Chapter 144

Lunch was ready after our little meeting, so we went into the galley to load our plates. Alice The Drunk's wife had made a large pan of pastry with hamburger, veggies and gravy inside. The food was good. I was a little surprised that she could cook so well for so many people. It was the ideal recipe for that kind of group.

"Alice how do you manage to cook for a dozen people, I could never do that," I admitted as I filled my plate the second time.

"I am the lunch lady for a high school in our home town. I cook for hundreds of kids a day, this really is like a vacation for me."

"Well the food has been delicious so far. I hope you don't give up on us." I felt the floor move under my feet. It was obvious we were underway.

"Oh my, I will have to go make sure everything has a top on it. Talk to you later Maxine," she said turning her attention away from me and to the food. I didn't mind at all.

I went to the bridge to meet the captain. I wanted to know if he planned to give me trouble. "So Captain, have you sailed this ship before?"

"This was never my ship, but I have sailed her since we both retired. I get pulled out of retirement every couple of months to carry a special load somewhere."

"Ever been to Somalia?" I asked.

"No, and I'm not looking forward to it this time either. It's a nasty dangerous place," he said.

"Well it's my job to be sure you are safe, so we should try to work together." I suggested.

"Sweetie, I'm almost seventy years old. You don't need to bullshit me. I heard a rumor on the dock that you were running guns. I don't care, but I do want it known that I am not going to die for your guns." He spoke english with an accent. My guess was that he was Greek or maybe Italian.

"Well, I hope it doesn't come to anyone dieing," I suggested.

"I heard your speech in the mess. If it comes down to it, I am going to surrender this ship and your cargo." he said.

"I'll keep that in mind," I admitted. What I kept in mind was that someone would have to lock his ass in his cabin. I didn't think they could try me for mutiny, since i would just be doing my job. After all I wasn't really a crew member. I also made a mental note to talk to Alex about his captain.

With that in mind, I went to find my tools. I didn't need the big stuff just the Glock and derringer would do for the time being.

I took the pistols from Alex even though, I figured that for most of the first week, all I had to do was work on my tan and catch up on my sleep. Even if that were the case, I wanted to be able to defend myself, if push came to, who could push the hardest.

"I'm not anywhere near the badest chick on the planet, I am just the badest one in the room at any given moment. The ones that are badder than me, don't run in my circles," I said it to Morris who had asked. I also laughed when I said it, so that he would know I wasn't being an arrogant ass.

"I keep hearing what a hard bitch you are, but I ain't seen it," he replied.

"I'm only hard when I need to be and then only as hard as I need to be. I try to always keep it proportional.

"So I also heard you like to sleep around?" he asked.

"You are just full of question aren't you?" I asked.

"I am a reporter," he informed me.

"Not on this job. If you try to be one, I will have Mike fire your ass. You are here to make images for the TV show, not do some freelance piece of this job. Remember who you are Morris." I smiled but he knew I was serious.

"Point taken," he replied.

"Good, And yes I like sex. I like sex with hard men. I like sex with soft men. I like sex with hard women and I like sex with sensitive women, I just like sex." I admitted.

"So, should I throw my hat in the ring?" he asked.

"Only if you are tired of the hat, I don't screw the men I work with." It was a lie, but I hoped he didn't know about Martin.

"This a private meeting or can anyone join in?" Alex asked as he seated himself.

"You can come on in, Morris here wanted to know, if it was true that I am a slut," I commented and watch Morris wither.

"Well are you," Alex asked.

"I am whatever I need to be, to get the results I need." I replied.

"Good, I'm the same way." Alex admitted. "So you ever had sex on a coastal freighter?"

"Good Lord, we aren't really going to do a show and tell about my sex life."

"Why not? it has to be more interesting than mine," Morris said.

"Well, I'm going to turn in, it has been a long day, I am also still suffering from jet lag," I said as I stood to go.

"Want me to walk you to your cabin?" Morris asked.

"Morris, I can find my cabin and if that was meant to reassure me, a man with a camera isn't much protection, except in case of pirate attack."

"So I take it that means, no thanks," he suggested.

"You can pretty much count on it," I said... "So good night gentlemen, I'm off."

"Ease up on her," I heard Alex say as I started to walk away. I stopped to listen.

"Are you planning to screw her yourself?" Morris asked.

"Mister Morris believe me when I say, nobody screws Maxine Stone. That comes not from me but from men who have known her in different situations, over a period of time. You can try having sex with her and might even manage it, but you aren't going to screw her.