by Bill Myers
Buck stood, “And I'm going with him.”
I shook my head. “Buck, you've had a long day. Why don't you stay home with Polly tonight. I can hunt for Eddie by myself.”
Buck seemed hurt by my suggestion. “Walker, I may be a few years older than you, but that doesn't mean I can't keep up. Don't ever think otherwise. You're not leaving me behind. I'm going with you to find Eddie tonight.”
I nodded. “Okay, if you're sure. I'll pick you up around eight thirty.”
Polly stood and jangled the office keys. “Guys, it's after five. Time to close up and go home.”
After Polly locked the doors, we got in my Jeep and headed into the park. Buck was in the front seat, so I dropped him at his place first.
After he got out, he walked around to my window and said, “Don't forget. I'm going with you tonight.”
I nodded. “I won't forget. I'll pick you up at eight thirty.”
Buck gave me a thumbs up, turned and headed for the door of his bus.
Once he was inside, I drove Polly back to her trailer. Before she got out she turned to me. “Walker, I'm trusting you to make sure nothing bad happens to Buck. He's in this because of me and I don't want to see him get hurt.”
I smiled. “Polly, I don't want to see Buck get hurt either. We'll take it easy, and if things go south, we'll come home.”
She pointed her finger at me. “I'm counting on you. Don't let him get hurt.”
Bob was waiting for me at the door. He nudged my ankle with his head and then ran to the back bedroom. Expecting me to follow.
I would, but I wanted to check something else first. Ever since Polly's trailer had been trashed, I felt like mine was going to be next. So far, I'd been wrong.
Still I had a feeling that I needed to check just to be sure. I flipped on the lights and saw all was well. Nothing had been disturbed. Everything was in it's place, just as I had left it.
Bob was still in the back, waiting for me to join him. Not wanting to disappoint him, I went back to see what he wanted to show me.
As soon as I walked into the bathroom, I knew what he was trying to tell me. I'd neglected his litter box for three days, which was two days too many. It was full, and Bob didn't like a full litter box.
When Bob wasn't happy, he'd let you know about it. If you didn't fix the problem, he wouldn't let you sleep. And if you neglected his litter box too many days in a row, he'd leave you a little present – somewhere you wouldn't miss it. Like in a shoe.
Bob had only done this once before, and I learned real quick. When Bob says his litter box needs to be cleaned, it's time to clean it.
Using the plastic scoop I kept near the box, I cleaned out the lumps, raked the sand, and poured in new litter.
Bob would be happy.
After I washed my hands, I microwaved a frozen dinner and ate while checking my email. I didn't find anything important, just the daily load of spam – which I deleted.
After turning off the computer, I cleared away my dinner, and stretched out on the couch.
Three hours later, I woke to someone knocking on my door. “Walker. You in there?”
It was Buck. “Yeah, I'm here. Give me a minute.”
I stood, shook off the sleep, and opened the door. Buck was standing there in a black shirt, black pants, and a black ball cap.
“You were supposed to pick me up at eight thirty. Almost an hour ago. You been sleeping?”
“Yeah, I must have dozed off.”
“Well, it's dark outside. Time to go round up Eddie.”
I nodded. “Let me grab my shoes.”
Buck laughed. “You were worried about me keeping up with you? Looks like you're the one who needed to stay home tonight.”
He was right. I'd had a busy few days and it would have been nice to stay in tonight. But that wasn't going to happen. We needed to find Eddie.
I grabbed a bottle of water, keys, wallet and phone, and followed Buck out the door. I took special care to lock the motorhome behind me. Didn't want to make it too easy for anyone to break in.
Inside the Jeep, Buck asked, “So, what's the plan? We heading to the library first?”
“Yeah, that's what Edith said. Look there first.”
It took us just six minutes to get from Serenity Cove to the Elsie Quirk library. Three streets, no stoplights, and almost no traffic.
The library, a large one story buff brick building, was surrounded on four sides by a paved, well marked parking lot. A wide sidewalk wrapped around the entire building, making it easy for patrons to reach the front door, regardless of where they parked.
Floor to ceiling windows on the front and back of the building provided natural light as well as an open and airy feel for those inside. A row of six foot tall, well manicured wax myrtles between the sidewalk and building shielded the inside from the hot Florida sun.
This time of night, the library was closed. There were no patrons inside, no cars in the parking lot.
We cruised around the building. No sign of Eddie.
Buck spoke first. “Doesn't look like he's here.”
I nodded. “Let's get out. Check behind the bushes.”
I pulled up on the north side of the building and parked next to a large air conditioning unit. We both got out and decided it would be safer if we stuck together.
We didn't expect problems, but there was no need to take chances.
Checking the back of the building, we found a six foot tall wood fence around the library's dumpster. I checked behind it, but no Eddie.
We continued our walk around the building, and didn't find any signs that anyone had been hiding out or drinking. No beer cans, no bottles, no trash.
Back around front, we checked the space between the row of wax myrtles and the big plate glass windows.
Buck saw it first. “There's a bike.”
I nodded. “Could be Eddie's.”
