Bluewater Rendezvous: The Eighth Novel in the Caribbean Mystery and Adventure Series (Bluewater Thrillers Book 8)

by Charles Dougherty

  "John Welsh asked me to call," a man's voice said.

  Surprised, Dani touched the record icon on the iPhone screen and held it close enough to pick up both sides of the conversation.

  "Sorry. Rough connection in this direction. What was that name, again?" she asked.

  "John Welsh."

  "You must have the wrong number. There's no John Walsh here."

  "No! Wait," the man said. "I'm trying to get a message to ... um ... Carlotta Solanó."

  "I'm confused," Dani said.

  "Is she aboard?"

  "No. No one by that name is here."

  "Look, he said he got this number from his office. Can you give her a message?"

  "What's the message?"

  "John wants her to know he couldn't meet her in Antigua the way they'd planned. Something came up. He wants to meet her in the Virgin Islands instead."

  "Where in the Virgin Islands?"

  "St. John. He thought if you could wait on one of the moorings off Caneel Bay, he could take a water taxi out to the boat. Vengeance, right?"

  "I may or may not see this woman you mentioned," Dani said, ignoring the question. "If I do, can you give me a number where she can reach this John ... Walsh, was it?"

  "Welsh, with an 'e'. There's no number. He's, um ... traveling."

  "Okay, I guess. And is there a time for this rendezvous?"

  "He'll be at Caneel Bay starting tomorrow. Any time after that would work. He'll just watch for Vengeance, all right?"

  "If I run into this Solanó woman, I'll give her the message. That's all I can promise. I don't know about Vengeance, or this John Welsh. Why do you think I'll see her?"

  "Look, I'm probably as lost as you are. I'm just forwarding John's message. Thanks."

  ****

  "So what d' ya think?" Fats asked as Joe Bones took the SIM card out of the throwaway cellphone. "I don't think she bought it."

  "They'll buy it. What choice have they got?" He melted the SIM with a butane lighter and crushed the phone under his heel.

  "What if it's really Angela instead of the Solanó woman?" Willy asked.

  "Then we grab Angela. We only wanted Solanó so we could find Angela, remember?"

  "Bullshit. You want to mess up Solanó to get even for your knee," Fats said.

  "That's true, but I can do that any time. Once we get Angela, the whole game changes."

  Willy and Fats exchanged looks. "Game?" Fats said. "What game?"

  "Whatever game Angela thought she was playin'," Joe Bones said. "But I think it's gonna be Solanó. My bet's Angela's down there in Brazil, wonderin' where Welsh is."

  "Okay," Fats said. He shook his head. "You're right. Whichever one we snatch, it's good. But what about Berger and Chirac?"

  "Depends," Joe Bones said.

  "On what?" Willy asked.

  "Whether we find Angela or Solanó."

  "So you're thinkin' if we get Solanó, we waste the other two?" Fats said.

  "Bingo! You win the prize, Fats."

  "Wait," Willy said. "I missed something. Won't we waste them anyway?"

  "Not if we get Angela," Joe Bones said.

  Willy frowned. "I still don't — "

  "Explain it to him, Fats."

  "See, Willy," Fats said, "if we end up with Angela, we can make the other two tell us where Solanó is. They gotta know somethin' about what's goin' on. That one that was on the phone just now? She was playin' dumb, big time."

  "Oh. I get it," Willy said. "I'll help question them. Both of 'em are hot. That'll be fun."

  "Before you get carried away, Willy," Joe Bones said, "There's more to ask them than just about Solanó. We need to know who's behind this, and why. Angela and Welsh didn't put this together by themselves."

  "What are you gettin' at?" Fats asked.

  "I'm thinkin' one of the other capos is behind this. Maybe more than one. Somebody might have their own ideas about who's gonna replace Don Guido when the time comes."

  "Damn good point," Fats said. "No wonder Don Guido picked you — thinkin' of shit like that."

  ****

  "Hello, Elaine," Dani said.

  "Dani?"

  "Yes. Good morning."

  "Good morning. Where are you guys? How's the charter?"

  "We're in the Saintes. The charter's a little strange. That's why I'm calling."

