Limiting Liabilities: Book Two - The Martinique Files

by Colette Alaine

  “Just because she whooped your behind you’re upset. So let’s clear the table and only you two play.” Again, Tawny takes control having no idea what her plan is. Winging it seems to work so until it doesn’t, she will go with the flow.

  The pirates drop their cards to watch the scum of a wicked old man play poker with an innocent and naïve sixteen year old girl. This has to go down in pirate history as a first. Stuff like this just does not happen. But the captain is not too keen on the idea. Suddenly, he realizes what he is doing.

  “Vhy I play vith girl? Dis not right.” He shakes his head. His anger is increasing as he contemplates what he allowed to happen with his kidnap victims.

  “You’ve been playing with her all this time. You even talked to her a few times. And to me. We may be girls but we are human beings just like you and all these men. We are important and we matter.” Tawny may have chosen the wrong time to get on her soapbox but she wants him and all the other men to realize that Chinyere is not someone to ignore.

  “She is slave,” the captain roars.

  “She is a person. With feelings. She’s like you. Instead of scaring her why don’t you learn how she can play so well? She didn’t lose a single hand. Wouldn’t you prefer to find out how she does it instead of coming after her?”

  The pirate captain has never encountered women like these two. He wants to treat them as badly as he treated all the rest but one can play cards like no one else he has ever seen and the other one, well she is a crazy American. Hard telling what she might do next.

  “Face it she has a brain and is using it.”

  “She needs to act like slave.”

  “Get real. Have another drink, calm down and let her show you what she knows.” He stares at Tawny. He is quite interested in learning Chinyere’s secret.

  And so he takes another drink.

  “Also, send these men away. You’re the captain. You should be the only one that knows the secret.” He does as she tells him. This is getting easy.

  “Show me.” He yawns and strains to keep his focus on the cards. It will not be long now.

  Chinyere does her part. Slowly and methodically she begins to explain how she wins without cheating. Her soothing voice hypnotizes the drugged captain and he collapses in his chair.

  Both females try to awaken him but he is out cold. Tawny grabs her back pack and prays that she has enough battery to text or call Billy. Finding it she sees there is no signal but quickly types a text message and hits send. Hopefully, it will eventually get to him.

  CHAPTER 27

  “L eave de money in de boat,” Durvi instructs Billy and Ken as they sidle up to the mothership and tie to it.

  “Why?” Billy questions their escort.

  “It is for me. For meeting vith Nwankwo.” Durvi is tired of this boy who asks too many questions.

  “We haven’t even met him yet. How do we know that we’re even meeting him? You may just drop us here and leave us to fend for ourselves. We’ll give you the money when we know we’ve gotten something.” Billy is adamant and Ken does not interfere this time.

  “Den keep it hidden. No vne vill know.” Durvi is a bit scared and Billy notices the catch in his voice. He may be able to talk to Jesus but Nwankwo is a terrifying devil that shakes his faith.

  “I’ll leave five hundred.” Billy realizes he made a deal and needs to honor his word. Dolling out five bills he leaves it under the wooden seat. “And now we meet Nwankwo.”

  Durvi gets out of the boat after the two Americans. It is as though he is gathering his courage before meeting with the pirate captain. Billy and Ken have no idea what to expect and Durvi’s nervousness is not helping them.

  Durvi motions for them to follow him and they walk across the deck toward the staircase down into the bunkers. At the top of the stairs Durvi again pauses and gathers his wits and his courage. He has never done anything like this before but the money is good and if it is true about Nwankwo’s sisters, he will be seen as a holier man than he already is. He will be invincible. If it’s not true, he will be dead.

  Durvi descends the stairs slowly and Billy follows with Ken behind him. It is dark and damp inside. With no idea what to expect, they obediently tiptoe down their way with fear and trepidation. Why didn’t they inform the authorities of what they’re doing? They must have lost their minds.

  A light beckons them as they weave their way toward it. In a moment they are greeted by a room full of rough and rowdy men who suddenly stop talking to stare at what and who just walked through the door.

