Bluewater Target: The 15th Novel in the Caribbean Mystery and Adventure Series (Bluewater Thrillers)

by Charles Dougherty

  "The DiGenovas. Probably so, but we can't be sure yet. That's the way those wise guys work. They keep somebody in the middle, like the lawyer."

  "Okay. Why's he coming? Any idea what he wants?"

  "They told him it was time to move on to phase two. That you had made contact with O'Toole, and — "

  "How the hell could they know that, Larry? You think Kilpatrick told him?"

  "I don't know, Clayton. And no, I don't think Kilpatrick told Lucas, if that's what you're asking. If it's the DiGenovas, they probably have a source in the pen. That's the kind of people they are, from what Kilpatrick said."

  "Okay. I interrupted you. You were saying?"

  "They told Lucas that you're in touch with O'Toole, and that we had people asking around about the Barrera woman."

  "So she was the one they were referring to, huh?" Delaney asked. "The one pulling strings, they said."

  "Sounds that way, yes."

  "You think they know what Kilpatrick talked with O'Toole about?"

  "I don't know, Clayton. Kilpatrick says it would be hard for anybody to eavesdrop; he was in a cubicle with O'Toole, separated by a sheet of half-inch Lexan that had a speaker grill mounted in it. It's reserved for attorney-client meetings, and it's supposed to be private.

  "But who knows, for sure? Especially with the mob involved," Thompson said.

  "Yeah, okay. What have you learned about the DiGenova brothers? Anything new?"

  "Only that they're moving to either pick up or eliminate Montalba's distributors, and they're moving fast."

  "Any idea how big their operation is?"

  "Big. Not as big as Montalba's was, but big enough so Kilpatrick thinks they could take over what he left behind."

  "Are they connected with Barrera?"

  "Kilpatrick says there's no word on that. Everybody clams up when her name is mentioned."

  "Because they think she's a snitch?" Delaney asked.

  "Because everybody who gets mixed up with her either disappears or goes to prison. Our guys on the street in Miami said the same thing. Spooky, is the word they used to describe the reactions they get. Everybody's heard something about her, nobody knows shit, and nobody wants to talk about her. The whole drug scene is scared shitless of her after what happened to the Montalbas."

  "So the wisdom on the street is that she did the Montalbas?"

  "Or had something to do with what happened to them. She's poison, it sounds like. Just the slightest touch, and you're history."

  "She must be quite a woman."

  "She's a looker. I'll say that," Thompson said.

  "You've got pictures of her?" Delaney asked.

  "They're on her website. Just do a search for 'charter yacht Diamantista II.' She and her husband both are on there, and their boat. Lots of information on the boat, places they recommend visiting, stuff like that."

  "All right," Delaney said. "I'll check that out. Anything else?"

  "Yeah. How do you want to play the visit from Lucas? Want us to grill him?"

  "Hmm," Delaney said, leaning back in his chair. "I don't know, Larry. What would you be looking to get from him?"

  "Confirmation that he's working for the DiGenovas, maybe. If not them, then who he is working for. Whether he knows Barrera, what whoever he's working for wants from you. Anything, really."

  "I'm thinking I should meet with him first and see what he's got to say," Delaney said. "If it doesn't feel good, you can always question him afterward."

  "That's true," Thompson said. "Oh, and we should try the FARC thing on him, see how he reacts."

  "That's a thought," Delaney said. "Our people hear any more about that?"

  "No. It's kind of gone quiet."

  "Just FARC," Delaney asked, "or the whole contract-killing rumor?"

  "The whole thing," Thompson said. "No news on that front."

  "Okay, then. That it?" Delaney asked.

  "Yeah. You want to handle Lucas the same as last time?"

  "I'm guessing he'll call to announce himself. I'll wait and see what he says, but if he sounds right, maybe I'll have him brought into my office. Roll out the red carpet. What do you think?"

  "Your call, Clayton. But why would you do that?"

