Bluewater Enigma_Caribbean Mystery and Adventure Series

by Charles Dougherty

  Dani sighed with relief when Liz blinked. She stared at Dani for a second, frowned, and shook her head. Raising a hand to her mouth, she turned her face to the side and retched. She recovered without throwing up and looked back up at Dani.

  "What happened," she asked. "Why am I — "

  Dani laid a hand over Liz's mouth, her touch gentle, and shook her head. "Shh," she said. "They're still here."

  "Who?" Liz whispered. "Why's the engine running?"

  Dani smiled, glad that Liz was asking questions that made sense. She leaned down, her lips close to Liz's ear. "I don't know who they are. There are three of them. Four of them came aboard. I walked out our door, thinking our guests were awake, and one of them knocked me for a loop. You came out fighting and cracked him with the flashlight. He went down, but another one hit you hard on the back of the neck and took you out. I think you've got a concussion. You've been in and out for over an hour. You following me so far?"

  "Yes, but — "

  "Just listen; let me get you caught up. One of them, a guy they called Mike, took Harry and left. Mike seemed to be in charge. His second-in-command is named Billy. Billy took Mike and Harry to Mustique in a speed boat and left them there. They said something about a plane. While they were gone, the one you brained — he's Joey — hauled in the anchor and got under way. Billy came back and tied their speedboat to the stern. We've been heading west at eight to nine knots for about an hour and a half. Got it?"

  "Yes, but you said there were three, and Mike's gone. That leaves Billy and Joey. Is there another one aboard?"

  "Very good! You're back with me. The other one is named Seamus. He's out of action, at least for a while."

  "What happened to him?"

  "I put out one of his eyes. I was about to break his neck, but Billy stuck a Glock in my face and told me to back off. So I let him live. For now."

  "What about Beverly?"

  "They shut her in the forward head and tied the door shut. Our door's tied shut too."

  "Where are they taking us?"

  "Mike told Billy to take us offshore far enough so nobody would see what happened. He and Joey are supposed to find out who we're working for and then do away with us and sink Vengeance."

  "Great," Liz said. "So there are two of us and two, maybe three, of them?"

  "And Beverly, but she's probably just going to be in the way. Maybe she'll be good for a distraction. But I'm not sure you're in fighting trim. Can you stand up?"

  Liz swung her legs over the edge of the berth and pushed herself to a sitting position. Standing, she held on to Dani and swayed for a few seconds. "I'll do what I have to," she said.

  "That's the right attitude, anyway. Save your strength and focus on getting your bearings, for now."

  "How long do we have?" Liz asked.

  "I'd say not very long. From the GPS in my phone, we're around 25 miles out. I'm surprised they haven't already started in on us."

  "Damn it!" Liz hissed. "Maybe I can fight sitting down."

  "We'll be okay. I've got a surprise for them," Dani said.

  Her eyes went round as the engine was throttled back.

  "What surprise?" Liz asked.

  Dani put a finger over her lips and shook her head as the engine rumbled to a stop.

  "Get the one that blinded Seamus," a man's voice said, from the other side of the cabin door. "We'll start with her. Mess her up real good and leave her for the others to look at while we question them."

  "You want her now, Billy?"

  "Yeah. Wait, you dumb fuck. Don't cut that rope. Untie it. I'll drag her ass out here and you tie the door shut again; keep that other one in there. She can listen, but we'll do one of 'em at a time, okay?"

  "Okay, Billy. Flip you to see who gets her first?"

  "In your dreams, Joey. You ain't man enough for that one, anyhow. She's a fuckin' wildcat, remember? Now, open the door and I'll get her out before they realize what's happening. You watch the other one and get the door closed fast. Here goes."

  Dani looked back over her shoulder and smiled at Liz, giving her an exaggerated wink.

  When he heard Delaney answer the phone, Montalba forced himself to remain calm. "Good morning, Mr. Delaney. I'm pleased that you're available so early this morning."

  "Yes," Delaney said. "What can I do for you? I'm due in a meeting in the next few minutes. Is there something specific?"

