Deacon pointed at the drawing. “Down here is where you said there was a turnout and beach access, can you get to the house through there?”
“You can see the place, single story,” Jack explained. “It sits on a raised piece of land. At least two other buildings, as well. But there’s a tall concrete seawall that would make it difficult for someone to get onto the grounds.”
“Still, it’s our best way in if it comes to that.”
“Probably.”
Deacon scratched his head, his eyes still on the sketch of the compound. Jack could tell his brother was troubled. “Something else you want to ask?”
Deacon frowned. “These guys don’t actually own this place, do they?”
“Doubtful. Thugs like these guys don’t own estates like this. Most likely they’re guests of someone associated with Chiharu Takahashi.”
“So we might be dealing with more than those three guys?”
“Quite possibly.”
Robert leaned back in his seat, and asked, “Truth is, we don’t rightly know what we’re dealing with. Do you have anything that resembles a plan?”
Jack laid the pencil on the table and picked up his beer. He searched everyone’s expectant expressions.
This was his ballgame.
He shrugged. “Get them before they get us.”
Deacon chuckled.
Robert shook his head in obvious disbelief. “That’s your plan?”
“Until I think of a better one.” Jack took a sip of Corona and set the bottle down. “Unless any of you has one?”
The comment silenced the group.
The ball was in their court. He’d wait.
“Your plan has merit,” Robert said when no one else offered a suggestion. “But we need to talk this scheme of yours over very carefully before we charge in with guns blazing.”
Deacon spoke up. “You make it sound like a John Wayne movie.”
“That’s one way of putting it. Only with real guns.”
Kazuko’s eyes flared.
“Forget it, Robert. I’m not going to allow any of you to do that.” Her gaze flicked from one person to the next. “So all of you, forget it.”
Jack knew better than to doubt her word.
He hadn’t planned to involve anyone in his vendetta. It was personal. Him alone to worry about.
But that wasn’t happening.
He and Robert exchanged knowing glances. Deacon sat, taking it in.
He looked at Kazuko. Her gaze was fixed on him.
The ball was back in play.
“It’s clear we can’t storm the castle,” he said, especially for Kazuko’s benefit. “We don’t have the guns or the manpower for that. Not to mention the problem of what we would say to the police when they arrive with their SWAT team to arrest us.”
“Or shoot us down,” Deacon pointed out. “We can’t forget about that possibility.”
Jack nodded. He could see that happening. Three armed men—bodies lying around. The officers not knowing who was who.
“What’s paramount,” he said, “is that none of us gets hurt.”
Robert crossed his arms against his chest looking frustrated. “Which means we’re back to formulating a viable plan.”
Jack gave everyone a moment to think; himself included. Then he said, “At least we have the advantage for now. We know who they are, the vehicle they’re driving, and where they’re staying. All they know about us is who we are. Except you, Deacon. You’re just another mainland tourist here on vacation.”
Deacon fought back a yawn. “A tired one, too.”
Jack checked his watch. “How do burgers and fries sound for dinner? I’ll buy.”
“And strategy for tomorrow?” Robert asked.
Jack looked at Deacon. “Do you surf fish much?”
“Some.”
He scanned their curious expressions.
“I’ve got a plan,” he said. “And I think Kimo can help.”
CHAPTER 77
They were all back at the kitchen table at nine in the morning when there was a knock at the door. The eggs were gone. So was the Spam. Jack refilled everyone else’s coffee and his own mug, then set the pot down.
He checked his watch. “Right on time.”
He was pleased Kimo had been receptive to his plan. He stepped into the living room and opened the front door.
“You knew it was me?” Kimo said.
“You told me you’d be here at nine sharp. It’s nine.”
“Next time consider asking who it is. You might live longer.”
Jack clapped his friend on the back as he stepped inside. “You brought the fishing gear we need?”
The old Hawaiian jabbed a thumb in the direction of the parking area. “In the truck.” He held up a small nylon bag. “Here are the binoculars you asked for.”
“Great.” He took the duffle from Kimo’s hand and motioned toward the kitchen. “We’re sitting around the table drinking coffee. I’ll introduce you to my brother. You’ll be fishing with him.”
“You don’t actually expect us to catch fish, do you?”
Jack grinned. “Only if it’s good for dinner.”
Everyone rose from the table and greeted Kimo with smiles and handshakes. He got a kiss on the cheek from Kazuko. Jack introduced him to Deacon. The bond was immediate.
“All right,” Jack said. “Deacon, you’ll ride with Kimo. Now, are there any last minute questions before we head out?”
Deacon laughed, and said, “You’re buying lunch, right?”
“Unless you catch it.” Jack scanned the other faces. Hearing no further questions, he said, “Okay, let’s load up and go.”
The weather was mostly clear with a slight off-shore breeze to stir the humidity and gently rustle the palm fronds on the trees across the street. Jack led the way with Robert and Kazuko seated in the Jeep with him. He drove south on Kihei Road while Kimo followed close behind in his old pickup with two long poles sticking out over the tailgate.
