While the water heated, she took in the rest of the interior, reminded again of why she liked older boats. She was dazzled by the sunlight reflected from a profusion of white fiberglass surfaces broken by occasional areas of cheap-looking teak veneer. Shrugging off her aversion to mass produced boats, she felt a little ashamed of her snobbish reaction. Most people couldn't afford custom, hand-built yachts like Vengeance, even if they had the taste to appreciate them.
She busied herself by clearing the empty beer bottles from the dining table and emptying an overflowing ashtray, noticing the remains of several joints among the cigarette butts. Robert hadn't been into drugs, nor did he smoke when she knew him. He must have had company since the ashtray was emptied last. Based on the smell of its contents, that could have been a long time ago.
The water in the kettle came to a boil. She turned off the flame and poured water over the teabags in the mugs. While the tea steeped, she dampened a paper towel and wiped down the dining table and the galley counter. She had just tossed the filthy paper towel into the overflowing trash can and was rummaging in the refrigerator looking for milk when she heard the door to the forward cabin open. She turned to see Robert, dressed in a fresh T-shirt and clean cutoff jeans, his hair still wet from his shower but combed neatly.
"Sorry for the mess," he said. "I wasn't expecting company, but it's nice to see you. Thanks for waiting."
"That's okay. Do you have milk?" She was still shifting things around in the top-loading refrigerator.
"I don't think so. If there is any, it's probably gone off."
She nodded in resignation and put the lid back on the refrigerator. "That's all right, then." She turned and picked up a mug of tea, handing it to him. She took a saucer out of the locker where she had found the teabags and set it on the counter. "For the teabags," she said, as she took the bag from her own mug and put it on the saucer. He followed suit.
"Shall we adjourn to the cockpit?" he asked, gesturing for her to mount the companionway ladder.
"Sure," Liz said, picking up her tea and climbing back into the fresh air, relieved to take a deep breath without gagging.
They sat down, facing one another across the fold-down table in the center of the cockpit. They gazed steadily at each other for a moment, sipping the tea, each waiting for the other to speak, neither wanting to take the risk.
"So," Robert said. "Um…"
"I haven't decided," Liz interrupted. "I can't just pick up and leave for a couple of weeks."
"You won't have any trouble getting another job if it doesn't work out."
"It's not that simple," she said.
"Sure it is. People are always looking for crew, especially for a first-rate cook."
"I'm part-owner of Vengeance, Robert. And we've got a guest aboard for the next couple of months."
"Oh. Sorry, I just assumed…"
"It's okay. I deliberately didn't tell you," Liz said, seeing his crestfallen look. She resisted the urge to take him in her arms, her reserve melted by his disappointment. "I'm not saying I can't do it. It's just not as easy as it might have seemed to you. It's kind of a big deal."
"You the captain?" Robert asked.
"No, my partner is the captain."
"Is he… are you…"
"No, Robert. She, not he. And we're just good friends, before you embarrass yourself any further."
"Well, I never thought you were…I mean…"
"It's okay. You don't have to explain. But you see that I can't just walk away."
"Yes, I see," he said, his voice heavy.
"Cheer up. I haven't said no."
"It would only be for a couple of weeks," he said.
"You know me well enough to know that if I thought it would only be for a couple of weeks, I would just tell you no, and be done with it. There's more to it than that for me. I hope there is on your side, too."
"You know there is. I'm just… it's…too much to hope that you'll take me back," Robert said.
"I haven't said that. Don't read too much into this. It's just that if I didn't still have feelings for you, I wouldn't even think about it."
"I understand, Liz. Where do we go from here?"
"I want you to come to dinner aboard Vengeance this evening. My partner and our guest will be there," she said.
"Okay, but…um…is this some sort of…"
"Test?" Liz prompted.
"Yeah, I guess that's a good word. Is it?" Robert asked.
