain, who had watched over everything all day, was ready to rest and instructed the first mate to take the night shift.
He asked the second mate, "When's the fuel boat arriving?"
The second mate replied, "They'll meet us around 2 AM; I'll wait for them in the back." He chuckled, "They've been a reliable company for years; they won't let us down."
Relieved, the captain returned, drinking some Evian bottled water on board before falling asleep.
...
With nighttime came a calm, and in the cockpit, it was just the first and second mates.
The first mate stated, "This time I want to increase the take by $50,000."
The second mate didn't respond but asked, "Did you gamble again at the private table? I advised you long ago that's a bottomless pit. If you save that money, you could retire soon."
The first mate didn't engage, sticking to his point: "So, are you in or not?"
The second mate sensed trouble ahead and questioned, "You didn't borrow high-interest loans, did you?"
The first mate merely stared at him.
"Alright!" The second mate quickly assured him, "I'll give you some when we come ashore."
The first mate cautioned, "Remember what you said."
The second mate feigned a caring demeanor. "Just stop gambling; pay off those high-interest loans, and we can work together for a few more years, and soon we'll be financially free."
After a moment of silence, the first mate slowly nodded.
The second mate wasn't sure if he got through to him, but at least he calmed him down.
As he left the cockpit, he contemplated how he'd find a way to replace the first mate after this.
It wasn't hard; the mule gang had gained some power in Los Angeles, and causing a car accident to break a leg or an arm would do the trick.
...
Once the second mate left, the first mate reached for the radio to call someone, and shortly after, a tall white crew member entered the cockpit.
The first mate queried, "O'Reilly, how did it go with your private contacts?"
O'Reilly's smile appeared slightly sinister. "The three underlings from the second mate are all up for a job; they've followed him around and haven't earned much. Most of the money goes to the second mate; he's too stingy. He eats meat while they barely get a sip of broth."
He continued, "Boss, can you find a channel to sell the goods?"
The first mate replied, "I know a guy from the card table who is looking for merchandise."
O'Reilly added, "I've already organized everything; every crew member on night duty is one of ours."
The first mate mulled it over and said, "First, let's see the quantity of goods. If it's small, we can wait; we only have one shot, and it needs to be big."
Money holds a strong temptation, especially for someone like him, working on a luxury yacht where wealthy clients come and go, but he had a limited salary, which could skew his perception.
O'Reilly asked, "What about the guests on the boat? The chef team is hired by them; we can't interfere."
The first mate and second mate had handled similar situations before. "Just like before. After the party wraps up, send bottled water to each room. Let them sleep well. I consulted a pharmacist buddy who said if we control the dosage, the side effects are barely noticeable. Even if a few experience slight effects, they'll just think it's seasickness."
"I'll go prepare now." O'Reilly left.
Not just the guests on the boat, but even the captain, who didn't have a night shift, always slept particularly soundly whenever they were on board.
The captain felt that he was born for the sea.
...
In the yacht's banquet hall, the party had just come to a close.
Hawke was drying his hands with a napkin when Allison suddenly popped up beside him.
She leaned over from the table, and her neckline slipped down, saying, "It's cleared up outside. Want to go to the top deck and stargaze at midnight?"
Hawke looked her over. The girl appeared youthful, but her outfit was sexy and mature.
Getting involved with someone like her meant incalculable trouble. He pointed toward Erica, who had just exited the banquet hall, and directly refused, "I have a companion."
Allison stuck out her tongue in a playful twirl before walking away.
She didn't go back to her room but instead headed for the kitchen.
Hawke had a feeling this girl could be easy to seduce.
He left the banquet hall and ascended the stairs to the second-level deck.
Erica had just opened her door and was waiting outside. When she saw Hawke approaching, she waved, "Goodnight; see you in the morning."
Hawke wasn't in a hurry, replying, "See you tomorrow."
At the stairs, a crew member was coming around with water delivery.
Each room received two bottles of Evian mineral water.
Hawke took the water and suddenly recalled Allison's invitation, pulling at it again, "The wind has died down outside; want to go stargazing at midnight?"
Erica answered, "Sure."
"I'll call you then." Hawke opened his door and went inside his room.
Erica returned to hers.
Hawke placed the bottles of water on the cabinet at his door, then carefully checked the locker door, opening it to retrieve a bottle from his suitcase, slowly sipping it.
This water was prepared by Johnson's culinary team.
...
Meanwhile, in the main bedroom upstairs, Dany twisted open a bottle of Evian and took a few sips.
Johnson emerged from the washroom, and she handed him another bottle.
As Johnson took it, he suddenly remembered Hawke preventing him from drinking the bottled water provided by the crew during auditions. He glanced down, realizing this water wasn't the brand he had ordered.
Though he thought Hawke could be overly cautious at times, he had also benefited from the caution, so he capped it and tossed it aside, saying to Dany, "Aren't we stocked with water we brought?"
Dany tossed him a bottle from the chef's team, saying, "You've been influenced by Hawke, being too careful."
Thinking back to how he won the lead role, Johnson replied, "It's better to hit someone than to be the one getting hit."
Dany felt uneasy. "That sounds like it carries another meaning."
Johnson chuckled, "Just a straightforward literal interpretation; nothing more."
...
On the second deck, Hawke took a brief nap and woke up exactly at midnight. He washed his face and brushed his teeth in the washroom, ready to head across the hall to call Erica when there was a knock on the door.
He peered through the peephole and opened the door.
Erica, dressed in a black coat, entered and said, "Ready? Time to watch the stars."
Hawke went to grab his clothes. "I was just about to call you."
Erica replied, "If we had a date, I'd naturally come; I wouldn't make you wait."
Hawke put on his coat, taking the fishing slingshot with him. "There seems to be fish attractant lights on the yacht. After stargazing, let's try some nighttime fishing."
"Good idea." Erica returned to her room to grab her gear.
Hawke removed the charging recorder, putting it on his shoulder.
Remembering he'd need to stargaze, he also grabbed a pair of binoculars.
They locked the door and quietly made their way upstairs to the top deck.
...
The afternoon winds had calmed, the clouds have cleared, and the night sky was filled with sparkling stars, almost like jewels adorning the dark canvas above.
They walked toward the bow of the deck when they suddenly stumbled upon two silhouettes at the very front.
One was leaning against the guardrail while the other squatted before him.
Hawke and Erica both halted in their tracks.
The two in front noticed them as well.
With the starlight, moonlight, and lights from below the yacht, Hawke recognized who they were.
The person standing looked like one of the younger chefs from the culinary team.
The one crouched down was Allison Faith.
As for what they were up to, even without seeing it clearly, it was easy to guess.
*****
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