Phillip disconnected and delivered the full report. "Did you list St. Pierre as your next port of call, Dani?"
"I did."
"Well, I think you'll be alright here in Martinique. I don't think any crooks from the other islands are foolish enough to try anything here. What are your plans after this?"
"We were thinking Bequia, the Tobago Cays, Union Island. Maybe Carriacou. Grenada, for sure. At least St. Georges. Who do you think these people are? Why are they trying to find us?"
"I don't know, Dani. I suspect it’s the guy who ran that operation on Baliceaux. Paul's been trying to get a line on him. We think he's off on his own, probably in trouble with his bosses."
"Maybe it could be Vengeance. I've heard of people buying boats that have a history in the drug trade and having all kinds of strange experiences."
"I don’t think so, Dani. Remember, this started before you bought Vengeance. Somebody was asking questions about me, and Kayak Spirit, and Sharktooth, but they only knew his real name."
"What is his real name?" Liz asked.
"That's for him to answer, Liz. Sorry. I don't know why, but he keeps it a big secret. Just as well, in this case."
"I must order the lunch. Got to get back to the office. Do I say this in the right way?" Sandrine asked.
"Very good, Sandrine. You almost sound American," Dani said. "Let's eat and then we can go to your place, Phillip, and call Papa on a secure line."
****
"That's not such bad news, Ozzie," Big Jim said. "If she keeps coming south, she will come right to us. We won't have to go looking. Once she leaves Martinique, she should be much easier to find."
"Yes, assuming that she keeps coming south. We'll know more once she leaves Martinique. My contact in St. Lucia is much easier to deal with than those clowns in Antigua and Dominica." Ozzie's jaw muscles still ached from his conversation with Richard. "If she checks into St. Lucia, we should be able to start making some plans, depending on what she lists as her next port of call. At least, we'll find out if she's coming further south."
"Yes," Big Jim agreed. "Anywhere in St. Vincent's waters would be good for us, I think."
Ozzie agreed, and they ended the call. Big Jim sat, smoking his midday cigar and nursing a glass of rum punch. He was sure the girl would stop in Bequia, which would be perfect. Gino and his two men were on Maximo, about 40 miles to the west of Bequia, the little island just south of St. Vincent. Yachts calling at Bequia had no option but to anchor in Admiralty Bay, and an anchored yacht made a much easier target than one tied to a dock. Once he knew that Vengeance was there, he could call Gino, and they would have the girl aboard Maximo in little more than an hour. Besides, he would be in Bequia himself tomorrow, enjoying Rita's company.
His only worry was that Ozzie's men would take the girl before she got to Bequia. They had not discussed details beyond agreeing that they would hold the girl in one of the unused cabins out in Ozzie's cane fields. Big Jim decided that he needed to work out a plan with Ozzie for the actual kidnapping. He couldn't plan the double cross unless he knew how Ozzie expected Zeke and James to capture the girl. Maybe they could meet tomorrow in Bequia before Rita arrived. He carefully scraped the ash from his cigar on the rim of the ashtray, rotating it to keep it even. He held it up and examined the glowing tip. Satisfied, he leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, and brought the cigar to his lips.
Chapter 19
After they finished lunch, Phillip, Dani, and Liz walked Sandrine back to her office. After making plans with her for dinner aboard Vengeance, the threesome piled into Phillip's Jeep, and he drove them to his villa.
They were sitting out on his balcony, overlooking the anchorage off Ste. Anne. Phillip called J.-P. on his encrypted satellite phone; once connected, he turned on the speakerphone and put the phone on the table in front of them.
"Good evening, Papa."
"Good evening, Dani. Hello, Phillip, Liz. How are things in Martinique?"
"Fine, J.-P.," Phillip answered. "Dani and Liz have a beautiful boat. You need to get out here with Anne and do a little sailing before they get booked up with paying customers."
"Yes. Well, when you and Sandrine have set the date, we'll make some plans."
"Papa, we're calling for a little advice."
"Yes, Dani. How may I help?"
Phillip told J.-P. about the latest information from Sharktooth, and they discussed the possible explanations. Liz listened quietly, taking it all in.
"I'm sure it's that Rodriguez character, looking for vengeance. Should have taken him out of play when Sharktooth and I hit Baliceaux, I guess." Phillip summarized their conclusions.