  "Two reasons. One is to test his reaction, and the other is that I'm looking to replace Montalba as an investor. I'd like to feel him out about the people he's working for. If it's the DiGenova brothers, there might be the makings of a deal here."

  "Okay. You want me to listen on the monitor while he's in with you? If that's what you decide?"

  "Yes. If I order him brought to the office, by all means, listen in."

  "All right, then."

  "And call me the minute you find out anything about the sat phone."

  "Will do. Have a good evening, Clayton."

  "Thanks. You, too."

  21

  "That's it," Dani said, pointing to a ship two miles off their port bow.

  "It looks like the freighters we've seen coming up the bay," Marie said, gripping the helm as she steered the open boat.

  "Except it's way out of the channel," Dani said. "There's not enough water over there for a ship like that."

  "Now I can see that it is a wreck," Marie said, throttling back the twin outboards.

  The speedboat, no longer planing, settled in the water. Marie sped up but kept the boat below planing speed.

  "Do you have any advice on approaching it?" she asked.

  "There's plenty of water for us," Liz said, studying the paper chart she held on her knees. "It's sitting in 10 feet."

  "I don't want to attract attention," Marie said.

  "Don't worry," Dani said. "The restricted area's open to navigation unless the range is active. I don't see any patrol boats, and I'm sure they'd have called us by now if they were going to be firing."

  "What about the prohibited area?" Liz asked. "It looks small."

  "It is," Dani said. "It's a circle a thousand yards in radius, centered on the ship. But from what I read about it recently, it's a popular fishing spot, unless the range patrol boats are out."

  "Then I can approach the wreck?" Marie asked.

  "Sure. Take us in as close as you want. Worst case, a patrol boat or airplane would just chase us off. If we don't see anybody, you can pull right up alongside."

  "But watch out," Liz said. "The chart shows submerged pilings around the perimeter of the prohibited area."

  "And if you want to get in close," Dani said, "approach from the east. The wreck's only about a mile and a half from the deep water. If there's any traffic east of the main channel, let the wreck hide us from their view. Sometimes tugs with barges run out there."

  "It's definitely a target," Marie said. "What a mess. Do you have any idea how long it has been here?"

  "Since 1966," Dani said. "There was another one called the Hannibal before that. People still refer to this as the Hannibal sometimes."

  "You have researched this," Marie said. "Is the range used at night?"

  "No. Most of the activity is around the big targets on pedestals that we passed off the Patuxent River. They don't use this range much anymore."

  "Looking at the wreck, I'm not sure there's enough intact decking for a helicopter to land," Marie said.

  "It might be worth climbing aboard," Dani said. "Better to check it out in daylight."

  "Yes. Let's raft up to it," Marie said.

  Dani and Liz hung fenders along the port side of the boat as Marie took it in within a few feet of the east side of the wreck. She approached a somewhat intact part of the vessel's hull near its midpoint, just aft of a gaping hole at the waterline.

  "This looks okay," Dani said. "Maybe you should move forward of this big hole, though. We can pass a line through that hole and out one of the smaller ones to secure the boat. There are enough bullet holes to let us scale the side up to what used to be an accommodation ladder for a pilot."

  They did as Dani suggested, tying off the speedboat just forward of the big hole
at the waterline.

  "I will go," Marie said.

  "I'd better come with you," Dani said. "Just in case…"

  "Do you mind staying with the boat, Liz?" Marie asked.

  "Happy to," Liz said, looking up at the sheer, rusted steel of the ship's hull and shaking her head. "You two be careful."

  "Yes, mother," Dani said, as Marie scaled the side.

  "Be careful of these holes, Dani," Marie said. "The edges are sharp."

  In a couple of minutes, the two of them had reached the main deck. They picked their way forward, testing each small section of the deck before trusting it with their weight.

  "What do you think?" Dani asked, as they reached the bow.

  "It will serve," Marie said. "I think we will use the bow; we will light flares here and Delaney's helicopter can drop him. There's enough open area here for them to land."

  "We'll need weapons," Dani said.

