by Rick Potter
Jake was reborn, seeing things he'd only seen on TV, but more enthusiastic about possible alligator sightings, and seeing sharks later. "Do you think we'll see any sharks when we're on the boat?" he asked.
"It's possible... but I hope not."
Sam became more nervous the closer they got to Key West. Recalling Maddie's verbal explosion and ultimatum plagued him with regret. He had agreed, purchasing something as expensive as a boat online and having not had seen it in person was irresponsible, but he was determined to prove this trip would be a cure for all their problems. Captain Kent had assured her she was making the right choice, and promised to help them anyway he could.
As an added sign of good faith, he had planned on stopping at Sloppy Joe's Bar, where Hemingway often frequented while in Key West. Seeing how her father was a Hemingway fan, he thought she'd enjoy the detour. But time was running short, they needed to be at the marina well before dark.
Hours elapsed, when Sam announced the arrival to Mango Bay Marina with the blasting of the van's horn. Maddie and Emily gazed out the windows watching peoples heads turn in their direction. "Gotta make the grand entrance, huh?" Maddie remarked.
Emily perked up when two tanned young men with ripped abs approached and guided them to the unloading zone. Even Maddie sneaked a glance at the handsome studs. "I'll show them where the bags are," Emily said, then slid the door open and stepped to the rear of the van.
Amazed at all the boats, Jake flew out and ran to the docks. "Jake!" Maddie yelled. "Don't go far."
Moments later, a handsome middle-aged, Captain Kent Poulsen drove up in a golf cart with the inscription, Captain Kent, your trusted boat broker, written on the sides. Tall and full of energy, he leaped from the cart and greeted them with a jovial Scandinavian accent. "Welcome, you must be the Peterson Family. I'm Captain Kent." His baggy white pants and blue striped shirt made him look more like a skipper than a captain.
Kent Poulsen had started sailing at a young age while living in the quaint Danish harbor town of, Struer. Young Kent had no intentions of following in his father's footsteps as a fisherman, he had bigger plans for his life. The idea of circumnavigating the globe was more adventurous than spending his life around fish. Fearing how his father would react, Kent packed their thirty-two foot sailboat and set sail in the middle of the night, never saying goodbye, or returning.
He made his way across the Atlantic, to the upper east coast of the United States, then took his time sailing down to Key West. He picked up odd jobs at various marinas along the way, getting paid under the table. It wasn't what he had planned, but since he didn't have a passport, he didn't have much of a choice.
His charming personality and knowledge of boats awarded him many invites on customers boats. He had become the "Go to" guy, attracting customers from other marinas. He was a goldmine to the marina, and after several years when the position opened, was promoted to marina manager. His income as manager and the commissions he earned from selling boats, allowed him to maintain the lifestyle he desired, but it was his moonlighting job that earned him the most.
The closer he got to them, the more handsome he looked. Maddie couldn't help but stare at his piercing blue eyes and windblown curly golden hair. He looked like he'd just stepped out of a Tommy Hilfiger catalogue. His accent was the icing on the cake, and her attraction for him was apparent to Sam.
Sam extended his hand. "Yep, we're the Peterson clan. It's nice to meet you, finally."
"Clan?" Maddie mumbled. "Really?"
"I'll have the kids put your bags in the trolley," Captain Kent said, motioning to his two shirtless helpers gawking over Emily. "Let's go to my office and get you set up."
"Come on, Em," Maddie said.
"I'll stay and help with the bags."
The large office was decorated with nautical knick-knacks and fishing nets with seashells attached. A large marlin spanned the length of one wall with photos of being reeled in. Boating reference books filled a bookshelf placed next to a cork board with Polaroid photos of satisfied new boat owners. "Nice office," Sam said.
Captain Kent stuffed papers into an envelope and handed it to Maddie. "These are for you," he said. "And these are for you," he added, handing Sam the keys to their boat. "Congratulations."
Sam concealed his excitement, but his smile told another story. "Thank you," he said, with a handshake.
"Come on, I'll show you to your boat."