“At least we won’t get shot at this way,” Robert said to Jack.
“If it all goes right.”
“Why wouldn’t it?”
Jack ran his plan over in his mind. He couldn’t see it turning out badly for any of them. But there was always the unexpected to contend with. He just didn’t know what it would be.
“No reason,” he said.
The rest of the drive passed in relative silence.
When they got to the estate, he slowed and lightly tapped his brakes three times to signal Kimo they’d arrived.
“I see what you mean,” Robert said. “You can’t see shit from here with this wall in the way.”
Jack pointed ahead. “Kimo and Deacon will have a view of the place from the turnout. He can drive his pickup right down to the water. We’ll pull over and park some distance away where we won’t draw any attention.”
“Looks like it could be a long day.”
“Only as long as it takes to see what we need to see.”
“Which is?”
“We’ll know that when we see it.”
Robert glanced over his shoulder at Kazuko. “Hope you brought your sunblock.”
She huffed. “That’s the least of my worries.”
Jack wasn’t distracted by the bantering. Peering into the rearview mirror, he saw Kimo pull onto the ocean access on the south side of the property and stop.
He nodded approval to himself.
“They’re in position. Guess it’s our turn.”
He continued on another hundred yards and found a wide area next to the water for them to park on. He hadn’t known it was there.
“Damn. This is almost too good to be true.”
“No shit,” answered Robert. “Glad we brought the lawn chairs. All we need is an ice chest and some tunes.”
Kazuko leaned forward from the back seat. “You guys talk like this is a party. It’s anything but.”
Jack slid the shifter into reverse. “No reason we can’t jo
ke around.”
“As along as that’s all it is.”
“Trust me.”
He backed the Jeep onto an area that had been raised and flattened into a small scenic overlook of sorts that would easily accommodate three or four vehicles. No other cars were there. He stopped where they had a distant view of the estate.
“This should do nicely,” he said and switched off the engine.
Kazuko passed forward two floppy brimmed sun hats they found hanging in a storage closet at the rental. The kind dermatologists recommend. “If I’m going to wear one of these, you guys are.”
Jack pulled his on and looked in the mirror. “They’re ugly all right. But perfect for what we want.”
Robert took a turn. “Ugly isn’t the word for it. But they are ideal. I don’t think my mother would recognize me in this.”
“It’s not your poor mother I’m worried about.”
For the next hour, they sat in folding chairs, their binoculars raised to their eyes. The Suburban was sitting in the driveway, so Jack figured Crewcut and the other two assholes were holed up inside the house. Perhaps plotting their next move.
But whose house was it?
He wished the occupants would take a stroll around the grounds; do something. He needed to see who else was there.
Seeing no one, he scanned the shoreline. Kimo had his line out. With or without bait. He kept glancing toward the estate. Deacon appeared to be working some kind of lure. Hopping from rock to rock, moving closer to the seawall. Casting the line out and reeling it in. Each time he brought the rod back for another cast, he took his time. His gaze directed at the house.
Everyone doing what they were supposed to be doing.
Except the bad guys. They still hadn’t shown themselves.
Jack lowered his field glasses and checked his watch yet again. It always amazed him how time slowed to a crawl when he wasn’t having fun.
“Heads up,” Robert said. “Looks like it’s show time.”
Jack raised his binoculars to his eyes and focused on two men walking toward the edge of the property.
“Shit.” He glanced back and forth between them and his brother. “It looks like they’ve taken an interest in Kimo and Deacon.”
“Is that giant with the bull neck and tight haircut one of them?”
“I’m almost sure it’s Crewcut.” Jack studied the second guy. He was as tall as the big man, only half his bulk. “There’s a familiarity about the second guy, but even with magnification it’s hard to see either one of them clearly.”
Kazuko stepped next to Jack and spoke softly, “They don’t look too happy about Kimo and Deacon fishing so close to the property.”
“I’d say it’s an ongoing situation. The owner’s probably pissed because he can’t do anything about it.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Throw everything in the Jeep. When we cruise by nice and slow and keep going Kimo will pack up and leave behind us. You two use the binoculars when we pass by and see if you can get a better look at those two jokers, especially that smaller guy.”
“You still think you’ve seen him before?”
“I think we all have.”
CHAPTER 78
Jack, Robert, and Kazuko were back inside the condo by a quarter till one. Jack knew Kimo and Deacon wouldn’t be far behind.
“Dammit to hell,” he said.
Robert handed him a beer. “I sure didn’t expect to see Lieutenant McMasters there.”
Jack took the bottle and roamed back and forth with it. “I wanted this to be personal. Crewcut and me. Not a fucking circus with everyone on God’s green earth involved.”
“It’s hardly a circus,” Robert said, taking a seat next to Kazuko on the sofa. “But the situation has gotten way more complicated than it started out.”
Jack stopped and scowled at him. “No fucking shit.”
