"Man, best you be stopping right there."
Adeano was tired of Bojan's questions, and of waiting to relieve himself of his anxiety. Sex was a simple thing; it should be over and done by now because at three a.m. the Faret Vild would be making for international waters.
"You." Bianchi motioned toward Sparkle. "You go with Bojan. And you." He pointed to Jamal. "You may wait in the passageway between this cabin and the one Bojan has secured. It is on this deck, so you are happy."
Adeano was across the room, taking Jamal's arm with one arm and Sparkle's with the other. They exchanged frantic glances before Jamal checked the time. They only needed three more minutes.
"No, you haven't—" Jamal began, but Bianchi roared back.
"I have talked all I will talk. Go. You will be paid. Go and do your jobs."
He flung Jamal and Sparkle toward Bojan. Bojan’s grip was like a vice on Jamal's arm but he managed to look over his shoulder just in time to hear the captain say:
"You are for me, and then you will see to three of my favored crew."
Jamal's heart pounded. He looked at Sparkle to give him a sign, tell him what to do. Before he could take action, Bojan pulled Jamal into the hall, and as the door to the captain's quarters closed they heard Hannah shout:
"Don't touch me you freak."
32
Day 3 @1:43 A.M
Billy froze, and tightened his grip on the ladder rails. He adjusted his foot so that it rested solidly on the riser, giving him leverage to run up or kick out. He did this as he scanned the dark trying to get a bead on whoever had spoken. He saw no one.
Wondering if he had imagined the voice, if it was nothing but his fear speaking, he was about to go on his way when he saw a pinpoint of light flare white and then red. A second later he smelled the pungent scent of cheap tobacco. In the millisecond after that, the African emerged from the dark, taking shape slowly, borrowing pixels of light from God knew where until he became three-dimensional.
"You are stupid to come back to dis place," the African said.
"I only want Tala Reyes. No trouble. Just Tala," Billy said.
The African shook his head.
"She dead."
"I don't believe you," Billy said.
The man shrugged. "She good as dead."
"Take me to her. Let me see."
The man kept coming until some of the indirect light caught his eyes making them glitter. The tip of his cigarette flared again as he took a drag. He was in no hurry.
"Not me," he said. "I want nothin’ to do with dis. Not the love boat. Not whatever Tala be doin’. Not what the captain be doin’. I only want off dis ship."
"Then help me find her and come with us," Billy said. "I'll get us off."
The man threw back his head and he laughed. Billy had never heard him laugh nor had he heard so many words from him in all the time they sailed together. His amusement didn't last long. The African dropped his chin and looked at Billy from underneath his half closed eyelids.
"You got a chance in hell, Billy Zogaj. A chance in hell," he said. "I ain't ready to go to hell."
"Me either, my friend."
Billy bolted up the steps, grappling with the hand railing and hoping that the big African would not follow.
They both knew the lay of the ship, but Nanda went ahead of Tala for two reasons. First, should anyone come upon them, he would see them before they saw him. Then he would grab Tala by the hand and say he was taking her to the captain. The crew would believe him and let them go on their way. Nanda also led because he did not want to look at her.
He had been on the bridge when the dead man was found and when Tala Reyes was hidden away, so he had seen nothing. Nanda knew where she was, of course, but none of this mattered to him then. He was first mate and what mattered was the ship and what was in front of him in the sea. But when he heard that she would be killed in cold blood, he could not let it stand.
Nanda also knew there was a good chance the U.S. Coast Guard would board their ship before the Faret Vild could safely leave these waters. If that happened and a dead woman was found, he would be detained with the rest of them. Americans did not take kindly to crimes committed by those who were not their own. That took Nanda down another road, to another plan. He would hide Tala Reyes until there was a way to get her off the ship. So he found her, and took her away, and here they were. On one side there was an edgy crew, a country of laws, and a captain who had lost his mind. On the other side were Nanda and Tala Reyes. Wary of his help, Tala had no choice but to follow, and Nanda, having set the wheels in motion had no choice but to lead.
