Hostile Waters

by William Nikkel

  Lindsey peered into the night. “I guess I knew that. Otherwise I wouldn’t have called.”

  Cherise heard a text come through on her phone. Sirens wailed in the distance. Cars honked at a taxi weaving through traffic on the street in front of them. New Yorkers going about their business in New York fashion. Everyone locked in their own true-life struggle.

  “Up till now I’ve had little hope,” Lindsey said. “I suppose it’s time I have faith in something or someone.”

  “In me,” Cherise said.

  She never would have left town without first helping Lindsey find the truth, no matter how unattainable it seemed.

  Continuing to ignore the text, she added, “I know you want answers, immediately if not sooner. All I can do is promise we’ll go to whatever lengths necessary to get those answers. But it’ll take time. Try not to give up hope.”

  “I know Dad’s dead. That’s the only answer that makes sense.”

  “We don’t know that.”

  “Let’s not kid ourselves, Cherise. Too much time has gone by. Dad’s dead. Either by some horrible accident, or someone murdered him. If someone killed him, they need to pay for what they’ve done.”

  “And if he died by accident?”

  “Then someone at Blue Water Cruise Line needs to answer for trying to cover up his death.”

  Cherise looked into her friend’s eyes. It had taken time for Lindsey to arrive at the realization her father met with foul play. Or at the very minimum, to openly accept it. And now she asked for revenge.

  In the back of Cherise’s mind, she had believed the man had been killed. A belief that solidified when she learned about the golden idols. Information the police didn’t have for their investigation.

  She doubted it would have made a difference. It might have even cast a dark cloud of suspicion on her father.

  A possibility that still needed to be addressed.

  But it didn’t change the distinct likelihood her father had been murdered.

  Most likely for the gold.

  Lindsey didn’t blink or turn away and Cherise could see the determination in her stare. A new side to her. “You want revenge?”

  “Isn’t that what we’ve been talking about?”

  CHAPTER 16

  Jack collapsed into one of the two padded chairs inside their suite. Robert dropped into the other chair and leaned his head back. Above them, a ceiling fan whirled.

  “We could have stayed here and drank,” Robert said. “There’s a perfectly good bar downstairs. Would have saved us the walk.”

  “A couple of blocks isn’t that far. Not in Key West. And I didn’t want to chance running into Ms. Faggini and her cousin. Not before I’ve had an opportunity to sleep on my decision to buy the Adeona. Besides, Ernest Hemingway drank in Sloppy Joe’s.”

  “Meaning that’s where you should drink?”

  “Why not?” Jack sighed. “Honestly, I didn’t want any pressure put on me to buy the boat. And listening to the nonsense going on in that place did the trick.”

  “I thought buying the boat is what you decided to do?”

  “It is. But I might change my mind.”

  “You need another beer.”

  “I’ve had enough beer.”

  “Whiskey, then?”

  Jack shook his head. “I’m going to bed.”

  “It’s still early.”

  “Not that early. And I need my beauty sleep.”

  His phone trilled as he started to push out of his chair. Cherise’s name flashed on the screen and he answered the call. “Did you get the picture of my new boat?”

  “It’s gorgeous,” she said. “Sorry I didn’t have a chance to text you back. I got caught up with Lindsey.”

  Her voice perked him up. “You called instead of sending a text, that’s a whole lot better. I assume she’s told you what her problem is.”

  “We were talking about that when I got your message. Her father went on a cruise and disappeared. Blue Water Cruise Line claims he got off the Caribbean Star in Miami with the rest of the passengers. The police believe he’s on a romantic tryst with someone he met on board.”

  “Without telling his daughter? What would possess the man to do that?”

  “That’s only the half of it. Lindsey has a text she received from him after he went ashore in Belize and returned to the ship. He attached a photograph of three gold idols he bought at the recommendation of a man he met on the cruise. Probably stolen. Or at least sold illegally. The guy’s name is Corey Jameson. He’s traveling with his sister, Amanda Kelly. Apparently Lindsey’s father struck up a romance with her shortly after the cruise ship left Miami.”

  “Sounds a little sudden. Still, you never know. But buying stolen artifacts? That makes zero sense to me.”

  “According to her father’s message, he bought them with the intention of turning the relics over to the authorities, hopefully without making trouble for himself or anyone else.”

  “That’s a one-way street to trouble. What about his luggage?”

  “Gone. But a Caribbean Star employee could have seen to that.”

  “Or a passenger.”

  “If his death wasn’t an accident. Which makes more sense, to me and to Lindsey. She believes her father died at sea and representatives from Blue Water Cruise Line are trying to cover it up for some reason. At this point, I have to agree.”

  “I suppose it’s possible. Has the company had prior disappearances that you know of?”

  “I called Susan and put her to work on that very question. And not just Blue Water Cruise Line. I asked her to look into all of them. She’s still digging, but so far she’s found three documented cases in the past year. The cruise lines involved received some really ugly press. And even though none of the cases were connected to Blue Water, that doesn’t rule out one of their employees covering-up what happened to Lindsey’s father.”

  “I can see why they would be motivated to keep an incident like that out of the news.”