Sam felt like a VIP being escorted to the next tee box. Maddie and Emily strolled behind the cart chatting with the two tanned boys pushing the trolley. "Really? I thought you were sisters?" one of them said.
Captain Kent idled slow through the meandering road of the marina, making sure to point out all the amenities. Mango Bay Marina was a scenic botanical garden paradise. The smell of seawater mixed with the scents of flourishing exotic foliage, lush grass, and scattered coconut, banana and mango trees created an atmosphere of relaxed therapy. Small outbuildings were painted white with shades of blue trim. Red umbrella canopies rose from a sandy beach area where children constructed sandcastles, and adults read their favorite novels, or magazines.
Through the second story glass plate window of the quaint restaurant, employees were getting ready for Happy Hour. Tiki lamps were being lit on the veranda that overlooked the marina with an endless view of the horizon. A large grassy area near the marina slips provided enthusiasts with exercise equipment, playground, basketball, and enough room for Frisbie, and a mini-soccer game. There was something for everyone.
Captain Kent stopped in front of a locked chain link gate. Beyond the fence, rows of sailboats were docked in slips. Putting on airs like a Mayor in a small town parade, Captain Kent returned greetings from his many guests. "We have a nice community here," he said.
"You mean, some of these people are live-aboards?" Sam asked, climbing out of the cart.
"Some are, but most are annual repeat visitors."
After unlocking the gate, he led them down the dock, while Jake ran ahead pointing at boats, declaring of each one, "I'll bet this is it."
They approached Jake at the end of the dock standing in front of a forty-foot Island Packet sailboat. "Good guess, young man."
It looked better than the photos Sam had seen on the internet, especially with the name, Madeline inscribed across the bow. Sam had gone to great lengths to get her name changed in time for the unveiling. Her fine lines and white glossy hull revealed she had been well cared for by the previous owner, just as Captain Kent had told him. The tall mast seemed to rise above the others in the marina. Her bow pulpit extended over the dock like a hood ornament on a luxury car. Sam's expression validated his gratification. "What do you think?" he asked Maddie, then placed his arm around her expecting an affectionate response.
"Not too vain," she remarked with a snide tone, then slid out from his arm to tighten her shoelace.
Jake and Emily dashed across the gangplank and boarded. "This is great, Dad," Jake said. He darted the length of the boat to the bow pulpit and spread his arms. "I'm king of the world!"
"You're such a cliche," Emily remarked.
After Captain Kent introduced features of the cockpit, he led them down four steps to the cabin. Sam stood in awe. It was complete with more conveniences and luxuries than their home. Under the cockpit at the stern were two separate bedrooms, which Emily and Jake had already declared. In front of Emily's room was the kitchen, or "galley" as Captain Kent referred to it. The navigation table with all the instrumentation a sailor needed, was situated in front of Jake's room.
Lined along the starboard and port side, portholes were above the wrap-around sofas and tables that faced each other. Sam and Maddie followed Captain Kent between the tables down the narrow aisle to a door at the bow. "And behind this two inch solid teak soundproof door," he said, like a game show host, "is where magic happens," then swung the door open, flashing a suggestive wink to Sam. "The last owners installed new weatherstripping around the door to prevent air from en
tering. No drafts. No noise."
Sam and Maddie stared down at the wall to wall bed in the stateroom, larger than the one they had at home. The empty book shelf, attached to the wall, was positioned between portholes with curtains tied back by decorative rope. A roof hatch above the bed allowed for additional sunlight and air.
"And the head is a Jack and Jill setup, with doors from the cabin and the stateroom for added privacy," he added.
After family photos were taken posing on the dock in front of Madeline, Captain Kent offered the use of his golf cart. "You might want to stock up on some last minute provisions. There's a good sized market about a mile up the road, and they also have boating supplies. They're actually cheaper than we are. And just to be on the safe side, don't forget about the flares. You never know."
Sam and Maddie stood in the cockpit, waving at Captain Kent strolling back up the dock toward his cart. "She's officially ours now," Sam said, placing his arm around her.
