by Dick Waters
I studied the pictures again, realizing ‘Rusty’ must be the woman in the pictures. Whoever took the pictures did a good job of capturing her character. In every picture, she was either smiling or laughing, and every man’s head was focused on her. The smell of the ocean, the building, the ropes hung on the side of it, all reminded me of my own kidnapping. That woman was also a redhead. She was fairly attractive as well, but not as beautiful or endowed as the woman in the pictures. The hairs on my arms were standing out straight up and I had goose bumps all over.
There was nobody around. When I had been captured I had heard a noise behind me and the next thing I knew was I was tied to a platform and naked. She was too. Despite that entire bad situation, I was real lucky that day. Mercedes had figured out things and tried to rescue me. I couldn’t get my mind off the missing men and what they might be going through.
Was I thinking about that time when I heard a noise, or did I just hear a noise behind me? Not wanting to turn around I braced for the worst.
Chapter 63
Mike could only watch as Sam pulled the cab off the road, into the small parking lot. For some reason he thought about the large vehicles back in the states and what they would look like on these small roads. He smiled at the thought.
Sam spotted the smile and asked, “What is making you smile like that, Mr. Mike?”
“I just had a thought about what our large vehicles in the states would look like on these small roads.”
“That would be quite a sight…talk about scary on the corners. Here we are Mr. Mike. This is the address we were given.”
Mike looked at the two other vehicles parked in the lot, along with a motor scooter. Well, I don’t see any boat at the dock down there, but I suppose we should see if anyone’s here. They both got out of the cab and walked to the small shack.
*.*.*
Mike spotted a blond man kind of crouching near the front door…he looked frozen in place…even from the back he resembled somebody he knew. Sam touched him on the shoulder and the man jumped a mile and then ducked covering his head.
Sam saw his reaction and spoke up, “Mister, I’m sorry I scared you.”
I heard the man’s voice and turned. I couldn’t believe my eyes. “Mike?”
“Scott?” What the hell are you doing here?” Mike asked, with a huge smile.
I was so glad they were not who I was thinking of. “Well, I’m here trying to find Holly.”
Mike came over and gave me a big hug. “Well, a second ago, you looked more like you thought we were going to cut your head off.”
“Actually, it was something like that.”
“How long have you been here, and does anyone know you’re here?”
“I got in yesterday. No, right now you’re the only one who knows I’m here. Speaking of knowing things, why are you here?”
“A better question is how you beat us here. Are you still going to be one step ahead of me, even here? Oh, Scott, let me introduce Sam…Sam, this is Scott Tucker. Scott works in our office and should be taking care of his projects back in New England.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Sam.” I offered my hand, and Sam shook it. I addressed Mike, “My projects are okay at the moment. I thought I could be of more use here, than there.”
“Well Scott, to answer your question—we learned that the operator of this dive shop is a redheaded woman who may have purchased six dive cages recently. We wanted to talk with her.”
“Well, you can’t talk to her at the moment, but you can see what she looks like in those pictures over here.”
Mike looked at the pictures without saying anything, and then looked at them again. “She looks like she could give Mercedes a run for her money.” He looked at the pictures a third time. “Her supplier indicated yesterday she’s a strange duck, and also said she was a looker, who liked to show off her body. I see what he means.”
I asked, “What do you want to do now? Are you going to wait here for her to return?”
Mike looked at his watch and towards the ocean. “No, they could be gone for hours. I say we go someplace to talk about all of this, and see how best to team up.”
“Powerful words, ‘team up.’”
“Oh, why the hell did you jump a mile when Sam touched you?”
“To be honest, my mind was back on my own captivity. The tall redhead in the pictures brought back some ugly memories.”
“Yes, you were one lucky puppy, if I remember correctly.”
“Mike, if you hadn’t found Mercedes and me that day, both of us wouldn’t be here today.”
“Speaking of Mercedes, have you seen her since you’ve been here?”
I took a deep breath before answering. “I’ve seen her, and I’ve seen both her and Ralph…her companion.”
“Sounds like you’ve got some sensitivity there. Care to share?”
“No, not really.”
“Okay then. Why don’t we go back to my hotel and map out a plan to find these men. I think we may have found someone who bears some looking into. We can’t risk spooking her. She could possibly dispose of all of them.”
I took one last long look at the pictures. I guess it was her stature and red hair that looked familiar, but there was something about her eyes. Maybe it was how she looked at the men when the pictures were taken. It was like she was sizing up her next meal, or her next victim.
*.*.*
Sam left in the cab when we arrived back at Mike’s hotel. We went into Mike’s room to talk about what we needed to do next.
“Scott, the first thing we’re going to do is to call Paddy and let him know you’re here. I also want him to be aware of what we’ve learned so far, and to have him call Mr. Nielsen to tell him we seem to be getting closer.”
