Brittany glanced nervously at her watch. She had five minutes to make it to the meeting on the top floor. Unsure of what the meeting was about, Brittany hoped it wouldnât be bad news. Word around the offices was the agency had been reviewing employee records, possibly for cutbacks.
Although Brittany had been recruited by the agency just before her college graduation and her work record was spotless, sheâd never been promoted to field operations like sheâd hoped. Perhaps her superiors had doubts about her qualifications and capabilities. She might be a prime candidate for elimination.
Twenty-six year old Brittany was 5â8â, slender build with a fantastic figure. Her streaked, shoulder-length light brown hair highlighted her gorgeous face. An active jogger and exercise fanatic, she was very health conscious except for her addiction to cigarettes. It was the one little pleasure in life she wasnât about to give up.
Leaving the cramped office sheâd worked in for the past four years, Brittany made her way to the bank of elevators at the end of the hallway. Her high-heels clicked noisily on the granite floor with each step. Riding the elevator alone, she checked her purse, making sure she had her badge and handgun. Hopefully, sheâd still have both when the meeting was over.
Approaching her managerâs office, his secretary, Margaret looked up at Brittany from her desk.
âDown the hall to the conference room on the right.â She said coldly, pointing in the conference roomâs direction.
Brittany walked slowly towards the conference room, apprehensive of what lie ahead. Nearing the conference room, she found the door slightly ajar. Entering the small room, she found herself being stared at by three other people, two men and another woman. Not recognizing any of them, she took a seat at the table without saying a word. All four remained silent for several minutes.
âAnybody got an idea what the hell this is all about?â One of the men asked, breaking the silence.
âI wasnât given any information.â The other man stated, sounding exasperated. âI was just told to fly down here from Memphis for a meeting.â
âMemphis! Is that where youâre from?â The first man inquired.
âYeah.â The second man answered. âI was transferred there from Jersey about a year ago.â
Before anyone else could say a word, the conference room door suddenly opened. Brad Langley, district manager for the agency, strode in. He took a seat at the end of the table, setting several folders down in front of him.
âGood morning.â He greeted with a serious look on his face.
Brad Langley was a stocky, slightly overweight man in his mid-fifties. He was somewhat balding with a deep receding hairline. He rarely smiled; his face always seemed frozen in a most serious look. Bradâs main concern was putting in enough time to make it to retirement.
âFirst of all, I know youâre probably wondering what the hell this is all about.â He started to speak. âNone of you have much field experience, if any at all.â
His remark appeared to be directed at Brittany and the young man sitting beside her. There was a moment of eerie silence before Brad continued.
âYou four have been picked to form a team.â He stated. âDonât bother asking why you were picked. Believe me, you donât want to know the real reason.â
Brad went on to state that the four of them were going to be set up as decoys to catch a group of men and women preying on tourists in the waters around the Bahamas.
âThese modern day pirates as I prefer to call them, are preying on innocent tourists boating in the islands. They overtake their boats and rob them at gunpoint, most often during the late evenings or early mornings.â Brad informed them. âSeveral of the females have been kidnapped and taken captive. So far, only two men have been killed during the robberies.â
Brad sorted the folders and pushed them across the table. Opening the folder in front of her, Brittany was confronted with numerous artistsâ sketches of the men and women purported to be committing the crimes. The sketches depicted persons appearing to be of South American descent. The women as well as the men looked quite dangerous.
Beneath the pages of sketches were crime reports filed by some of the victims. Glancing over the first report, she noticed the term âheavily armed with automatic weaponsâ mentioned several times. Brit continued to read while Brad rattled on about some of the attacks.
âThe four of you need to meet up in Miami this Friday morning.â Brad stated. âThe agencyâs already taken care of your travel plans. Thereâll be a boat waiting for you at the Seaspray Marina. Youâll take the boat and head out towards the Bahamas.â
âBrittany, according to your employment profile youâve got experience at boating, so youâll be responsible for the operation of the boat.â Brad added.
Brittany had grown up on a lake in Kentucky. Being out on the water had been the one thing she enjoyed more than anything âŠâŠ. except for sex! The ocean was going to be much different than being on a lake. Having to deal with waves and tides would be something sheâd have to learn on her own and learn quickly.
âKent, I need you to take care of the weapons and ammo.â Brad said, looking at the handsome, young man sitting next to Brittany.
Brittany looked up from her dossier long enough to take a good look at Kent. A slight smile formed on her face as she returned to reading the file. Kent was twenty-eight, two years older than Brit. Clean-shaven with dark brown hair, his bright green eyes and pleasant smile highlighted his facial features. Kentâs athletic build was enhanced by his tan, tailored suit. He was definitely a person who prided himself in his looks and physical stature.
