Lost Witness

by Rebecca Forster

  Miguel cut the engine on the whaler, drew his coat close, and started to count down fifteen minutes.

  The Coast Guard cutter was there to stay until command said otherwise, and the boats were far from deserted. The crew left on watch were simply bored, and irked by the ridiculous standoff that tied their hands. They could have easily disabled the Faret Vild, boarded the vessel, and found whatever it was that had everybody hot and bothered. Instead they were twiddling their thumbs, looking for a way to pass the time. Most of the crew had retired, confident the bridge watch would alert them of any change. Some read, most slept. The bridge watch on the first cutter stood his ground, but he was plugged in and rapping to some classic Tupac to stay awake. The commander was below deck 'consulting' with his second in command, a fine looking woman. He had no doubt they were going at it hot and heavy. The watch also had no doubt that if he raised the alarm those two would be the first ones on deck. You had to admire that kind of dedication, that ability to work hard and play hard. That was the Coast Guard way.

  30

  Day 3 @1:10 A.M

  On the bridge of the Faret Vild, Nanda cursed his bad luck. Had he not bothered to seek out the captain with his report, had Lito not cried out when he lost the card game causing the first mate to pause out of curiosity, had the door to the mess not remained open while Adeano Bianchi went to see what was the matter, Nanda would have never known of the plans to murder Tala Reyes, and his conscience would be clear. But all that had happened, and Nanda was sick in his conscience.

  Still, what could he do? He was only one man against a crew that could be bought off. They would not think of this deed as killing a woman, but simply as a matter of earning their pay. As he thought, he determined that there were only a few things he could do.

  The first choice was to speak to Lito who would be looking for a way out. Nanda could help him fool Bianchi into thinking the deed was done. But what if the captain demanded to see the body? What if Lito could not lie? That would put Nanda in a dangerous position since the captain was already angry about his insistence that they heave to.

  The second choice made more sense, perhaps, but was equally fraught with danger: Nanda could capture Adeano Bianchi, keep him under arrest, and let the Coast Guard on board. The problem with this plan was that the captain was a powerful man and a desperate one. Nanda knew the captain had a gun somewhere on board, and Adeano Bianchi might get it and shoot the first mate dead. He was that crazy. Or he could use a knife, or he could just throttle Nanda and toss him into the sea along with Tala Reyes.

  But another choice presented itself and his luck changed. The love boat arrived. He had not called for the boat, and he doubted Bianchi had called it, but there it was. He hurried to find Adeano Bianchi, telling him of the love boat, telling him that the Coast Guard vessel had not moved to intercept it. Far from needing to be convinced that this was a good thing, Bianchi clapped Nanda on the back, and told him to alert the crew. He also told Nanda to lower the gangway and to let Bojan know that his help was needed to greet the ladies.

  Now the captain was with the ladies and Nanda was hurrying down the stairs and the ladders, walking down the corridors made narrower by the towering containers. He shivered in the cold and looked over his shoulder, walking backward when he thought he heard someone coming up behind him. When no one came, he rushed on.

  Finally, just as Captain Bianchi was opening the door to his quarters for the people who came from the love boat, Nanda was opening the door to the small cabin where Tala Reyes had last been, hoping she was still there. The light from the hall followed him in, and he saw her lying against the wall. Kneeling beside the metal overhang, Nanda put his hand out and touched Tala. She did not move. Thinking she was already dead, that perhaps Lito had been there, Nanda began to sweat.

  He put his hand on her shoulder and tugged. Tala was not dead, nor was she asleep. She rolled over quickly and grasped his wrist. Nanda cried out and pulled away in surprise.

  "Nanda?" Tala whispered when she recognized him.

  He nodded, unable to find his voice right away. Her face was horrible to look at. It was one thing to hear about what happened to her, but another to see it. He swallowed hard and finally said:

  "Can you walk?"

  When she nodded he took her hand.

  "Then it is time to go."