  "Uh-oh. Did you find Carlotta Solanó all right?"

  "Yes, she was where you told us she'd be."

  "I thought that was an odd arrangement, Dani. And how about the mystery man?"

  "She thought we were meeting him in Antigua, but he was a no-show. We're in the midst of a puzzle; I didn't call to complain, though. I'm looking for information."

  "You never complain. How can I help?"

  "Have you had any unusual inquiries about us? Like people looking for Carlotta, or anybody asking for our phone number?"

  "No. Nothing like that. In fact, I haven't even had any routine enquiries about your availability since this booking. Why?"

  "I just had a peculiar call. I think somebody's trying to set us up, maybe to snatch Carlotta. I don't want to go into all the details; I know you're busy and it doesn't add up, anyway."

  "The call? Was it on the satellite phone?"

  "Yes, that's right."

  "Well, remember, that number's on your website, so all they needed to do was Google Vengeance to find it."

  "You're right. But that's if they knew Carlotta Solanó was on Vengeance."

  "I haven't told anybody. Maybe she mentioned it to someone before she left."

  "Could be. I'll check with her when she and Liz get back to the boat. Thanks, Elaine. Sorry to bug you."

  "No problem. If anybody calls here looking for Vengeance or Carlotta, I'll let you know right away."

  "Thanks. Talk with you later," Dani said, and disconnected the call.

  ****

  Dani had time enough to make herself a cup of coffee before the satellite phone rang again. She checked the caller i.d. and saw that it was Phillip Davis.

  "Are you psychic?" she asked, answering the phone.

  "Some people think I'm psychotic, but that's not the same, is it?"

  Dani laughed; hearing from Phillip was reassuring on several levels. "No, not the same. I was going to call you soon. We're headed your way — should be there in the next couple of days. You and Sandrine busy?"

  "No, we're not doing anything special. She's working, but other than that, nothing's on our schedule. We'd love to see you. You have a guest aboard, right? Carlotta Solanó?"

  "You're either psychic or you've been talking with Sharktooth," Dani said.

  "No, neither. I called because of something picked up on the coconut telegraph."

  "Oh? What's that?"

  "Somebody in Antigua's asking questions about you."

  "Me? Personally? Or Vengeance?"

  "Yes. Both. The guy's a lowlife, a part-time drug smuggler named Louis Brown. Ring any bells?"

  "No, not yet. Got any more information?"

  "Yes. He was asking somebody in customs for arrivals and departures for Vengeance. He wanted the crew list and guests."

  "I see. And did he get it?"

  "Yes. One of our friends overheard the conversation and passed it along. I thought you should know."

  "Thanks. I'm not too surprised. That fits in with some other odd things. Got a minute?"

  "Sure. Speak to me."

  Dani summarized what had happened over the last several days for Phillip. He listened, not interrupting except to ask for clarification on a few points.

  "So are you going to the Virgins?" he asked, when she had finished.

  "I'm not sure. I want to talk that over with Liz and our guest when they get back. I'm not inclined to do what they asked, though. Sounds like an out-and-out setup."

  "Yes, it does. Why don't you give me a call after you talk it over with them? Meanwhile, I'll see what our friends can find out about this Louis Brown. Maybe somebody can ask him
a few questions — see who he's working for."

  "That might be helpful," Dani said. "I'll check in with you once I've had a chance to kick this around with Liz and Carlotta."

  Chapter 21

  Franco sat with Guido on the veranda of the Star Island mansion. He'd just briefed Guido on Fats's report of the conversation between Joe Bones and the woman on Vengeance.

  "So Fats didn't think she was taken in?" Guido said.

  "Worse than that," Franco said. "He thought she was way too cool — like she dealt with this kind of shit before, he said."

  "I'd trust Fats on that before Joe Bones," Guido said. "Fats has been around the block; Joe Bones is still wet behind the ears. I gotta hand it to him, though. Still a pretty good idea he had."

  "Worth a shot, anyway," Franco agreed.

  "Any idea which one of those women he talked to?" Guido asked.

  "No, but all three of them agreed that it wasn't Angela's voice."

  "So it was probably Berger or Chirac, then," Guido said.