Mike got off the phone about a half hour later and said he told Paddy about the redheaded woman who purchased six dive cages, and operates a dive excursion business. Paddy told him they had learned about Shawn Dustin’s body being discovered. He also mentioned to Mike that the FBI had been informed that one of the missing yachts was found in the Bahamas. A man was taken into custody and was being questioned by several different authorities. Paddy shared with Mike that Mr. Dustin’s body showed signs of torture, including a broken fish hook where no man would want it.
My stomach was doing flip flops and I needed something to eat. “Mike, I didn’t eat well this morning, do you think we can get something to eat?”
He offered, “How about the following. You go over and check out of your hotel and move in here, which will save you some of your money. Call me when you’re leaving the hotel and I will order room service and it will be ready for you when you get here.” Mike looked outside. “It’s still light outside, but it will be dark shortly. It will be an early dinner, and we won’t have to dress for dinner either. I told Sam to pick us up here in the morning, and we can have breakfast downstairs.
*.*.*
I was glad Mike had located me, and it would make more sense to operate as a team. We did it twice before and it worked out to our benefit. On the way to my room, I stopped at the desk to tell them I would be moving in with a friend at the Hamilton Princess. The clerk was very courteous, asking if their service had been satisfactory. They were concerned I was making a change because of something they might not have done correctly. I reassured them it was nothing like that.
I had my small amount of stuff packed in no time. I also realized I needed to turn in my scooter at the rental shop.
Chapter 64
Margaret left the door open just below deck, giving the men a view of her changing back into her bikini. As she looked into the mirror, she got excited seeing them watching her. She had the wet suit off, but was taking her time brushing her hair. They were like boys looking into the girls’ locker room. She turned to put on the bikini bottoms, smiling in the direction of the door. You’ve been caught guys. When she waved, they turned their heads away.
She went topside, acting like nothing was wrong with what
just happened. “Okay, boys the ladies room is available for you men to change now. They all rushed simultaneously to the door. Now, it’s my turn. She went to the bow, moved a very small brass plate, and watched the men as they changed into their street clothes. This is the best part…no, not really…those are. She picked out who she would add to her ‘guest suite,’ but realized she would have to get him back to her house first. It was going to be dangerous, but she was more than ready. When they were almost dressed she closed the small hatch, and returned to the stern.
She handed a business card to all the men, but when she handed the chosen one his card, she had written a note on the back. She showed him the back discretely, and winked at him. When she turned, she made sure she brushed against him. She was on fire now. Maybe I should ask them all if they want to come back to my house. The men were so quiet, not like they had been before they all changed.
She went to the bow, pulling on the rope until the boat was over the anchor line. She could feel eyes devouring her. She gave them the best view she could think of and then the anchor let go. She worked the rope, wishing they were in deeper water so she could continue the display. She could see her excitement in the top of her yellow bikini. She smiled; all six heads had to be focused on her right now. She was glad she was going to be able to get some relief when she got home.
When she came back to the cabin, all of the men turned quickly and looked at some imaginary object. She had this scenario down pat…I know what’s happening and know what you will do next. Her feet went out from under her and she was in a heap on the floor. They all came over to see if she was alright. It gave her the view she wanted. “I’m sorry. I slipped on the wet floor. I’ll have to be more careful next time.” They all helped her get to her feet, but their eyes were focused where she wanted them. If they really thought about it…how did the front of my top get wet if I landed on my back?
They all were seated at the rear of the boat, but they were like crows on a wire…all looking at her. Every once in a while she would look over her shoulder and smile. She knew just how to stand to get the most out of the trip.
Once they were tied up at the dock, they all thanked her for the great dive. She collected the fee from each of them and she thanked them all for the extra tips. “Are you men coming back to see me again soon?”
The question surprised them, but then one answered, “Our plane leaves the day after tomorrow, but we wanted to make a dive before we left the island.”
She smiled. “Well if any of you change your mind on tomorrow, another excursion can be arranged. You have my number…it rings at my house if I’m not here. I can also give you a reduced rate if only one of you can make it.” Margaret looked at the man she had chosen and winked at him.
He smiled, looking at the card and then at the back. It said, ‘YOU have to call me!’ His smile got even wider.
As she climbed off the boat, the men followed her up the gangplank to the path and parking area. As the men walked by, she made a point of touching the back of the man’s pants.
After they were gone, the office phone started ringing. She rushed inside to answer it. “Hello, Rusty’s.”
“It’s me. I have the pictures you wanted. Can I count on the bonus you talked about?”
“I’ll leave it in the usual place.”
He added, “The pictures are already waiting for you. One other thing…”
“Yes. Is this going to cost extra?”
“I hope so. I took pictures of the FBI lady and her associate. They were being followed again by a young man on a motor scooter. I took a picture of him for you. I followed them all to Denny Longo’s boat, and the two FBI agents went out in his boat again. Here’s what you need to really know…the young man came to your dive shop, meeting two other men there. I think it was by accident, but they looked like they knew each other. When they left the dive shop, I followed them to the Hamilton Princess. When I was about to leave, the young man left the hotel and went over to the Hamilton Harbor Hotel.”