  "That's no way for you to greet your single largest investor, is it Mr. Delaney? After your recent, lackluster performance, I would expect you to be more deferential.”

  "I'm sorry to be short with you, but it's hard to be warm and friendly when I don't even know your name," Delaney said.

  "It is better that you don't know my name," Montalba said. "If you knew my name, you might be facing death right now, instead of just an unhappy patron."

  "You dare to threaten me?"

  "Mr. Delaney, I shouldn't have to remind you that your defenses are, shall we say, less than perfect. How are your guards and their dogs? Have they recovered from their recent misfortune?"

  "Look," Delaney said, "I'm struggling; I want to satisfy you. I apologize again. How may I help you?"

  "That's better, thank you, Mr. Delaney. I want to know what's happening with the Velasquez problem."

  "Fair enough. Here's what I know. We had surveillance on Mike McGuire starting yesterday afternoon. He and three of his men used his company's Learjet to fly to San Juan last night. They left Opa Locka around 7:30 and switched to a Beechcraft Super King Air in San Juan. They flew to Mustique and landed there shortly after midnight. McGuire came back to Opa Locka with Velasquez about an hour ago. They went to McGuire's house."

  "And the three men?" Montalba asked.

  "Not with him. We think he left them down island to deal with the women."

  "Deal with the women? What do you mean?"

  "McGuire's motivation is to hush this whole thing up; he and his brother have a big stake in Velasquez's candidacy."

  "That doesn't answer my question," Montalba said. "I used the tracking information you sent me. The yacht is headed west at eight knots. They were over twenty miles from the islands for the last position fix. How is that 'dealing with the women?'"

  "Let me have a look," Delaney said, tapping on a keyboard. "While it's coming up, you have to understand that we don't control what McGuire does. Having said that, it doesn't matter what he does, because we're going to put this whole thing in the spotlight."

  "How will you do that?" Montalba asked.

  "Okay," Delaney said. "Just a second ... there. There's a new position fix. The yacht's about 30 miles out and it's moving to the northwest at about three quarters of a knot. I'd say they're drifting. Now, back to your question, I'm guessing at this, based on what I'd do if I were in McGuire's shoes, okay?"

  "Yes," Montalba said. "What would you do?"

  "I wouldn't want to leave witnesses. Would you?"

  "You're suggesting that his men will eliminate the three women. Is that it?"

  "And the boat," Delaney said. "That's what I'd do. You see it differently?"

  "That makes sense, but I didn't know McGuire did business that way."

  "Maybe he doesn't. It won't make any difference to you and me if he lets the women live and they spill the story."

  "That's so," Montalba said. "But suppose he does eliminate the women and sink the boat. Velasquez would still be a viable candidate, then, because losing the boat means we can't retrieve the recordings."

  "We don't need to," Delaney said. "I've already taken care of that."

  "You already have the recordings?"

  "No. Remember the two men who were working with Norris?"

  "The ones who are in jail in St. Vincent, you mean?" Montalba asked.

  "Yes. They've been primed by the lawyer we hired. He's going to tell them to reveal the identity of their employer in exchange for a lighter sentence. He'll negotiate that with the prosecutor today."

  Montalba swallowed hard.
"But how does that help us?"

  "Our story is that Norris and those two had been fired from SpecCorp. They stole the surveillance equipment from us, and they were freelancing. Told their client they worked for us, for the credibility that would buy them. They're going to say they were hired by Patrick and Michael McGuire to get the goods on their low-down, cheating brother-in-law. The McGuires were pissed off at Velasquez for the way he treated their sister."

  Montalba relaxed. He laughed to himself, and said, "That's ingenious."

  "That's not quite everything. There will be a controlled leak from SpecCorp to the press, disowning Norris and his team and denying our involvement in what was apparently a blackmail attempt directed at the congressman."

  Montalba laughed aloud at that.

  "Satisfied, now?" Delaney asked.

  "I'm not happy that your people allowed us to get into such a situation, but your recovery is impressive."

  "I'll keep you informed of developments, but I really need to run right now. I have a meeting at Lang ... ah, out in northern Virginia."

  "Very well," Montalba said. "Go to your meeting."