  “Ve come to see Nwankwo, the pirate captain!” Durvi screeches with all his might.

  No one makes a move. Here is Durvi, the holy man but he wants to see the pirate captain and Nwankwo has not been receptive to company since five of his senior pirates abandoned him after he slashed his predecessor’s throat. Now he is out to prove to the entire gulf that he is the best pirate trolling these waters.

  Meaner as a captain than he ever was as an everyday pirate, Nwankwo’s passion is fueled by his deep desire to leave this life. Wanting only to be a fisherman by his father’s side, this new lifestyle is the opposite of his dream. He is angry about a choice he did not make. Very angry.

  “He not vant to see people,” one pirate responds.

  “Holy man Durvi vant to see Nwankwo, the pirate captain,” Durvi says again with as much force as he can muster in the face of discouragement.

  “No,” another pirate responds. They are not getting anywhere fast.

  “We have news about his sisters and it is bad,” Billy announces. He is not going to let these men keep him from their captain.

  The pirates are now in a tricky place. They know not to interfere with Nwankwo’s life but this is his sisters. If there is one thing that might reach him, it is his family. His family is the only thing that keeps him human in this world. The only thing.

  But who will tell him? None of the pirates move. Billy shuffles restlessly.

  “Where is he?” Billy finally decides it is now or never. A few pirates glance toward the back and Billy starts to walk that way. Ken follows him and Durvi now finds himself bringing up the rear.

  Pushing open a few doors as they saunter down the center of the floor Billy reaches the end without finding Nwankwo. Turning around he is puzzled. Durvi is not with them. Backtracking, he hears voices and sees a side staircase. Ken goes down and Billy is behind him.

  Stepping out of the short hallway, they enter a dimly lit room that is smaller than the rest that Billy opened in his search. Nwankwo is a strong Nigerian. His physique is large and toned but it is the cold stare that greets them that sends shivers down their spines.

  Durvi has announced his presence and is now shaking from head to toe as he faces the most forceful pirate in the gulf. Nwankwo has captured the largest mothership and has stolen more cargo in the past few months than most of the other pirates put together. He is fearless and he is dangerous.

  Nwankwo does not want to be bothered. He is about ready to finish off the holy man when the two Americans enter his quarters. Curiosity keeps him in his seat.

  “Nwankwo, I’m Billy Solomon and I’m here to tell you that your two sisters were kidnapped and taken to another pirate mothership with my associate. These three women need your help.” Billy gets right to the point. No use in formality here.

  Nwankwo flinches. “My sisters? Chinyere? Not Chinyere. And Chioma? She is only tree. Almost a baby still.”

  “They were in the field with Loko and your two younger brothers when we stopped to talk to him about his crops. As we were talking our associate, Tawny, went to meet your sisters and help them finish their picking. Out of nowhere three men came and grabbed your two sisters. Tawny tried to free them and when we got into the car to reach them, they shoved Tawny into their car and took off. We chased them but lost them.” Billy gives him the short story.

  “How do you know vhere dey are now?” Nwankwo asks.

  “I got a text from Tawny.” Nwankwo l
ooks at Billy as though he does not understand so Billy pulls out his cell phone and shows Nwankwo the text. “I haven’t heard from her since. Maybe her battery is dead.”

  Dead. The word haunts him. Billy swallows hard and Nwankwo notices.

  “I know vhere dey be. Dis is de vork of dose five deserters. Dey are cowards. Instead of attacking Nwankwo, dey take my two innocent little sisters. Dey vill pay for this atrocity. Dey will pay vith deir lives.”

  Billy looks at Ken. “We need to get there immediately. How fast can we do that?” Ken has no idea what he is asking.

  “Pirates do not attack each other, only foreign tankers,” Nwankwo informs them.

  “They have your sisters!” Billy is exasperated. Now there’s a pirate code.

  “It does not madder.”

  “It matters to me. How far away are they?” Billy will do whatever it takes to get Tawny back.

  “Vne hour.”

  “Will the mothership. . .”