"Probably so," J.-P. agreed. "But our thinking at the time was sound. We did not wish to escalate the conflict, in case El Grupo had taken Dani by accident. I think that worked. Besides, it would have been complicated to take him, since he wasn't on Baliceaux when you rescued Dani. We must not second guess, as you Americans say. We must deal with what is 'on our plate now' is it?"
"Yes, exactly, J.-P.," Phillip said.
"We've had enough indications that this Rodriguez is a rogue within El Grupo. I believe they will take care of him, in time," J.-P. said.
"He's ruining my plans, Papa. Besides, the idea of him breathing just pisses me off. Excuse my French," she gave a chuckle, "but it does. Why should I wait around for them to take care of him?"
That got chuckles from everyone.
"Dani has a point, J.-P.," Phillip said. "At the rate this is moving, I think Rodriguez could do some harm before his employers rein him in. I'm sure they're trying to see what he's up to before they take him out."
"Yes, I think this is all correct," J.-P. said. "I think that maybe you three have some idea that you have not told the old man, yet, am I not right?"
"Yes, Papa. I want to take Vengeance to Mustique, and sit under his nose until we provoke him to attack. We'll be ready, and that will finish this business."
"Phillip?" J.-P. waited.
"I agree with Dani."
"So, tell me how you would do this."
"Okay, Papa. We'll leave early tomorrow for St. Lucia. We'll clear in at Rodney Bay and fill the diesel tanks as an excuse for the stop, and on the clearance documents, I'll show us leaving early the next morning for Bequia. That lets us do inbound and outbound at once, and it leaves a clear trail to Bequia. We won't wait, though. We'll leave immediately, so we'll get to Bequia tomorrow night, a day ahead of the schedule on the clearance documents. I'll clear into St. Vincent and the Grenadines there the next morning, and Phillip and Sharktooth will join me. We'll leave that same day and go pick up a mooring at Mustique. Dani and I will pose as charter guests, and Phillip and Sharktooth will be the crew. Once Rodriguez and his boys take the bait, we'll take them out to feed the fish -- you know, out in the deep water. Then Liz and I can get on with our shakedown cruise."
"I figure that Rodriguez will get the word as soon as Vengeance hits St. Lucia, and probably set up an ambush in Bequia, but they'll be in and out before he knows they've left. By the time he's expecting them to get to Bequia, we'll be sitting in his front yard, taunting him," Phillip added.
"I think this all makes sense," J.-P. said. "For my part, I will send an appropriate message to El Grupo, through the back channels, so that they understand we are dealing with personal matters. Keep me informed, and be careful, please."
"You know we will." Phillip said.
"Yes, Papa. I love you."
"And I love you, Dani. Liz, I'm looking forward to meeting you, as soon as Sandrine manages to pin Phillip down. Au revoir; bonne chance!"
****
Liz had taken advantage of the large French grocery chain stores in Marin, and she, with some grudging help from Dani, had prepared a true feast for Phillip and Sandrine.
"So, Dani, you see, cooking isn't so difficult after all." They were cleaning up the galley, getting Vengeance ready for guests.
"I'm still more comfortable overhauling a winch."
They spread a linen tablecloth over the dining table, and set out the Wedgwood china. By the time they were ready for company, showered and dressed, they had a few minutes to sit in the cockpit and relax with a glass of wine.
"Phillip had a good idea, bringing us back to the boat and keeping the dinghy, so that we don't have to go pick them up," Liz said.
"Yes. Speaking of them, I recognize the whine of our outboard."
"Just like a mother with her crying child, aren't you?" Liz laughed as they got up to help Phillip and Sandrine aboard.
"Mmm, the garlic," Sandrine purred as she went down the companionway ladder, sniffing the aromas wafting from the galley. Dani conducted a tour of the boat for Phillip and Sandrine while Liz finished preparing dinner. Soon, they were all seated around the table, candles flickering, the only sound the muted clink of silverware on china.
After dessert, everyone was resting. They were all quiet, leaning back into the settee cushions, when Sandrine broke the silence.
"It is the best meal, when everyone eats too busily to wish to speak, isn't it?"