"I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat," she said, once again escaping his arm.
Seated in his golf cart, Captain Kent dialed a number on his cell phone, smiling and waving to Sam and Maddie. "It's all set. Meet me at the restaurant, I'll give you the information there," then flipped his phone shut.
###
Sam and his family huddled in the quaint marina restaurant booth against the glass plated window feasting on burgers and fries. Decorated in a nautical theme with signed photo frames of celebrities pasted the wall behind the bar area, gave an appearance it had been frequented by many famous people. The framed photo of Ernest Hemingway, told the truth that it wasn't. The marina was built years after his death.
Sam and Jake admired the parade of boats sailing through the harbor. Emily kept watch for handsome boys. Uninterested, Maddie stared through the reflection of the window surveying the room of customers.
"There's a nice sailboat," Jake kept saying, pointing to one of many.
"They all look the same after a while," Emily retorted.
Through the reflection, Maddie noticed Captain Kent entering through the front doors. After a brief glance around, he marched to a small corner table where a person was seated. All Maddie could see of the person was the red and blue hooded windbreaker. Standing over the table, he handed the person a small piece of paper, spoke a few words, then pointed from the hip at the booth where Maddie was seated. He was there for less than a minute before turning and exiting.
Maddie turned toward the person reading the note and wondered what it said. Her attention was then diverted to a news reporter speaking on the small portable TV hanging by a chain over the bar area. "New evidence confirms the brutal slaying of at least five people to be at the hands of escaped fugitive, Dorothea Silva..."
At the same moment, Jake yelled out, "Look, Mom. That one looks like ours."
Maddie turned toward Jake, but listened to the reporter. "Her escape has left authorities baffled to her whereabouts. Serving only four months of her thirty-year prison term for..."
Jake's nonstop excitement prevented her from hearing everything the reporter said, and the photo of the woman on the screen was blurred from the reflection of the window. When she turned toward the TV, she was able to only catch a glimpse of a long-haired Hispanic woman just as it disappeared from the screen. "Again, she is considered armed and extremely dangerous."
Maddie scanned the room. Patrons were too busy conversing about boating experiences to pay attention to the TV. She glanced back to the table where Captain Kent had been, but the person with the windbreaker had gone. She whipped back toward her family. "Did you guys hear that?" Her question went unanswered.
When they had finished eating and were exiting the restaurant, a news reporter on the TV announced, "Up next, an advisory warns boaters to take precaution for the first summer storm approaching."
###
After accompanying Emily and Jake back to the boat, Sam and Maddie accepted Captain Kent's offer to borrow his golf cart to drive to the market. "Don't forget the flares," he had told them.
Propped against the shopping cart handle, Sam ogled Maddie leaning over and rummaging through the frozen fish bin. Her shorts crept up, exposing more leg than he thought appropriate. "We are fishing, you know," Sam reminded her.
"Exactly, that's why I'm buying it here."
Just feet away, a large rugged looking Latin man appearing to be in his early forties, held a basket looped through his arm containing a box of Trix breakfast cereal. Maddie straightened from the bin, and adjusted the back of her shorts. He glanced down and away, flustered at quick peek of her protruding nipples through her thin white tank top. "You f-fishing?" he stammered, with a dumbfounded Spanish accent.
Maddie giggled. Most men wouldn't be able to take their eyes off her, but not this one. There was something about this large innocent man that attracted her. "Not if we can help it," she answered, placing packages of filets in the cart.
"W-Where you s-sailing to?" the man asked, trying to avoid eye contact at her chest.
"Who said we were sailing?" Sam asked.
Maddie sensed the man was harmless, and probably just made a lucky guess. "We're going to visit the Dry Tortugas."
"And do some fishing along the way," Sam added.
"Th-Th-That sounds f-fun, we used to d-d-do that, too. I'm C-Carlos," he said.
