by Stuart Woods
You paid him off?
Let's say he walked away in very good shape.
Well, I'll leave him alone, if that's the way you want it, but I intend to keep an eye on him.
That can't hurt, I suppose, if you have the manpower.
Stone thought of something. Tell me, Dan, did the description of the man include a bandage on his face?
A bandage? No, nobody said anything about that. He's clean-shaven, with dark hair, going gray.
Oh.
Why did you think he might be wearing a bandage?
When I saw him he was. I thought maybe he'd had an accident or something.
Well, I've got to get going, Griggs said, turning back toward the house.
Stone looked up to see that Dolce was nowhere in sight. I'll walk with you, Stone said.
Don't bother, I can find my way, Griggs replied.
I was going to the house, anyway.
Suit yourself.
They walked down the gangplank and toward the house, with Stone casing every shrub and tree they passed.
Did I tell you it was stolen? Griggs asked.
What was?
The Cadillac, the one that was shot at.
Sounds like a drug deal gone wrong, Stone said.
Maybe, but we don't get a whole lot of drug dealing in broad daylight around the Worth Avenue shopping district.
I guess not, Stone said, still looking for Dolce.
They reached the house and walked through the central hallway and outside to where Griggs had parked his car.
Stone looked around for the silver Volvo, or for any other strange car, but saw nothing.
You know, Stone, Griggs said, his mood still somber, I've got a strong feeling that you know something I ought to know.
Me? I can't imagine what.
When I find the guys in the Cadillac, I hope I don't find out that they know you.
Since I left the force there are no drug dealers in my life, Stone said honestly.
We didn't find any drugs in the car, Griggs said. It was stolen from the airport, by the way.
I guess they couldn't get a cab.
I hear Thad Shames is getting married on Sunday, Griggs said. You want me to send a few people down here to help with the traffic?
Couldn't hurt, Stone said. Thad has hired some security for the wedding and the reception, but I don't think he's done anything about traffic.
I'll send a couple of men, Griggs said. He was about to get into the car, but he stopped. Why does Mr. Shames need private security? he asked.
Gate-crashers, that sort of thing.
Oh. Griggs got into his car. I'll see you around, Stone.
Thanks for stopping by, Dan.
Griggs drove away, and Stone began to walk slowly through the gardens, expecting at any moment for Dolce to pop up. He passed through the hedge and had a look around the swimming pool, then walked back to the yacht.
Dino was having a drink on the afterdeck.
Has Griggs put two and two together? Dino asked.
Just one and one. Apparently, a cop saw us leaving the area, and he thought we might be involved. He doesn't really know anything.
I wish I didn't know anything, Dino said. I'd really be happier that way.
I'll devote my life to keeping you ignorant, Stone replied.
I wish you would. It's tiring, knowing too much.
Tell me about it.
When are we getting out of here?
After the wedding, I guess. How about bright and early Monday morning?
Sounds good to me. It's too cold down here.
I know what you mean, Stone said truthfully.
Stone and Dino were having dinner alone together on the yacht. The crew had been given the night off, and Callie, after preparing dinner for them, had gone to work in her new office in the main house. Stone had seen little of her since Thad and Liz had decided to get married on short notice; there didn't seem to be enough hours in the day for her to get her work done.
Gee, it's kind of nice here, just you and me, Dino said. We never get to have dinner alone anymore.
Oh, shut up, Stone said. You're worse than a wife.
That's something only a bachelor could say, Dino replied.
You know, Dino, I've been thinking about marriage.
Oh, no, Dino groaned. Not again.
What kind of crack is that?
Stone, every time you start thinking about marriage, you get into terrible trouble.
Nonsense, Stone snorted.
Stone, when you were thinking about marrying Arrington, look what happened: She married somebody else, and you got involved with this flake Allison excuse me, Liz. And look at all the trouble that came out of that.
Well, that time, yes.
Then there was the English girl what was her name?
Sarah.
You sure?
I'm sure.
That didn't go so good, either, right?
Not so good.
And then you actually married Dolce well, sort of, and against all the advice I could muster. And now she's out there stalking you with a gun, and frankly, I wouldn't give you good odds on making it back to New York without taking along some excess baggage in the form of lead in your liver. Now, I ask you, what happens when you start thinking about marriage?
All right, I get into trouble, Stone said gloomily.
Stone, you're my friend, and I love you, and that's why I can say this to you: You're not cut out to be married. Never in my life have I known anybody who was less cut out to be married. Marriage is very, very hard, and believe me, you're not tough enough to handle it Callie is an awfully nice girl, Stone said mistily.
I'll grant you that.
I think it would be nice to be married to her.
I'll even grant you that, up to a point. As far as I can see, the only thing wrong with Callie is that you're thinking about marrying her.
What, you think I'm the kiss of death, or something?
I didn't say that, you did.
The sex is wonderful.
I'm glad to hear it, Dino said. Let me tell you something somebody told me when I was young and single. This was a man who had been married three times. He said to me, 'Dino, tell you what you do: When you get married, you keep a piece of chalk in your bedside table drawer, and every time you make love to your wife, you take out the chalk and make a hash mark on the wall. Then, after you've been married for a year, throw away the chalk and keep an eraser in your bedside drawer, and every time you make love, take out the eraser and erase a hash mark.'
