Bradford stopped in the clubhouse to get a sandwich and coke. Buzz was at the bar drinking a Budweiser and stuffing a six-pack into a small cooler. It was only 11 AM.
“Dave, over here.” Mary was at a table with Jill and a few other tennis players. She wanted an update; Dave wanted to know how her tennis match with Jill went. There was a winner’s trophy on the table.
“First, tell me which one of you is celebrating and which one is pretending? He knew that both Mary and Jill were highly competitive and neither liked to lose. They were evenly matched with most of their matches going three sets.
“Jill got me today, 7-5 in the third.”
“It could have gone either way” Jill interjected. “It was a tough match, as always. Mary’s a fighter.”
“I know that, Jill. Congratulations on your win! And congratulations to you, too Mary; I’m proud of you.” For emphasis, he leaned down and gave her a kiss.
“Okay, your turn.”
“Buzz has me by a couple holes, but I’m starting to hit the ball better. I think I’ll do better on the back nine. We can’t let Buzz and Jill win everything.” Dave winked at Jill to make sure she knew he was kidding. Since Dave’s falling out with Buzz, relations with Jill were strained.
“Good luck,” Mary shouted as Dave grabbed his sandwich and headed for the 10th tee. Part of him had wanted Mary to walk with him today, but her tennis match had been too important. Mary had won the Club Championship two years in a row, both times beating Jill in the finals. He was sure she was disappointed in losing today.
It was comforting to know Mary was pulling for him. He just wished they could put their problems behind them and start fresh again. He would give anything to have a mulligan for that ill-fated fishing trip to the Bahamas.
The ocean wind whipped Bradford’s hair and the saltwater mist stung his face. Bradford stood on the bow of Mario’s 60-foot yacht as they cruised at ten knots towards Longboat Key, just fast enough to keep the fishing lines taut. Yesterday they caught 15 kingfish, two of which were his. He wondered how anything could be better than this.
“Is everything okay?” Fred asked; “need anything?”
“Everything’s fine; this is awesome. If I were unattached and had the money, I would sell my home and live on a boat.”
“It would probably get old after awhile, but it sure would be fun for a while. Mario and I talk about trying taking a six-month trip with the wives now that are kids are gone, but something always pops up. Besides, I get a kick out of my restaurants and making money. I’ll save this for weekends and vacations.”
“You’re probably right, Fred. I’m having fun with my work right now too. Maybe I could change my focus and start financing yachts and marinas. With computers and cell phones, I could do both. Ninety percent of my business is done from my office anyway.”
“And your kids could learn to fish and scuba dive all day. Eventually they can get a job for Sea World, feeding fish to the dolphins and whales. What’s his name; Shamu?”
“Okay, I get your point. It’s no way to raise a family.”
“Get ready for lunch. We are only 20 minutes from Key West. I’m interested to see what Mario has planned.”
Thursday afternoon Buzz, Bill and Dave had driven down to Miami and stayed at Mario’s house. Fred had driven down the day before on restaurant business, and joined them at Mario’s. Dave had originally declined the invitation for this “men-only fishing trip”, but Mary talked him into going. They were busy at work, but Mary thought it would be good to get away for a few days. It felt good to relax.
The three friends arrived after 9:00 PM, allowing time for a little conversation, sandwich and a couple beers before heading for bed. “Get some sleep,” Mario ordered. “The fish are early risers.”
Bradford was sleeping soundly when the alarm sounded at 5:00 AM. This fishing business wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, he thought. By six they were at the marina.
“Gee. Mario, is that your boat or your 2nd house? Unbelievable! It’s huge. Why didn’t we just sleep here?”
“We could have Dave. There are three cabins below. Let me give you the tour. I’ve only had it a few months and I’m pretty proud of it. Maybe next time we will take the wives down to the Bahamas and stay out for a few days”
“You should be proud, Mario. Excuse, my ignorance, but what is it?”
“It’s a Bertram 570 with a 1420 HP engine and holds about 1600 gallons of fuel. We could easily go to the Bahamas and back. 57’ is still small enough to maneuver into small docks. You can see the bait wells, fresh and saltwater faucets, tackle; all the things I need for fishing tournaments.”
Bradford had never been on a boat this big, he thought, as Mario took him below.
“The kitchen has a range, refrigerator, freezer and a table that seats six. That’s the master stateroom, VIP cabin with a queen bed and the 3rd cabin with twin beds. Each cabin has a TV and computer hookup.”
“Mario, this is great. Thanks for inviting me along. I’m not much of a fisherman.”
“Well, I hope you catch some fish this weekend. You will see how exciting it is to catch your first big fish. Today we will do a little fishing and go back to my house and sleep in comfort, and tomorrow I have a little surprise planned for everyone. Monday I was hoping you could stick around for a few hours. There is something I would like to bounce off you.”
“No problem, Mario. I’m at your disposal.”
