* * *
I hate to do this. “I have to talk to Qasim. I need to know the plan for tomorrow.”
Barron takes a long drink. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I’m going to call him. I’d just as soon he stays where he is right now. You may have noticed that our relationship is – adversarial, at best.”
Barron kind of chuckles. “I noticed that.”
“It’s funny. Qasim’s boss is a guy named Saif. Saif and I get along – well, better. He respects me. We can talk. It’s almost like he’s sorry he’s using us. It’s weird. Under different circumstances, we could be friends.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. Wow.” I get my B iPhone out of the helm drawer. Qasim is speed dial 2. I call. Qasim answers immediately. “Yes?”
“Qasim, I need to know the plan for tomorrow. I’m going to put you on speaker so Barron can hear.”
“Very good. I will depart before dawn. You are to leave here as late as possible, and cruise around if necessary. You are to arrive at Vermilion just before dark. That appears to follow your usual procedure.”
“I think it’s going to be too rough to ‘cruise around.’ How about we anchor on the lee side of Kellys Island?”
“Won’t that be questioned?”
“I doubt it, but if it is, I will say that we have minor mechanical issues, and that we have anchored while we fix them.”
“Very good. After dark, and after the Vermilion Yacht Club is quiet, our people will move, in small groups, to the Vermilion Beach Club. They will be picked up there by several vans.”
“Why there?”
“That is not your concern.”
“Yes, it is. Why the Beach Club?”
“We believe that the Beach Club is more isolated than the Yacht Club. Our vans are not so likely to attract attention.”
“And that’s it?”
“Yes. I will be called when you leave here. You and Barron should use your VHF radios in a normal fashion. If you need to discuss, how did you say – more private matters -- you can communicate via Yasin and Raham.”
“Are you staying there?”
“Yes. When are the captain of this boat and his wife returning?”
“Soon.” And it’s my turn to hang up.
* * *
We all just sit for a while. It’s getting very late. And we’re getting very tired. “Well, you heard him.”
Barron finishes his drink. “Let’s go back to Bella Fortuna, Katya. Let’s try to get some sleep.”
I do the same. “Sounds like a good idea, Kate.”
More hugs all around.
“We’ll talk in the morning. I think that this is not going to lay down.”
“I agree. My guess is we’re not going anywhere tomorrow.”
CHAPTER 65
Dawn comes early. I’ve not had enough sleep. As I get out of bed, I can hear the wind howling in the rigging of the sailboats nearby. This is bad.
I go to the head, throw on some clothes, turn on the Keurig, and go up to the helm. I switch the VHF radio from channel 77 to the local weather channel. Per directions from the good guys, my laptop is on. I open MS Edge, look at the offshore forecast at www.nws.noaa.gov, and then switch to weather.com. They all say the same thing. Wind out of the northeast. Lots of wind. Near gale force wind. And no sign of it settling down today.
There are small craft warning for all of Lake Erie. We are not going anywhere today.
I go back to channel 77. It’s a not much used and not much listened to commercial channel, and I told Barron to monitor it. “Barron, are you there?”
“I’m here, Pete. Good morning. It’s nasty out there.”
“Yes, it is. We’re not going anywhere. Is ‘my buddy’ still there?”
“Yes. He’s sitting right here. Want to talk to him?”
“Not on VHF. Tell him to call me.”
“He heard you, and he’s getting out his cell phone.”
My B iPhone rings. “Qasim?”
“Yes.”
“You heard my talk with Barron. It is too bad to cross the lake. There are small craft warnings. They are talking five to eight-foot waves. We must wait.”
“We cannot wait. Plans have been made. You must go to Vermilion as planned. You have no choice.”
“We are not leaving. The weather is too bad. We will endanger the boats and the passengers.”
“You endanger your children; you must do as you are ordered.”
“If I do as you order, I endanger your people. Call Saif.”
“Saif is in America.”
“And Saif is in charge. I know where he is. Call him.”
I hang up.
I wait.
* * *
Kate comes up to the helm station with two cups of coffee. I smile. I get up and kiss her. “Bless you.”
“I heard talking. I thought you might need it. What’s going on?”
“I just told Barron – and Qasim – that it’s too rough. We’re not moving today.”
“And Qasim liked that, I’ll bet.”
“He went bullshit. I told him to call Saif.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing. I hung up.”
“Good for you. Now what?”
“I don’t know, Cutie. I’m waiting for them to make the next move.”
* * *
In a few minutes, I see Qasim stomping along the dock, head down into the wind. “Here he comes.”
I go back to the VHF. “What did he say, Barron?”
“Nothing to me. He called somebody. It was a very short call. He looked pissed. He got off the boat.”
“And he’s heading toward mine. Gotta go.”
I meet him at the salon door. I say nothing. Barron is right. He looks pissed. I can’t resist. I smile. “Good morning.”
“Saif will call you.”
He sits in the salon. “Want a cup of coffee?”
“No.”
CHAPTER 66
I go back to my seat at the helm. Kate is in hers. She leans over and kisses me on the cheek. And whispers in my ear. “You’re mean, Cap’n.”
“He deserves it.”
