Decker's Dilemma (16 page)

“What kind of big stuff?” Decker asked.

“Material for ships. Aircraft parts. Whoever controls Subic also controls Angeles City.”

Hack looked inquiringly at Decker. “Clark Air Base,” Decker said.

“Exactly,” said Rusty. “It is one area. Mr. Fortuno used to control 80 percent of the black market trade going in and out of Subic and Clark. Now Agana has control. Probably controls more like 90 percent now.”

“Where does he send the supplies?” asked Decker. “I don't see any of that stuff around the stores in town.”

“You would not see it,” said Rusty. “From what I hear, most of the parts goes overseas to other countries.”

“What do they do with it?” asked Hack.

“Not sure. They probably use it for their ships and planes,” Rusty said.

“We should go talk to Agana,” Rusty said, looking at Decker.

“I would advise against that,” said Rusty.

“Why? We talked to Mr. Fortuno. That went well. He even helped us in his own way.”

Rusty shook his head. “It's a completely different situation.”

“How so?”

“Mr. Fortuno is a nice man if you are on his good side.”

“What's Agana like?” asked Hack.

“He is different. Agana was always angry about something when I knew him. Like he was pissed off at the world. Never satisfied with his position in life.”

Decker stood and paced. “I still think we ought to try to talk with him. See if he knows anything about Chief or Allen Sumner. We can at least stop by his business. Snoop around a little.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” asked Hack.

“We can walk in like we're lost,” Decker said. “Or we can say we're just curious about the business. Play dumb.”

“I don't think we'll have to play if we do that,” said Hack.

“He is right,” Rusty said, pointing to Hack. “Agana is not a stupid man. Neither are his men. If two American sailors walk in there, they will know you are up to no good.”

“Maybe we can go in and ask for Allen Sumner. Or maybe ask for Chief Fray,” Decker said. “We can say they're friends of ours and we're looking for them.”

“Still not a good idea,” Rusty said. “Trust me. I knew Mr. Fortuno would be agreeable. He is retired. But Agana is different.”

Decker put his hand on Rusty's shoulder. “I wholeheartedly agree with you,
pare
.” Decker pointed to Hack. “But I'm afraid my friend is determined to pay a visit to the esteemed Mr. Agana.”

“The hell I am!” said Hack.

“You can't fool me,” said Decker. “I know that look in your eyes. But don't worry, I'll be right behind you when you go in.”

Hack shook his head. “I knew you were going to get him involved in another trip I'd rather not take.” A moment later, he gave in to his friend, but with a caveat. “Alright, I'll go, but we're just going to walk by and take a look around from the sidewalk. I don't even want to pause in front of the business.”

“It's a go then,” Decker agreed. He turned to Rusty. “Where's Agana's business located?”

Rust drew a crude map and scribbled directions to Agana's on the back of the note from Fortuno.

“Thank you,
pare
,” said Decker, motioning with his head to Hack that it was time to go. They stepped off the porch and thanked Rusty for his help.

“By the way,” asked Decker, pausing on the sidewalk. “What did Fortuno's note say?”

“That is easy,” Rusty said. “It says, ‘
The business is Angelito Agana Kompanya.
Warning: He's dangerous
'
.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

1735, Wednesday, February 12

The Marine guard checked their IDs and waved the sailors through the checkpoint at the main gate without saying a word. Decker exhaled loudly as he exited the base. “Another day on the
Harvey
that we survived.”

“I was beginning to wonder about you this afternoon,” Hack said. “You seemed tense all day.”

“I'm dreading talking with Vega tonight,” Decker sighed. “She called me on the ship this morning. She invited me over to her place after work.”

Hack punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Ah, it's probably nothing. Just wait and see, she'll surprise you.”

Decker forced a smile. “Maybe so.”

They were half way across the Shit River Bridge when Decker spotted a green Range Rover pull alongside them. He ignored the vehicle, but when the car continued to follow them, Decker turned and realized who it was. “Damn.”

“What's wrong?” asked Hack.

“We have company. Let's keep walking.”

Hack glanced over Decker's shoulder at the vehicle. “Who is it?”

“It's no one,” Decker said. “Don't look at him.”