  “Avoid responsibility and point authorities in a different direction,” Cherise said. “Lindsey’s father’s case is officially filed under missing persons. Makes you wonder how many other incidents of this type have been written off that way.”

  “I’m sure Susan is looking into it.”

  “You know me too well.”

  “But not as well as I’d like. Key West was one of his ports of call, wasn’t it?”

  “His first stop.”

  “Send me their pictures. I’ll flash their faces around down here and see where it leads while you dig deeper into this mess. Who knows, maybe something will surface. Hell, stranger things have happened.”

  “You never disappoint me, Jack.”

  “So you were hoping I’d offer to help.”

  “Saved me from asking.”

  “How’s your friend doing? This has to be hard on her.”

  “She’s had a tough time, but she’s holding herself together. I’m texting you pictures of her father. His name is Sam King. I’m also sending pictures of Amanda and her brother Corey. And there’s one of Lindsey’s father having dinner at the captain’s table with Amanda.”

  “I can’t promise it’ll do any good. But if it helps you and your friend make some sense out of what’s happened, I’ll do what I can. By chance, does her father have a beard?”

  “A gray one, why?”

  “A minor complication is all. The annual Hemingway Days celebration is getting underway down here and the town’s filling up with men sporting gray beards.”

  He listened to silence.

  “Figures,” she said after a beat. “I’m sure you’ll do the best you can. It’s a shot in the dark, anyway.”

  “Sometimes even a wild shot hits the mark. With luck, I can shed some light on the situation. Anything else I can do to help?”

  “Are you really buying that boat?”

  “I haven’t talked myself out of it yet.”

  “So you’ll be there a few days comple
ting the sale?”

  “A couple, at least.”

  “Good. There’s a chance I’ll see you down there. If I do, I’ll bring Lindsey with me. She’ll love meeting you.”

  “Robert’s here, too, so she can meet him as well. Any idea when you’ll arrive?”

  “If it works out, sometime this weekend. Bear in mind that’s a great big if. I’ll call or text to let you know.”

  He had to believe she’d make it down.

  Positive thinking.

  “See you when you get here.” He disconnected the call and slumped in his seat.

  “What was that all about?” Robert asked.

  His question came as no surprise. It would have been more out of character for him if he hadn’t asked. They had been friends way too long. And had shared far too many adventures.

  Jack gave him the short version.

  “What is it with you?” Robert said. “You’re like a trouble magnet.”

  “You’re the one who talked me into coming here to buy a boat.”

  “To buy a boat, yes. Not to play private eye for Cherise.”

  “Her friend needs help. We’re here so it’s only right we do what we can. I didn’t plan this, but I’m not walking away from it.”

  Robert ran his fingers through his curly hair. “You said we. I suppose that means you want me to tag along with you?”

  “Damn right.”

  CHAPTER 17

  At ten minutes before eight the next morning, Jack stepped into the Beach Bar under a sunny sky and took a seat at an outside table. A waiter appeared with two menus, and he ordered a Bloody Mary. He wasn’t accustomed to drinking this early, but would make an exception after the night before.

  For medicinal purposes.

  Robert sat down leaving two empty chairs across from them. He glanced up at the waiter and said, “I’ll have one of those, as well.”

  “Will you be having breakfast?” the waiter asked.

  “Not just yet,” Jack answered. “We’re waiting on a couple of people who will be joining us.”

  “No problem.”

  Robert looked at Jack. “A liquid breakfast, huh?”

  Jack breathed in the salt air that helped dissipate some of the fuzz clouding his brain. “After last night, I thought a little hair of the dog was in order.”

  “Just so you keep it at one. You’ll want a clear head when you talk business.”

  “Not a problem.” Jack straightened in his seat. “Here they come.”

  They stood at Violetta Faggini’s approach. She looked gorgeous. Jack imagined she always looked that way.

  He slid back a chair for her. “Good morning.”

  A curt nod and she took her seat as though accustomed to the courtesy. “I have a busy day planned. Salvatore assured me you would give me your answer this morning. I suggest we get down to business.”

  The waiter returned with the drinks. Jack retook his seat and motioned at his Bloody Mary. “Would you care for one of these, or some coffee, or something to eat first?”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’ve already had my coffee and my breakfast. And I have a lot of business to take care of before I fly out this afternoon.”

  “I appreciate your position. And I apologize for making you wait until this morning to get my answer. The good news is, I believe the Adeona will serve my needs well. I assume you have the sales documents ready for me to sign?”

  She nodded at Salvatore who then laid a manila envelope on the table. “You will find everything in order,” she said.

  Jack slid the papers from the envelope and thumbed through a registered copy of Antonio’s death certificate, a notarized document giving Violetta Faggini the authority to sell the Adeona, and one stating Antonio’s estate was free and clear with no liens on the boat. She had done her homework. He read over each document. All were acceptable. He slid the forms over to Robert for his opinion.

  He scanned the documents and slid them back. “They look in order to me. She just needs to sign the bill of sale.”

  Jack tapped the mobile app for his bank, and smiled at Ms. Faggini. “If you give me an account number, I’ll have my bank deposit the cash.”

