Written By Brad Harness
Henri stood there, startled. So close - but yet so far. He had almost got back aboard the cruise ship when he was nabbed by the police.
The pair of officers produced their badges and identification before telling him, “We have many questions for you down at the police station. Come with us.”
Francine was shocked and had started to react, lashing out with both tears and a string of Quebecoise profanity - in French. The police spoke English and Spanish, so they no idea what she was saying. But one pointed at her and asked, “You want to join him, senora?”
I just stood by taking it all in. I was behind Henri, and so my ship’s identification tag had not yet been scanned. I was not aboard yet. I was not safe. In fact, I was in danger.
While the one policeman put the handcuffs on Henri, the other turned his attention my way.
“Senor! Maybe you and your senora should come along with us…”
I glanced at Francine. It felt oddly exciting to have been deemed to be her husband.
“Umm…sir…I work on this cruise ship. I am an entertainer. I was merely a tour guide for this man and woman. I need to report back aboard now. Okay?”
The fatter of the two policemen had hold of the box Henri had been concealing until now, and he tore off the paper seal. Henri said nothing. He just stood there staring in horror. Next, the fat one opened the box and removed a layer of cigars, under which was a felt fake bottom. He pulled that up, revealing a plastic encased flat brick of a white substance.
He smiled, nodding, looking over at Henri. “Senor, is this what I think it is?”
“What do you think it is?” the latter replied.
“Well…I think…it is cocaine…”
I physically jumped back a step in surprise. I looked up at Francine, who was equally amazed. She called out, “I had no idea he was dealing the drugs…I thought we were taking a Caribbean cruise vacation.”
Just then, the ship’s Entertainment Manager happened by the Deck 4 gangway area, and drawn by all the commotion, he looked out at who was involved.
“Bobby Jackson? Is that you there?” he squinted in the sunlight.
I waved meekly back at him. “I seem to have stumbled into some illegal activity, boss…” I explained.
Henri was being led away to a waiting police cruiser.
Next Week: Part 8