Sweat beaded on his brow and ran down his cheeks, his eyes were never still. His hand shook when he put it across her chest signaling for her to stop when he heard a sound that made him suspicious. Smart as he was, the first mate knew his limitations. He might win in a battle of wits, but he would never win in a fight without a weapon. Tala didn't begrudge him either his fear or his caution, she felt the same way now that she knew Bianchi had ordered her death. Tala was not afraid of death, but she was afraid it would come before the world knew who she was, who her friend had been, and what the dead man had done to them both.
"Nanda," she whispered when they had come to a halt, hiding behind a stack of containers. "I need to get to the bridge."
"No." There was only so much risk he was willing to take. "You will hide, and only I will know where you are. I'll get you off the ship at the next port."
"Nanda, please." She grabbed his arm. "The bridge. The Coast Guard will take me to this port."
"And the rest of us. I don't want to live in an American prison," Nanda snapped "No. It will be enough that you are alive until we get to Panama. It's that, or I leave you."
Nanda shook her hand off and was ready to move on when Tala attacked. She rose up with a cry and took him around the neck, pulling him back, stronger than he in her desperation and determination. When she pulled him backward, he stumbled. His hands were at the arm she had clamped across his throat, but her hold was so tight he could barely breathe.
"Stop. Stop fighting me." She tightened her choke hold. When he stopped struggling she said: "I don't want to hurt you. You have saved me, but I am going to the bridge. Do you hear me? Do you?"
Nanda nodded, but said nothing. She had no idea what he was thinking, nor did she care. The man was wiry and small, if need be she would kill him. That's what Tala thought. What she knew was that she was exhausted, her bones hurt, her blood was thin, and her skin screamed with pain as she held his body against hers. But she was good at pretending, so she would pretend to be stronger than any man who got in her way.
"Good," she said when it appeared he wouldn't fight her. "Now, where is the captain? Is he on the bridge?"
Nanda shook his head.
"Where is he?" Tala asked but Nanda shook his head again and she jerked her arm, driving the bone of her forearm into his throat. His head kicked back against her shoulder. Tala growled at him. "Yes, you do know where he is."
Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit her. It wasn't just her body becoming sick, it was the thought that she had been duped, given hope when none existed. Nanda's silence was proof of that.
"Is this a trick? Were you sent for me? Oh, God, you are going to kill me, Nanda?"
Tala started to shake. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid. Conscience, compassion, humanity, they were nothing to these men. Undone by her pain and despair, Tala gave up the fight. She fell back against the wall. Nanda twirled on her, pushing one hand into her chest to hold her upright while his other hand was held to her throat. But neither of them had any strength left. When Tala slid to the floor, Nanda let her go. He stood over her shaking his head.
"I came for you because it is wrong to kill the way the captain wanted. He is mad. He was going to have Lito execute you. I am not a fine man, but I could not stand for that," Nanda said.
Tala stared straight ahead, hearing his words but taking no comfort. In the end it wo
uld all be the same. She would be dead. Nanda might escape, but she would be dead. Nanda hunkered down, balancing on the balls of his feet. He looked at her bruised face and sad eyes. He said:
"The captain is with women from the love boat."
Tala's eyes sparked. Her head clicked to the side. Her hope returning faster than strength.
"A love boat? A love boat is here?"
"Two women and a man came. The captain took Bojan to meet them. I don't know exactly where they are. I think the Captain's cabin first."
"Who sent them?" Tala asked.
"I don't know, and it doesn't matter." Nanda got to his feet; Tala scrambled to her knees and took one of his hands.
"Oh, yes, it matters," she said and she smiled. "Call the love boat, Nanda, and they'll come for me and the other women."
Nanda's kept shaking his head. He had a plan and would not entertain any deviation. But Tala had a plan of her own.