As the two sailors neared the end of the bridge, Inspector Navarro rolled down the passenger side window. “Well, Mr. Decker, how are you this evening? You remember me, right? Inspector Franco Navarro.”

“How could I forget,” Decker said.

“You have an excellent memory,” the inspector smiled.

“You catch the guy who shot at me yet?” asked Decker.

Navarro shook his head. “No, but we know who did it. We're waiting for the right time to make our move.”

“I hope you do it soon,” said Decker, grabbing Hack by the arm to continue walking.

Navarro edged his vehicle forward to keep pace with the sailors. “Why the rush, gentlemen? Sit with me for a while. We need to have a serious conversation. Man to man.”

Decker stared straight ahead. “No thanks. We're in a hurry. Some friends are waiting for us.”

“I'm sure the girls can wait,” said the inspector. “Get in and let's have a chat. Both of you.”

Decker eyed a group of Filipinos milling around the corner of Gordon Avenue half a block away. For a moment he thought about a dash to a trike for a quick getaway through the crowded streets. But when he looked towards the trike stand, he stopped and pulled on Hack's shirt. Three of Navarro's men were blocking the sidewalk. Submitting to the inevitable, the sailors climbed in the vehicle. Decker sat up front, Hack in the back seat.

“I'm glad you decided to join me,” Inspector Navarro said. “Trust me, I don't mean to hassle you. I am an honorable cop trying to keep the peace in this fine community.”

For a fee
, Decker wanted to say, but he knew it would get him into more trouble than it was worth.

“I understand the two of you paid a visit to our most illustrious citizen of Olongapo, Mr. Fortuno.”

“How do you know…?” asked Hack.

“Not that my friend is saying we actually did visit him,” Decker interrupted.

“Relax, Mr. Decker. There is no crime against visiting someone. We Filipinos are friendly people as you no doubt have learned in your time here. I am just curious what you talked about?”

“I thought he knew a friend of mine,” Decker said, unable to come up with a plausible reason why he would be visiting Mr. Fortuno.

“I see,” said the Inspector. “I trust it was a nice visit?”

“It was cordial,” Decker said. “Turned out he didn't know my friend after all. Case of mistaken identity.”

“Well then, there's no need for you to see him again.” Navarro turned in his seat so he could also see Hack. “Let me give you guys a warning. Be careful. Watch your step, as you Americans say. People are watching you. This is bigger than you can handle. Don't get involved.”

Decker and Hack sat in silence until Navarro waved his hand. “You can go.”

The sailors quickly climbed out of the vehicle and stood on the sidewalk as the inspector put the car in gear, squealed the tires, and drove away.

“That was interesting,” Decker said as they headed for the trike stand.

“I hope I don't run into him again,” Hack added.

“You and me both,” Decker said, hailing a trike to take him to Vega's. “Wish me luck. I've been dreading this for several days now.”

“Maybe it's not what you think,” Hack said. “She's probably been busy with work and hasn't had time to see you.”

Decker forced a smile and climbed in the sidecar, appreciating Hack's attempt at comfort. Ten minutes later, the trike stopped in front of a four-story brick building. Decker paid the driver and ambled up the stairs to her third floor apartment.

Vega greeted him at the door in cutoff jeans and a yellow t-shirt tied in a knot at her waist. She kissed him on the cheek and led him inside where they stood in the middle of her sparsely furnished living room. “Hey, thanks for coming over. Sorry I've been hard to find lately. Work and stuff's been crazy. Want something to drink? Have you eaten?”

Decker shook his head “no” and hugged her. “You said you wanted to talk. As you know, I'm not one for small talk when there's business on the table.”

Vega squirmed out of the embrace and took Decker by the hand. “Okay then. I've met someone.”

Decker folded his arms. “Well, I meet people all the time. In fact, I met my old friend Inspector Navarro this evening.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly what I said. Your boss stopped Hack and me outside the gate. We sat in his car and talked over old times.”

Vega walked to the refrigerator and opened the door. “Did he have news about the shooting?”

Decker shook his head. “No, he talked to us about Mr. Fortuno.”

Vega closed the refrigerator door and frowned. “Fortuno? Why would he talk about that guy with you?”