  TALA REYES

  MANILLA, THE PHILIPPINES

  TWO WEEKS EARLIER

  * * *

  Billy and Tala surveyed the three vessels docked in the port. Tala rejected the cruise ship out of hand, disappointing Billy. After the Alaskan fishing trawlers and the Japanese tankers, a fancy ship didn't sound bad, but Tala wouldn't be dissuaded.

  "The Ender is headed to Japan. Have you worked an oil tanker or . . ."

  Billy was eyeing the new ship, but when he turned around to get her opinion Tala was no longer beside him. She was pushing through a crowd of men. Some uttered a sharp word, others gave her an annoyed look. None were happy that it was a woman who had knocked their shoulder or pushed them away. Something had caught her eye. With a last look at the Ender and a final lament that they wouldn't be sailing on her, Billy went after her. When he finally broke through the stream of men Billy saw Tala looking at a pitiful ship.

  "You're kidding, right? Tala? Right?"

  When she didn't answer, Billy put a hand to his brow to cut the glare of the sun and get a good look at the Faret Vild.

  "You know there's a reason everybody is going the other way," he said.

  "You don't like it, don’t come.”

  Tala walked on, never taking her eyes off the ship and the people standing by it. Once she did a two-step as if trying to catch sight of someone specific, but as far as Billy could tell there was nothing special to see. A few men worked the ropes; another man boarded a skiff that headed toward the bow to make repairs. He saw the captain, pacing up and down, pausing now and again to look at a man standing at the edge of the pier. That man was smoking, and looking at the old ship like he owned it.

  Tala walked past the captain who paid her no mind, and headed toward the man on the pier. But he tossed the butt of his cigarette away, turned to the gangway, and started walking before she reached him. He passed her without a second glance. Tala pivoted in time to see the captain put a hand on the man's back and usher him onto the ship. Tala started after them, but Billy stopped her.

  "What are you doing?"

  "I'm sailing on this ship," she said.

  "Do you know where she's headed?"

  "It doesn't matter."

  With that she went into the terminal to find the mate who would sign her on to the Faret Vild. Billy followed because Tala was right. It didn't matter where the ship was headed. He wanted out of the Philippines and it would be better to sail with a friend , or maybe die with one if that vessel broke apart in the first stiff wind.

  31

  Day 3 @1:30 A.M

  "Here you are. Here, here. These are the captain's quarters. My quarters. I think you will be most comfortable here." Adeano Bianchi escorted Jamal, Hannah and Sparkle into his cabin. "Bojan, he will go arrange for another cabin. He will arrange with my crew about who will come to . . . meet with you."

  Even though Adeano Bianchi smiled, he was not happy to find only two ladies had been sent on the love boat. Two could not satisfy his crew in a timely manner, and it might be that would upset his men more than they already were. There was also the black man. He was big and looked very unhappy. Bianchi was used to handlers coming aboard with the women, but he had never seen anyone who looked quite like this one.

  Still, Bianchi could not blame him for wanting to protect his merchandise. The young one in particular was lovely. Her light brown skin and green eyes were the things dreams were made of. In her arms he, Adeano Bianchi, might even forget who was waiting for him in Panama, the death sentence he had passed on Tala Reyes, and the U.S. government with their eyes on his ship. Yes, an hour or two with this one would renew his spirit.
>
  He could not deny that the blonde woman had her charms. He did not doubt, she could please a man, but she would not shiver the way the young woman might, she would not move as if she wanted to please a man. Still, he could see that she would enthusiastically complete the transaction. Men less sophisticated than he would be happy with that kind of woman, so Adeano would leave her to the crew. If there must be pleasantries to secure the lady of his choice, then so be it.

  "Bojan will be back soon and we will begin. Please, sit."

  He turned his bright smile on Sparkle. She tipped the edges of her painted lips and gave him the once over as if she were the one doing the choosing. Adeano Bianchi's smile faltered. American women were so arrogant. He looked to Jamal assuming he would keep the woman in her place, but he stood like a statue, his hands clasped low in front of him, his black eyes watching the captain.