She thought about what he said. “You did great. I’ll leave some extra for you. If I need to reach you, can I still reach you at the number I had before?”
“You can. Are you sure we can’t spend a few minutes together?”
“I’ll see you. You can see me in your dreams. Bye.”
*.*.*
She locked up the dive shop, heading to the usual drop place. Picking up the package, she left an envelope with his cash in it. She rushed to the truck to see what the people looked like. She couldn’t believe her eyes. There really is a God…I’m sorry…there really is a Devil…and it wears a yellow bikini.
Minutes later she was on the phone to her friend. “Hello, it’s me this time.”
He asked, “Did you change your mind about spending some time with me?”
She hesitated. “Sort of…I’ll make a deal with you. If you can find the young man you saw on the scooter, and bring him to my boat, I’ll tie you up all weekend when we’re both available. How does that sound?”
“How soon do you want him delivered?”
“Yesterday would be soon enough.”
“I’ll try right now, because I know where he was the last time I saw him. I’ll hold you to your promise about that weekend.”
“No, my friend…I will hold you to it. Call me. Bye.” This was incredible news. She started the truck, giving some thought as to who was going to get lucky when she got home. She was ready for all of them. They must have missed her while she was away.
Chapter 65
I checked out of the hotel, leaving my bags just off the lobby. I needed to return the scooter since I would now be helping Mike with his investigation. I started up the scooter and drove down the alley right next door. When I turned in the scooter, the woman returned my deposit money. She was curious if something was wrong with it. I indicated there were no problems. I just had another friend who had a rented vehicle.
Rather than head back to the street, I took the footpath, making it easier for hotel guests to get to the rental place. The hotel offered a discount if you used their rentals.
I could see the harbor lights along the path, which was elevated considerably above the level of the bay. The path was lighted, but different sections were in darkness, needing some obvious maintenance. I could see the hotel in the distance, but I was more focused on the harbor view. I passed a small parking area, which might have been used for employees, since it wasn’t crowded with vehicles. As I continued walking, I observed only one other person since I left the rental shop.
I said, “Hello,” as I passed him. The man looked familiar.
“Good evening sir.” I heard him stop walking. “Wait. Excuse me; you’re one of the people I took pictures of today.”
I stopped walking, waiting for him to approach me. He reached in his sport coat pocket, pulling out a picture, handing it to me. “Here, you can have this picture…I have other copies.”
I could tell it looked like me standing in the photo, but I really couldn’t see any detail. He waved me to look at it under the light at the parking area. A minute later I was trying to see the picture under the improved but limited light. Then all the lights went out.
Chapter 66
By the time Margaret reached home, she had worked up an appetite and was ready to devour the best beef she had on hand. However, it wasn’t four footed beef she had in mind for dinner. Well, technically it was correct, but they came in pairs. Her interest was on her two friends…Nils and Jules. Her teasing the men on the boat had her so excited she didn’t care about eating food, she was interested in another kind of craving.
She was still wearing the bikini from the earlier excursion. She headed straight to the basement. When her bare feet felt the cool sand between her toes, she could feel the warmth elsewhere. She stopped to listen, wondering if they were all talking again. There weren’t any voices, only the occasional sound of the chains rattling. She snuck up to Nils’ cell, watching his limited movement. He w
as awake, but she could see his eyes opening and closing slowly. He was falling asleep.
She waited until his eyes were closed, then silently unlocked his cell door and approached him. Teasing the men on the boat and seeing Nils’ naked frame, caused her breathing to become rapid. She resisted her urges, waiting and watching, then waiting some more. She could hear his deep breathing, knowing he was now fully asleep. He had an incredible build. Although she knew every inch of him by now, she needed to study him some more. Her chest was heaving. She could hear the air escaping from her lungs.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw his eyes flutter. She turned to see his eyes get huge as he realized she was standing there. His eyes went to her yellow bikini top. He closed them quickly. She jabbed him, and his eyes popped open. He was pretty well trained by now. She shed her top, running it over his chest and down his body. She looked down, noticing them both getting excited. Several minutes later, he was no longer in control of his body. She had all the puppet strings, knowing just how to pull them. She could write a book with what she had learned. She closed her eyes, focusing on the man she saw in the photo.
Later, they were both soaking wet from perspiration. She felt like she was burning up, even though it was cool in his cell. Nils couldn’t physically respond to her any longer, so she was just wasting her time. She remembered the tall black man just next door. Why waste my time here any longer, when I have Jules’ jewels right next door.
Margaret picked up her bikini from the sandy floor, heading out of Nils’ suite. She thought she heard something, stopping to listen. It was the phone ringing in the distance. She went running down the hall and up the stairs. The phone was still ringing when she reached it. “Hello?”