"I want them to meet you; they need to see us together. I definitely want them to understand what's driving this whole thing. I at least need their good will; that's important to me. I have to admit that their opinion of you will have some weight, too, but that's secondary. I'll make my own decision."
"What time?"
"Eight. Vengeance is easy to find; she's a Herreshoff Bounty replica -- white hull and varnished superstructure. She's anchored in the first row outside the boundary buoys around the beach down at Ste. Anne. See you then?" Liz stood and stepped toward the side deck.
Robert scrambled to his feet and followed her, crouching to untie the dinghy before she could. Rising with the painter in his right hand, he grasped her shoulder with his left and moved in to give her a kiss. Liz flinched, surprised. She turned her head just in time to feel his lips brush her cheek. He dropped his hand and stepped back, disappointment plain on his face.
"See you at eight, then," he said as she stepped down into the dinghy and started the outboard. He dropped the painter into the boat and stood waving and watching as she made her way back to open water before she opened the throttle.
Chapter 6
"So you're from California?" Robert asked Connie as he reached across the table to pour wine into her glass.
"Originally," she said.
"It's a beautiful state, based on the little I've seen," he said with a smile as he deftly twisted the bottle to avoid dribbling wine on the table cloth.
"Which parts have you seen?" she asked.
"Oh, you know; the touristy parts, I suppose. Mostly San Francisco and Beverly Hills. Where in California was your home?"
"We moved around a lot because of my father's business, but we lived in the rural areas."
"I see," Robert said. "And what was his business?"
"Agriculture. I left and moved to the East Coast as soon as I could."
"Ah! So you went to school back east, then?"
"In a manner of speaking. Education is a lifelong endeavor."
"I quite agree. And you, Dani, where did you grow up?"
"Before the mast."
"Eh? You mean at sea?"
"That's right; I started crewing on sailing yachts when I was 13. It's a family thing."
"Where do you come from?"
"Vengeance," she said, wincing slightly as Liz kicked her under the table.
"Liz said that you were French."
"When it suits me. I have dual citizenship; I use my U.S. passport down here, except in the French Islands."
"Because Vengeance is U.S.-flagged?"
"Yes. It's a marketing advantage; a lot of the clients come from the states, and they seem to prefer U.S.-flagged vessels."
"So did you grow up in France, before you went to sea?"
"No, my father lives in Paris now, but he spent most of his time in the islands when I was younger. We have some family ties down here, mostly in the French islands."
"Tell us a bit about yourself, Robert," Connie suggested.
"Um, your basic public school background; nothing especially exciting. My family's in the investment banking business."
"So's my mother's family," Dani interjected. "And I understand that your wife's family is, as well." She flinched in anticipation of Liz's kick.
"Ex-wife," he protested quickly.
"Oh. So you're divorced, then? Liz didn't mention that." Dani noted that Liz appeared to be surprised by this comment.
"Ish," he said, extending his right hand and rocking it side to side in a gesture of am
bivalence.
"What does that mean, 'ish?' I'm not familiar with that word," Connie asked.
"It means 'sort of.' British slang, I guess. The divorce is still in process," Robert said, his eyes flicking down and to the right.
Dani flinched again as Liz kicked her ankle before she could speak. They locked eyes across the table, Liz giving her head an almost imperceptible shake.
"Can I get more pasta for anyone?" Liz asked brightly.
"I'm fine, thanks," Robert said.
"No, thanks," Connie replied.
"It was great, but I'm saving room for that chocolate mousse," Dani said.
Liz excused herself and stepped into the galley, returning in a moment with the desserts on a tray. No one spoke again; the only sounds were the subdued clinking of spoons and an occasional soft moan of pleasure.
"That was a wonderful dinner, Liz. Thank you for that, and thank you, ladies, for a pleasant evening," Robert said as he rose from the table. "I apologize for rushing away, but I have to sail for St. Vincent tomorrow, and I still have work to do on the boat tonight."
"I'll see you to your dinghy," Liz said, rising as well.