While the marina topped off the fuel tanks and Mario and Fred checked the equipment, Buzz and Bill went in and bought the ice and bait, mostly live shrimp, shad and minnows. $250 and 45 minutes later they were ready to go.
Two friends of Mario’s joined them. Fred and Buzz knew both of them from previous trips and greeted them warmly. Alberto was a CPA and Kurt said he was a business consultant, whatever that meant. They both knew their way around the boat.
Bradford was the only rookie on Board and everyone was willing to show him the ropes. Dave had plenty of time to learn the art of deep-sea fishing during the 90 minutes it took to get to “our spot”. His first decision was whether to have lemon or lime in his Bloody Mary.
Dave was on his 2nd drink when Mario announced they were there. Sonar was showing a school of fish, the rest was up to them. Hooks were baited, lines were let out and the poles were set. Mario steered the boat in a wide circle at about two knots, just enough to keep the bait near the top of the water. Dave sat with his Bloody Mary and watched his line, not sure what he was looking for. “You’ll know when you see it.”
Five minutes later, the fish struck. Dave’s line ran out so fast that he jumped up and spilled his drink. Luckily, it was almost empty. “I got something!”
“Grab the pole and set the line,” Buzz instructed.
Dave grabbed the pole but had no idea how about how tp set the line. Buzz reached over and set the reel to create a drag. “Give him some slack and let him run”.
Dave’s blank expression told Buzz that he wasn’t getting through. He took the pole. “Here, watch me.”
Dave watched as Buzz expertly played the fish as it made several tries to get away. It jumped three times, each jump a thing of beauty. Someone said it was a marlin, at least 45 inches, a big one. “Here, you take it, Dave. Be careful. He’s getting tired but still has some fight in him.”
Bradford reclaimed his pole and was surprised at the strength it took to control the fish. It took 15 minutes before the marlin tired and he was able to reel him close enough to the boat for Kurt to net. Congratulations lasted a couple minutes during which time he was presented a beer to celebrate. Apparently Bloody Marys were only a warm-up for real fishermen. Dave’s time in the sun lasted only until the next strike.
“Hey, you guys. There are two poles over here losing a lot of line. Anybody interested in fishing?” Thirty minutes later Bill and Alberto had reeled in nice sized marlin, and had a Budweiser to celebrate. Meanwhile Buzz and Kurt were working their catches.
It went like this for th
e next four hours, with a short pause for lunch and more beer. Bill and Dave said “no mas” and switched to coke. After lunch Bradford had another strike and managed to reel in a 40-pound tarpon without help. Dave was more than a little bit proud as he posed for the obligatory picture, before releasing the tarpon back into the Gulf. This fishing stuff was fun.
After his fourth fish, Dave didn’t even bother to bait his hook. He eventually wandered downstairs to get a coke and look around a little. The last thing he remembered was lying down for a few minutes in the VIP cabin. He must have dozed off because all of a sudden Bill was shaking him.
“Are you going to sleep on the boat, Dave, or go back to Mario’s with the rest of us?”
It was a relaxing evening. There is nothing like fresh fish, seasoned in a special sauce and then grilled on an open BBQ pit and eaten al fresco. Three glasses of Pinot Grigio just added to the taste.
After dinner the friends relaxed on the veranda and enjoyed a beautiful sunset and view of the ocean. Bill was talking politics again. His friend, Joe Martinez, was running for District Attorney and Bill was his campaign manager and fundraiser. It sounded like Martinez had a good shot of winning the Democratic nomination and eventually the election. Fred and Mario apparently were heavy contributors. Dave knew that sooner or later Bill would call on him. It wouldn’t hurt to have friends like Martinez..
The conversation was winding down and Kurt and Alberto were getting ready to leave. Everyone was tired from the long day. Mario stood up and got everyone’s attention. “Before you leave, I have an announcement. Tomorrow, we’re going to cruise down to Key West for lunch and pick up a few friends of mine. After lunch we’ll be heading towards Nassau where we’ll spend the evening, see a show, and maybe try our luck at the blackjack and crap tables. I also have a little surprise lined up for you.”
Buzz had honors and chose driver. Winning the ninth hole and two quick beers had put him in a good mood. “Are you ready for a beating, Dave? You’re two down and it’s going to get worse. You can quit now if you want.”
“It’s a nice day, Buzz, and I enjoy your company so much. Why don’t I just play along and keep you company.”
Buzz’s mood soured when he over swung, and blocked his tee shot into the woods on the right. “Damn it” he muttered, “why do I do this to myself?”
Dave hit a nice drive down the left side leaving him a good angle into the green. There was still water and two greenside bunkers to worry about, but he was in good shape.
Mario’s little surprise in Key West turned out to be lunch at Hemmingway’s where two gorgeous young ladies joined us, neither of who was much older than Dave’s12-year-old daughter. That might be a little exaggeration, but not much; 21 tops. The next surprise was when Dave learned that the girls would be joining them for the rest of the day, and apparently the night; Mario’s idea of a surprise. Dave now understood why Mary doesn’t like surprises.
