by Scotty Cade
They all took seats and divided the paperwork among them. It covered topics such as the research vessel, the crew, the wreck, Dax and Dona’s experience, and a boatload of other information. They all completed what they knew and passed it along to the next person to do the same. When all the paperwork had made the rounds, every question had been thoroughly answered. Dax added the printed photos and videotape, and they were finished. He turned in the paperwork and returned to his seat as the clerk disappeared through a doorway.
“What happens next?” Brad asked.
“We wait,” Dona said. “Once they review the paperwork and make sure we completed everything properly and they have everything they need, they’ll tell us we can go, and they’ll contact us when they make a decision. It normally takes a few days to a week, so we’ll go back to Skagway and prepare the Lindsey C for the salvage.”
Thirty-five minutes later, the male clerk appeared through the same door he’d used to exit, approached the counter, and looked at Dax.
“Mr. Powers,” he said. “We have your salvage rights.”
“What?” Dax said as he stood and made his way to the counter.
“You’re all set,” he replied.
“Are you sure? It usually takes a few days,” he said.
“Yes, sir, I’m sure,” he said. “Here is your Rights of Salvage certificate for the wreck of the Anna Wyoming.”
Not wanting to rock the boat, Dax said, “Thanks, and you have a good day now.” He turned and motioned with his head for the rest of them to follow him. He wanted everyone out of there before the gentleman realized he’d made a terrible mistake and tried to take the certificate back. They all followed his lead, very quickly, and no one spoke until they reached the lobby of the building.
Dona was the first to make a sound. “Dax, what do you make of that?”
“Don’t know,” Dax replied. “But it’s very strange. We’ve never received Rights of Salvage on the same day, ever.”
“What do you think it means?” Brad asked.
“Not sure,” Dax replied. “But my guess would be that either someone made a mistake, or someone wants to know what’s in that ship pretty badly. The only potential problem I can see is that if someone did make a mistake, our rights can be challenged in a court of law at any time.”
“But we have the certificate,” Jack said. “Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“It certainly helps, but it can still be challenged.”
“Anything can be challenged,” Dona said. “I say we go for it.”
“I agree,” Jack said.
Brad and Mac looked at each other and nodded. “Not that it matters, but we do too,” Brad said.
“Then it’s official,” Dax proclaimed. “You’re all now treasure hunters.”
“Yee doggy, Brad,” Mac said. “We’s treasure hunters.”
“Darn tootin’,” Brad replied.
WITH a new pep in their step, they exited the lobby into a glorious, Alaskan summer morning and decided to walk to the plane instead of hailing a taxicab.
When they reached the plane, Brad and Jack loaded the luggage while Mac filed a flight plan with the Harbor Authority. Thirty minutes later, they were airborne for Skagway.
While in flight, they decided that as soon as they landed, Jack, Dax, and Dona would head right to the boat, and Mac and Brad would secure the plane. Since they didn’t have to wait for the permit, they would get a cab and go into town for more supplies. They also decided that they should try and depart Skagway no later than four that afternoon, which would give them plenty of time to get to the site, drop the hook, and get a good night’s sleep before they started the salvage the next morning.
The weather was perfect for flying and the flight was beautiful and uneventful. They landed just after noon and everyone followed their assigned responsibilities.
Jack, Dax, and Dona walked back to the Lindsey C and stepped aboard. Approaching the companionway door, Jack saw that the door was slightly ajar and stopped dead in his tracks. He stuck his hands out by his side, palms back, and made a motion for Dax and Dona to stop.
“Something’s not right,” he whispered.
“What do you mean, something’s not right?” Dona asked.
“I know I closed this door when we left,” he said. “Stay here.”
“I’m not letting you go down below alone,” Dax said.
“Neither am I,” Dona added.
“Fine,” Jack said. “Just be careful.”
Jack was the first one to see the condition of the salon. Every drawer was opened, emptied, and overturned. Most of his navigational charts and books were on the floor and the bookcases searched. Everything was removed from the storage compartments under the sofas and thrown everywhere as well.
“Get topside and take Dona with you,” Jack whispered.
Seeing the condition of the salon, Dax said, “No. I’m not leaving you down here alone.”
“Just do it, Dax, take care of Dona. I’ll be fine.”
“Fuck both of you,” Dona whispered. “I don’t need anyone taking care of me. Do you have a gun on this damn boat or do I have to kick some ass with my bare hands?”
“Oh hell,” Jack huffed. “Leave it to me to go into business with Bonnie and Clyde.”
He pulled War and Peace off of one of the shelves untouched by the intruders, opened it, and retrieved his forty-five, which was stashed in the hollowed-out shell of the book.
“Oh, good Lord,” Dona said as she saw the gun. “I thought you were stopping to read a classic.”
He removed the safety, and with Dax and Dona closely following, he slowly made his way toward the galley and forward cabins, listening for any sign that the intruders might still be on board.
