Brazil: Criminal Empire - Chapter 196: The Vanishing Speedboat (Patreon)

Rock had chosen the perfect vantage point, and soon spotted a five-meter speedboat about 300 meters away, taking fuel from a mobile tanker onshore.

It had two engines at the stern and an open cockpit with four seats.

Its sleek lines and fine workmanship marked it as an expensive craft. It would be perfect for Rock's trip along the Paraná River.

The owner was a middle-aged man with a mustache. He stood onshore laughing and chatting loudly with a young woman in a bikini.

Apparently, they intended to take the boat elsewhere once it was refueled.

The mustached man looked like someone with money to spare. Rock saw no reason to feel guilty about 'borrowing' from him.

Rock headed toward the fuel truck. He pretended to be a tourist photographing the nighttime scenery, strolling along and taking pictures.

Every so often he stopped by the waterfront, as if searching for the perfect angle.

Passing the speedboat, he took a closer look. Not bad. It started with a traditional key. Better still, the key was right there in the ignition.

As Brazilians liked to say, “Everything is part of God's perfect plan.”

Rock promptly awarded the mustached man the title of a Rio de Janeiro 'good guy.'

Encouraged by his companion's delighted giggles, the mustached man waved his arms about, doing his best to show off his masculine charm.

Rock feigned fascination with the nearby scenery.

He lingered on the far side of the fuel truck, repeatedly lifting his phone to take pictures.

The boat lay below the pier, just within range of his storage space.

Rock waited until the attendant removed the hose, tightened the fuel cap, photographed the finished job, and turned to climb back onto the pier.

In that instant, the freshly fueled speedboat vanished. Only the waves remained, lapping softly against the pier's concrete supports.

“Mr. Robert, you're all fueled up. Have a great time!” the attendant called from the passenger seat of the truck.

“All right, thanks for your help.” Robert gave him an absent wave, his gaze fixed on the alluring woman beside him.

“Beautiful Esmeralda, I'm delighted I could invite you to enjoy this with me... Hm?!”

Robert was making an elegant gesture of invitation when he turned and discovered that his speedboat was gone.

There was only the fuel truck and a tourist taking pictures near the pier.

Surely he couldn't suspect that the tourist had stuffed his boat into a pocket.

His companion was about to place her hand in his with a smile, but when she looked up, she was just as bewildered.

“Where's my speedboat?” Robert shouted. He forgot all about his attractive young companion and frantically searched the docks.

“Hey, where's my speedboat?!”

His earlier composure gone, Robert chased after the fuel truck as it began to leave and pounded on the passenger door.

The attendant leaned out in confusion. “Mr. Robert, isn't your boat parked right there?”

“Open your eyes and look! Do you see my speedboat there?”

Robert vented his anger on the hapless attendant.

The young man refused to take the blame and pulled up a photo on his phone.

“Mr. Robert, I took this picture right after refueling. Your boat was still there when I left, so this isn't our responsibility.”

Robert stared at the picture, too dumbfounded to speak. While he stood stunned, the attendant tapped the driver on the shoulder.

The truck rolled away, almost brushing Robert's nose as it passed.

Only when the exhaust fumes reached his nostrils did Robert jump up again. “Damn it! Porra! Filho da puta...”

A stream of curses poured from his mouth. As the truck's taillights receded, he finally came to his senses. “The police! I'm calling the police!”

While Robert crouched miserably on the dock waiting for the police, Rock had already strolled away.

Once he'd walked away, the fallout was none of his concern.

Rock returned to the car. Tarcísio didn't ask what he'd been doing.

In Tarcísio's eyes, his admired boss could do no wrong, so he simply started the car and drove away.

Rock took out his phone in the back seat. “Ciro, prepare two off-road motorcycles with full tanks, plus 1,000 liters of gasoline in twenty-liter containers. Leave everything at the warehouse below the Great Rock Wall.”

After issuing his instructions, Rock put down the phone and leaned back, thinking.

This would be his first trip out of Rio de Janeiro since taking control of his territories. He had plenty to arrange before leaving.

...

Tarcísio drove the armored car smoothly to a supermarket warehouse below the Great Rock Wall Favela.

Two full members of Battle Angels stood guard outside. They greeted Rock respectfully when he arrived.

Rock nodded and swept past them like a gust of wind, disappearing into the warehouse.

In one corner sat two orange KTM motorcycles beside a large stack of plastic gasoline jugs.

Rock's mood brightened at once. Only half an hour had passed since his phone call.

Ciro had already prepared everything he'd asked for. Ciro was growing into his role as Battle Angels' chief steward.

Whether it was the fees the gang collected from residents or the private businesses Rock controlled, Ciro managed it all with impressive efficiency.

The timid accountant Rock had once known had grown remarkably fast.

Rock felt no embarrassment in taking credit for that growth. With a thought, Rock stored both motorcycles and all 1,000 liters of gasoline in his storage space.

When the two Battle Angels members saw their boss emerge less than two minutes later, they hurried forward to assist him.

Rock acknowledged them with a nod and climbed back into the car.

Now it was time to return to the Great Rock Wall Favela and prepare for his departure.

Rock wasn't particularly worried that anything dramatic would happen to his territory while he was away.

He'd been able to seize them through his own strength.

Even if trouble broke out inside the gang, he could simply sweep through the area again when he returned from Paraguay.

As soon as they reached the Great Rock Wall Favela, Rock summoned every member of the special operations squads to a meeting in the basement.

“I'm only taking Cassiano this time. The rest of you will hold down the fort. If anything happens while I'm gone, go straight to Rivaldo...”

Rock entrusted Rivaldo, Battle Angels' chief instructor, with the necessary authority and responsibilities.

Moved by that trust, Rivaldo thumped his chest and promised to protect Rock's territory.

The other special operations squad members likewise pledged to help Rivaldo defend the Great Rock Wall Favela and the Slope favela.