We slipped into the space behind the wax myrtles. Four steps in, we heard a voice. Someone singing softly.
It was Eddie.
Not wanting to scare him, I cleared my throat making a sound just loud enough so he knew we were there.
Hearing me, he grabbed the twelve pack of beer in front of him and started to jump up. Apparently, he didn't expect strangers and was prepared to run if anyone approached.
“Eddie, it's us,” I whispered.
He turned toward my voice. A puzzled look on his face. Then he smiled. “What y'all doing over here?”
“We're looking for you.”
“Well, you found me. Come on in, have a seat.”
We squeezed between the wax myrtles and joined Eddie. Buck leaned against the building, while I squatted down across from Eddie.
“Am I in trouble?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, you're not in trouble. I just need to ask you about Darrell.”
Eddie took a sip from the beer he was holding. “Darrell. I figured you might have a few questions about him. You get the dog back?”
“Yep, we got him back. But I still need to find Darrell.”
Eddie shook his head. “I don't think Darrell wants to be found.”
“What makes you think that?”
“That's what he told me. Said too many people looking for him. So he's leaving town in the morning.”
“You've talked to Darrell?”
“Yep, talked to him this afternoon. Over to the convenience store. I was cleaning the bait tanks like I always do, and Darrell showed up.
“Said he was buying supplies for his trip up north.”
“Did he tell you were he was staying?”
“He didn't have to tell me. I know where he's staying.”
“Where? Where's he staying?”
“He's in the Toot Toot.”
Up until this point, Buck had stayed out of the conversation. Keeping quiet, letting Eddie talk. But no longer. Upon hearing Eddie's answer to my question, Buck burst out laughing.
“The Toot Toot? What the hell is the Toot Toot?”
Eddie laughed along with Buck. Then, after catching his breath he said, “It's from the Popeye song.”
Then he started singing.
“I'm Popeye the Sailor Man,
I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.
I'm strong to the finish
Cause I eats my spinach.
I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.
Toot Toot.”
By the time he finished singing the song, all three of us were laughing so hard we were almost crying.
I regained my composure first. “Okay, I get it, but what does that have to do with where Darrell is?”
Eddie smiled, “It's the name of his boat. The Toot Toot.
“It looks like a little tug boat. The kind Popeye had. So they named it Toot Toot. The name's painted right on the back of the boat.”
Each time Eddie said Toot Toot, Buck snorted with laughter. In fact, we all laughed. It was funny.
“So Eddie, where do we find the Toot Toot?
Eddie pointed. “It's out on the water over past the bridge. With all them other boats.”
“You mean the mooring field?”
Eddie shook his head. “I don't know what they call it. It's where you can park your boat for free. That's where Darrell keeps the Toot Toot.”
“Is he out there tonight?”
“Don't know for sure. He usually sleeps out there. So I reckon he'll be there tonight.”
“Anybody with him?”
“I don't know. He don't tell me everything.
“All I know is he's got to get out of town. Supposedly he stole some money from his work and is scared the cops are looking for him.”
I looked up at Buck, we were both thinking the same thing.
“He took money from work? Where'd he work?”
Eddie smiled. “You don't know? He works at the trailer park. Told me he was the manager there.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Eddie had provided us with what we needed to know. Darrell was hiding out on the Toot Toot, and planning on leaving in the morning.
I still had a few questions.
“Eddie, how did Darrell come to own the Toot Toot?”
Eddie took a swallow of his beer and answered. “Oh that's easy. When his dad died, his mom got the trailer park and Darrell got the boat.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “So you're telling me Darrell's mom owns the trailer park where he was manager? And he stole money from her?”
“Yep, that's what he did. Stole money from his own momma. He hadn't ought to do that. And I told him so. You don't steal from family.
“He said he felt real bad about it. Said he was taking the boat up to see her. Give her some of the money back. At least what's left of it.”
This explained a lot. Darrell's mom owned the trailer park – Serenity Cove. And even though Darrell stole money from her, she didn't want him arrested.
“Eddie, you've been a big help. Anything you need?”
He smiled. “Not really. I got enough money to keep me happy, but not so much that I'd get myself in trouble.”
“Well, if you need anything, give me a call.”
I pulled a slip of paper out of my pocket and wrote a phone number on it and handed it to him.
Buck and I left Eddie where we found him, in his little nest behind the bushes. He kept it clean and didn't seem to be bothering anyone. So it wasn't up to us to do anything about it.
Back out in the Jeep, Buck asked me, “You gave Eddie your phone number?”
I shook my head. “Nope, I gave him yours.”
Buck threw back his head and laughed, then pulled out his phone.
“Who you calling?”
“Polly. I figure we need a way to get out to the Toot Toot.”
He made the call.
“Polly, this is Buck.
“Yeah, we're doing fine. Just need to ask a favor.”
“Can we borrow your boat?”
“You sure it's no problem.”
“Okay, tell her we'll be over there in five minutes.”
He ended the call.
“She said we could use the dinghy. Said to ask Lucy for the key to the houseboat while we're at it. Just in case.”