The girls names were Kim and Cyndi, and it soon became apparent that they had more to offer than good looks. Minutes after leaving the dock, the girls were topless. Kim was helping Mario and Buzz with the navigation. Cyndi went to the stern where Kurt and Alberto were trying to fish.
Dave headed to the bow of the boat to relax for the 3-hour boat ride, and was joined by Bill and Fred. Cyndi took their drink orders and they ordered gin and tonics. Dave tried hard to look her in the eye when he ordered his drink, but couldn’t help watching as Cyndi walked away. Fred couldn’t help laughing at Dave’s embarrassment.
The casino was rocking. The $10 blackjack tables were full, so Bill, Fred and Dave moved to the $25 table. Dave was hot early, and enjoyed a string where the dealer busted six hands in a row. He followed Kenny Rogers’ advice in “The Gambler” and didn’t count his chips but figured he was up a couple thousand.
Dave then hit the proverbial wall. Nothing he did was right. He was dealt a 6 and a 5 and doubled down. The dealer’s card was a 4 with a 10 in the hole. He hit a 7 for 21. The next hand Bradford split 8’s, and drew 18 and 17, while the dealer showed 16. The dealer hit a three. The dealer’s hot streak went on for the next hour. Dave should have walked away but he decided to ride it out. The $2,000 rapidly disappeared and he reached into his pocket several times. Dave was down $3,000 and starting to press. He also was starting to play dumb. He took a chance and split 10’s against the dealer’s 5. Rather than taking a sure win, he lost both hands when the dealer hit to 19. Later he took a hit with 13 when the dealer’s up card was a 5. Other players at the table were starting glancing at him and he finally knew it was time to walk away. He was down $6,500. Bill and Fred had left an hour ago.
Bradford cashed in and looked for his friends to say good night. He spotted Fred at the crap table, having a string of good luck. Fred was being cheered on by Mario and Buzz. Bradford watched as Fred made his point seven times in a row, backing it up with side bets. He made 4 the hard way. He played the field several times and won. He was on a hot streak that gamblers dream about. There is nothing crazier than a crap table where the roller is hot. Everybody is happy, even the house. It’s free publicity and they know that in the long run, it won’t last.
Bradford jumped on the tail end of Fred’s hot streak and managed to win a few hundred dollars by betting on the come line, which means that he was betting that the roller would beat the house. He decided to double up, just when Fred luck changed. Fred shook boxcars, or craps. They lost their bets, but Fred still had the dice. Dave put $500 on the pass line and backed it up when Fred rolled a six for his point. His next roll was a seven. They lost again
Bradford was standing to the left of Fred so the dice came to him. Dave felt lucky and wagered $500. He come out roll was an eight, and Dave played the percentages and backed up his bet. He also bet the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 10, 11, putting a $50 chip on each. He rolled a five and won a few dollars, but immediately followed it with a 7 – craps! Bradford had lost approximately $4,000 in 15 minutes. That’s how it is in craps. You can win a lot in a hurry or you can lose a lot very fast. Bradford was down $10,000 and decided to call it a night.
Fred and Mario stayed at the tables. They were still way ahead. Bradford headed for the elevators where he ran into Cyndi. She noticed his glum expression and offered sympathy and a back rub. Mary knows what a sucker Dave was for back rubs.
The next morning Bradford awoke with a headache and a sick feeling. Cyndi was gone, but he remembered that the back rub had turned into much more. It felt tremendous at the time, but in the glare of the morning sunlight, Dave felt the guilt. He also feet sick about the gambling losses. Business was good, but he couldn’t afford to lose $10,000. Next time I’ll win it back, he thought.
Bradford was depressed on the boat ride home. The others tried to cheer him up, assuming that his bad mood was a result of gambling losses. That was only part of it. Apparently Buzz had seen Dave get on the elevator with Cyndi, and guessed at the rest of the story. He made a few attempts at humor which were met with a sullen stare. Bradford decided that he would rather feel remorse in private. They weren’t married, or even engaged, he rationalized, but Bradford knew he had broken an unspoken promise. How would he feel if Mary had cheated on him?
Buzz was dead behind a tree with a large root in front of his ball. He could punch out and hope to get up and down from 160 yards, or he could try for a miracle shot and take the chance of breaking his wrist. Few people could pull off this shot. Sergio Garcia in the 2002 PGA, but Buzz was not Sergio. Dave was disappointed when Buzz decided to play safe.
Buzz punched out and still had 145 yards to the hole. His pitching wedge came up just short of the green. Dave hit 9-iron to about 20 feet. Buzz’s chip rolled 10 feet past and Dave 2-putted for the win.
Bradford was only one down, with 26 holes to play.
Chapter 11
Par 5 – 530 yards
Mario’s Proposal - the Mexico Casino Project