The Pandora Box

by Lilly Maytree

  Dee gasped at the thought and was about to object. Eddington suddenly looked deadly serious.

  “Withholding information,” he warned, “any information that might lead to his arrest or apprehension, is a crime against your country.”

  He took a package of gum from the pocket of his black jacket and began to peel the green wrapper off as he talked. “Why did you leave Oregon so quick?”

  “Well…” Dee faltered, “maybe I eloped.”

  Eddington popped a piece of gum in his mouth, shook his head in disappointment, and sighed before looking her in the eye again. “What do you think we are here, stupid? If you’re just on some honeymoon cruise, then what are you doing on Goering’s boat?”

  “I was under the impression that it was my boat, Mr. Eddington, because Peterson gave it to me.” Dee realized she was way out of her element and trying to match wits with someone who had started ten steps ahead of her.

  “Goering once chartered that boat to entertain some high-up Nazi officials.” Eddington rolled the gum wrapper into little ball and tossed it into a nearby wastebasket. “It’s one of that town’s most popular rumors. Any history book will tell you he was a fanatic about fine jewels. Wore expensive rings. Was known to travel with a vase full of diamonds wherever he went. His aides would bring them to him for amusement on long journeys. He flaunted them everywhere. Heinrich Keller was one of those aides to Goering.”

  “Peterson did say it had been chartered by wealthy Nazis, and he admitted taking the diamonds the last time they were there. Something he regretted most of his life, because he was always worried someone would catch up with him.”

  No one spoke as she went on. “I don’t think he’s had any home but that boat for the last fifty years. If he was this Keller person you’re talking about, would he have drawn so much attention to himself as a sportsman and adventurer? Arctic expeditions, mountain climbing…hardly the sort of recognition someone in hiding would pursue.”

  “Or a very brilliant one.” He pulled out a chair and sat down across from her. “Do you always accept such expensive presents from wealthy gentlemen? You’re not saying you became so infatuated with this eighty-some-year-old man that you eloped with him?”

  “Good heavens, no!”

  “I didn’t think so. What you became infatuated with, Dee, was fifty million dollars in diamonds. But who could blame you?”

  “There’s no law against treasure hunting, Mr. Eddington.”

  “No, there sure isn’t. And as long as you and your party stay within the law…well, shoot, I guess you’re as free to treasure hunt as the next person.”

  “That’s all I thought I was doing, so what’s your point?”

  “The point is, we’d like to make a little deal with you.”

  “On the fifty million?” she gasped.

  “No, ma’am. Making that kind of deal under the pretenses of an arrest, now that would be a felony, wouldn’t it?”

  “I should think so.”

  “Sure it is. And I might remind you that it is also a felony to bribe a federal officer with that kind of offer, too.”

  “But I didn’t make any offers! You were the one who—”

  “I’m willing to overlook it this time. You willing to overlook it, Ren?” His partner nodded slightly to signify approval.

  “See,” Eddington went on, “we’re all in agreement. Now, let’s get down to business.”

  “Business about what?” Dee began to feel panicked again. “You’re putting words in my mouth and I won’t have it! I’m not going to say anything else without a lawyer present. I believe that’s one of those rights you didn’t tell me about. I’m allowed to have a lawyer, aren’t I?”

  He gave a wide smile. “You’re a smart enough woman to figure out this little interrogation is unofficial, aren’t you?”

  “Lord help me…” she closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “Are you police officers or aren’t you?”

  “You saw our identification.”

  “Not very well, I didn’t.”

  “Then we’ll show it to you again. Get your badge out, Ren, we’re making the lady nervous, I can see that right now.”

  Dee scrutinized their badges a little longer than necessary since she wasn’t sure she could tell a real one from a fake. “Federal Bureau of Investigation…you expect me to believe this is your downtown office?”

  “It’s just a convenient place to talk, Dee. As I said before, this meeting here is unofficial. You surfaced with a notorious piece of evidence that has been linked with an international criminal, known to have been operating within our jurisdiction. Now, we can either take you downtown and arrest you on charges of grand theft and espionage, or…”

  Dee went faint under the impact of the words.

  “Or, you can agree to cooperate.” He leaned his forearms on the table and brought his head so close that she could smell the mint in his chewing gum. “So, which is it going to be?”

  15

  Surveillance

  “We stood…shivering in the damp, chilly air, and looking in the gray fog like uneasy spirits.” ~ Nellie Bly

  It was almost dark when Dee was dropped off at the Berkley Marina.

  By that time, the air was cool, with a heavy salt-scented fog that reduced all the boats to ghost-like shadows. Somewhere out on the bay, the long doleful moan of a buoy whistle made a sound that started a ripple of chill over her bare arms. She wished she had a sweater for the long walk out to the transient dock where Pandora was tied. Instead, she folded her arms, bowed her head, and hurried down the ramp to the main dock, where she suddenly ran into Hawkins on his way up.

  “Where the devil have you been?” he asked, unable to hide the edge of concern in his voice. “Marion came back so hysterical Starr had to force a double scotch down her. Are you all right?”

  “I am now.”