  “No. By skiff. I’s not care about de American but I vill avenge my sisters. I vill kill de pirates on land.”

  “What is it Nwankwo that you won’t do?”

  “Attack anoder modership.”

  “You’re giving up the fight and preparing for revenge, aren’t you?” Billy realizes he will not save his sisters. He is only interested in avenging their capture and eventual death.

  “You vill have to get your associate by yourself. Now get out.”

  “No. I will not. Your sisters need you and here you are, a pirate captain that can’t help two little girls. That really sucks, dude.”

  “Beep.”

  “Vhat is that?” Nwankwo hears Billy’s cell phone.

  “It’s a text.” He pulls out his phone and starts to read. “It’s from Tawny! Sent fifteen minutes ago according to this.” Billy is beside himself with momentary joy.

  “What’s it say?” Ken is anxious to hear its content, not its timing.

  “Safe. Playing poker. Pirates drank Bella donna. Save us.” Billy cannot believe what he is reading.

  “Ve go now.” Nwankwo has a sudden change of mind.

  “Okay. Sure.” Billy runs after the awakened giant.

  Nwankwo speaks to four pirates and skiffs are lowered into the water.

  “You stay,” Nwankwo commands Billy and Ken.

  “No way.” Billy will not hear of it.

  “Ve not attack. Ve vait for dem to get on boat.”

  “How will they know to come look for you?” Billy wonders.

  “Ve not attack.”

  “Fine. Take me along and I’ll go get them.” Billy is determined to go with Nwankwo and his pirates to free the girls.

  “I’m going too.” No way is Ken letting Billy go alone.

  Nwankwo is truly exasperated with the two Americans but he is not going to waste any time. When Billy and Ken board the skiffs Nwankwo lets them stay. If they get themselves killed, what is it to him? His sisters are safe and Chinyere is outsmarting these deserters. Not proper for her to play poker, even he knows she is an expert player and she carries bella donna to protect herself. If she saved herself, he needs to be there to rescue her.

  Billy figures Tawny is using every charm and trick in her book. Hard telling what is going on with the pirates but are all of them sleeping? Putting down an entire mothership is quite a feat.

  “Can’t this boat go any faster?” Billy’s impatience is legendary and it shows its ever present head now.

  “Quiet or ve trow you over.” Nwankwo is running this show. Billy shuts up. It is a silent ride for ten minutes but then Ken can no longer stay still.

  “The plan is that you will tie up to the boat and we’ll go hunt for the girls. When we find them, we come back and all get into the boat and come back to the mothership. Then Durvi will take us back and you will take care of your sisters.” Ken asks a question but it sounds more like a statement.

  “Yes.”

  “Why the change of heart?” Billy speaks again.

  “No change of heart.” Nwankwo does not want anyone to think he is feeling anything.

  “Why rescue your sisters now?”

  “Chinyere is still innocent. She plays poker better dan men. She has bella donna. She save Chioma and your girl. She be rescued for dis.”

  “Good.” Billy answers but figures that Tawny is running the show and not the timid teenager. But hey, if that is what Nwankwo believes, let him.

  The trip takes less than an hour. As they approach the ship that Nwankwo believes is holding his sisters and Tawny captive, they slow their skiffs down considerably to reduce motor noise. The closer they come the slower the boat moves. Sashaying up to the stern of the large tanker the pirates quickly tie up and then sit back down signaling it is time for Billy and Ken to get off.

  Billy is first to hoist himself up onto the deck but Ken is right behind him. It is very dark out on the water and there is no reason for these pirate motherships to keep themselves lit at night. Small lights to warn other boats of their presence are on but they do not provide much visibility for the two American men attempting to rescue three kidnap victims.

  “Follow close behind me and we’ll make our way toward the other side. If this boat is like Nwankwo’s then there’s gotta be a staircase leading down into the bunker area. I’m guessing that’s where they are,” Billy directs Ken.

  “What time is it here? It’s very quiet. I can’t believe they drugged a whole crew.” Ken is in awe of Tawny’s talents but even this is too much to expect.

