José took out his satellite phone and called his Tío Juan in Miami to discuss his conclusions.
****
Big Jim was sitting on his poolside patio with a tall glass of cold rum punch, talking to Ozzie on his own satellite phone.
"So, my friend, there was one woman who went missing in Mayreau shortly before Julio found your mystery girl," Ozzie said. "She was a crew member on a private yacht, and she jumped ship. Her description sounds right, but I have both a passport picture and a snapshot from her cell phone. I'll email them to you, and you can see if she is the one. This woman is French, and her name is Danielle Marie Berger."
"Okay, that could be. I'll look at the pictures and let you know, but how did she end up floating in a life vest, Ozzie? Are the cops still looking for her?"
"No, Big Jim. That is where this begins to get interesting. She left the yacht she had been working on, and sailed away from Mayreau on another yacht, without any paperwork. The police were looking for her because she violated the immigration law. No one has any idea if she's the woman Julio found, but the timing is right. No one heard from her after Mayreau, and no one actually reported her as a 'missing person,' if you will. A man, an American from Martinique, was making inquiries on behalf of her family, apparently, and he is well connected with the authorities here in St. Vincent -- perhaps even as well connected as I am. Our source in the police knows only that a short while after this man began asking questions, the whole matter was hushed up. There is no investigation. In fact, it seems there never was an investigation. Interesting, is it not?"
"It is, Ozzie. Who was this man? The one asking questions?"
"We don't know that either, my friend, not yet. We'll find out. Never fear. My best people are working on this matter as we speak. I'll call you as soon as we know more. Now, I'll say good-bye and email you those pictures. At least, we may know who the girl is. Let me know one way or the other, please?"
"Of course, Ozzie, of course. Thank you, and good-bye."
Big Jim found little in Ozzie's report to give him comfort. He had a name for the girl, but this American from Martinique worried him. If he was well connected with the authorities, and if this Danielle Berger was indeed the girl that Julio had found, the American had some heavy-duty people to do his bidding. Martinique was a part of the Caribbean from a geographic perspective, but politically and culturally, it was part of France. There was organized crime there, but of a much older, more fully developed type. The rest of the Caribbean criminals stayed out of the French islands for the most part. The police were in a different league, as were the crooks. The new information raised the stakes in Big Jim's mind. It meant that there might be a large payoff if he could kidnap this girl. That was the one positive aspect to what Ozzie had learned.
Chapter 10
"I see," Phillip said. "I certainly appreciate the call, Chief. Your man didn't know who was asking?" He listened carefully as his old friend explained the intricacies of office gossip within the police force of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
"I understand how things go with informants, Chief." Phillip was sure that the Chief Superintendent knew something about who was behind the request for information about Dani, but he also knew that he would gain nothing by pressuring the man. If he didn't want to share the information, Phillip was sure that the Chief Super had his reasons. He was equally sure that in the Chief's view, that information wouldn't help Phillip. Their trust was built upon years of similar, guarded exchanges, and it had stood the test of time, serving them both well. Phillip thanked the man again, and after exchanging pleasantries, they disconnected.
He put his cell phone on the table beside the lounge chair and took a sip of ice water. As his gaze wandered over the yachts anchored off the village of Ste. Anne, he pondered what to do with this information. The Chief Super knew that Phillip had been looking for Dani, as did the authorities all up and down the island chain between Antigua and Grenada. With sufficient diligence, whoever was asking would discover that he had been asking questions about Erzulie Freda, as well. He was confident that he had covered his tracks well as far as legally admissible evidence was concerned, but he wasn't worried about trouble with the lawful authorities.
He reasoned that any repercussions from his rescue of Dani would come from people who weren't troubled by legalities. He and J.-P. had considered this before Phillip and Sharktooth had freed Dani. Accordingly, they had made sure that the focus of their effort was obvious and specific. The criminal organizations that controlled trafficking in drugs and humans knew well who J.-P. and Phillip were; the crooks would not wish to run afoul of either of them. It would be bloody, and bad for business.