When they reached the galley, as in the salon, every drawer was opened, emptied, and overturned, and pots and pans as well as silverware were strewn everywhere. Without stopping, Jack worked his way toward the sleeping cabins. Opening the first cabin door carefully with his gun pointed forward, he saw that all the drawers and closets there had been emptied and searched. The mattress was pulled off of the bed and lying on its edge, and the compartments underneath the mattresses were emptied and searched as well. They went from one cabin to the next, and they were all in the same condition. Lastly, he opened the forward cabin door to their makeshift home base. It was surprisingly untouched. It appeared to have been searched as well, but care had been taken not to disrupt the equipment, which didn’t make sense to any of them. The three then made their way to the aft master cabin and it, too, was in the same condition as the others. But after a quick search, it appeared that the intruders were no longer on board, and the threat of danger was gone for the moment. Jack put the safety back on his forty-five and laid it on his desk.
His first glance was to his bedside table. The top drawer was missing, but he quickly scanned the small cabin and saw the overturned drawer lying near his bed. He lifted the drawer and a black, zippered Alaska Pacific Bank bag fell out and landed at his feet. He unzipped the bag and removed an untouched stack of cash. He lifted the cash to show Dona and Dax.
“Look what they missed,” he said.
“Should we call the police?” Dona asked.
Dax was the first to speak. “It’s Jack’s call because it’s his boat, but my vote would be no,” he said. “Why bring any unwanted attention to the expedition?”
“I agree,” Jack said. “And besides, nothing seems to be missing, so they’d most likely write it off as some random act by local kids.”
“You’re probably right,” Dona said. “But it feels weird not doing anything.”
“There’s enough to do to just get this boat back in shape before we leave,” Jack replied. “So let’s get our butts in gear.”
The three of them started the process of cleaning up the boat and putting things away. They each started with their own cabin, and then Jack took the galley while Dax and Dona took the salon. They didn’t feel comfortable going thro
ugh Brad and Mac’s things, so they left their cabin for when they returned.
They were about halfway through when they heard two car doors close and Brad yell, “Helloooo, get your sorry asses out here and help us unload.”
Jack went topside and was greeted by Brad handing him a cardboard box. He took the box and carried it down below. Brad and Mac followed with boxes of their own and stopped short when they saw the condition of the salon.
“What in the hell happened in here?” Mac asked.
“We had visitors,” Jack said.
“What? Are you serious?”
“Oh yeah, we’re serious!” Dax exclaimed. “And wait until you see your cabin.”
“He’s right,” Dona said. “We’ve already put our cabins back together, but didn’t feel comfortable going through your stuff.”
“Lord only knows what kind of sex toys we would have found in there!” Dax said.
“Very funny,” Mac said.
Brad and Mac listened while Jack explained what they’d found when they returned to the boat.
“Those bastards better not have touched my underwear,” Brad said. “That’s just creepy.”
“I know what you mean,” Dona said. “But be prepared. I’ve thrown mine away, and I’m going back into town shortly to buy new ones.”
“If they’ve touched ours…. I’m going with you,” Brad said.
They all helped unload the car and finished putting everything away in the galley and salon. Brad and Mac retreated to their cabin to put it back together, and in just under an hour, the door flew open, and Brad emerged with a trash bag.
“But that’s perfectly good underwear,” Mac whined as he followed Brad to the trashcan. “My favorite boxers are in that bag. Can’t we just wash them?”
“Nope,” Brad said. He opened the lid, dropped the bag into the can, and brushed his hands together to signify the decision was made, and the job was done.
“Call me queer if you want to,” he said. “But I’m not wearing underwear that some stranger’s touched, and neither are you. Where’s Dona?”
Very amused at the test of wills, Dax and Jack watched from the galley where Dax was cleaning vegetables and Jack was marinating steaks for dinner. “She’s in her cabin,” Dax said.
With everyone watching, Brad spun on his heels in a defiant move and tapped on Dona’s door.
“You ready to make an underwear run?” he yelled through the door.
“I’ll be ready in a minute,” she responded. “Call a cab.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you topside,” Brad said as he moved away from the door.
Mac followed Brad up the companionway and on to the bow and stood silent while Brad ordered a cab.
When Brad hung up the phone, they stood there looking out over the horizon.
“Look, Mac, I know you think I’m crazy, but I just hate the thought of someone touching our underwear. People touch our clothes all the time because we wear them on the outside, but our underwear is something private, just for you and me.”
“Okay, okay I get it,” Mac said. “Go buy us some new underwear.”
Brad kissed Mac and said, “Thanks for understanding.”
Mac took the kiss a little deeper as Dona appeared on deck.
“Get a room, you two,” she said.
Mac stuck his tongue out at Dona. “You’re just jealous,” he said.
“Oh yeah, that’s it. Brad, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not buying what you boys are selling.”
Mac and Brad smiled. “Yeah, we know,” Brad said. “No hard feelings.”
“Hey, Dona,” Mac said. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Not at the moment,” she replied. “This lifestyle doesn’t leave much time for romance.”
“The lifestyle didn’t seem to stop Dax,” Mac said.