"It was nice to meet you," Connie said, flashing him a tight smile.
Dani got to her feet and extended her right hand across the table. "I think we may see you again," she said, spreading the index and middle fingers of her right hand, forcing his fingers tightly together as he returned her grip. She gave him a big smile as she gradually increased the pressure, grinding his knuckles together, watching as the panic spread to his eyes when he realized that she might be about to break his fingers. She relaxed her hand and said, "Take care of her."
He nodded nervously and turned to follow Liz up the companionway ladder.
****
"So how did we do, Liz?" Dani asked. She and Connie had cleared the table and done the dishes while Liz had been on deck telling Robert goodnight.
"Okay, I guess."
"My shin isn't bruised too badly."
"What?" Connie asked.
"It's a form of non-verbal communication that she uses when I make her nervous," Dani said.
"I would have kicked you in the kneecap if I could have reached it," Liz said. "What did you think of him, Connie?"
"You don't want my impressions?" Dani asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Of course, but I think I know what you're going to say. Let's hear Connie's."
"He's kind of easy to look at. Not too macho, but he looks fit, and, well, he's kind of hot. He's well-mannered in a superficial way."
"Typical upper-middle-class Brit. They learn those manners in public school, but they mean nothing. They have the empathy and sensitivity of sea slugs," Dani said.
Connie saw the muscles in Liz's jaw twitch. "Overall, he's pleasant company. Kind of cute, but not quite my type," she said, hoping to defuse the tension between the two friends.
Liz nodded. "What's your type?"
"I'm not sure; guess I haven't found it yet," Connie said. "The real question is whether he's what you want, isn't it?"
"Right. He still makes my pulse race."
"I can see that," Dani said. "You were all aglow after you came back below from seeing him off. Pay no attention to me; Connie's right. If he's what you're looking for, go for it."
"I'm curious about one thing, though," Connie said.
"What's that?" Liz asked.
"This whole ex-wife thing. Are they getting a divorce? You didn't tell us that."
"It hadn't come up. I asked him about it just now. He's assuming that she's filed; he's not in touch with anybody back in the U.K., but he says that she can serve him by publication, and all he has to do is not respond. It'll happen in due course unless he objects, and he's not going to."
The silence hung for almost a minute. Dani finally broke it. "Well?"
"I have to give it a try; I'll never know, otherwise."
Dani nodded, holding Liz's gaze. "Can't say I'm surprised."
Connie watched as the emotions played over her friends' faces.
"It's okay with you?" Liz asked after another long silence.
"Of course it's okay; as impulsive as I am, you can't think I'd find fault with you for following your instincts," Dani said as Liz stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her, sobbing with relief.
Regaining her composure, Liz stepped back and smiled. "Thanks."
Dani nodded. "Just keep your guard up; I know you've got to do this, but I don't trust any man with a wimpy grip like that. Don't let him hurt you again."
"He commented that you had a grip like a blacksmith," Liz said.
"I saw you almost bring tears to his eyes. How'd you get such strong hands?" Connie asked, taking the opportunity to relieve the emotionally charged atmosphere.
"A lifetime of handling sails gave me a good start, but it's really a trick that I learned from Phillip when I was a child. It's all in how you form your hand before your clamp down on the other person. You kind of make a truss out of the bones in your hand, so the other person can't apply any pressure. You don't really have to squeeze very hard if you grind their knuckles together and watch their eyes. When you see the shock in their look, you just smile and apply a little extra pressure without showing it. It's as much psychological as it is physical. I'll show you sometime, if you like."
Connie nodded. "Later, maybe. What's next, Liz? He said he was leaving tomorrow. You, too?"
"Yes. Will you be okay here?"
"Sure. Don't give it a second thought. I'm going to take advantage of the time to learn what it's like to be part of a two-person crew."
"Good; Dani will take good care of you, and she knows this business like nobody else. Just keep her out of the galley. Ouch!" Liz shrieked, as Dani gave her swift kick to the shin.