"Nanda, go ahead of me. See that the way is clear. I'll get to the bridge on my own and call the boat. They will never know you helped me. It is my promise, Nanda. You are a good man, and you will die blessed in old age if you finish what you started."
Both Tala's hands were on his now, her eyes —one of which he could barely see — had become soft with her faith in him. Tala Reyes was a strong woman and he was sorry for what had happened to her. He knew what the captain was. He knew that the crew could be bought. What he didn't know was what had happened in the anchor room. Seeing this courageous woman, this honest crew, he knew that whatever she had done it was done righteously.
He would finish what he started. Not because he wished to die an old man with a clear conscience, but because Adeano Bianchi was a desperate man and Nanda knew he couldn't control him any longer.
Turning on his heel, Nanda started forward. He would get Tala Reyes to the bridge because that was where she wanted to make her stand, but once she was there he would not save her life. She would have to do that on her own.
"Who are you?" Adeano Bianchi advanced on Hannah.
"I'm your worst nightmare." Hannah backed away from him, keeping a distance, jockeying for a position from which she could make her escape.
She shot a glance to her left and then her right; she put her hands behind her hoping to see or feel something that might help her defend herself. But all she felt was the captain's bed when it hit up against the back of her legs.
Bianchi walked toward her, blocking the doorway between the bedroom and the sitting area. His black eyes never left hers, and Hannah read him like an open book. There he was, a man with pretend strength who feared that she might be stronger. He was terrified of her youth, and her defiance, and her beauty, and he wanted to destroy it all. Adeano Bianchi could beat Hannah to death or strangle her. He could do what he pleased but he wouldn't because he was a failure: middle aged, no longer handsome, with no shroud of charm to cover up his ugliness. Above all, he was a blowhard and a coward and Hannah called him on it.
"You won't hurt me. You're afraid." Her words dripped with disdain.
Wounded and indecisive, Bianchi made no move to stop Hannah as she came toward him. But when she was almost abreast of him she made a mistake and ignited his rage when she said:
"You're a joke."
To be made a fool of by an old woman and a black man was humiliating; to have a young girl laugh at him was unbearable. He lunged for Hannah, but she ducked, trying to skirt around him and make a dash for the cabin door while he was unsteady.
"Don't touch me. Don't touch me," Hannah cried as she ran.
Bianchi's rage drove him on and he recovered quickly, catching her arm and pulling Hannah back to him with such force it almost knocked the wind out of her. His black eyes were bright, his lips were curled into a snarl.
"What kind of whore does not want to be touched?"
The upper deck was deserted, but instead of running for the stairs to the bridge Billy went for the side of the ship. Miguel wasn't there yet, so there must still be time. He looked far down the deck to where the gangway lay against the side of the ship. He bolted for the stairs and was up them in seconds, landing on the bridge wing, shrouded in the night, looking into the bridge. The captain was not there, but Nanda was and Billy made for him. He ran hunched over, uncoiling as he burst through the door, and with a great cry threw himself on the man's back, knocking him to the ground, rolling on top of him. Straddling the first mate, Billy raised his scalpel as Nanda crossed his hands in front of his face and screamed. Putting the blade against the man's throat, Billy was ready to slit it if he didn't get the answers he wanted. Before he could ask a question, a woman's voice cut through the chaos.
"Don't. No. No, Billy."
Breathing hard, sweat dripping into his eyes, Billy shuddered as he fought to control the beast within, to be merciful as this person wanted him to be.
"No, no, stop," the woman said again, and this time her voice was soft and weary.
Billy looked away from Nanda and saw Tala Reyes, felt her hands on his arm, her breath on his cheek. Her clothes were torn and her face was battered and bruised. Tala threw her arms around him and pulled him away from Nanda who scrambled up and away.
"Nanda saved me. Nanda helped me."
She said this over and over again as Billy lay atop her, pushing her long hair away from her face as if he couldn't believe she was real.
