“Careful who you start asking questions about or they might silence you.”
Wasn’t the first time he’d heard that.Curiosity killed the cat and all.“Care to share who?So I can avoid them.Or are you included in that?”
“I’m just warning you.Just about anyone with a boat here doesn’t take to strangers asking questions.”He waved his finger around the other stalls.“They don’t like people sticking their nose into their business.”
“I consider myself warned.”Barry was about to move on when he noticed the stand next to him was vacant.It was a wooden table with several slashes in the top from the knife cutting through fish into it.“Odd to see some vendors gone when they could be selling.”
“Like I said, less fish.A lot of fishermen moved onto other areas.But Charlie here gave up the fisherman’s life and moved on.He left about two months ago.Too good for us now that he’s rich.”There was a bitterness in the man’s voice.
“How do you mean?”
“He used to be in debt.Couldn’t bring in a decent haul if his life depended on it, and it did.”A fisherman’s livelihood was based upon how many fish he could catch and sell.“He was about to lose everything when suddenly he paid it all off.”This could be his culprit.Bottom of his luck and suddenly had money.
“Did he bring in a large haul of fish to pay it off?”
“No, just packed up his things.Said he wasn’t indebted anymore and left.”
How peculiar.“Any idea where I can find him?”Barry was curious about his newfound fortune and how he’d acquired it.
“Why are you looking for Charlie?Is he in trouble?”
“No, I just want to ask him a question is all.”
“Are you a cop?”
“No, nothing like that.”Barry wasn’t willing to share more than that.
The man shrugged.“Last I heard, he sold off his fishing boat and bought a yacht, and now he sails the seas.”
“Does he have any family?”
“No, all dead.”
“Do you know Charlie’s last name?”The man looked apprehensive.Barry was pushing his luck asking so many questions.
“Boudreaux.”
“Last question, you said he was the first to go.Did the other fishermen move on to where more fish are, or did they get rich like Charlie?”
“Moved on to new fishing holes.”
“And you haven’t seen any of them since?”
“No.”
Barry knew he had pressed his luck and couldn’t ask any more questions.But at least now he had a lead to follow.“I appreciate it.”
“Good luck finding him, and if you do, don’t tell him I gave you any information.”
“Any reason why not?”
“I figure he’s hiding for a reason.”
“I thought you said he was sailing around the world.”
“Only people in hiding say that.Especially someone like Charlie.He doesn’t want to be found.”
“Someone who buys a yacht isn’t trying to hide very well,” Barry pointed out.A yacht put a large magnifying glass on oneself.Especially when you were on the verge of bankruptcy.That would raise a few eyebrows.“Thanks again.”