My B iPhone rings. The caller ID says Saif. “Good morning, Saif.”
“It is not. Qasim has told me of your refusal. You must leave today. Our plans demand it. Your family’s safety is at stake.”
“And your people’s safety is a stake. It is too rough. It is too dangerous. We could sink.”
“But it is only a few miles.”
“If you’ve done your homework, you know how treacherous Lake Erie is. Because it is so shallow, it builds very large, very steep, very dangerous waves.”
“I know that. But we have plans.”
“Look. If I tell the Dockmaster here that we are leaving, he will say, ‘Don’t.’ If we leave anyway, he will notify the Canadian Coast Guard. They will notify the U.S. Coast Guard. They will track us on radar. They may observe us via helicopter. Assuming that we make it, they may even meet us in Vermilion. Do you really want that kind of attention?”
“I see. I will call you back.”
“When?”
“I will call you back.”
His turn to hang up.
During our conversation, Qasim has moved forward. He is standing next to Kate. “You both heard. We wait. Again.”
Qasim says nothing. Kate says nothing. Then she stands. “I’m going to go make more coffee.”
“Me, as well. Please. Miss Kate, if you will.”
Wow. I think he’s trying to make nice. It doesn’t quite work.
Kate says nothing.
* * *
When Kate goes below, I turn to the VHF radio. “Barron, I talked to my buddies here and in the U.S. about the weather. We’ll make a decision soon.”
Before he can respond, a new voice comes on the radio. Very loudly. “This is Coast Guard Canada. VHF channel 77 is reserved for communication between ships and pilots. Please switch your idle
chatter to a more appropriate channel.”
“Roger CGC.”
CHAPTER 67
It’s noon, and Saif has not called back. Barron has called twice wanting an update. Qasim is climbing the walls. Kate is pacing. Everybody on both boats is on edge. The tension is explosive.
Even the Dockmaster has added his bit of grief. He’s a new guy named Andrew, and he wants to know how long we’re staying. I told him it depends on the weather. He said he has boats scheduled to come in, and he must make plans. I told him that as long as it’s like this, nobody is coming – and nobody is leaving.
* * *
Saif calls shortly after noon. “Captain, we have decided to heed your advice. You are to stay today. My people tell me that the lake will be passable tomorrow. You are to cross tomorrow.”
“If the lake lays down.”
“If the small craft warnings are lifted, you will cross?”
“Yes, we will.”
“Very good. There is one other change.”
I have learned to be wary. “What change?
“You are to take your passengers to Cleveland, not Vermilion.”
“What?”
“They need to be in Cleveland tomorrow night.”
“But it’s farther.”
“It is sixty miles instead of forty-five. Both boats are capable.”
“I’ll have to clear it with Barron. If he’s okay with that distance, and if the small craft warnings are lifted, and if the lake lays down, we’ll do it.”
“Verify this with him, and call me back.”
“Where in Cleveland? There are lots of facilities.”
“Where do you usually go?”
“Edgewater Yacht Club.”
“Where is that?”
“Edgewater Park. Just west of the Cleveland Outer Wall.”
“Very good. Call them and make arrangements.”
“I’ll call you back after I talk to Barron.”
I hang up. Qasim is at the helm station with me. Kate is below in our cabin. “Did you hear, Qasim?”
“I heard enough. Talk to Barron, tell him what must happen. Then call Saif.”
“I intend to.”
I go down the companionway stairs. Qasim follows. Kate is in the galley. “Looks like we’re staying put until tomorrow. Then going to Edgewater.”
“Edgewater? Why?”
“I don’t know. That’s what Saif told me to do. I’m going to go talk to Barron. Why don’t you come along?”
Qasim jumps in. “You may not leave.”
“Qasim, when are you going to learn that I’m not going to do anything stupid? Doing what I would normally do is in your best interests. It will make people less suspicious. Now leave us alone to do what we need to do, and you do your job. Tell your people what is happening. They have been stuck in their cabins all night and all morning. They need your leadership. On both boats.”
I turn to go up the companionway stairs. “Come on, Kate.”
Even here in the lee of Pelee Point, the wind is fierce as we make our way to Bella Fortuna.
Barron and Katya see us coming. They meet us at their salon door. Barron slides it open. “In here, or out there?”
“In there – please.”
* * *
We settle into their very modern and very comfortable salon. “Here’s the latest. Saif agrees that it is too bad to try crossing the lake. We’ll wait until tomorrow.”
“And then?”
“I told him that if you’re okay with the distance, and if the small craft warnings are lifted, and if the lake lays down, we’ll cross.”
“What do you mean by ‘if you’re okay with the distance’?”
“Oh yeah… We’re going to Edgewater.”
“Edgewater? Why?”
“I asked the same question. Saif said to just do it.”
“I don’t like it, but I’ve done longer runs.”
“I know you have. It’s sixty miles. Under two hours.”
“If the lake lays down.”
“If the lake lays down.”
“What do we do until then? What about our passengers.”
“They’re Qasim’s problem, not ours.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Want to walk up and tell the Dockmaster what we’re doing?”
“Can we?”