After assigning menial duties to the other two people, Dave and Cheryl, Brad rose from his chair and walked towards the door. He briefly turned back to the four people sitting at the table.
âFor all our sake, none of you better fuck up.â Langley said threateningly. âItâll mean all our asses if you do.â
Langley slammed the door behind him. The four people remained sitting at the table, looking at each other more than the folders in front of them.
âWell, what now?â Kent asked.
âI donât know about the rest of you but I could go for some lunch.â Dave mused. âI missed breakfast.â
Dave was about the same age as Brittany, twenty-six. He appeared to be trying his best to attain the âDon Johnsonâ look but he wasnât having much luck, looking more like an out of work bum. At least his clothing was clean and neat. Daveâs background with the agency had been escorting federal prisoners to and from court appearances.
Cheryl had more field experience than the other three. Doing crime scene investigations and interviewing witnesses were her specialty. She was the youngest of the group at twenty-five. Cheryl was 5â7â tall with shoulder-length brown hair. She was quite attractive with a body most of her coworkers would kill for, especially her breasts, which Brittany wondered about. Dave was fascinated with her but he was subtly keeping his attentions hidden.
âIâve got work to get done before Friday.â Brittany said. âIâll see you all at the Marina, Friday morning.â
Rising from her chair, Brit exited the office. Deciding to grab a quick smoke before returning to her cramped office, she exited the rear of the building near the employee parking lot. Shortly after lighting up her cigarette, Kent came out of the building.
âHey, see you Friday in Miami.â He said, smiling as he walked slowly past Brittany.
âYeah, see you then.â Brit responded, offering him a soft smile.
Watching him walk towards his car, her eyes focused on his physique. His well-tailored suit fit him perfectly, outlining every curve and angle of his athletic body.
âThis assignment may prove to be more interesting than dangerous.â She thought. âLetâs just hope we all donât get killed catching these bad-asses.â
Brittany wrapped up her work, early Thursday morning. Her flight from DFW International Airport to Miami was scheduled to depart at 4:10pm. With her luggage already packed, it was just a matter of driving to the airport and getting checked in. Brittanyâs flight would land in Miami shortly after 6:30pm.
Arriving at the Bentley Hotel on Ocean Drive, Brittany checked into her room. Grabbing a quick shower and ordering dinner from Room Service, she reviewed the information packet on the boat she would be in charge of. The 2003 Cabo forty-eight foot cruiser was powered by twin diesel engines. The cruiser had two staterooms, two complete bathrooms and a fully furnished galley. Sorting through the pictures, Brittany was pleasantly surprised at the ultimate luxury the boat offered. Twice the length of anything sheâd ever controlled before, she wasnât as skeptical as she had been initially.
Brittany spent the rest of the evening watching television and reading the assignment folder one more time. Sheâd looked at the folder so often she practically had the faces of the suspects memorized as well as all the information.
Arriving at the Seaspray Marina early Friday morning, Brittany was the first one there. Checking in with the manager, she acquired the keys and directions to where the boat was docked. Carrying her luggage down the narrow pier, she curiously surveyed the other luxury boats and yachts. She fathomed how much money was sitting there in the water. Most of the boats approached the million-dollar price tag; some were a million dollar plus.
After stowing her gear on board, Brittany strolled around the boat, familiarizing herself with every square foot. It was even more luxurious than the photographs had depicted. Deciding to check out the engine room, Brit lowered herself into the engine compartment. The twin diesel engines provided over a thousand horsepower combined. Brit looked for signs of possible engine problems but didnât find anything. The entire compartment was spotless. Checking the on-board generator, she was satisfied the boatâs mechanical condition was excellent.
Climbing out of the compartment and wiping her hands off, Brit spotted Kent walking down the pier. He was pushing a two-wheel cart with several boxes along with his luggage on it. Brittany stepped onto the dock and waved her arm to get his attention. Seeing her at a distance, Kent waved back. His pace quickened as he approached the boat.
âLooks like youâve got enough armament to supply a small army.â Brittany quipped.
âWell, since we may be up against a small army, I thought it best to come well prepared.â He responded, grinning.
Brittany helped Kent get the boxes loaded on board the boat. Setting his luggage in the living area of the boat, the two stowed the automatic weapons and handguns safely away.
âWhatâs your weapon of choice?â Kent inquired.
âI prefer the Glock 21, 45 automatic over anything Iâve tried.â Brittany quickly responded. âI sometimes carry a 25 caliber derringer in a leg holster under my skirt.â
âHmmmm! Lucky gun!â Kent exclaimed, grinning. âMaybe you should have been in charge of the weapons as well as the boat.â
âNo thanks.â Brittany replied. âThis boatâs going to be more than enough for me to manage.â
Kent stood looking around at the boat, noticing all its luxuries.