Decker smiled. “Maybe because Hack and I paid a visit to the Fortuno compound over the weekend.”

“Really?” She put her hands on her hips. “Now why would you do that? And, more important,
how
did you do it?

“It was easy. A certain trike driver that we both know used to work for Fortuno many years ago.”

“You're kidding. Rusty?”

Decker held up his right hand. “I am not one to name names, but suffice it to say this certain trike driver that we both know set up a meeting with the aforementioned Mr. Fortuno. If you recall, I'm trying to figure out if Kippen's dive—and me getting shot at—is related to the local black market.”

Vega walked over to Decker and took hold of both of his hands. “You need to stop this investigation of yours. It's too dangerous.”

“I found that out the other night and Rusty has the leg wound to prove it.”

“I was so scared when I got there.” She looked up at him. “So did Mr. Fortuno actually talk with you?”

“Of course he did.”

“Did he give you any help?”

Decker shook his head. “Nope, he was cagey. But he sent us a message after we left his house. We stopped to eat at this little cafe and someone gave the waitress a note to deliver to us.”

“What did it say?”

“It mentioned this guy named Angelito Agana with a warning that he's dangerous.”

“It was from Mr. Fortuno?”

“I think so. The handwriting was hard to read. We only met the old man and one of his daughters so I assume it was from the old man.”

“Which girl did you meet? Olivia or Abbey?”

Decker stood open mouthed. “You know them?”

“I went to high school with Olivia for two years when I came back to the Philippines to live with my father. Then she went to the States to finish her last two years. Somewhere in California I think. She was tall and skinny back then. And very pretty.”

“Still is,” Decker said. “Tall and skinny anyway,” he added. “But I didn't get a good look at her.”

Vega dropped his hands and began pacing the room. “It'd be fun to see her again. I still can't believe you went to their house. Don't go near Agana, though. Going to Fortuno's was bad enough, but Agana's a different ball game.”

“That's what Rusty said.”

“And you should listen to him.”

Decker sat in a chair at Vega's kitchen table. “But I digress. You said you met someone.”

Vega sat in his lap and crossed her arms. “I did. It's hard for me to tell you this, but I met a guy. We've seen each other a couple times. I know we're just friends now, but I think we should put a hold on your visits. I want to see where this takes me.”

Decker put his arm around her waist. “I thought you told me you weren't looking for a relationship?”

“I wasn't really,” Vega said, lowering her head. “But I've been thinking lately I might give it a try.”

“You can try with me.”

She slid her arms around his neck. “You're not the boyfriend type. Don't get me wrong, I like you a lot. You know that. But you're not ready to commit to a serious relationship.”

“Maybe I am ready?”

Vega smiled and kissed his forehead. “No you're not. We both know that.”

“Well, who is the lucky young man?”

“He's an attorney in town. He works for the city government.”

“Ah, I've been torpedoed by a lawyer. Figures.”

“It's not like that, Elliott. I've known him for a couple of years. It just sort of happened.”

Decker lifted Vega off his lap and stood holding her. “I should be going.”

“So soon? Let me make you something to eat?”

Decker shook his head. “Thanks, but I need to go. A long walk back to Magsaysay sounds nice right now.”

Vega hugged him tightly. “Sorry about this. I hope we're still friends?”

He kissed her on the top of her head. “Of course.”

She smiled and walked with him to her front door. “Hey, listen,” she said, taking hold of his hands. “Please don't do anymore investigating. I'm sorry I asked you to do it in the first place. I just wanted to get a little information to help me get some respect at work. It was selfish of me.”

“I'm glad you told me,” Decker said. “But not to worry. I'm being careful. I wasn't sure in the beginning, but I'm now convinced I'm on to something big.”

Vega nodded in agreement. “And it's time for you to stay out of it. Let the police handle things. I don't even know if a sailor on the
Harvey
is involved in the black market. It might take us a while, but we'll put a stop to whatever is going on.” Vega stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. “Promise me you're going to stop your investigation?”

Decker walked out the door and turned before descending the stairs. “Bye, Vega. I'll be seeing you. I hope this guy is what you're looking for.”