Hungry Darkness: A Deep Sea Thriller Read Online Free PDF Page A

ten minutes. Also, the fact that it was a woman who spoke with a very professional demeanor and not some frat guy wanting to go diving was unexpected and made Gabriel clear his throat and abandon a bit of the acidity he had planned to use in his delivery.
    “Speaking.”
    “Great! How are you today, Mr. Robles?”
    “I’m…just getting up. Who is this, and how may I help you? If you want to schedule a fishing you can go to the website and—”
    “No, sir, this is not about a fishing or diving tour. My name is Rebeca Gonzalez, and I work with the Belize Tourism Board. We’re calling you today because we’d like you to come to our offices as soon as you have a chance. We have a job proposition for you. Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to discuss details over the phone,” said Rebeca.
    “A job proposition?”
    “Yes, Mr. Robles, our director, Mr. Surez, would like to meet with you as soon as possible. Our working relationship would be mutually beneficial and includes doing something directly related to our office. Unfortunately, as I mentioned a minute ago, that’s the extent of the information I’m allowed to give you over the phone. Would it be possible to schedule you for an appointment today or tomorrow? Time is of the essence.”
    Rebeca spoke a mile a minute. Gabe’s sleep-addled brain was having a hard time keeping up, but he understood the basic idea of what was happening in relation to himself: he was broke, and these people were offering him a job. He pulled the phone away from his face and looked at the white numbers at the top of the screen. It was only 8:24 a.m. In his boat, he could be in the docks in front of King Street in about 35 minutes, and the walk from there to the Belize Tourism Board office was just two and a half blocks. Gabe had made the trip dozens of times to renew his licenses.
    “Hmm, Rebeca?”
    “Yes, Mr. Robles,” she sounded eager to write his name down somewhere and scribble a time next to it, so Gabe went for it, hoping to sound like someone who was willing to help a possible client and not like a desperate man in need of money, breakfast, and a trip to the bathroom.
    “I don’t have to be at the dock until this afternoon, so if your boss has time to meet this morning, I can be there at…say 10:30 a.m.?”
    “That would work, Mr. Robles. Do you know where we are located?”
    “Yeah, I’ve been in there many times.”
    “Great! If you decide to use a water taxi, we’ll gladly reimburse you if you bring a receipt with you.”
    “Thanks, but I’m taking my own boat.”
    “Perfect. I’ll be waiting for you in the lobby. Thank you for agreeing to meet with us on such short notice, Mr. Robles. We appreciate your time and consideration.” Rebeca’s voice was like a big smile in Gabe’s ear.  He wondered what she looked like. Knowing he would found out soon reminded him he needed a shave.
    “My pleasure. I’ll see you guys at 10:30 a.m.”
    “See you here, Mr. Robles. Have a wonderful morning.”
    Rebeca hung up before Gabe could add anything else. His brain was now full of questions. They mixed in with the last remnants of the fog his unexpected wakeup call had caused. Then he remembered this was a government office, so if he got the gig, the pay would surely be decent.
    Gabe felt the pressure in his bladder kick up another notch and reluctantly sat up the rest of the way and placed his feet on the cool tiles. The day had begun way before schedule, but the possibility of money at the end of the tunnel was enough to make him get up instead of giving in to temptation and burying his face in the pillow once again.
    On the way to the bathroom, he replayed the conversation he’d just had in his head. Rebeca had said “Time is of the essence.” He tried to recall a time when he’d heard someone use that phrase outside of a movie. He kept at it while he urinated and then washed his mouth and face. He couldn’t come up with a single instance of someone using that