  Sparkle did a pirouette and caught Hannah's eye. She was the coolest kid Sparkle had ever seen. The way she stood, the way she flipped her hair, cocked her knee, and pushed out her chest made her look like a working girl. Jamal on the other hand was nervous. What the captain believed was the stance of an enforcer was really the posture of a man paralyzed by fear. If he didn't get into character soon, this was going to be the longest fifteen minutes of all their lives. Until he kicked in it was up to Hannah and Sparkle to buy the time Billy needed.

  "They all like this?"

  Sparkle did a slow turn to look around the sitting room where they were gathered. She had never been on a ship before, but she imagined this was spacious compared to the crew quarters. The captain was none too tidy, though. The living area was cluttered and he seemed to sense her dissatisfaction. He swept aside a stack of books and papers on the narrow sofa. He picked up the dishes left from his dinner, saw there was nowhere to move them, and put them down again. Swiping his hands together, he smiled and smiled. Sparkle poked her head into the bedroom. It was a tight squeeze, but the bed was big enough for a good romp.

  "Bojan will take you to a different place for your meetings," Adeano said, wedging himself between Sparkle and the bedroom. She put her fists on her hips and said:

  "When was the last time you changed the sheets?"

  "Sheets?" Adeano's shoulders rose and his face went blank in his confusion. "What is this sheets?"

  "Yeah, man. The linens. You know, on the bed?"

  Sparkle looked over her shoulder, gave Jamal a grin that Adeano couldn't see, and then joined Hannah. Adeano had put his arm across the doorway, but Jamal pushed it aside, walked in, and plucked at the wrinkled sheets. He picked up a pillow and held it to his nose.

  "Naw, we're going to need fresh linens. My girls don't —"

  "No, no, no. Impossible. We do not do such things." Bianchi started for Jamal only to turn at the sound of a knock on the door. "You wait. You wait. It is all fine."

  Jamal came out of the bedroom and looked at the women. Hannah gave him thumbs up and mouthed 'good job'. Sparkle looked at her watch. They came together as Bianchi opened the door to the man who had been with him earlier.

  "Six minutes," Sparkle whispered, keeping an eye on the men who were deep in an animated conversation. "Who remembers how to get out of here?"

  "I've got it." Hannah kept her voice low. "Turn right, down the hall past two doors on the right and we go out the big door on the left. We'll see the port."

  "Then what?" Sparkle muttered.

  "Left. Yeah, I think left to that ladder thing," Hannah said.

  "No matter what, we stick together, right?" Jamal said, but before the women could agree, Adeano Bianchi's voice rose in frustration.

  "No. No. Lito must do his job. Do you understand?"

  Bojan looked over Bianchi's shoulder. His expression was that of a frightened man, and that made Sparkle wonder if she misread the captain. Maybe he wasn't frustrated but angry. That wouldn't bode well for any of them. Bojan bowed his head and now Bianchi was whispering.

  "The boat was ordered in queue. . ."

  Bojan continued whispering.

  "Why only two . . ."

  Adeano listened some more and finally tired of the exchange. He was holding the cabin door open, grinning, and eager when he faced the ladies and Jamal.

  "So, we are all arranged," he said to Jamal. "But Bojan was just wondering why only two of you are here for us. We had arrangements, you see, when we were in the queue. We expected more."

  "Did you see those boats out there? Coast Guard? You're lucky we got two here," Jamal said. "Love boats ain't exactly on the right side of the law."

  "Yes, yes, I see," Bianchi said and then spoke directly to Sparkle. "You will go with Bojan. He has arranged a cabin for you—"

  "It's close, right? My girls don't go far. I need to keep my eyes on them, man."

  Jamal stepped between Bianchi and the women. Bojan, was outside the still open door. He was big enough to make real trouble and that scared the heck out of Jamal. He had never fought one person much less two - not even when he was a kid in the projects. Then again, Sparkle and Hannah wouldn't let him go down without a fight. They were probably tougher than him by ten. His job was to stall the extra minutes Billy needed.

  "Hey, man. You understand me? That cabin needs to be in hearing distance." Jamal stabbed at his ears. "Comprendo or whatever? I stay in between to protect my ladies."