“Yeah, but he’s always been a bit of a whore,” she said with a smile. “I’m really happy for them, but surprised at the same time.”
“How so?” Brad asked.
“Jack is not his usual type,” she explained.
“Really?” Mac said.
“Yeah, in the past he’s always gone for the starry-eyed young boys who idolized him. But with Jack, it seems different. Hell, he seems different. I think Jack will be good for him.”
“I sure hope so,” Mac said. “Jack has really gone out on a limb here. We always thought he was gay, but he’d never admitted to it, or acted on it as far as we know.”
“I’ve got a good feeling about this one, but only time will tell,” Dona said as she grabbed Brad’s hand. “Let’s go, hotshot.”
Brad kissed Mac on the cheek and said, “We won’t be long.”
“Remember, Jack wants to leave by four.”
“Yes, dear,” Brad yelled as he was being dragged off the boat. “We’ll be back in plenty of time.”
Mac watched Brad and Dona leave and then he headed down below to see if he could help with the preparations for dinner. When he reached the salon, Dax and Jack were sitting on the couch, discussing their unwanted guests. He glanced at the galley, and all the food preparation seemed to have been completed.
They both looked up when they heard Mac come through the companionway.
“Perfect timing,” Jack said as he motioned for him to join them. “We just finished.”
“Oh good,” Mac said. “I thought I might have to help.”
The three men shared a laugh and Mac said, “If you don’t need me, I’ll take the rental car around the corner and drop it off.”
“I’ll do that,” Dax said.
“Want me to come with you?” Jack asked.
“Nah, I can handle it, but thanks.”
“What were you guys talking about?” Mac asked before Dax had time to get up.
“About the break-in,” Dax said. “We’re pretty certain this wasn’t a random act of vandalism.”
Jack tapped his fingers on the end table as he offered his opinion. “Here’s the way I see it, guys,” he explained. “It seems to me that, if they were kids, they would have taken everything they thought they could sell and destroyed everything else on board, including the equipment.”
“That makes sense,” Mac added.
“But they didn’t touch any of the equipment down below or on the bridge, and they didn’t take the bank bag of cash in my cabin, which tells me they were looking for something in particular.”
“Like maybe the coordinates to a wreck?” Dax asked.
“Precisely,” Jack said.
“And since they didn’t find what they were looking for on board,” Dax said. “They wanted our equipment in good working order to lead them to it.”
“You think someone’s been following us?” Mac asked.
“That would explain a lot,” Dax said. “Let’s put the facts together. First, no one’s been able to find this wreck for over one hundred years, yet we stumbled onto the coordinates under very odd circumstances. Secondly, the Rights of Salvage came way too easy. It was all but handed over to us on a silver platter. And lastly, someone came aboard and disrupted everything but the navigation and reconnaissance equipment. It all seems very odd to me.”
“If someone is watching us, they want something,” Jack said. “And I think that something is our gold,” he added. “We really need to watch our backs from this point forward.”
Mac jumped in, “But it’s almost impossible to watch our backs when there’s so much traffic on the Canal. Any number of boats coming and going could be watching us, and we would have no way of knowing.”
“I guess we pay a little more attention,” Jack said. “I think one of us should be on duty with binoculars, watching every vessel that passes. We can look up the registration at the United States Coast Guard Web site and start keeping a log. Anything out of the ordinary will stand out, and we can investigate each questionable vessel on a case-by-case basis.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Dax said.
“Now, can we talk about something else fo
r a while? All this espionage crap is starting to freak me out,” Mac said.
“Sure, what do you want to talk about?” Dax asked.
“How about you guys?” Mac asked.
Dax smiled at Jack, and he started to blush.
Dax thought Jack might like to talk to Mac alone, so he saw this as a good opportunity to take the car back. “I’ll catch up with you guys later,” he said.
He kissed Jack on the lips, stood, and headed up the companionway.
“Be careful, and watch your back,” Jack said.
“I will,” Dax replied.
“That was a hasty retreat,” Jack said.
“Maybe he thought you and I might need to talk,” Mac responded.
“Why would he think that?”
“Possibly because you had your first sexual experience with a man last night, and he thought you might want to talk about it?” Mac asked.
Jack thought for a moment, then shook his head. Before he could say anything, Mac continued.
“Come on, Jack, you must want to pick my brain about something? It wasn’t that long ago that I was in your shoes, and I sure wished I’d had someone to talk to. Lord knows you were no help.”
“Nope, I’m good,” Jack said.
Mac looked crushed, and Jack immediately regretted his words.
“Look, Mac, I really appreciate it, but I really am good. I’m not having any second thoughts, and in fact, I think it was the first time that I’ve ever really made love.”
“Are you saying you’re in love with Dax?” Mac asked.
“I think so.” Jack paused. “No, wait, I don’t think so. I know that I’m in love with Dax.” Jack smiled.
Mac stood, crossed the salon, and sat next to Jack. He put his arm around his shoulder and said, “Man, I wish you two the best. Dax seems to be a great guy, and well, I know you’re a great guy, so this should work out just fine.”