  She read the numbers off her phone and he entered them. The transaction complete, he said, “I arranged to have the funds available for immediate transfer. The money should show in your account momentarily.”

  She studied the screen, tapped, and slid the device into her purse. “The deposit is complete.”

  “Excellent.”

  Salvatore handed him a pen, and he signed in the appropriate places. As did she. With the paperwork in order, Salvatore handed him a manila envelope containing an assortment of keys.

  “I guess this concludes our business, Ms. Faggini. It has been a pleasure.”

  She stood, and he rose to his feet. Robert and her cousin followed. She offered her hand to Jack.

  He took her fingers in his. “I do hope you have a nice flight. And all the best to you and Salvatore.”

  “My card is in with the papers,” Salvatore said. “Violetta will not be available after we leave here. If you have questions, please direct the inquiry to me.”

  Jack shook the man’s hand. “Thank you for all your help. It was nice meeting both of you.”

  Robert stepped forward. “Likewise.”

  “And thank you both. I’m glad I was able to be of service. Violetta and I will be on our way, then. Enjoy the Adeona.”

  As soon as Ms. Faggini and Salvatore were out of the area, Jack raised his glass to Robert. “I guess that’s it for the moment.”

  “For the moment.”

  “I’m going to order something to eat. Taking care of all this business has made me hungry.”

  “Are you sure you can pay the check?”

  “Smartass. Just for that, you’re buying.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then we show Sam King’s photo around town and see if someone remembers him.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Cherise stood at the window in her room. A flock of pigeons, perched on the roof of Grand Central Station, went about their business oblivious to the world’s problems. Below, on 42nd Street and Park Avenue, traffic moved in cadence to the pulse of the City. A perfect July morning in Manhattan.

  The view wasn’t helping her impatience. Her conversation with Lindsey the day before ended blunt and to the point. Knowing the truth would never be enough for her friend. Deep down, she wanted revenge.

  Cherise could live with that without reservation. Vengeance was as much a part of her life as it had become for Lindsey. A question remained.

  Can Lindsey live with it?

  She drained her coffee.

  Idleness would never make Cherise’s list of top-ten ways to spend a day. Neither would taking a sight-seeing tour of the City. She took a seat in front of her computer. She only had a few hours to plan out their next move.

  During her conversation with Lindsey, they had agreed to begin by checking into Amanda and Corey’s backgrounds. That brother and sister each owned a condominium in the same high-rise on South Ocean Boulevard, surprised her. Even more surprising, their condos were next door to each other.

  Not what she would have expected.

  Susan’s email hadn’t arrived yet, so she Googled Palm Beach, Florida. A place she’d never visited. She clicked on an article with a map and read that Palm Beach is the easternmost town in Florida, located on an eighteen-mile long barrier island with Lake Worth Lagoon on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Palm Beach had been ranked the twenty-seventh wealthiest place in the United States.

  Her phone chimed. She scooped it off the table and saw Lindsey’s name on the screen. She answered, “How is your day going?”

  “A lot of work to finish up before I leave,” Lindsey said. “I called to ask you the same thing.”

  “I’m at my computer doing a little research on Amanda and Corey.”

  “Did you get any sleep? You were dead on your feet when
I left you last night.”

  “Slept in till nine. Then I made myself get up.”

  “Have you found anything interesting?”

  “Maybe. Have you ever been to Palm Beach?”

  “No. Is that important?”

  “It’s the twenty-seventh wealthiest place in the United States. A condo there surely wouldn’t come cheap. Which tells me Amanda and Corey have some bucks. Inherited or incomes.”

  “So Amanda might not be the gold-digger we suspected her of being.”

  “And Corey could be on the up-and-up as well.”

  A second’s pause, “But it doesn’t make sense for that to be the case. They were hanging out with Dad. I’m sure Amanda was sleeping with him, dammit. It just doesn’t add up.”

  “Still, you have to be ready to accept the possibility.”

  Another pause. “I guess we will find out what kind of people they are when we talk to them tomorrow. We’re still flying down there in the morning, right?”

  “Nothing’s changed. In the meantime, Susan is running a background check on both of them. I expect an email from her any time.”

  “Great. We can discuss everything over dinner tonight. See you then. Gotta get back to work.”

  “Take care of yourself, Linds.”

  Cherise disconnected the call, still concerned her friend might not be able to handle the direction they were headed. Lindsey had convinced herself representatives from Blue Water Cruise Line lied to cover up her father’s disappearance.

  She believed him dead.

  Most likely murdered.

  Cherise knew full well what the chances were they’d find Sam King alive after two weeks missing.

  They’d be kidding themselves to believe they would.

  In the past, a job was a job. Nothing personal. No emotional attachment. Then came the situation with Admiral Casey’s son. Now Lindsey’s father.

  The difficult kind.

  * * *

  Cherise climbed out of the taxi at the curb in front of the American Museum of Natural History. The gold idols provided more than enough motive for Corey or Amanda, or even one of the other passengers to want to kill Lindsey’s father. Staring at the columned facade, she realized how little she knew about Mayan culture, let alone the deities in question.