  "Yes, of course. This is being taken care of. We will have earpiece radios, too. And heavy gloves, for the climbing."

  "Anything else you want to check?" Dani asked.

  "No. I think this is good. You said there were places we could get a meal on our way back?"

  "Yes," Dani said. "I'd vote for running back up to Solomons Island, just inside the Patuxent River mouth. There'll be a lot of small-boat traffic in there, and nobody will pay any attention to three women tourists. There are several good seafood places there."

  "Then we shall go there," Marie said, taking a last look around as she retraced her steps.

  "I'm right behind you," Dani said.

  When they got back to the boat, they found Liz on the phone.

  "They're back," she said. "I'll put you on the speaker."

  "What's it like on that thing?" Paul's voice was distorted by the light breeze blowing over the phone in Liz's hand.

  "It's a little strange," Dani said.

  "More than a little," Marie said. "Like a haunted house, perhaps."

  "We saw it from a distance several times," Connie said, "but it never occurred to us to go in close, let alone go aboard."

  "I would not recommend it, unless there's a good reason," Marie said. "It is dangerous, with many sharp pieces of steel from bullets and rockets."

  "We're calling to let you know my cousin picked up a conversation between Lucas and an unknown party last night," Connie said. "He will be visiting Delaney again today. The person he was talking with told him they were ready to move on to 'phase two,' whatever that means."

  "They don't know who the other party was?"

  "They're sure it was a lawyer who works for the DiGenova family," Paul said. "No reason you should have heard of them, but they're into the usual rackets, including drugs. They're pretty well known in Miami."

  "I am surprised your cousin does not monitor the calls from the SpecCorp people in Miami back to Delaney," Marie said.

  "He's tried. They're using encrypted phones. Military grade stuff," Paul said.

  "Does your cousin think the DiGenova people may try to reconstruct Montalba's operation?" Dani asked.

  "He says there's a good chance of that, given everything else we know," Paul said. "But there's no hard evidence yet."

  "Okay. Thank you," Marie said. "Anything else we should know? I am eager to leave from this target ship."

  "No, I think that's everything," Connie said.

  "Thanks, you two," Dani said. "Talk with you later." She disconnected.

  "Let's go to Solomons Island and get lunch," Liz said.

  "Good morning, Mr. Lucas," Delaney said, standing and reaching across his desk to offer his hand.

  "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Delaney," Lucas said, accepting the handshake.

  "It's no problem," Delaney said. Turning to the two men who had escorted Lucas to his office, Delaney said, "You're dismissed. Close the door behind you, please."

  When they were gone, Delaney said, "Have a seat, please. Would you like anything to drink? Coffee?"

  "No, thanks," Lucas said, as he settled into one of the guest chairs, his face betraying nothing.

  "I trust your reception was more cordial this time," Delaney said.

  "Yes," Lucas nodded and looked Delaney in the eye, his expression still neutral.

  Delaney sat down in his swivel chair. "I'm sure you know we've checked you out since your last visit."

  Lucas stared at Delaney but said nothing.

  Delaney looked down at his desktop and picked up a ballpoint pen. He turned it slowly as he studied it. After a minute had passed, he looked up.

  Lucas locked eyes with him again.

  "Okay," Delaney said, sighing. "I'll ask. What brings you here, Mr. Lucas?"

  "You said you'd checked me out. What did you learn about me?"

  "That you are who you claim to be, and that you have the reputation of being a 'fixer' instead of a more traditional lawyer."

  "That's all you got?" Lucas's lips curled up into a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

  "It was sufficient for our purpose at the time," Delaney said, still turning the pen in his hands.

  "I'm surprised that's all you found out, given your tap on my phone."

  "I see my people were sloppy," Delaney said, putting the pen aside.

  "Not particularly, Mr. Delaney. Let's say I'm more cautious than their average target. It's a necessity, given the people I represent."

  "And who would they be? The people you represent?"

  "Didn't Mr. Kilpatrick tell you?" Lucas relaxed his smile, his expression matching the solicitous tone in his voice, mocking Delaney.