  “It’s about midnight. These pirates get started early in the morning. It doesn’t surprise me we aren’t hearing any noise,” Billy whispers back. “If there are any pirates awake we can’t let them see or hear us. They’ll know immediately that there are skiffs tied to the mothership and then we don’t have a way home. We’ll be captured too.”

  “You’d think they’d have a look-out.” Ken is suspicious.

  “Why? The only boats not afraid of them are pirates and Nwankwo said they don’t attack each other. Seems a strange code of conduct for a pirate.” Billy still cannot understand it.

  “I say we stay toward the side without being on the side. I know that means we’re out in the open but if we maneuver along the rail we have nowhere to go if they turn on a search light or something. If we’re in the middle we have to figure out where to go. We might be able to deter them if we’re about ten feet from the side.” Ken is analyzing the peril.

  “Good idea.” They move out from the side of the boat where a small rail holds them. It is a still night so the boat is mostly stationary and they can walk with ease.

  In an instant a light goes on from up top on the helm side. Billy and Ken hit the deck and lie as flat as they can. The searchlight beams a bit past them and never spots them. They wait for it to be extinguished and when it is, they stand up again and make their way to where the light came. The hope is that the staircase will be somewhere near it.

  It takes them fifteen minutes to find the entry to the hull of the boat. A small light emanates from the top and provides minimal light but as they descend, the two men are able to do so without making a noise. Not even a squeak from the stairs.

  On the first floor down it is clear that these are sleeping quarters. Billy is guessing this pirate captain is not holed up in the tiniest room as Nwankwo prefers. Knowing that the bigger rooms sit toward the end of the long corridor, Billy carefully makes his way to the back.

  Suddenly a light flickers from under the door of a room. Billy and Ken brace themselves tightly against the wall in hopes of not being seen should the occupant come out of his room. Waiting five minutes, no door is opened. Billy begins walking once more and the same thing happens a bit down the way. This time the men wait longer as this pirate seems to be enjoying himself singing.

  His tone is terrible. Either all of the other pirates are knocked out by the bella donna or they’ve grown used to this screeching. Either way, it allows Billy and Ken to move on down the line witho
ut worrying as much about every tiny noise they may make.

  Within five feet of reaching what Billy hopes is the captain’s quarters, the singing pirate pops out of his room. Still singing, he lifts his voice at least two octaves higher. He seems to be attempting to draw attention to himself. It is quite disconcerting for Billy and Ken.

  The singing pirate does not indicate that he hears or sees the two rescuers. He continues to stand in his doorway, singing at the top of his lungs without much response.

  “Shut up, you stupid fool!” The pirate in the first room with the flickering light pounces out of his door and tells off the singing idiot.

  “I’ll sing if Is want,” he protests but then slips back inside.

  After both doors are closed again, Billy inches his way toward the door he believes is the captain’s quarters. Not sure why he is heading inside, he is hoping to find where the girls are being held. Having no plan he will have to wing it.

  Creeping ever closer to the door, he finally reaches it. Gently checking the handle he finds it unlocked. Slowly turning it Billy is praying he will not be greeted by gunfire. He sees Ken pull out his gun ready to shoot, if necessary.

  With the handle fully turned, Billy painstakingly eases the door open bit by bit. With a gap of six inches he positions himself to peer inside. It is dimly lit but he cannot really see who is inside. Deliberately opening the door another six inches he can vaguely make out a table and chairs scattered around in a fairly large room.

  Pushing the door open enough to enter, he slides inside with Ken right behind him, gun poised. Billy reaches for his own gun and is ready to fire. Then he hears a noise.

  Stopping cold in his tracks, he wonders who is moving. A deep silence ensues. The noise comes again. A moment later he hears a familiar voice.

  “Who’s there?”

  “Tawny?” He asks hoping it is her.

  “Billy?” she responds.

  “Yes. Are you okay?” He is relieved he found her.

  “For now, but we have to get out of here.” Her voice has great urgency in it.