“I’d be deliriously giddy.”
“That’s good. Giddy. We’ve just been out for a great hike. A survival lesson. We’re on vacation. Or you’re researching a part in a film. Got it?”
“I can do it. I think.”
“They have to believe we aren’t going to do anything precipitous. We want them to think that maybe we’ll just blow it off if they buy me a new boat. Hell, maybe we think the yacht exploded.”
“You think they’ll believe that?”
“Maybe if we play it right they won’t know what to think. Remember, you’re Manhattan,” he said, walking ahead. “Do it with class.”
At first they were very careful not to show themselves while they scouted the small marina complex.
A blue-hulled aluminum catamaran Mountie boat with a lot of equipment was docked amid the pleasure craft.
“The cops are here,” she said.
“My money says Roberto brought them. Hardly wait to hear the story.”
“They’ve got brass balls.”
“Let’s go to Betty’s and feed ourselves.”
She grabbed his arm, careful not to touch the deep wounds.
“Wait, Sam. Listen, I need your help. I don’t mean just now, I mean to solve this whole mess.”
“I’m a sailor.”
“I know people. You’re no sailor. You’re the one who cracked Peter’s case. That’s my guess. Peter said there was a sort of private investigator, but never said who or anything.”
“That case was a long time ago.”
“You aren’t just going to leave me with this, are you?”
“Did I say that? I suggested a lawyer. I know investigators.”
“You haven’t said a damn thing. Not even your last name. But I feel we have some sort of connection here. And I don’t know what you do in this world other than sail, but it’s got to do with the spy or security business or something. And I know I need to… hire you.”
“I’m a bastard, remember?”
“Try for one second not to let it show. And cut your bullshit I’m an actor too.”
“There are lots of people-”
She grabbed his shirt and looked up at him, hard determination in her eyes.
“I have never felt so incapable. I’m partly to blame for my brother’s ruined life. Don’t make me beg.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“Give me a commitment.” Anna seemed on the verge of tears. “Once we walk back into the world, you’re leaving. I can feel it. And you have not been leveling with me. All I know is that there’s nobody quite like you to figure this out.”
Sam hesitated. He knew he couldn’t promise and then back out. Yes, he was his own man, but her words, the way she put it, made it difficult to say no.
“Please don’t be a deserter when I really need somebody.”
“I was going to help you; it’s just a question of how.”
“That’s crap. There is only one way you help people. You take charge and fix it or you walk away. You’re not a halfway guy, Sam. I know you nailed Peter’s accountant The story was about you.”
“You would have to keep our relationship confidential and you can’t talk to people about me. Got it?”
“Got it. You better not crap out on me.”
“This will require some groundwork.”
“I have your word that I can hire you?”
“You have my word.”
“And you won’t just disappear on me?”
“I won’t.”
With that they made their way to a white building with cheery blue trim. According to the sign, it doubled as the store and the post office. Merchandise was stacked neatly on the shelves, although it was a bit sparse. A slender woman with a feather duster stared at Sam.
“What happened to you? A bear?”
“Man’s best friend.”
“A dog did that? Gosh, Sam. Let’s sit you down and get you cleaned up. The Mounties are looking for you-if you’re the captain of the ship that sank at Devil’s Gate.”
“That’s me. And this is Anna.”
“I’ll call Rex.” She picked up the microphone.
“This is Anna,” Sam said again.
“Oh, my God.”
“Yeah, it’s that Anna. Listen, don’t be too impressed-she passes wind even when she doesn’t eat.”
“I think you got your history ass-backwards,” Anna said.
Betty rolled her eyes and Anna rolled hers back.
“A trivial stretching of history designed to make a valid point,” Sam said as Anna knocked his hat down over his eyes.
“Northpoint, Northpoint, this is Echo Bay,” Betty said into the radio.
“Switch and answer, Twenty-two Alpha.”
“Rex, your captain showed up, a little the worse for wear, but fine. Apparently he had a passenger. They’re gonna eat and clean up.”
“I have my paperwork. And I’ve got to hear about Devil’s Gate.”
“How about after some lunch and cleanup?”
“Roger that.”
“Echo Bay clear.” Then she turned to Sam. “You heard. He wants to talk with you when you’re done here.”
“Are you and Rex still sweet on each other?”
“Now don’t start on that.”
Sam chuckled with the question still written on his face.
“Well, come on in. We’ll start with the wounds and move to food. I don’t know what you been doin’, but these Mountie people and others are here looking for you. Said you might have disappeared off in the woods. They said a woman. They didn’t say Anna Wade.”
“Yeah, well, let’s just relax about that,” Sam said.
“Mum’s the word.” She sat Sam down at the table and in twenty minutes the wounds were covered with antibiotics and Sam had two dollar-sized bandages on his right arm and three on his left. After saying thank you and exchanging a few more pleasantries, Sam and Anna excused themselves to the washroom.
They tried acting as if they were strolling Fifth Avenue in jeans and Armani. They weren’t completely successful, drawing wide-eyed stares from a pair of bird-watchers. The washroom was also the laundry room and was on a large float behind the docks. They made their way out the gangplank.
“I’m taking a shower. Despite the hunger pangs,” she said. Then she leaned close. “When are they going to show up?”
“When they feel like it. You figure maybe they’ll use a rocket launcher on the shower?”
“It’s not funny. When are we going to make this plan?”
“It’ll come. Relax. I need you to be on vacation.”
“With a rocket up my you know what?”
“The Mounties are all over this place. It’ll be fine. And if they use a rocket on you, you won’t know what hit you.”
“Well, that makes me feel better.”
She went into the stall, stripped off her dirty clothes, and got under the hot water.
He came back with towels.
She interrupted the warm comfort of the shower, picked up her filthy shirt, and held it in front of her. Unlatching the door, she stuck out an arm. At that moment a shower of icy-cold water came over the door. She screamed. “How could you do that?” Then in came Sam’s hand around the door with two fluffy dry towels, one of them with a big picture of a smiley face. The hand returned with a pair of wool trousers and a fresh shirt. Even a bra and underpants along with a blow-dryer.
“I borrowed them from Betty,” he said.
“Sam?”
“Yeah?”
“Can’t you pretend to like me just a little?”
He sighed. “Sorry, it’s a tribal custom. We had a victory. You do this with people you like. Especially when you’re on vacation.”
The shower stall slammed shut.
Nine
Chellis waited impatiently for the phone to ring. Finally it did.
“They got to Echo Bay,” Roberto said.
Chellis listened to the story for as long as he could, then cut Roberto off. “I want you out of this. You will do nothing more. Absolutely nothing. It’s screwed up. If they’re smart and we’re lucky, they’ll say nothing because the rocket launch would be pinned on Jason. I’m sending someone to handle this. You get a picture of the man with Anna, but do nothing else. Do you understand?”
“Tell me exactly what happened,” Anna said, knowing that whatever Sam had said or done could make the press.