  "Mr. Kilpatrick?" Delaney asked.

  "Perhaps you'd like to ask your staff about him? Maybe they didn't tell you who they were using as a messenger."

  "A messenger? To whom?"

  "Let's drop the pretense, shall we, Mr. Delaney?"

  "You're the one who came to see me, Lucas. I'll ask you again. What do you want?"

  "My clients are interested in your business, Mr. Delaney. They're aware that you recently lost a substantial… ah, shall we call him an investor?"

  "We may have. But we're always open to new investors, especially if they bring more to the relationship than just money. We're employee-owned, though, so your people should know they would be creditors rather than shareholders."

  "They're well aware of the structure of your relationship with the investor who passed away. Maybe 'silent partner' is a better way to describe him."

  "What you call him is less important than his role in our operations."

  "Could you expand on that, please?" Lucas asked. "On his role in your operations, that is."

  "He participated in two ways. He was a client, bringing us a lot of business. He also financed our accounts receivable. We paid him above market returns on the money he loaned us."

  "I see. That is the understanding that my clients had. They're prepared to take his place in both areas, assuming we can negotiate acceptable terms. Are you interested?"

  "Yes, but it would help sway me in their favor if I knew who they were."

  "I understand. That will happen in the fullness of time. For now, I suggest you trust what Mr. Kilpatrick is telling you. He's well connected. I'd be surprised if he led you astray."

  "Where do we go from here, Mr. Lucas?"

  "I need to confer with my clients before we can move ahead, but there is one question they instructed me to ask."

  "Only one?" Delaney asked. "And what is it?"

  "They're concerned about your relationship with Senator — sorry, make that former senator — O'Toole."

  "What about it?"

  "You're still in communication with him through Kilpatrick. Does he have an interest in SpecCorp?"

  "I cultivated him when he was Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, for obvious reasons."

  "Look, Mr. Delaney. We both know you and O'Toole did favors for one another. That he was involved in organized crime is a matter of public record these days. The con
cern is whether you're still obligated to him. My clients view him as a competitor."

  "We have no ongoing relationship with him," Delaney said. "Having said that, he's in a position to cause SpecCorp some embarrassment. As you said, we did favors for him. Do I need to be more explicit?"

  "No, that's good enough for the moment. Do you have any questions for me?"

  "A few, yes. I don't think they're related to your client, but given your connections in Miami, you might be able to enlighten me on a couple of things."

  "Ask, and if I can, I'll try to help. I may not be at liberty to answer, if the questions involve past or present clients."

  "Okay. I understand. On your last visit, you warned me that I was rumored to be the target of a hit."

  "Yes."

  "It won't surprise you that I've had people following up on that. We understand former FARC guerrillas are looking for contract work of that sort. What have you heard about this?"

  "Probably the same things you've heard. There have been several indications that the rumor may be true. Not all the FARC people were pleased with the organization's 'peace accord' with the Colombian government. That's no secret."

  "There are signs that the ex-FARC people may have killed our former investor," Delaney said. "Can you comment on that?"

  "The way he died would be consistent with that theory, Mr. Delaney. That's just my opinion, you understand."

  "Yeah, sure. On a different but related matter, there have been rumors of a woman named Barrera running a drug cartel." Delaney paused, waiting.

  Lucas nodded. "Yes. I've heard that. I don't know whether the rumors are true."

  Delaney nodded. "I'm just interested in your opinion. She may have been negotiating some arrangement with our former investor. It's possible they got into a disagreement that led to his death. Any comment?"

  "Again, I've heard the same thing. But other than the gossip, I have no knowledge of the matter. I'm sure you've heard that she may have some Colombian connections. No big surprise there, but the use of former FARC fighters does make one wonder."

  "Exactly," Delaney said. "Thanks for your thoughts."

  Lucas nodded. "There's one other thing, Mr. Delaney."

  "What's that?"

  "We need a secure way to communicate. Do you have a personal smartphone?"