What was his point? Stone asked.
His point was this: 'It'll take you ten years to erase all the hash marks.'
Stone laughed in spite of himself.
So, pal, my point is, if you're going to get married, you'd better have something going on in the relationship besides sex.
I knew that, Stone said.
No, you didn't, Dino sighed. You still don't.
No, I do, I really do.
Tell me this, Dino said. What makes you think she'd marry you?
Well
You think all she's looking for is a great lay? Not that you're all that great.
I could offer her a pretty good life, Stone said.
Yeah, sure. You're traipsing all over the country, doing this very strange but oddly entertaining work. You think she's going to like that? You going to take her along when you have to drop everything and go to Podunk, Somewhere?
Why not?
Because women get rooted in their homes. I guarantee you, a month after you're married, you're going to find that your house has been totally redecorated.
I like the way my house is decorated, Stone said. I did it myself.
Yeah, but Callie doesn't like it.
She hasn't even seen it.
You think that matters? She doesn't like it because you decorated it, dumbo. She won't think of it as her home until she's changed all the wallpaper and carpets and had a big garage sale an
d sold everything you love most in the house.
You really know how to make marriage attractive, Dino.
I'm telling you the truth, here.
Did Mary Ann redecorate your place?
No, she sold my place one day when I was at work, and I had nothing to say about it. Then we bought one she liked.
Oh.
Yeah.
This conversation is making me tired, Stone said.
I don't blame you. Reality is always tiring.
Stone drained the last of the wine from his glass. I'm going to bed.
Good idea. The very least you should do about this marriage idea is to sleep on it. For about a month.
I think I could sleep for a month, Stone said, yawning. I could do that.
Then go do it, pal, Dino said. I'm going to finish my wine and look out at the night. He settled himself in a big leather chair and turned on the TV.
Good night, then. Stone went to his cabin, undressed and got into bed. He stared at the ceiling, thinking about Callie redecorating his beloved house, until he fell asleep.
Then, seconds later, it seemed, Dino was shaking him.
What? Stone mumbled sleepily.
Get up. You gotta see something.
Jesus, Dino, what time is it?
A little after two.
Don't you ever sleep?
I was sleeping, in the chair in front of the TV. Then I woke up.
Stone turned over and fluffed his pillow. Then go back to sleep.
Stone, get out of the fucking bed right now and come with me.
Stone turned over and tried to focus on Dino, then he realized that his friend had a gun in his hand. He sat bolt upright, now fully awake. What's wrong?
Put your pants on and come with me.
Stone got out of bed and put his pants on, then padded along behind Dino as he led the way to the afterdeck.
Look, Dino said, waving an arm.
Look at what?
Look at the shore.
What about the shore?
We aren't tied up to it anymore.
Huh? Stone looked quickly toward where the seawall behind Thad Shames's house should have been. It wasn't there.
We're adrift, he said.
That's the word I was looking for, Dino said. Adrift!
Why?
How the hell do you think I know? What do I know about boats?
This is crazy, Stone said. The engines aren't running. Where's the crew?
Ashore, probably drunk, Dino said. What do we do?
Stone grappled with that problem for a minute. We stop the yacht, he said.
Great. How do we do that?
Come on, Stone said, let's get up to the bridge.
The bridge, Dino said, following Stone at a trot. I like that. It sounds real nautical.
Stone ran up to the bridge, which was completely dark. Find a light somewhere, he said to Dino.
I'm looking, I'm looking.
Stone began feeling along the bulkheads for a switch. Suddenly, the lights came on, but dimly.
I found it, but it's not very bright, Dino said.
That's okay, it won't ruin our night vision.
What do we do now?
We've got to get the engines started, Stone said. Look for the ignition switch.
Right here, Dino said, pointing. Trouble is, there's no key in it.
Then look for the key, Stone said, starting to open drawers in the cabinetwork. He found no key. We've got to get an anchor out.
How do we do that?
Stone looked over the instrument panel. On a yacht this size, there's probably an electric windlass. Here it is! He pressed the button, but nothing happened. We need engine power for that, too.
What about the radio? Dino asked. Call somebody.
Good idea. Stone found the VHF radio, switched it on and picked up the microphone. Channel sixteen is the calling channel. He changed the channel to 16 and pressed the switch on the microphone. Coast Guard, Coast Guard, this is the yacht Toscana, Toscana. Do you read?
Instantly a voice came back. Toscana, this is the U. S. Coast Guard. What is your request?
What was his request? He thought about it for a moment. Coast Guard, Toscana. We're adrift in the Intracoastal Waterway, and we need a tow. We have no power.
Toscana, Coast Guard. Sorry, you'll have to call a commercial towing service for that kind of help.
Stone looked at the ship's clock on the bulkhead. But it's three o'clock in the morning, he said. Where am I going to get a tow at this time of night?