"He helped me," she said again and Billy smiled. He pulled her to her knees and then to her feet.
"Okay. Okay, but we have to hurry," he said. Still holding Tala he turned to Nanda. "I have a boat. Lower the gangway. Nanda, take Tala. It will be waiting now. If I'm not there in two minutes, you go. Do you understand?"
He handed Tala off to Nanda, but she fought him.
"Not without you."
"Yes," Billy insisted. "I brought friends to help me find you. I won't leave without them."
"I'll help. We'll help," she said, but Billy shook his head and shoved her at Nanda.
"You have to tell the boat that we're comi — "
Before Billy could finish his sentence, before Nanda could drag Tala away and make a run for the gangway, the emergency siren blasted throughout the Faret Vild.
Billy snapped to attention.
Tala's hands went over her ears.
Nanda rushed to the bridge wing to see if the Coast Guard was boarding under the cloak of darkness.
Miguel, who was just about to turn the engine over and motor to the side of the Faret Vild, froze at the ungodly sound.
Captain Adeano Bianchi tightened his hold on Hannah's arm as he looked toward the door and swore under his breath.
Hannah seized the moment and pulled back against his grip, but he held tight. Adeano Bianchi swung around, gripping both arms.
"You bitch. You bitch," he screamed just before he slapped her across her face.
Hannah flew back onto the floor, her head spinning as she tried to remain conscious, but it didn’t matter. Adeano Bianchi was done with her. He rushed out of his cabin bellowing for Bojan to follow him. By the time Sparkle and Jamal found her, Hannah was up, leaning against the doorframe trying to steady herself. Sparkle took the girl's chin in her hand and used the edge of her shirt to wipe away the blood at the corner of Hannah's lips.
"You're okay, baby. It's all gonna be okay," Sparkle said. She handed Hannah off to Jamal, but Hannah shook off his embrace.
"I'm fine. We've got to go."
She ran for the door and Jamal and Sparkle followed.
Below decks, the African lit another cigarette. He had done what he should and activated the emergency alarm. His loyalty to the Faret Vild could not be questioned. What happened after this was Bianchi's problem.
33
Day 3 @ 2:00 A.M
Split seconds defined the discipline on the Coast Guard cutters the Vigilance and Diligence. At the first blast of the Faret Vild's siren, the men and women aboard those ships pulled on their gear, pushed out of their quarters, and manned their positions ab
ove and below deck.
The two officers who had been enjoying a bit of carnal recreation were no exception. The captain of the Vigilance was dressed in under thirty-seconds and taking the call that had already been put through to Bree Nelson.
"Nothing to see. Yes. Yes. No. Standing by." He handed the phone off to the communications ensign. "You call me the minute you hear someone back on the line."
The man snapped a command at the officer standing behind him — the officer who had only minutes ago been writhing beneath him. She followed topside, handing him a pair of binoculars as they went. The skiff was ready should a boarding party be called for, but first they would assess the situation. They put the binoculars to their eyes as the klieg lights lit up the Faret Vild.
"Activity on the bridge, sir," the female officer said. He swung the binoculars toward the bridge while she did a sweep toward the stern. "No crew on deck. No. . .wait. Wait. One o'clock. I count three heading mid-ship. Two women, sir. They have women onboard and they aren't crew."
The captain put his attention on the spot, tagging the gangway then swinging left.
"What the hell?" he said as Sparkle and Hannah came into focus.
"Nanda!"
Adeano Bianchi bellowed as he flew up the stairs leading to the bridge wing. Nanda saw the captain's lips moving, but his angry words were drowned out by the sound of the siren. Behind him, Bojan raced up the stairs and made for Nanda, but the first mate sprinted to the bridge.
"Go. Go."
He rushed at Billy and Tala, pushing at them and making to flee through the door to the bridge wing on the starboard side of the vessel.
Lost Witness Page 25