  Billy opened the door into the aft cabin and grinned when he saw Dani backed against the opposite wall. "Come to Daddy, sugar," he said, stepping toward her.

  She smiled sweetly and raised the Glock 21 she'd taken from Seamus when she blinded him. She shot Billy in his left thigh, marveling at the stopping power of the .45 ACP hollow point bullet. Before he hit the cabin sole, she raised the pistol, aiming it at Joey, who stood just outside the door with his hands in the air.

  "Don't shoot," he said. "I'm cool."

  She chuckled. "Well, I'm not, asshole," she said, lowering her aim and blowing away his left kneecap. He screamed and collapsed.

  Turning her attention back to Billy, she saw him struggling to free the suppressor on his pistol; it was caught in the waistband of his jeans. "Uh-uh," she said. "Don't do it."

  When he ignored her, she put a round in his right shoulder. She leaned over and took the pistol from him, tossing it to Liz, who sat on the edge of her berth. "If he moves, take his left kneecap. Think you can do it?"

  "With my eyes closed," Liz said. "Where'd you get that cannon?"

  "The one I blinded had it. I figured he didn't need it anymore."

  "Let's talk about this," Billy said.

  "Hold that thought, shithead," Dani said. "I'll get back to you directly."

  She stepped through the doorway and aimed her pistol at Joey's face. He was moaning and clutching at his ruined knee, his attention focused on his wound.

  "Joey," Dani said. "Look at me, sweetie, or I'll make the other one match."

  "N-no, please," he said, looking up into the barrel of the big pistol.

  "Where's your gun, Joey?"

  "In the back of my jeans."

  "Okay. You get one chance. Put your right hand on top of your head."

  He did as she ordered, his face pale from shock.

  "Now, reach back with your left hand and pull the gun out of your waistband with your thumb and forefinger. "Wait!" she said, as he started to move.

  He froze.

  "What did I say?" she asked.

  "Pull the gun out with my thumb and forefinger."

  "Good boy. Now keep listening. I want you to put the gun on the cabin sole and slide it to me when I tell you to. If you grip it with your whole hand when you pull it out, I'll blow your arm off. Understand?"

  "Yeah. I'm cool. Don't shoot me again."

  "No promise on that. I may shoot you again, but at least you get points for listening. Now, pick the gun out and slide it to me."

  When she had his pistol, she stepped to the side. "Can you see this one, too, Liz?"

  "Yes."

  "Good. If either one of them moves, kneecap both of them. I need to check on Seamus." She went into the main cabin where she found Seamus sitting up on the starboard settee, a crude bandage covering most of his face.

  "Thanks for the loan of the pistol," she said. "You saved my ass, but I don't think your friends are very happy. Can you speak?"

  "Yeah," he said.

  "Good. When I tell you to, I want you to lie down on your stomach on that settee, legs straight and feet together. No fast moves, okay?"

  "Yeah."

  "Do it now," she said.

  He rolled to the side and stretched out, his hands under his shoulders as he adjusted his position.

  "Good," she said. "Put both hands behind your back and cross your wrists."

  He complied with her instructions.

  "I'm going to tie you up, Seamus. Are you right-handed or left-handed?"

  "Right-handed," he said.

  "Okay. If you give me any trouble, I'm going to blow your right arm off with your .45. Understand?"

  "Yeah. No trouble."

  "Good boy." Moving quickly, she took a large cable tie from her pocket and slipped it under his crossed wrists. With a practiced motion, she fastened it using her left hand while she kept the pistol trained on him with her right. "Good," she said. "I'm going to do your ankles now. Move, and I'll blow your balls right through the top of your head. I love this .45. Thanks again for letting me borrow it."

  Dani went back to the chart table and opened a drawer, rummaging in it for a few seconds. She picked out a rigging knife and closed the drawer. "Liz?" she called.

  "Yes?"

  "Everything under control back there?"

  "Yes."

  "Good. I'm going to let Beverly out, then I'll come back and secure the other two prisoners."

  "Take your time. The one back here in our cabin's passed out."