  "Unless it was Solanó. We still don't know for sure whether Angela's even there," Franco reminded him.

  "Yeah, right. I ain't believin' she's in Brazil. Makes no sense. Why the hell would she go there?"

  "Welsh have any ties to Brazil?" Franco asked.

  "Uh-uh, not that I know of. We could check, I guess, but I think it's a waste of time."

  "Yeah, probably," Franco said. "He woulda told us for sure; son of a bitch spilled everything he knew when you put the juice to him."

  Guido chuckled. "Joe Bones woulda probably had a psychiatrist question him — give him some of that truth serum shit or somethin'."

  "Nothin' beats an old hand-cranked magneto out of them antique telephones," Franco said. "Where the hell did you find that, anyway?"

  "Inherited it from my father," Guido said. "Hey, I been wonderin' about somethin'."

  "What's that?"

  "That guy that dumps the bodies for you."

  "Yeah? What about him?"

  "He's one weird-lookin' fucker. He part black?"

  "Part somethin'. Mostly Seminole, I think. But his mama was a conjure woman of some kind, and his father was whatever them Voodoo people call a priest. Why?"

  "Curious, that's all. He takes the bodies out in the 'Glades, you said."

  "Yeah. For a while, anyhow."

  "What do ya mean, for a while?" Guido asked, frowning.

  "He cuts 'em up sometimes, takes parts from 'em. You know, like for some of his ceremonies and shit, I guess."

  Guido shook his head. "Takes all kinds, I guess, but that's sick."

  "Never had any comebacks on the ones he dumped. That's all I give a shit about," Franco said. "Hey, did Fats tell you what Joe Bones said?"

  "Said about what?"

  "Who's helpin' Angela and Welsh," Franco said.

  "No. What's he talkin' about?"

  "He thinks there's somebody behind this. Somebody trying to play a political game."

  "How's that?"

  "Power play by somebody who wants to take your place."

  "You mean besides him?" Guido asked, raising his eyebrows.

  "Yeah."

  "Hm. That boy's smart. I'll give him that. It does look like Angela's got some outside help here, even if it's just those two women."

  "Three women," Franco protested.

  "Yeah. You're right. Whether it's Solanó or Angela on that boat, Solanó is out there somewhere."

  "She shot Joe Bones," Franco said.

  "Right. Problem I see with his idea is that first off, the other capos picked him. Why would one of them take off on his own, all of a sudden?"

  Franco shrugged. "Out of my league, Don Guido. I got no clue how them guys think."

  "Okay, fair enough, but ain't any of them gonna hire three women to take me and Joe Bones off the board. I mean, those old bastards make me look progressive. They might hire hookers to get pictures of us doin' sick shit, but they ain't hiring broads for muscle."

  "You think it's somebody else, Don Guido?"

  "Like who?"

  "The cartels?"

  Guido shook his head. "They're as bad as the old Mustache Petes when it comes to women."

  "The government?"

  "That could happen, maybe. But government agents don't shoot first. From what Bones said, that broad popped him out of just pure meanness."

  "So what do you think we oughta do, Don Guido?"

  "Buy a little insurance."

  "I'm not followin'," Franco said, frowning.

  "It's your idea. I'm thinkin' we should use that Berger woman's half-brother for a little leverage. You know, in case she's too smart to walk into Joe Bones's trap. It ain't like there's much risk in it."

  "I'm with you now. Want me to make it happen?"

  "Yeah," Guido said. "Nothin' dramatic. Just get somebody there at the clinic to invite him to a little party, give him a taste. Find him a pretty little private nurse to party with. Get him to sign himself out and bring 'em both down here. We'll keep him occupied right here. Put him in the guesthouse and let him have a little fun. It ain't like we gotta kidnap him or nothin.' He'll think he died and went to heaven."

  ****

  Dani was enjoying a bit of time alone in the cockpit, waiting for Liz and Angela to come back from their excursion to Îlet à Cabrít. She had almost dropped off to sleep when the satellite phone rang. Drowsy and expecting it to be Phillip, she answered without checking to see who was calling.

  "Danielle?" her mother asked.

  "What?" Dani snarled.