When we arrived at Lucy's, she was waiting on the front porch.
“What have you guys gotten into now? You're taking the boat out at night?”
Buck laughed, then said. “We're going to see the Toot Toot.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Mom said to give you the keys. And tell you to please be safe.
“She also said to tell you there's no lights on the dinghy, so use a flashlight. And wear life jackets.”
Lucy was shaking her head when we drove off with the boat trailer behind the Jeep. She didn't approve of us being out on Lemon Bay in a small boat without lights after dark.
And I didn't blame her. It really wasn't a smart thing to be doing.
The Chadwick Park boat launch was the quickest access to the mooring field, so that's where we headed.
As we crossed the Manasota Key bridge, we slowed to see if we could spot the Toot Toot in the mooring field, but it was too dark and too far to read the names on any of the boats anchored out there.
When we reached the park, I backed the Jeep down the boat ramp and between the two of us, we were able to get the dinghy off the trailer and in the water.
I parked and locked the Jeep then met Buck back at the boat. He'd already put on one of the life jackets and handed me the other.
“Put it on.”
There was no argument from me. We were going out on the water after dark in a small boat without lights. Wearing a life jacket seemed like a pretty good idea.
Our plan was to go straight across the bay to the mooring field and tie off on Anna's houseboat. From there, we hoped to be able to pick out the Toot Toot from the other boats anchored nearby.
The ride across the bay in the dark was an adventure. From my seat in the back, I couldn't see more than about fifteen feet in front of us, and even then all I could see was darkness.
Buck sat up front and held the flashlight. I relied on his hand signals for my navigation.
After seven minutes, Buck frantically motioned me to slow down, and I cut the power on the motor. Our little boat quickly came off plane and we coasted as I awaited Buck's next signal.
Buck pointed left, and I turned the boat in that direction. Then he moved his hand across his neck, and I killed the motor. He gave me a thumbs up and pointed the flashlight ahead.
We had reached the Escape Artist. Polly's houseboat.
We tied off as we had done two days before and climbed aboard.
Buck used the key Lucy had given us to unlock the main cabin door. He went in first, and I followed.
With all the curtains drawn, it was pitch black inside. Buck still had the flashlight, and used it to point to the helm.
“Walker, you remember how to power up the boat batteries?”
“You think we'll need them?” I asked.
“Depends on how long we're going to be out here. I'd rather have the batteries powered up and not need them, than need them and not have them.”
Buck was right. It was probably a good idea to have power in the boat. Using Buck's flashlight, I went below and found the closet where the battery switch was, and turned it to the 'on' position.
I called to Buck. “Try the lights.”
Buck flipped on a cabin light. “That's it. Come on back up.”
Back in the main cabin, Buck pointed toward the curtains. “Let's keep the lights off and the curtains closed. Don't want to draw any attention.”
I agreed.
We turned off the interior light and crept out onto the stern of the boat. It was a cloudless and moonless night. Very dark, except for the stars and the occasional flashing lights of jets thirty thousand feet above us.
It took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Buck whispered. “Look over there. Lights.”
Tur
ning to where he was pointing, I could see one of the boats in the mooring field had its interior lights on. The window shades on the boat weren't drawn and we could see inside.
From where we were standing, we could make out a man working inside the boat. But we couldn't see clear enough to know whether it was Darrell or not.
Buck whispered. “You think Polly has binoculars inside?”
I nodded. “Probably, I'll go look.”
I went back into the cabin and rummaged around until I found a pair of Minolta Marine binoculars on a shelf under the helm. Taking them outside, I handed them to Buck.
“Take a look,” I whispered.
Buck adjusted the binoculars, focusing on the man inside the boat.
“Yep, that's him. The manager of Serenity Cove.”
“Okay,” I said, “We've found him. Now what?”
Buck pointed to the cabin door indicating he wanted to go back inside. We turned on a low power lamp, and sat down at the map table.
I spoke first. “Agent Harris said to call him when we found Darrell. That's what I'm going to do.”
Buck nodded.
I pulled out the phone Harris had given me, and made the call.
After ten rings, Harris answered.
“You find him?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“He's on the Toot Toot.”
“Say again.”
“He's on the Toot Toot.”
“Walker, are you on drugs? What the hell are you talking about?”
“It's a boat. The Toot Toot is a boat. Right now it's in the mooring field across from Chadwick Park. And Darrell's on it. He's leaving tomorrow morning. So you need to come get him now.”
There was a pause on the other end of the phone. Then Harris said, “Walker, I'm glad you found Darrell. But it'll take me a few hours to arrange a boat and get my guys out there.
“So stay with him. Don't try to apprehend him. Just follow him if he leaves.”
Harris ended the call.
I looked at Buck and shook my head. “Looks like we're spending the night out here.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
“You want me to go back to shore? Get some food, maybe something to drink?”
We were sitting in the main cabin of Polly's houseboat, the Escape Artist. I had just told Buck what Harris had told me. We were to stay here and keep an eye on the Toot Toot until Harris was able to get his crew together and take over.