Before anyone could respond, Phillip's cell phone rang. He looked at the display, and glanced up at his companions. "Sharktooth," he commented, pressing the connect button and putting the phone on the table.
"You eat again, wit'out your frien' Sharktooth, I t'ink." His bass voice seemed to make the cell phone dance on the tabletop.
"How do you do this, Sharktooth," Liz asked. "This is the second time today you have called just as we finished a meal."
"I know when is time to eat, Liz."
"You always think it's time to eat, Sharktooth," Phillip said.
"It is," boomed the reply. "This is why you always eating when I call, see. Not so much mystery."
"Okay," Phillip said.
"My cousin work in customs in Roseau, he call he wife's aunt. She work in the immigration in Roseau. They study the computer records, get names of the men from St. Vincent ax the questions."
"Good work, Sharktooth," Phillip said. "I'll call the chief super in Kingstown in the morning and see what he can find out about them."
"No need, Phillip. Cousin's wife's aunt, she call Kingstown, make what they call routine inquiry 'bout these two 'suspicious character,' she call them. Polices, they do this alla time, I t'ink."
"I see," Phillip said.
"Yes. These ver' bad men, they. Police, they know they, don't even use computer. Man she talk to know by name, they got so much truck wit' police. They half-brother, name Ezekiel and James Robinson. They work fo' a man name Oscar David Johnston, call Ozzie. He got a big plantation, grow the sugarcane, but prob'ly the weed, too. Police can't touch he; he got some frien's in the government, you know. Thought you mebbe want to know this."
"Yes, Sharktooth. Thank you. That's good work -- fast, too. We need you in Bequia day after tomorrow, if you're free."
"No problem. Mebbe some trouble?" There was a note of hope in the rich, bass voice.
Dani outlined their plan, with Phillip interjecting an occasional comment for clarification.
"I be there. Don' start wit'out me, and don' forget the extra food. Sound like hungry work. Trouble always hungry work."
Chapter 20
Big Jim was off to an early start; he had a full morning ahead of him before Rita's planned arrival after lunch. He had booked the honeymoon suite at the Jacaranda House on the waterfront in Port Elizabeth for an indefinite period, beginning today.
Before checking in, he would meet Ozzie and spend an hour or so over brunch, making bogus plans to keep Ozzie's thugs busy while Gino snatched the girl. He was sure that she planned to stop in Bequia. Most yachts passed up the big island of St. Vincent; petty crime was a problem at the places that afforded reasonably good anchorage, and Bequia was a good day's sail from St. Lucia for southbound vessels.
He made note of José's absence aboard the ferry, but he was sure the man would appear in Bequia before the morning was over. How he knew Big Jim's movements was still a puzzle, but it wouldn't matter for long. Soon, he would have the ransom, and he would make his escape on Maximo. He had kept the big motor yacht a secret from his employers. The vessel itself was well known; it was one of the many megayachts that engaged in the luxury charter trade, but no one knew that it was owned by Santiago Rodriguez.
As he felt the ferry bump against the dock in Port Elizabeth, Bequia, he let his gaze wander over the main street of the little town. He jumped to his feet as a girl walking down the adjacent dock caught his eye. He knew without a doubt that she was Danielle Berger. He watched as she walked out onto the town dock, adjacent to the ferry dock. She was no more than 50 feet away. He had the urge to duck out of sight, but remembered that she had never seen him, and she was intent on untying a dinghy. She scrambled down into the rigid inflatable boat and started the outboard, heading out into the harbor. Big Jim jerked the cell phone from his pants pocket, hearing the fabric tear.
"Gino. We've got her. The girl's here in Bequia, right now. Get moving."
"Okay, Iago. We're on the way, but man, this is a day early," Gino complained.
"It's best. No worries about Ozzie's boys. I'll go ahead and meet with him, just like we said. Keep him in the dark. It's great. Just remember, there's another girl aboard Vengeance. Leave her. Make sure the guys study the pictures I gave you; gotta get the right one, and wear the masks."
"Yeah, yeah. Relax, Iago. We done this kinda thing before, you know."
"Sorry, Gino. Just excited. Keep Maximo close by. Not sure when that little shit José might get orders to come after me."
"Okay, Iago. I gotta go. The boys got the Donzi in the water already."
