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the grimy bare-metal walls. The overhead fluorescent lights flickered enough to trigger epileptic seizures.
    They arrived at the captain’s office, where the pungent aroma was even stronger. The rectangular room had a single porthole caked with salt, and creepy sad clowns painted in neon shades stared down at them from black-velvet paintings on the wall.
    The office featured two other doors, both open. The first was to a captain’s cabin, furnished with little more than a dresser bolted to the wall, a mirror, crazed as if someone had put his fist in it, and an unmade metal bed topped with discolored sheets and a worn blanket.
    The second door led to a cramped bathroom that looked as if it hadn’t been cleaned since the ship had been built. The odor emanating from the toilet was overpowering.
    Holland went behind his desk and plunked himself into a chair that squealed in protest. Lozada was amazed to see him plug bare wires from a desk lamp into the wall, snatching his hand back and cursing when the inevitable sparks shot from the outlet. The lamp winked on anyway.
    â€œTake a load off,” Holland said, and gestured to a couple of chairs on the other side. Lozada perched himself on the edge of the seat to avoid a glistening spot of some unknown substance. Gao mimicked his uncomfortable posture.
    Before they could get started, a huge black man rushed into the room carrying an enormous dead rat by the tail, startling Lozada and Gao.
    â€œI found it, Captain!” the man yelled in victory.
    â€œThe critter was what clogged us up?”
    The crewman nodded. “The heads should be working now.”
    â€œBe sure to get more traps while we’re here. We’re going through them like crazy.” While Holland was distracted by the rat, Lozada surreptitiously took his photo with his camera phone.
    â€œAye, sir.” The crewman left just as quickly.
    â€œAt least something’s going right today,” Holland said as he rummaged through his desk. He produced two binders, one containing the cargo manifest and shipping orders, the other the registry and crew manifest.
    Lozada flipped through the cargo information to start.
    â€œThis says that you’re carrying fertilizer,” he said.
    Holland nodded and picked up a toothpick from his desk that he stuck in his mouth.
    â€œThat’s right. Five thousand tons from Houston. Only a thousand of it is for Venezuela. The rest is going to Colombia. We’re also taking on some lumber while we’re here.”
    â€œYou’re new to Puerto La Cruz. I haven’t seen you before.”
    â€œI go where they pay me to go. Most of the time, it’s the northern Caribbean, but I’m happy to visit your fine country for a change.”
    Satisfied that the cargo information was in order, Lozada next perused the crew manifest. Nothing stood out. It was just a mix of Filipino and Nigerian crewmen. The Liberian registry also checked out.
    He passed the binders to Gao, who inspected them and then set them on the desk.
    â€œHow’s it looking?” Holland asked.
    â€œI’m afraid our dockworkers are very busy tonight,” Lozada said. “I don’t know if they have time to help with your cargo until tomorrow.”
    Holland grinned. “Maybe I can change that.” He opened a drawer, withdrew an envelope, and handed it to Lozada. “That should cover any overtime.”
    Lozada riffled through the money inside and counted five hundred American dollars. Although he was here on a mission, there was no sense in letting this opportunity for a bribe go to waste.
    â€œWe all good?” Holland asked.
    Lozada glanced at Gao. “Have you seen what you need to see?”
    Gao gave a curt nod.
    Lozada pocketed the envelope and stood. “Everything seems to be in order, Captain Holland. You may begin unloading immediately.”
    â€œThat’s mighty nice of you, Mr. Lozada. Let me walk you out.”
    They