Smugglers 1: Nikki by Gerald McCallum

loaded her boat and rowed away.
    About half way to the landing point Nikki put the screw gun, bolt cutters and other tools in the water. At the landing site she unloaded the boat, took it out to waist high water, and cut the boat up so it would sink. She took apart the oars and let them float out to sea. She was ready.
    About fifteen minutes went by when Mercedes showed up. Nikki quickly put the two bags in the SUV and got in.
    “How’d it go?” asked Mercedes.
    “Just fine so far. There’s about five million dollars there. I got it all,” Nikki replied.
    “No shit!”
    “No shit! Remember to stick to the plan. Don’t spend any big money. Stay to yourself and no contact with friends or relatives. And don’t call me. I’ll call you on Trac phones only. Glenn will be gone in thirty days or so. If I leave now, he’ll know I had something to do with this, so drop me off and leave immediately. Wait a week before you call me to give me your new number,” said Nikki.
    Mercedes let Nikki off with her half of the money. Nikki went to her apartment, then went out and slipped in the water. She tied the bag full of money under the dock by her house boat. Then she went in to make a drink and think. Surely Glenn would be there the next day. She finished her drink before climbing into bed; she did not get any sleep.
    In the morning she taped a Smith & Wesson Ultra Light full of black talons under the cocktail table in the living room. She taped her two palm knives under the two end tables, and she put two big butcher knives under the two TV recliners. In the kitchen she taped a ball-peen hammer under one of the bar stools. She put a claw hammer beside her bed. She had done all she could to be ready for Glenn.
    At around 10:30 that night there was a knock at Nikki’s door. She knew it was Glenn. She put on her best face for lying and opened the door thinking Glenn would hit her and come in. To her surprise he just stood there and said, “Hi, can I come in?”
    “Of course,” replied Nikki. “Are you going to tie me up again?”
    “That was necessary. You two had my money. Speaking of that, what happened to my money? I mean all my money. Where is it?” asked Glenn.
    “I gave you your money the other night,” she replied.
    “Not that money, you asshole! You know what I mean — all the money. It’s gone! I need a drink! Can I have a vodka?”
    “Sure.” Nikki made the drink, and when she handed it to him he hit her right square on the nose, the blow breaking her nose and blackening both her eyes.
    Nikki fell backward over the glass cocktail table, breaking it. Glenn was on her like a cheap suit and wire-tied her feet together. Nikki tried to reach the 38 that was under the cocktail table as she could see it but could not reach it by two inches.
    Glenn pulled out his gun and asked Nikki, “Where’s my fucking money? I know you have it, Where’s my damn money!” He pulled the man’s sock with the soap in it out of his pocket and hit Nikki on both shoulders and her head several times. Then her hand found one of the knives under a recliner; she pulled it out and stuck it in Glenn’s left leg up to the handle.
    Glenn screamed from the pain and grabbed the knife handle. Nikki reached the 38 and moved to shoot Glenn, but he hit it with the sock, and the gun flew across the room. Glenn stood up with the knife still in his leg and pulled Nikki out into the middle of the room where he proceeded to beat her with the sock. She screamed and tried to cover up. He quit hitting her to pull the knife out of his leg. Blood went everywhere and soaked his jeans and boots.
    He hopped to the kitchen to get a towel to stop the bleeding. When he looked up, Nikki was standing there with her legs apart. She had cut the wire ties at her feet. She stabbed Glenn in the chest with the butcher knife and took a second stab at him, but he blocked it. The knife went right through the middle of his left hand, through the sock and all.
    Glenn