****
Ozzie had just settled himself on one of the upholstered benches on the upper deck of the Admiral, the ferry from Kingstown, St. Vincent, to Port Elizabeth, Bequia. He felt the vibration of his cell phone in the breast pocket of his navy blazer. He slipped it out and checked the caller i.d. It was a local number, but not one that he recognized.
"Ozzie Johnston," he answered.
"Yes, Mr. Johnston. This is Constable Smith, in the customs office in Bequia."
"Yes, Smith. You have questions about the Vengeance? I thought I explained everything yesterday. What is it with you people?"
"No questions, Mr. Johnston. The Vengeance just cleared in. The captain is a Danielle Marie Berger, and the mate is Liesbet Chirac. Ms. Berger just walked out of the office, not five minutes ago. You wanted me to let you know."
"Very well, Smith. Thank you. I'll take care of you later. You have a nice bonus coming. Good work."
Ozzie hurried to call his top man in Bequia. There was no time to get Zeke and James here, and he had decided that his local man was better suited to this task, anyway. He had already briefed the man in anticipation of needing him tomorrow.
"Vengeance has cleared in a day early. Take your two boys and the fast RIB. Make sure you get the right girl; there are two aboard. Take her to the regular place, and don't let either of the girls see any of you. Zeke and James can baby-sit once you get her settled, maybe. I'll call them later; they won't be along for the pickup." He disconnected and put the phone back in his pocket.
Now it didn't matter what that simpleton Rodriguez wanted to do; Ozzie would just play along with him. When Rodriguez realized something was wrong, Ozzie would act just as puzzled as Big Jim was, and then he could start the chain of events that would end with José taking Big Jim off the board. He smiled as he put the phone away.
His eye was drawn to a giant Rasta man with dreadlocks hanging to his waist. Oddly, the top of the man's head was as bald as the palm of his hand. He was in company with an unremarkable white man. They each had a small duffle bag, with LIAT baggage tags. Obviously, they had just flown in from somewhere and were headed for Bequia. The guy with the Rasta man looked fit, but, except for his companion, nothing about him would attract attention. Ozzie reflected on the odd couple for a moment, and then went back to thinking about how
well his plans were coming together.
"Phillip, you see that man over there in the blue coat?"
"Yeah, Sharktooth. Why? You know him?"
"No, mon, not me. Jus' surprise, tha's all."
"Why, Sharktooth?"
"Mos'ly, nobody but a white man be dumb enough to wear a coat in the islan', an' he no white man."
"Racist," Phillip muttered, as Sharktooth's huge frame shook with suppressed laughter.
****
Dani tied the dinghy to the ramshackle dock by the dive shop on the south end of Port Elizabeth's beach. She was on her way to meet Phillip and Sharktooth at Mrs. Walker's restaurant. She stepped onto the dock and rolled up the legs of her loose cotton pants. The tide was in; it would be a wet walk up the beach to the south end of Bequia's main street. The street came to a perplexing end, a cross between beach and parking lot, and Mrs. Walker's business had been in the shade of the tall trees there for as long as Dani could remember. The St. Vincent ferry wasn't due for another 45 minutes, so she would have time for a visit and some coffee. She was eager to get to Mustique and set her trap.
****
Liz was busily straightening up the living space on Vengeance. Even though Dani said it didn't matter for Phillip and Sharktooth, it mattered to Liz. She liked to have her surroundings well organized, but that didn't seem important to Dani. Dani was a stickler for maintenance, though. She made sure everything aboard was working properly; ready to perform its expected function at a moment's notice, but food was just fuel, and clothing was just shelter. She was perhaps the strangest woman Liz had ever met in that regard; she was almost like a man. But Dani was definitely all woman. Liz had seen the way she looked at the island men, with their gleaming, sculpted muscles that had never been within miles of a gym. She and Liz both shared an eye for manly men. She smiled as she dusted the guest stateroom.
She was shaken from her thoughts by the solid thump of a heavy boat coming alongside. It was too early for Dani to be back with Phillip and Sharktooth, and that wasn't the sound of their dinghy, a RIB, bumping Vengeance. This sounded more like a speedboat coming alongside. She put down her dust cloth and hurried to the companionway.
Bluewater Vengeance: Mystery and Adventure in the Caribbean (Bluewater Thrillers Book 2) Page 11