Maddie inspected Carlos's large hand being offered to her. It was clear he wasn't too bright. In fact, he seemed to be a pleasant simple man with a child-like chastity concealed behind his brawny build. He held her hand like a fragile porcelain figurine. His hand was rough, not like a school teacher's. She guessed he was a migrant farmer, or laborer of some sort. "You're t-top d-d-dollar," he said, releasing her hand, then offering it to Sam.
Sam prepared for a squeezing contest, wiping his hands on his pants first. To his surprise, his hand was held with gentleness of a woman. "It's nice to meet you, Carlos, but we better get going now, our children are waiting for us."
"W-Wait a m-minute, b-before you go. You t-think you c-can g-give me and my s-sister a ride d-down the c-coast? We promise n-not to be any t-trouble." He was a child asking for a toy in a toy store.
Maddie felt sorry for him. In a sympathetic tone she answered, "I'm sorry, but this is kind of a special trip for us, maybe another time, okay?"
"O-Okay. You f-f-folks have a nice t-trip," he said, scratching his five-o'clock shadow.
Sam whispered to Maddie as they approached the register, "That guy's not the sharpest hook on the line."
"Be nice."
Maddie left Sam to take care of the groceries while she examined a Missing Persons bulletin board near the exit. Displayed were photos and posters of people of all ages overlapping one another. Most had been reported to the local police with case identification numbers, while others had been posted by concerned friends or family members. One thing they all had in common were, they disappeared from the same area while on vacation.
Sam caught up to her fumbling the bags of groceries, "What are you doing?"
"Look at all these missing people. Here's two sisters about Em and Jake's age. They've been missing since the day before yesterday."
"So young," he whispered. "How sad."
After a long pause skimming through the assorted photos, he added, "They all seem to be last seen from this area."
Maddie was struck with a sense of urgency. "We better get back to the boat."
###
Sam glided the golf cart back to the marina under the starlit sky, while being preoccupied with thoughts of romance. Screeching cats darted across the highway in front of them, followed by a ferocious growling dog in hot pursuit. It made Maddie think of hunting defenseless animals with her father, and how those missing people on the bulletin board might have disappeared. She deliberated on the escaped fugitive on the news report in the restaurant, and the lucky guess from the man in the store. She now regretted leaving Emily and Jake behind, alone on a strange boat in an unfamiliar environmen
t. 'What was I thinking?'
"Can't this thing go any faster?"
"Patience my dear," Sam said in a calm voice, "I'm going as fast as it'll go. We'll be there soon."
Sam was eager to make a move on Maddie. The night air, the new surroundings, and the fact she was willing to come on the trip, all led to inevitable romance. He placed his hand on her lap, ready to tempt fate. "Little early in the game to start thinking of scoring, don't you think?" she said, removing his hand.
"A team always thinks of scoring before the game starts," he countered.
"Just drive, I'm worried about the kids."
###
Inaudible whispers and faint laughter permeated the marina amid sounds of lines clanging against masts and the gentle slapping of water against boat hulls.
Maddie's faster pace left Sam behind bungling bags of groceries on the dock toward their boat. She had expressed her concerns of the day's events to him, and resented his mundane attitude and attempt at disregarding her uncertainties. She restrained herself from commenting on his patronizing remarks. "Don't worry about it so much. Let's just try and have a good time," he had told her.
Madeline came into view as they neared the end of the dock. Through the portholes, she noticed Jake following Emily walking from the bow, possibly coming out from her and Sam's bedroom. She was filled with a sense of relief, and slowed her stride. But when she saw the dark haired stranger following Jake, her sense of urgency returned. They weren't alone. Her steps turned into a sprint toward the gangway. "What's going on?" Sam asked, not yet seeing what she had seen.
Sam trailed in her tracks, charging up the gangway. When they entered the through the companionway, Emily, Jake and the dark haired stranger were just seating themselves on the sofa behind the table. Emily and Jake smiled. "Hi Mom, hi Dad."
Maddie was overwhelmed with fear, anticipating the worse, but their pleasant voices put her at ease. She remained fixed at the stranger who was seated with her back to her. Remaining calm, but still suspicious, she asked, "Are you kids all right?"