  "What a candy-ass," Dani said, opening the rigging knife as she went forward. When she reached the forward stateroom, she cut through the rope securing the head door with a few strokes of the razor-sharp knife.

  "Beverly?" she said, opening the door.

  "What happened?" Beverly asked. "I heard gunshots."

  "We had a little excitement," Dani said. "Come on out and let's figure out how to entertain our guests."

  22

  Dani knelt beside Joey, who was face down on the cabin sole, his wrists and ankles bound with cable ties.

  "It's your lucky day, Joey," she said. "Do you know why?"

  When he didn't answer, she prodded him, poking his shoulder with the blade of her rigging knife. "If you answer, you'll live longer," she said. "And with a lot less pain, too." She pressed harder with the knife, drawing blood.

  "Okay, okay!" he said. "Why is it my lucky day?"

  "Because you get me first, just like you wanted. You don't even have to flip for it."

  "Huh?" he asked.

  "You wanted to flip a coin with Billy to see who got first crack at me."

  "I was just kiddin' around," he said.

  "Aw, I'm disappointed. Here I was, flattered, and now I find out you weren't even serious. Actually, I'm pissed off by that. It's not nice to tease a girl that way."

  "Uh, I meant to say ... "

  "Joey?" she interrupted.

  "Yeah?"

  "Don't dig yourself in any deeper. The damage is done. The best thing for you would be to answer a few questions. What do you say? Want to do that? Or should I cut you a little bit?"

  "Don't cut me. I'll talk."

  "Why are you here?" Dani asked.

  "Um, we came to get Velasquez."

  "Why?"

  "Why did we come for him?" Joey asked.

  "You're stalling," Dani said, drawing the knife across his upper arm, making a shallow cut about two inches long.

  He screamed as a few drops of blood oozed out along the cut.

  "I'm losing patience," Dani said. "Shallow cuts are painful, and you've got a lot of skin for me to work with."

  "I'd talk if I were you," Liz added. "She's just getting started. You have no idea how much she's going to enjoy making you scream. It would be better if — "

  "Dani? Liz?" Beverly interrupted, her face pale as she watched Dani cut away
Joey's shirt, exposing his back.

  "Yes?" Dani asked, running a fingernail along Joey's exposed spine as he writhed on the cabin sole.

  "Don't do this, please."

  "What?" Dani rocked back on her heels and looked up at Beverly. "I want to know who was behind this. These pieces of garbage were going to kill us after they got through using us to amuse themselves."

  "I already know who it was," Beverly said. "I'll tell you everything I know, but you have to promise me you won't torture them."

  "Do you know these bastards?" Dani asked.

  "No."

  "Then why do you care? They were going to do worse to us, and they kidnapped your lover boy."

  "You're a better person than this, Dani," Beverly said.

  "You're in no position to tell me who's a better person." Dani stood, scowling as she stepped close to Beverly. "You don't exactly occupy the moral high ground."

  Liz put a hand on Dani's arm. "Dani," she said.

  "What?"

  "Beverly might be able to save us some time and trouble."

  "We've got plenty of time, and the trouble's not ours."

  "No," Liz said, "but the aftermath will be."

  "What are you saying? What aftermath?"

  "We've already got enough of a mess to clean up. Why get more blood on the upholstery and the cabin sole if we don't have to?"

  Dani, her eyes like slits, looked at Liz for a few seconds. Relaxing, she stepped back from Beverly and said, "Okay. I'll listen."

  "First, this wasn't a kidnapping," Beverly said. "He left voluntarily."

  "He didn't have much choice," Dani said.

  "I was there, Dani, right in the stateroom with Horry and the guy he called McGuire. McGuire was angry with him, but he never threatened Horry, and Horry finally suggested he'd just go home with McGuire."

  "McGuire?" Dani asked. "He's the one these guys called Mike?"

  "Yes. Horry called him Mike, too, some of the time."

  "Mike McGuire, then," Dani said. "So who was he working for?"

  "I don't think he was working for anybody," Beverly said. "I had time to piece it all together while I was locked in the bathroom."

  "Piece it all together?" Liz asked.

  "Yes. What Horry and Mike said to one another, plus what I've picked up over the last couple of months."