Sorry, but we can't be of any help, the Coast Guard operator said. Good night, and have a good trip. Then he was gone.
Now what? Dino asked.
I'm not sure.
Well, why don't we just wait until morning and flag somebody down?
Stone pointed out the windshield. See that? he asked.
What, the bridge? Sure, I see it; you think I'm blind?
We're drifting down on it.
So what? We hit it, we'll stop. Isn't that what we want?
Dino, this is a two-hundred-and-twenty-foot yacht, and it weighs God knows how much. If we hit that bridge, either the yacht or the bridge is going to be very badly damaged, maybe both.
Dino blinked. Well, do something, for chrissakes!
Stone pressed the button on the microphone again. Any ship, any ship, this is the yacht Toscana, in need of assistance. Anybody read me?
Nothing. Silence.
It's three o'clock in the morning, Dino said. What did you expect?
Then a voice came over the radio. Toscana, Toscana, this is Winddrifter. Do you read?
Winddrifter, Toscana. I read you loud and clear.
What's your problem?
We're adrift in the Waterway with no power, and we need a tow, fast, to keep from hitting a bridge.
Sorry, Toscana, I'm halfway to the Bahamas. Afraid I can't be of any help. Good luck.
You get the feeling we're all alone? Dino asked.
Well, shit, we've got to do something, Stone said.
I'm wide open to suggestions.
Stone looked outside the bridge and saw a large inflatable dinghy on deck. There, he said. We've got to get that thing launched right now.
You mean we're going to abandon ship? Dino asked.
No, no. Come on, follow me. Stone opened the outside door and left the bridge. He ran forward to the dinghy, which appeared to be a good seventeen feet long. A big outboard motor was bolted to the stern. Look, it's already hooked up to the davit, Stone said.
To the what?
The davit, the cranelike thing. Stone yanked a cover off a pedestal. Here we go, he said, switching on the electric motor. He tried the up switch, and the dinghy rose six inches, bringing its cradle with it. Thank God it's got its own power. He set it back down on deck. Quick, let's get this thing unlashed. He glanced at the bridge. It was beginning to look very large.
Dino fumbled with the ties. Got this side undone, he said.
Mine, too, Stone said. Now, I'm going to get into the dinghy. You raise it higher than the rail, there, and use this joystick thing to swing it over the side. Then you push the down button.
I've never operated anything like this before, Dino said.
Think of it as a computer game.
I can't do those, either.
Stone hopped into the dinghy Okay, let's go.
Dino started to work the controls. He raised the dinghy three feet off the deck.
Right, now use the joystick.
Dino did something, and the dinghy began to move sideways at an alarming rate. Stone nearly fell out. Slowly! he yelled.
I thought you were in a hurry, Dino said.
Gently. Don't throw me out of the dinghy.
Dino tried again, and this time the dinghy moved smoothly over the rail and hung, suspended, six or eight feet above the water.
Great, now with the down button.
Dino found the switch, and in a moment the dinghy was in the
water. Stone unhooked the cable and was adrift. Put the davit back in the same position we found it in, he called to Dino.
Dino followed Stone's instructions. Now what? he called.
A light breeze had sprung up, and Stone was drifting rapidly away from the yacht. Find a long rope! he yelled, and go to the bow!
Where?
Up front to the pointed end. Stone felt around the instrument panel for the ignition key and found it. He tried starting the engine. It turned over but didn't start. He made his way to the stern of the dingy, found a gas tank with a fuel line leading to the engine, and pumped the attached rubber bulb a few times. Then he returned to the controls and tried again. The engine started.
Stone put the thing in gear and headed for the bows of the yacht, which was now turning sideways. Then he glanced over his shoulder and found that, in the time it had taken to launch the dingy, they were nearly to the bridge. The yacht was about to hit not one, but two of the bridge's supports.
He did the only thing he could think of. He gunned the engine and attacked the bows of the big yacht, as if the dinghy were a tugboat. Gradually, the bows of the yacht began to turn upstream, and a moment later she passed, backward, under the bridge.
Stone could see Dino standing on deck. Did you find a rope?
Yeah, a big one, too.
Make one end fast and throw me the other end. A moment later, a large coil of heavy rope hit Stone in the back of the head, knocking him down.
You trying to kill me? he yelled at Dino. He struggled back to his feet.
You said throw you the other end.
I didn't mean two hundred feet of it! Stone paid out forty feet of rope, then made it fast to a stern cleat. Okay, I've got it, he yelled.
What do I do now?
Go back to the bridge and steer the boat.
Steer it where?
Just keep it headed upstream behind the dinghy!
Okay, okay. Dino went aft toward the bridge.
And when we pass back under the bridge, don't let the yacht hit it! Stone screamed.
Thanks, Dino called back. I needed to be told that!
Stone put the engine in gear and slowly went forward until the rope was taut. For a long moment nothing happened. He applied more power and finally, the dinghy began to move forward an inch at a time, then a foot. The bows of the yacht fell into line behind him, and he aimed at the center of the bridge.
Slowly, with the outboard engine making a loud racket, the yacht moved under, then away from the bridge.