  "Oh, thank God you answered. You have to come. Now. Rollie's gone."

  "Good riddance, Mother. Why should I care?"

  "But he was doing so well, and now he's just disappeared."

  "Disappeared? What are you talking about?"

  "I tried to call him at the clinic, and they said he had left just moments before."

  "So? He's done this how many times now? Why are you surprised?"

  "This is different. He signed himself out, and — "

  "Mother! You know he can sign himself out. He's done it before. I don't — "

  "But this was different. He had a nurse with him, and they left in a limo."

  "I still don't see how this is my problem, Mother. What do you want from me?"

  "A man called me back to tell me about it. He said that you would understand; that you were the one who could bring Rollie back, and that I should talk with you."

  "Who was this man? Somebody from the clinic?"

  "I don't know, Danielle. A counselor, maybe. He said you would — "

  "Mother, for the last time, this has nothing to do with me."

  "But he said it did; something about ... I thought — "

  "Goodbye, Mother." Dani hung up the phone and cursed herself for answering it without checking first.

  ****

  "Did you two have fun with the goats?" Dani asked Angela. They were sitting in the shade of the cockpit awning while Liz bustled around below in the galley.

  Angela laughed. "I've never thought much about goats before. They're pretty cool. Tame, like. At least these were. They were kind of pests, when we were eating lunch. People must feed them; they wouldn't take no for an answer."

  "Everyman's livestock," Dani said. "They're common in the islands. They're easy to take care of, and they'll eat almost anything. People do treat them like pets, sometimes, but make no mistake, they're protein on the hoof."

  "Yes. Liz pointed out that they have tags in their ears to show who owns them."

  "Did you get any good pictures of the ruins?"

  "Oh, I think so. I shot several hundred; I'll have to cull them later. But there are bound to be some I can use. Liz has a good eye for composition."

  "Yes. She's an accomplished artist, you know."

  "No, I didn't, but I'm not surprised. Does she paint?"

  "Yes, all the paintings below are hers."

  "Amazing. I was admiring them earlier; I was going to ask wher
e they came from. I'm surprised she didn't mention it when we were talking about my pictures."

  "That's Liz," Dani said. "She doesn't say much about herself unless you drag it out of her."

  "Drag what out of me?" Liz said, joining them. She set a tray with a moisture-beaded pitcher and three glasses on the table between them and took a seat.

  "Anything, just about," Dani said.

  "So did you get a lot done while we were ashore?" Angela asked.

  Dani chuckled. "I almost got a little bright-work done."

  "Almost?" Liz asked, glancing around, looking for wet varnish.

  "I didn't get started before the phone calls began."

  "Who called?" Liz asked.

  "Well, the first one was the strangest. A man called and said that he had a message from John Welsh — "

  "The hospital!" Angela said. "Is he conscious?"

  "It wasn't the hospital," Dani said. "I happened to have my iPhone handy, so I recorded it. It's not exactly studio quality, but you can hear both sides. I think it's a setup of some kind. Listen to this."

  She took the phone from her pocket and set it on the table. Ten seconds into the playback, Angela said, "Can you pause it?"

  Dani touched the screen and looked at Angela.

  "That's Joe Bones," she said.

  "You sure?" Dani asked.

  Angela nodded. "Without a doubt. What did he want?"

  "Coming up," Dani said, and resumed the playback.

  When the recording concluded, Angela said, "But I don't understand. We know where John is. This doesn't make sense."

  Liz shook her head. "No, it doesn't. How could they think we'd ... unless ... "

  "Unless they don't know he's still alive?" Dani asked.

  Liz nodded.

  "I've had more time to think about it than you two, but that's the only way I can make sense of it. They think that we think he's missing."

  "And if we go to St. John, you think they'll be waiting," Angela said. "That's just the kind of thing they'd do. I'm probably caught, but we need to find a way to keep you two out of it."

  "That's thoughtful of you, Angela, but I don't see how they'd let us go," Dani said.

  "They want me back. This doesn't have anything to do with you. I'll just call and make a deal; I won't surrender unless they agree to leave you alone."

  "Is that what you want?" Liz asked. "To marry somebody called Joe Bones?"