“I just told Qasim to let us behave as we normally would. And I told him to go take care of his people. On both boats. He’ll leave us alone.”
“Let’s go.”
And we do. Into the wind, and up to the clubhouse.
* * *
Andrew has realized that he doesn’t have to worry about boats arriving today. Or he may have had a call from the CCG Cutter that is now parked across the harbor at the Ferry Dock. In any case, he’s okay with us staying. We pay him for the additional night, and go hang out in the lounge for a while.
CHAPTER 68
The clubhouse is boring. Actually, it’s a nice place: lounge, pool table, kitchen, computer room, laundry, shower and restroom facilities, storage lockers, and such. We just are not in the mood to hang out. It was a hard night. None of us got much sleep. Now we’re stuck here in Leamington. And our boats are full of terrorists.
I have to do something. “I’m going to call Edgewater and make reservations. Something to do.”
“Can you do reservations for both boats?”
“I can. Do they have Bella Fortuna in their database?”
“They should.”
Their number is in my iPhone Contacts. I call. “This is Heather at Edgewater Yacht Club; how can I help you.?”
“Hi Heather. We are weathered in at Leamington today. Assuming the lake lays down, we’d like to come visit you tomorrow.”
“I hope the lake settles down! This is pretty terrible.”
“What’s it like there?”
“The waves are breaking over our north wall. We have lots of bouncing boats. Our guys are busy checking lines.”
“We’re fairly protected here, but I know the open lake is bad. Anyway, can you accommodate us tomorrow? Assuming we can cross.”
“Have you been here before?”
“Yes. We are actually two boats out of Vermilion Yacht Club. Morning Star, and Bella Fortuna.”
“Let me check in our computer…”
There is a two-minute pause; longer than usual. Then Heather is back. There is a hint of nervousness in her voice. “Yes, sir. I’ve got you both. A Sabre and an Azimut. Nice boats. We have room for you. Both of you.”
“Good.”
“You will tie up on the north side of the X Dock. When you come into the club docks, head west between B Dock and C Dock toward the clubhouse. X Dock is on your port side near shore. It’s all yours.”
She is definitely nervous. “Been there, done that. Thanks, Heather.”
Another pause. “Uh… Any idea what time you will arrive?”
Could the good guys be there already? “We’ll want to let the lake settle down. Probably late afternoon.”
“Don’t wait too long. There’s another front moving through late tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh really? I’ll watch the weather carefully. I’ll call you if our plans changes.”
“Be safe, Captain.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow. Bye.”
I hang up. All we need now is for the weather to corporate.
* * *
I think Barron heard most of the phone call. “I’m going to go back to the boat to tell Qasim that we have reservations at Edgewater. Then I’ll call Saif and tell him. And then come back. Anybody want to come with me?”
Barron gets up. “I’ll come.”
Katya shakes her head. “And we’ll stay here.”
Kate nods agreement.
* * *
As we walk back to our boats, I tell Barron about my three iPhones. “If I can do it, I need to get my G iPhone from its hiding place in our cabin. I’m pretty sure that the good guys have been listening, but we need
to make sure. Heather at Edgewater sounded nervous. I suspect that some of our good guys were there with her.”
“Really? That quick?”
“I think so. They may be covering all of our possible destinations. I hope so. I really want to cross tomorrow.”
“Weather permitting.”
“Weather permitting. I won’t endanger us or our boats. But I want to be done with this.”
“Peter, I really respect you and Kate. This is horrible. I’m already ready to scream. So is Katya. You guys have done this twice already.”
“It has not been easy. I really pray that this trip ends it. For us; for you; for Lake Erie sailors.”
As we get near Morning Star, I see somebody sitting in my helm chair. Qasim?
We go aboard and into the salon. “You know that you can be seen from the dock.”
“Where have you been?”
“Hanging out at the clubhouse. You do know that a lot of people here know me? And you do know that you don’t look like me?”
“Why were you ‘hanging out’?”
“You are not hearing me. You are endangering your whole operation. And us.”
“How?”
“If I saw you sitting at the helm of a friend’s boat. I would be curious. I would ask who you are and why you’re there.”
“My actions are not your concern!”
“But they are Saif’s…”
He says nothing. But I get his trademark scowl. I continue. “Anyway, we have reservations at Edgewater Yacht Club for tomorrow night. However, their Dockmaster told me that there is another front moving through tomorrow evening. We may not be able to leave tomorrow. At best, we will have to plan our departure time carefully so that we encounter the best lake conditions.”
“You must cross tomorrow!”
“Oh, shut up... I’m going to call Saif.”
I get my B iPhone out of the helm drawer. I call Saif. I tell him what I told Qasim. He agrees. I also tell him that unless the weather prohibits it, the four of us are going into town for dinner. It’s what we would do in a situation like this. Again, he agrees.
Qasim has been listening. And getting more and more pissed.
I decide to add one more thing. Well, two. These will make Qasim really unhappy. “Your people have been cooped up in their cabins for over twelve hours. I would suggest that after dark, you let then out into our salons a couple at a time so they can stretch and get some fresh air. The marina is quiet now because of the bad weather, but I think they will be too visible before dark.”
Covert Crossings Page 16