****
The man sat across from Robert, looking him steadily in the eye. They were aboard Isis, sitting in the saloon, each with a bottle of beer on the table in front of him. The man reached into his pocket and took out a mirror, placing it face-up on the table. He opened a small, clear plastic bag and tapped a measured amount of white powder onto the mirror. Robert watched, naked hunger in his eyes. The man put the bag back in his shirt pocket, smiling at Robert's anticipation, dragging out his movements in a calculated fashion. He snapped the fingers of his right hand and a single-edged razor blade appeared, grasped lightly between his thumb and forefinger.
"You like magic?" he asked, grinning at Robert. Robert nodded eagerly, his eyes on the powder. He watched as the man deftly scraped the powder into two neat lines using the blade. Then he reached for the mirror, but the man caught his wrist in midair. He held it, waiting for Robert to look at him. When he had Robert's attention, he raised his eyebrows.
"She's going to do it," Robert said.
The man smiled and released Robert's wrist. He slid the mirror across the table, placing it just a few inches to the side of Robert's beer. "Enjoy," he said, as Robert bent down and snorted first one line and then the other.
"This one, she better lookin' than your wife."
"How do you know that."
"You think we trus' you to pick crew? We check her out."
"I guess you approve?"
"Mos'ly. My frien', he got a question."
"So?"
"This bitch, she on that high-class yacht. Why she come to work for you when she got a good t'ing where she at now? My frien', he vex heself. He t'ink mebbe she 'nother junkie. You promise her dope? That why she come wit' you?"
Robert sneezed twice, violently, and blinked his burning eyes. He composed himself. "That's some good shit," he said.
The man nodded and snapped his fingers again, making the razor blade appear in his right hand. "Only the bes' for my frien's." With the speed of a cobra, his left hand shot out and pinned Robert's right hand to the tabletop. He put the razor blade's corner against the nail of Robert's index finger and slowly increased the pressure as Robert tried in vain to pull his hand back. "Answer me," he sa
id, watching with interest as a small drop of blood appeared where the corner of the blade cut into the center of Robert's nail.
"She's in love with me. An old girlfriend from Brussels; we lived together for almost a year."
The man released Robert's hand and roared with laughter. "Befo' you marry Caroline?"
"No. Caroline was in England. She wouldn't come to Brussels."
"Ah. So, you love this one too?"
"Maybe."
"Mebbe? I t'ink so. Tha's okay; good for you to love her. You don' wan' nothin' happen to her, then. 'Member wha' happen to Caroline when you screw up. She send her bes', by the way. Say tell you she like her new frien's; like goin' wit' real men for change."
"Will I pick up the supplies for the charter when I get to St. Vincent?"
"Supply? What supply? Grocery?"
"Drugs."
The man laughed. "No. I bring."
"When? We're leaving in the morning."
"No problem. You leave anytime. We got an eye on you. When you out in the channel, I bring. Nobody see."
"Okay."
"Okay, 'Berto. I goin' now. You wan' me kiss yo' wife goodnight?"
"Give me another line before you go" Robert whined, ignoring the taunt.
"I don' t'ink so, 'Berto. You need yo' res', my frien'. Gotta entertain the pretty new lady. Don' worry. We keep yo' wife busy. She don' never know." The man laughed raucously as he left.
Chapter 7
Connie watched quietly as Dani stood on the side deck, a few silent tears running down her cheek as she waved. Robert's dinghy was rapidly receding into the distance; she could barely make out Liz returning Dani's farewell gesture. She hadn't expected to see the level of emotion that Dani had displayed since Liz told them of her decision. Dani had always seemed tough and self-possessed, in complete control of her emotions if not her fiery temper.
Bluewater Betrayal: The Fifth Novel in the Caribbean Mystery and Adventure Series (Bluewater Thrillers Book 5) Page 4