Phillip and J.-P. suspected that Dani had been held captive by a rogue member of one of those organizations. Phillip had been careful to execute the rescue in a surgical fashion, causing no collateral damage to whichever organization had employed Julio Garcia and Big Jim Rodriguez. The implicit rules of engagement among the drug traffickers had not been violated, so Phillip and J.-P. didn't expect any problems from Rodriguez's employer. Phillip suspected that El Grupo, the organization to which they thought Rodriguez belonged, would probably flush out the remaining members who had jeopardized their business. Engaging in freelance work using the facility on Baliceaux was not something that would be taken lightly.
He concluded that the query in St. Vincent had come from one of those rogue elements yet to be dealt with by El Grupo, perhaps from Rodriguez himself. Nevertheless, he wouldn't disregard the warning. He and J.-P. were both alive because they were cautious men, and Phillip's retirement hadn't changed that.
He picked up the cell phone and speed-dialed J.-P.'s number.
"Hello, Phillip. Good morning, I guess. You are in Martinique still, yes?"
"Good afternoon, J.-P. Yes, it's still morning here. How are you?"
"I am well. And you, my friend? How is it with you?"
"Great, J.-P. Sandrine and I have decided to get married."
"That is wonderful news. Dani has told me that this would happen. The women, they know these things, yes?"
"Apparently so, J.-P. although I only asked Sandrine last night. Did she call Dani? I wanted to tell her myself."
"No, Phillip, I don't think she called. Dani, she told me this some days ago. The girls can tell before we know. I have been married many times, and it is always so. Anyway, congratulations. You must let me know when the wedding is to be, so that I can be there."
"Well, we haven't made any plans yet, J.-P. I was actually calling with less happy news." He went on to tell J.-P. about his call from the Chief Super.
"Ah, yes, he is still looking out for our interests, Phillip. A good man, the Chief Super. I think this news is to be expected. I have heard that El Grupo has sent some people to Baliceaux to find out what was happening there. I have had what you Americans call a 'roundabout' message from them, I think, to say that they are happy that my daughter is well, and that they were distressed to hear what had happened to her on Baliceaux."
"I see. That pretty well confirms what you and I thought about their involvement, doesn't it?"
"Yes, if they are being truthful, and I think perhaps they are, this time. One never knows with those people. Anyway, we must accept that they are sincere, and at the same time, keep our guard up, as you say."
"Always, J.-P., always. Have you heard from Dani? How is she?"
"Oh, you know Dani, Phillip. She called me two days ago to tell me that she is buying a boat and going into the term charter business. I wish I were 25 again."
"What kind of boat, J.-P.?"
"A 58-foot Herreshoff Bounty replica."
"Wow. Nice boat. As good a seaman as she is, that's a lot of boat for one person, though."
"Yes. You know Dani; she thinks of everything. She has someone to help her, I think."
"A guy? I didn't know there was anyone in her life right now."
"No, that's what I thought, too, but it's another woman. That's all I
know, Phillip, before you ask. She will tell us the rest when she is ready, no?"
"Yes, I'm sure you're right." Phillip chuckled.
"Okay, Phillip. Thank you for calling, and watch yourself, even though we think this is nothing, yes?"
"Yes, J.-P., and you as well. I'll let you know when Sandrine and I have firm plans, or if you hear from Dani what the wedding date is, let me know, please."
They both laughed and disconnected the call.
****
"Oh, Dani, this is beautiful," Liz said, running a hand along the cockpit coaming of Best of Times as she inhaled the pervasive odor of fresh varnish baking in the tropical sun. "She's pristine, isn't she?"
"Bristol condition," Dani agreed.
"I can't believe she's yours. This is like a dream."
"Well, technically, she's yours, too, Liz. You're one of the secured parties on her mortgage, remember."
"Oh, I'm just an investor, Dani. You made this happen, and I'm so lucky that you want me to be part of it."
