Just The Pits (Hetta Coffey Series, Book 5) by Jinx Schwartz Read Free Book Online

usual state. It was my job to be snarky, not his.
    "Everything okay on your end? You sound a little…tired." I would have said bitchy, but if he said that to me I'd eat his brains.
    "Oh, the usual crap, dealing with the local bureaucrats. Found a parcel of land, now we have to pay off the right people to get it."
    "Jeez, we have the same problem on my project. I guess some things are global. Say, do you think you can fire up that security system again, now that I have good Internet service?"
    There was a pause, dead air for a good count of ten. "Hetta, are you in trouble already?"
    "Absolutely not, and I resent the insinuation." I thought I sounded properly indignant without starting a verbal battle.
    "Sorry, but you know I worry. Actually I should have thought of that. I'll feel better, knowing you have some protection. Problem is, you're on WiFi, not connected directly. I'll talk to my guy in Oakland and see if he can rig something wirelessly. You should get an email from him within the hour. I hope the cameras are still operational. You're a little far away for any of my guys to make a service call. I should have checked the system out while I was there. Too late, but I'm glad you thought of getting things up and running."
    "So, what are you wearing?"
    "Hetta, we're on Skype, you can see me."
    "I know, I thought I'd try that phone sex thing I see in movies."
    "In that case, I'm naked."
    "Me too. Well except for…"
    I think the long distance sex stuff is either overrated, or I'm lousy at it; was Jenks supposed to break out laughing?
     
    The techie for Jenks's side business in home and boat security systems emailed me, as promised, within the hour. We did a camera check from his end and all was a go. I'd have to try activating them remotely myself from the office tomorrow, but there was no reason to doubt they wouldn't be working well. Meanwhile I accessed the system to re-familiarize myself with how it worked and by bedtime my anti-bad-guy device made sure if so much as a mouse moved inside my boat, or tried to open an outside hatch, I'd know it. Unfortunately, due to pesky raccoons and seabirds, the outside sensor had to be left off, but the cameras worked fine in case I heard anything and wanted to take a look.
    Unfortunately, if something did happen, I didn't have so much as a cap pistol on board. While in Mexico, some gringos on boats miss television, fast food, and relatives back home. I miss my mom, dad and sister, but I so long for my guns. Go figure: the one place you seriously need fire power and guess who has it?
    After the revolution of 1910, the rebels who won figured out real fast that if they hadn't had guns, they would never have defeated the powers that were. So they took the guns away from the people they'd liberated, in case they should decide to rebel against the powers that be.
    Mexico ain't got no stinkin' Second Amendment, but I guess the founding fathers weren't counting on the United States government arming their cartels.  

Chapter 6
     
    TAKE ANOTHER TACK (Nautical term) : Try another approach
 
    I slept like the dead Sunday night, but that Monday morning alarm clock still went off way too early. This work thing was getting old already, but having my own wheels made for a much better, and certainly safer, start to my week. I still might die on the Hill of Hell, but at least it would be me at the wheel for the cliff dive. I'm such a control freak I'd rather drive myself off a cliff?
    Settled into my work closet, I gave the photos on my desk a smile, fired up the computer and accessed my boat's security system. The cameras all worked and I sent a silent hallelujah to Jenks in Dubai. 'Course, Dubai being Muslim, I suppose that hallelujah had to break through a few religious barriers, but it's the thought that counts.
    Now, if anything larger than a breadbox entered my boat, I'd get a call on my Mexican Telcel phone. Thank you, Carlos Slim, for making it possible to reach out and touch someone