Robert held his gaze. “You need to know that Kazuko and I have played along with your scheme because we worried about you. We hoped the situation would solve itself, that we might even speed it along a little. Or that you’d finally come to your senses. Not to help you get yourself killed.”
He walked to the far end of the room, turned, and walked back. “Dammit, it should be me and him.”
“Sorry Bucko. Your chance of that happening is exactly zero.”
He walked some more. “It’s that simple? I’m supposed to just get over it?”
“Stop pacing a minute and listen. You had to have thought something like this could happen. The world is full of situations that don’t work out the way people want them to. And what did you think you were going to do, anyway? Have it out with Takeo in the middle of the street. High noon. Draw and fire. Be faster and shoot straighter than him.”
He stopped. “Come on.”
Robert sighed. “Christ, Jack. I feel like I’m singing to the choir here. This isn’t the movies. People die doing that shit. It’s time to let the authorities take care of the entire bunch of them. Chiharu Takahashi included.”
The front door swung open drawing Jack’s attention.
“I’ll take one of those,” Deacon said, pointing at the bottle in Jack’s hand.
Jack contained his frustration. “You got a look at the place. What do you think?”
“I think I’m going to get a beer.” He turned to Kimo and asked, “Would you like one?”
“Sounds good. Thanks.” Kimo looked at Jack. “Other than those two men who stood on the edge of the property watching us, we couldn’t see much. There’s a lot of trees and at least one other building. That’s about it.”
“That seawall is taller than it looks from the road,” added Deacon as he stepped from the kitchen. He handed Kimo a Corona. “I worked my way along the barrier as far as the waves would let me. It’s a good seven feet tall. I couldn’t see shit standing at the base of it. I got a good look at those two men, though.”
“That big sonofabitch is the man I’m after.”
“Jeez, you might want to rethink that. If you ask me, the guy looks like a bigger, meaner version of Oddjob. You know, the villain in the movie Goldfinger. Probably has a hat like his, too.”
“The same thought ran through my mind. Though I doubt he has the hat. But he is big. I’ll grant you that. The man with him, his name’s Charles McMasters. He’s a lieutenant with the Coast Guard.”
“The crook those agents were talking about yesterday.”
“Appears so.”
Kimo looked from Deacon to Jack. “Did I miss something?”
“Yesterday, two agents, Greene and Edwards from Homeland Security, showed up at Robert’s boat. They asked questions about Dana. They wanted to talk to me so Robert brought them here. Everyone was waiting for me when I got back from her memorial. The agents told us she was investigating improprieties on the part of a ranking Coast Guard officer.”
“What improprieties?”
“Inter-island smuggling.”
“I know Lieutenant McMasters,” Kimo said. “He never gave me reason to believe he was involved in anything illegal.”
“I’d never have guessed it either. Especially having seen him stand in front of everyone at Dana’s memorial service and talk about what a credit she was to the Coast Guard. How well liked she was. And how professional she was in her job.”
“So he had us all fooled,” Robert said. “It doesn’t alter the fact that the game has changed significantly and we need to let the authorities handle it.”
Jack glanced at Kazuko.
She said, “You know how I feel.”
Deacon nodded. “They’re right, Jack.”
Jack locked eyes with his brother. “So that’s how it is?”
Again, Deacon nodded. “You know I’ll stand beside you if that’s what you want. But this is way bigger than you imagined. Bigger than any of us imagined.”
Jack felt the weight of their decisions press in on him.
Their final word.
“I’m sure
you’re right,” he said. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to hold off on making that call. I want some time to wrap my mind around what’s happened.”
Deacon clapped him on the back. “Now you’re talking, Bro. We’ll hang out, drink some beer, and cook some steaks. And when you’re ready, you can drop this mess into Agent Greene’s hands.”
“Just so he makes the call,” Robert said.
CHAPTER 79
Jack waited until they were all asleep. Deacon was in one bedroom snoring. Robert and Kazuko were in the other bedroom. He chose the couch.
For the past hour he had stared at the ceiling letting his brother and his friends settle in. He checked his watch and waited a few minutes more. Then he slid on his bush shorts and t-shirt, picked up the shotgun, and slipped out the front door.
Walking along the sidewalk, he took in the night air. It was well after twelve. Most of the town had turned in. The roadway was his.
Exactly as he had imagined it.
He eased the door closed on the Jeep and started the engine. The motor caught on the first crank and idled smoothly. He dropped the transmission into reverse, backed out, and drove away as stealthily as a warm breeze.
With little traffic to slow him down, the miles passed quickly. He stopped at the viewing area he had parked at the day before and backed in. Blackness as absolute as any he’d seen, swallowed him the instant he switched off his headlights. With only a blanket of stars to see by, it took several minutes for his eyes to adjust. Behind him, waves slapped and sizzled along the shoreline in an endless process of shaping and reshaping the world.
Now it was his turn.
Shipwreck Page 23