Liz continued her exploration while they waited for the broker to return with the keys. After an exhaustive examination the previous afternoon, the surveyor had found nothing of consequence, listing only a few overdue maintenance items. The sea trial was a formality, as far as Dani and Liz were concerned. They both knew the design by reputation, and had no concerns about how the vessel would perform.
"Good morning, Ms. Berger, Ms. Chirac. I'm ready when you are. Should I get a couple of the men from the yard to help with the dock lines?" The broker asked, as he handed Dani the keys.
"No, thanks. We'll be fine. One of the things we're looking for today is to see how well the two of us can handle her, so I want you to pick an out-of-the-way spot and make yourself comfortable," Dani said.
"Yes, ma'am, as you wish," the broker said, glancing with obvious worry at the boats tied closely off the bow and stern of Best of Times.
"Shall we sail her off the dock, Liz?" Dani asked, watching out of the corner of her eye as the muscles in the broker's jaw began to jump and twist.
"Sure." Liz nodded.
Dani started the diesel and let it idle in neutral, just in case they needed it, as she and Liz studied the tension on the dock lines and eyed the wind vane at the masthead.
"Let's hoist the mizzen and the staysail, Liz."
Liz nodded her agreement and went to the foredeck. In about two minutes, they had the two sails raised, flapping gently in the 10-knot breeze that blew from a couple of points off the port bow. The boat was tied port side to the dock, with breast lines and midship spring lines fore and aft.
"Clear the forward spring line, please," Dani said. As Liz complied, Dani ran a new spring line from the port quarter forward to a piling on the dock, just forward of the main mast. She took the line around the piling and brought the bitter end back to Liz, who was standing at the midship cleat on the port side. Liz simultaneously freed the end of the aft midship spring line and loosely secured the new aft spring line. Dani walked back along the dock coiling the old midship spring line as she went. She freed it and the aft breast line from their cleat on the dock and stepped aboard, bringing both lines with her. While Dani did that, Liz had untied the forward breast line from its cleat on the dock and brought the end back aboard, leaving a bight looped around the cleat on the dock. She wrapped the end under the port bow cleat, holding it firmly as she watched Dani.
Best of Times was now held in place only by the aft spring line, which kept her from drifting backward with the wind, and the forward breast line, which held the bow alongside the dock. Liz and Dani watched as the wind slowly swung the stern away from the dock. When the stern of Best of Times was clear of the boat behind them, Dani gave an almost imperceptible nod, and Liz released the forward breast line, pulling it smartly so that it slipped around the cleat on the dock and whipped back aboard. The tension of the aft spring line kept the boat from drifting backwards, and Dani sheeted in the staysail. As the sail filled, it pushed the bow away from the dock. When they were clear of the boat in front, Dani cleated the staysail sheet and hauled in the mizzen sheet. As the sails began to draw, the remaining spring line went slack. Liz untied it from the midship cleat and grasped the portion between the piling and the port quarter of the boat, snaking the line from around the piling and coiling it neatly as she brought it aboard.
As Dani sailed them out of the harbor, Liz uncovered the main and prepared to unfurl the big Yankee jib. The broker relaxed enough to realize that he was drenched with perspiration, and wiped his face with a handkerchief as Dani shut off the diesel.
Chapter 11
"What do you think of her, Liz?" Dani asked, as Liz was chopping an onion for the pasta sauce she was preparing for dinner. They had returned Best of Times to her berth at the boatyard across the harbor and were back aboard Kayak Spirit.
"She's perfect, Dani. Sails like a dream, seaworthy, beautiful, and plenty of room for us and four guests. I don't like the name, though. Reminds me too much of Dickens, and I don’t think that's the mood we want to evoke."
"Yeah, I agree. I've been trying to come up with something that would suit us better. I keep coming back to that old cliché about the best revenge, you know, thinking about Mike Reilly slipping through our hands."
"He didn't exactly get away, Dani. He couldn't have survived that wreck without ending up on the beach with me. He must be dead. What more do you want?"
"Payback. I wanted to make him suffer for leaving me for dead. I'm still angry that I didn't get my hands on the bastard for a few minutes before he died."