  He looked her over intently, as if to make sure. Then he took his black windbreaker off and draped it over her shoulders as they continued down the ramp. “What happened?”

  “I got picked up by the FBI.”

  He stopped suddenly.

  “Listen”—she turned back to him—”it’s a long story, but—uh-oh, they’re still up there.”

  “Who?”

  Before he could turn to look, she threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Hawk, act like you missed me! I let them think we…”

  “Dee Parker,” he spoke the name with such pent-up frustration, she thought he was going to yell. “Do not tell me you lied to the FBI!” But he circled her waist in an answering embrace and fairly lifted her off her feet in repressed anger. “Or I swear, I will…”

  “They knew about the diamonds and the boat!”

  “There’s no law against what we’re doing here. Why couldn’t you just tell the truth?”

  “Don’t squeeze me so hard!” She pushed away from him, thought better of it and linked her arm in his as they started walking again. “The evidence was so incriminating against me, and they had me in a corner.”

  “What evidence?”

  “Something about grand theft and espionage.”

  He stopped abruptly again. “That’s it, sweetheart. The deal’s off. You can take your—”

  “Hawk.”

  “I can’t go anywhere with that kind of—”

  “Hawkins! Do you want to hear what I have to say, or don’t you?”

  “You’ve obviously said enough already.” He looked back at the dark car. “What are they waiting for?”

  “They’re watching us, probably.” She coaxed him along once more. “To see if you’re acting the way a concerned, overly distraught husband should be.”

  “Husband?”

  “I let them think we eloped.”

  “How could that help anything?”

  “Everything happened so fast, I—”

  “You realize by doing that, you’ve linked me up with the same charges?” This time when he swore, it was not under his breath. “What wer
e you thinking?”

  “It was the only thing that came to my mind. I guess I was—”

  “How come they let you off if they suspect you of something that serious?”

  “I had to agree we’d work with them, or they wouldn’t have.”

  The next swear word he breathed with such vehemence that she inwardly braced for a complete blow-up. But he managed to keep it intact for a few moments of determined silence while all the implications sank in. “You had no right to get the rest of us mixed up in something like that when—”

  “Oh, what was I supposed to do?” She ducked in time to avoid an overly long bowsprit that stretched out over the dock. “I just spent two of the scariest hours of my life thinking I was going to end up as a statistic somewhere! They said I could either go to jail or cooperate…what would you have done?”

  “I wouldn’t have implicated my friends.”

  Now she was the one to stop and confront. “You’re an American, aren’t you? Are you saying if your government asked for your help with something, you’d have the audacity and the…the capacity, to say no?”

  He looked at her for a moment and in the fading gray of evening, she thought she detected a sudden glimmer of distrust in his eyes.

  He reached out a tentative hand before she realized what he was doing, ran a searching finger along the neckline of her blouse. “Are you wearing a wire?”

  She pushed his hand away. “Of course not! How could you even think something like that?”

  “Because that sounded like a textbook question for a commie rap, that’s why. I spent twenty years of my life in the military and the wrong answer to a question like that could get me in some serious trouble.”

  Worry softened the rugged handsomeness of his features and made him look vulnerable, causing Dee’s conscience a twinge of regret over the predicament. She sighed miserably.

  “How was I supposed to know that? I was scared and that’s all I could think of. Oh, I’ll…do what I can to straighten things out tomorrow. But let’s not argue anymore, Hawkins. I’m cold and I’m tired.”

  Her voice quavered and she realized she was on the verge of a good cry. She didn’t dare say another word. Instead, she pulled the windbreaker more snuggly around her and began walking.

  But he did notice. He hesitated only a moment, then put an arm around her. He drew her close up against him again as they walked the rest of the way in silence.

  An odd sense of security swept through her and the reassuring strength of the protective gesture had a soothing effect. He couldn’t mean it. She chided herself for being so impressionable. She was just having a delayed reaction to the trying experience. Perfectly natural. Still, she melted against the inviting shelter of his body, enjoying the warmth and the way he moved with an easy stride.

  Dee felt even more secure in Pandora’s welcoming atmosphere. The spacious main cabin was warm from the stove fixed to the forward bulkhead that radiated a fine, even heat throughout the entire yacht.

  As soon as Dee climbed down inside, Marion threw her arms around her and cried.

  Even Starr was misty-eyed as he mixed her one of his own variations of a hot, buttered rum, which Dee insisted he leave the rum out of.

  “Listening to this crazy woman for the last half hour,” he shook his head, “almost had me convinced you were the latest victim of a serial killer.”

  “Well, I was worried!” Marion pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her nose. “Oh, Dee, I just didn’t know what to think!”

  “I was pretty scared myself,” she admitted.

  “Hawk’s been pacing the docks out there for the last hour.” Starr handed Dee a steaming mug brimming with all sorts of spicy aromas. “I thought he was going to hire a taxi and start combing the streets when Marion came back without you.”

  “Worried about my investment.” Hawk closed the companionway doors.

  Dee sank into the comfortable red upholstery and took a sip of the hot drink. “Mmmm. Thank you. I practically froze walking down here.”