  "No, no," Adeano waved his hands. "We have a place for you with food. A place to wait."

  "I don't wait anywhere," Jamal said. "You don't like my rules then we're out of here."

  Jamal made for the door, but Adeano Bianchi had reached the end of his rope.

  "Enough! You are on my ship, you will do as I say."

  The three of them froze. Jamal's mouth went dry. Sparkle lowered her purse, wrapping the strap around her fist, knowing she could do a little damage with it if she had to. Hannah's eyes narrowed and caught Bianchi's gaze. The time had come. They would have to make their move, refuse the job, get off the ship and—God help them — get to that gangway and hope Billy was there with Tala Reyes.

  Billy's heart beat fast and hard, his ridiculous satin shirt was soaked with the sea mist and the sweat of a close call. His right palm was scraped raw and his left ankle had twisted, but he hadn't been crushed between the lengths of the receding gangway. He was alive and that was good, but the fight to get onboard had eaten up precious time so he wasted no more of it now that he was inside the Faret Vild.

  The quiet was even more profound than he remembered. When he was crew the silence had been comforting, now it unnerved him. His stomach clutched when he heard the sound of footsteps only to realize they were his own. Every creak and moan of the old vessel signaled a door opening or the mates gathering around the next corner waiting to ambush him. But the other noises - the sigh of the wind finding its way past the hull, the weeping of dripping water, the hum of the refrigeration units, spoke of the despair of Tala Reyes. It was those sounds that drove him on because it was Tala sighing, Tala weeping, Tala lamenting that she had been abandoned.

  Billy threw himself upon the open staircase. Metal framed, the risers rusting, he gripped the side rails and swung down three steps at a time, landing hard on the deck below. He paused at the door leading to the crew's quarters. Carefully he opened it an inch, then two, and put his eye to the opening.

  Beyond the door the Faret Vild was as it always was: shadowy, dingy and worn out. The corridor within his sight was deserted, so he opened the door wider, squeezed through, lay against the wall, and snapped his head the other direction. It was deserted, so he made his way to Tala's cabin.

  Putting his hand on the latch and his ear to the door, he listened even though it was a ridiculous gesture given the thickness of the metal. Giving another quick look left and right, he depressed the lever. No one came as the latch clicked so he pushed it open just enough to slip through, keeping his back against the wall, ready to take on anyone who might be with Tala, but his caution was unnecessary. The cabin was empty.

  Di
sappointed but not surprised, Billy did a fast check. The bed had not been slept in. Her clothes and duffle, her papers and books were gone, and that meant Bianchi was smarter than Billy had given him credit for. Tala Reyes had not just been erased from the manifest, she had never been here.

  Billy left the cabin as cautiously as he had entered it and made for the next stairwell, the second deck, and the infirmary. This was a more dangerous journey since he would be closer to the mess, but there was no choice. Ten minutes were already gone. Rushing ahead, trying to shake off the feeling that things were about to go very wrong, Billy reached the infirmary. This time he opened the door as if he meant to enter, hoping such boldness would surprise anyone inside.

  Like Tala's cabin, the infirmary was empty, the bed undisturbed. He looked in the trashcan. It was clean. There were no discarded dressings, no pill packets, or syringes.

  Billy checked the clock and saw that time had run out. He would have to confront Adeano Bianchi and force him to hand over Tala. If she was dead then so was Bianchi. Preparing himself for the worst, Billy opened cabinets and rifled through drawers looking for something to arm himself with. He took two scalpels. They were small but could be deadly if used the right way. He took a length of plastic tubing meant to be used as a tourniquet. It could choke off a windpipe as easily as a vein. He took a small brown bottle of liquid not knowing what was in it, but understanding how intimidating it was to be threatened with the unknown.

  Armed as best he could be, driven on by the ticking clock, Billy ran full tilt, slamming through the door that would take him to the ladder that led to the top deck. The first door had barely closed behind him, his foot had just hit the first step on the ladder, and his hands had barely grasped the railings when he heard: