The waiter glanced at the policeman.
“As the lady says.” The captain smiled. “Since we have little choice, I gather.”
“Yes, sir.” The waiter scribbled, then ducked away.
The captain sat back and clasped his hands around one khaki-covered knee. He regarded them both in silence for a moment, then spoke. “Many things have occurred over the past several days.”
Now, that was a true mouthful. Kerry propped her chin up on her fist. “Sure have.”
“We were not able to locate the intruder into your rooms,” he stated. “And it appears as if the reputed employer of that person has also left the islands.” His eyes studied them intently. “We found that quite curious, since the marina tells us he had prepaid his engagement for some time”
“Really?” Kerry murmured. “Hm.”
“We heard that he left the marina last night and was going to meet someone. Would you know anything about that?” The policeman’s sharp eyes watched them intently. “He seemed so very interested in you.”
“Ah.”
“And then, I also hear that his boat was having some trouble in our storm last night,” the captain went on. “Not so surprising, yes?
It was a terrible storm.”
Dar studied him, aware of Kerry’s now tense form next to her.
“It was pretty bad,” she agreed. “We got caught out in it too.”
“So I understand,” the policeman said. “Do you, perhaps, have any information on any…mishap that may have befallen this gentleman? Out on the sea?”
Dar evaluated her options. She pulled down her glasses and met his eyes squarely. “If we knew why he wasn’t here, would you want us to tell you?” She heard Kerry’s indrawn breath, and considered the possibility that she’d just gone too far. “Captain?”
The captain’s face twitched a bit and his head cocked to one side. “I have heard some interesting things about this man, and about yourself, Ms. Roberts,” he commented. “If I investigate your statement, perhaps I will learn more interesting things.”
“You might,” Dar agreed.
“However, I might also learn some things that would require me to work very, very hard.” The captain gave her a charming smile. “And it is too beautiful a day to be working so hard. So, Ms.
Roberts, I will regretfully decline your so generous offer of Terrors of the High Seas 355
information.”
Dar gave him a mental point and removed a moral one. “Good choice,” she said. “Because, frankly, Captain, nice as your island is, we’re looking forward to seeing it behind us.”
“That is excellent to hear, Ms. Roberts.” The man turned as the waiter put down a plate of sandwiches and a flask of tea. “May I assume, then, that you have no interest in pursuing your complaint concerning the break-in here in the hotel?” he asked. “Or the disagreeable encounter you had at sea?”
Dar leaned forward. “I’ve settled with DeSalliers, and no, your friends the pirates are safe.” She enunciated the words carefully, but lowered her voice. “I’ve had enough trouble the last few days to last me the entire next year, thanks.”
“My friends?” the policeman replied. “Ah, but you have such friends as well, do you not?”
Dar inclined her head in affirmation. She picked up a half sandwich and inspected it, then grinned. “Oh, I bet this is popular with the rest of the tourists.” She showed Kerry the contents.
“Peanut butter.”
“It does not spoil so quickly.” The policeman graciously accepted the change of subject and selected his own square of white bread. “Other than these unfortunate incidents, you have enjoyed our hospitality, I hope?”
Kerry paused in the act of pouring some tea. “The islands are beautiful,” she said. “I can guarantee we won’t forget our visit any time soon.”
The captain took a bite of his peanut butter sandwich, set the remainder back on the table, and smiled. “Excellent.” He got up, giving them a sketchy salute with his free hand. “Do have a good day, won’t you?”
They watched him leave, his slim, uniformed figure gliding through the crowd with ease. Kerry waited until he disappeared, then she sighed and leaned back. “Wow.”
“Mm.” Dar took a sip of her lukewarm tea. “So, that’s that, I guess.”
Kerry nudged her sandwich with one finger. “Does that mean…he’s just going to ignore the fact that a whole boat and its crew has disappeared?”
Dar bit the edge of the glass as she looked at Kerry through it.
“I guess he figures it’s just one more boat gone missing in a long list of them,” she said. “I don’t know.”
“Wow. So much for the law.” Kerry frowned.
Dar folded her hands around one knee. “Yeah,” she said. “Well, maybe it’s for the best.”
“What?” Kerry said. “After what happened to Bud? And the map? And DeSalliers’ goons and his gun and—”
356 Melissa Good Dar looked at her. “And me choking him as we went overboard?” she interrupted in a low tone. “And what happened with that guy spotting the raft with the searchlight, and Dad shooting holes in the boat?” She leaned over nearer to Kerry.
“They were trying to kill us!” Kerry hissed, in a mere whisper.
“What were we supposed to do, let them? Call the police?” she added with a touch of sarcasm. “Call CNN?”
Dar touched her fingertips to Kerry’s lips. “All I’m saying is, it’s over.”
Kerry stared at her for a long moment, then she let out a breath.
“What about the pirates?” She took another tack. “We can’t just leave that alone. Even if Bud and Charlie are involved, damn it, Dar.”
“No,” Dar conceded. “But we’re not going to get any help from the cops here.” She glanced around, but the tables near them were quite empty. “On the other hand, nothing’s stopping us from contacting those insurance companies when we get back to Miami.
Kerry relaxed a little. “That’s true,” she agreed. “If we take away their gains, maybe it’ll stop.”
“Exactly.”
“Think they’ll believe us?” the blonde woman asked wryly. “It all sounds so melodramatic.” She rubbed her temples. “How do we get ourselves into this stuff, anyway?”
“Natural talent.” Dar stood and offered Kerry a hand up. “Let’s go. I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.”
Kerry joined her, and they started off back toward the Dixie.
“This place’s overstayed my need to be here,” she muttered, dodging a flock of pigeons. “Next time, we hike Yosemite.”
“We’ll end up being chased by a bear.”
“That’s Yellowstone.”
“Whatever.”
“ARE YOU SURE this is a good idea?” Kerry whispered, as they relieved the grateful grocers of some of their perishables. “I don’t think those guys get along, Dar.”
Dar reviewed the choices in the rapidly melting ice. “They’ll be fine.” She pointed at a fish. “Get that one. Dad likes them.”
Kerry motioned to the man behind the counter. A call to the hospital had revealed that Bud was refusing to remain in its care, and he and Charlie were more than ready to leave the place behind.
Dar had immediately offered them a ride back to their island, and casually invited them to join her, Kerry, and Andrew for dinner on board their boat.
There was, everyone had realized, no real way for them to refuse, given the circumstances, and now Kerry was gathering Terrors of the High Seas 357
enough food to feed them, while hoping the evening didn’t turn out to be a disaster. “I don’t know, sweetie,” she sighed. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”