  “There’s been a change in plans,” Hawk informed them. “Instead of hitting the town tonight, I think we’d all feel better if we just barbecued some steaks right here. That way we can have a group conference.”

  “That suits me,” said Marion. “I’ve had all the excitement I can take for one day.”

  There was a knock against the hull.

  “Hello the boat…anybody aboard?” A man called.

  Dee recognized Eddington’s voice immediately, but she didn’t say a word as Hawk turned and went back up on deck again.

  “Your wife forgot her camera.” The officer handed it over the rail. “Name’s Eddington. I work for the Bureau.”

  Hawk took the camera. “I don’t know whether to shake your hand or punch you in the nose,” he admitted. “I haven’t had time to hear the details.”

  “Well, it looks like you have a real adventure cut out for you. Good luck, Major Wayne Hawkins, US Army.”

  “Retired.”

  “Two years ago, honorable discharge, out of Honolulu, Hawaii. We did some checking on you, too.”

  “I didn’t agree to anything.”

  “Better talk to that wife of yours, then. The trouble with hasty marriages, they sometimes conceal surprises. In case you haven’t noticed, she has an odd mixture of guts and patriotism. Dangerous combination.” He reached into an inside pocket of his jacket and took out a business card. “You can reach me at this number if you have any questions.”

  “I have plenty of questions, bud,” Hawkins replied. “The first one is: what makes you think I’ll go along with any of this?”

  “Because according to your records, you’re a pretty gutsy patriot yourself.” As if that explained everything, he turned to leave. “See you around, Major.”

  16

  The Round Table

  “Nonsense! If you want to do it, you can do it. The question is, do you want to do it?” ~ Nellie Bly

  Hawk returned without a word, placed the camera inside the engine room, and turned on the diesel. The motor came to life with a loud, steady hum.

  “Holy fright,” Starr complained. “Are we gonna make another midnight run? I’m not familiar with these waters.”

  “We’re going out for dinner after all.” He looked at Dee as he spoke. “It seems Miss Lois Lane here has fixed it so we can’t do any real talking aboard the yacht. Not until we get out to sea about three days anyway.”

  “I’m sure I don’t…” Dee defended.

  “Let’s save the explanations for the round table. You can fill us in on your little episode this afternoon and then we can all take a vote whether or not we want to go on.”

  “Why wouldn’t we want to go on?” Starr asked.

  “I want to go on,” Marion said cheerily. “I haven’t had this much excitement in years.”

  “You might change your mind when you hear what we’ve got ourselves into. For the record, no more talking about anything but cruising while we’re here in port. Food, bargains, the weather…we’re all on vacation. Got it?”

  Dee exchanged her short-sleeve blouse for a white angora sweater and splashed on some cologne. The cheery fire and hot drink had warmed her, and she was finally starting to feel halfway normal again as they made their way back up to Market Street.

  Marion and Starr seemed to have developed a companionable rapport and were walking a little way ahead, enjoying the sights.

  Dee and Hawkins were walking in a silence that was charged with volatile unspoken words. Halfway to the restaurant, she thought he was going to put his arm around her, but he only steered her clear of an oncoming pedestrian whom she failed to notice because she was stealing a glance at Hawk.

  Martinelli’s was a cozy little Italian place overlooking the water, complete with red-checked cloths and candles on every table.

  They picked a private far-off corner that was made further ideal by the soft background of Italian music and the pleasant hum and buzz of a popular re
staurant. They listened to Dee’s story of how she had been whisked off Market Street, pausing only to order large platters of scampi, manicotti, and linguini with clams.

  “Let’s get to the vital question.” Hawk buttered another slice of warm sourdough bread before he looked across the table at Dee. “Why did you lie?”

  “First of all,” she explained, “I didn’t lie. I just threw out a sort of what-if scenario because they had me backed into a corner. I said maybe I had done it, and they just naturally believed I had. They were trying to intimidate me. I needed a diversion, and that was the best I could come up with on the spur of the moment.”

  Marion and Starr looked at her.

  She didn’t continue.

  Hawk jabbed at his salad as if he had a personal vendetta against it. After a few moments, he tossed his fork onto his plate with a decisive thump and took a drink of water.

  “Well, Dee,” Marion finally prompted, “what exactly was it that you maybe did?”

  “When they asked me why I left Oregon so fast, I said maybe I eloped.”

  Hawk reached for his wine.

  Marion’s mouth fell open.

  Star took another piece of warm bread from the basket. “What business is it of theirs anyway?” he asked before returning his attention to linguini with clams.

  Dee pushed her barely touched scampi aside and put the red linen napkin from her lap back onto the table. “Quite a bit, actually. You see, they know about the boat and the diamonds.”

  Starr dropped the bread that was halfway to his mouth.

  “They know everything. More than us, even, because I had no idea Peterson was some Nazi war criminal they’ve been following for years.”

  “Wait a minute,” Hawk spoke. “Something doesn’t make sense, here. If they were following him for years, how come they never arrested him?”

  “Because by the time they did find him,” Dee replied, “he was working as a Soviet agent in some spy ring that—”