"Vengeance, huh? You're a hard woman, Ms. Berger. Remind me not to cross you."
"I like it, Liz."
"What?"
"Vengeance."
"I don't get it, Dani."
"I can already see it on our brochures, Liz. 'Living well is the best revenge. Experience the good life this winter aboard Vengeance, with Liz and Dani.' We could have a picture of the saloon table covered in white linen, set with that Wedgwood china and Waterford crystal, a few candles, a dressed-up couple with wine glasses in hand. What do you think?"
"It could work, I think. Let's see how it feels for a day or two. Maybe I'll do some sketches for the brochure tomorrow."
****
Dani's cell phone interrupted them. She glanced at the caller i.d. and recognized her father's number. "Hello, Papa."
"How did the survey and the sea trial turn out?" J.-P. asked.
"Perfect. Liz and I were just talking about it. We're pretty excited. I talked with the lawyer in Delaware a little while ago. Everything is happening quickly. We'll take possession day after tomorrow."
"Wonderful. I'm happy for you. Do you think you will be able to line up some guests yet this season?"
"Well, it's possible, but I'm not counting on it, Papa. We're thinking about a shakedown cruise down island for a few weeks to get the feel of her. We'll pick a few spots to take guests; make some shore-side connections for tours, restaurants, you know. Like we did on the old boat in the Med years ago. That'll take us a few weeks, so there won't be much of the winter season left. We may think about heading for New England and doing some summer charters up there, depending on how it goes."
"I wish I could be sailing with you, Dani."
"Me too, Papa."
"Listen, I do not want to worry you, but I spoke with Phillip a while ago, and it seems that someone is asking questions about you."
"What kind of questions, Papa?"
J.-P. filled her in on his conversation with Phillip, and on their thoughts on the matter. "Perhaps you should head for the States sooner, Dani. Let things settle down a bit down island. It shouldn't take too long."
"You and Phillip didn't teach me to hide from trouble, Papa, and you know it. I'm not letting some cheap drug dealer chase me out of the islands. If he finds me, he'd better be ready, because I will be."
J.-P. gave a worried chuckle. "I knew you would say that. So did Phillip. He said to tell you to help yo
urself to the emergency supplies on Kayak Spirit, and to call him if you need anything that's not there. Be careful, Dani."
"I will, Papa. Have you told Mother about this?"
"That is for you to do, or not, Dani. I'm not getting into that with her."
"Okay, Papa. Thanks for the warning. Don’t worry. We'll be fine."
"I'm sure, Dani. Give my best to your partner. I'm looking forward to meeting her. Maybe we will all be together for Phillip's wedding, yes?"
"I hope so, Papa. That would be fun. You and Anne could stay with us aboard Vengeance. I have to go, Papa. Liz has dinner on the table. Love you." She listened to his good-bye and disconnected.
****
"What is this about a drug dealer chasing you out of the islands, Dani?" Liz asked.
Dani explained J.-P.'s concerns over dinner, doing her best to downplay the likelihood of trouble. Liz asked a few questions and seemed comfortable with Dani's answers, and they moved on to discussing plans for their shakedown cruise.
As Liz was cleaning up after dinner, Dani got a screwdriver and began taking up some of the carefully fitted sections of the decking in Kayak Spirit's main cabin. The joints were so fine that they were all but invisible, unless one knew where to look. Liz glanced over from the galley counter to see that Dani was standing in the bilge, and that it was so deep that only her head and one shoulder were visible.
'What are you doing, Dani?"
"Well, Phillip offered us some of his 'emergency supplies.' I was just taking inventory."
"That's a huge bilge space for such a small boat. I can't believe it."
"It's a concealed cargo hold. I told you Kayak Spirit used to work for her living."
"What kind of emergency supplies does Phillip keep there?" Liz dried her hands and stepped around to where she could see over Dani's shoulder. She peered into the voluminous concealed space and saw only a number of sizable, unmarked waterproof cases.
Bluewater Vengeance: Mystery and Adventure in the Caribbean (Bluewater Thrillers Book 2) Page 6