TUPAI
FRENCH POLYNESIA
22 DAYS LATER
It was a remote island, that was for sure. A place of stunning beauty near Bora Bora, owned by a client of Katie Foxx and Rob Tacoma and their private security firm, RISCON. Katie had asked the client—a forty-one-year-old Silicon Valley billionaire—if she could borrow the island for a few months, with the understanding that he would tell no one.
It was a private island with a full staff and various luxury amenities.
After the events of 10/11, Calibrisi, Polk, Dellenbaugh, Katie, Tacoma, and Jenna all wanted to hide Dewey, even if he didn’t care or seem to notice. That was the real reason they were on the island. For a few weeks or months on a remote island near Bora Bora, he would disappear.
Katie, Tacoma, Dewey—and Jenna—off the grid by design.
Hammocks on trees, surfboards, kayaks, chaise lounges, several swimming pools, a tennis court, a beach that circumscribed the entire island in dusty, soft white sand. The beach had overhanging palm trees, the water was a spectacular shade of light blue, and they spent hours sitting on the beach. At night, they enjoyed huge meals prepared by staff.
After two weeks on the island, Dewey was, as usual, lying out on a small wooden dock that was moored a few hundred feet from the shoreline. He’d brought, also as usual, a cooler stuffed with cold beer.
Jenna went for a slow barefoot run around the island with Katie. When they passed by where Dewey was, she slowed up.
“I’ll meet you back,” said Jenna.
Jenna dived and swam out to the dock. She climbed up onto the dock, dripping wet. Dewey was lying on his back. He wore a blue bathing suit with white stripes down the sides. A small bandage was still wrapped around his thigh. Next to his head by his left ear was a half-full bottle of beer.
Jenna walked to Dewey and stood over him, dripping water on him. After a few moments, he noticed. He turned his head and looked at Jenna, dark sunglasses still on. He smiled. He didn’t get up or even raise his head.
Jenna took off her bikini top.
Dewey reached up and lowered his sunglasses slightly, looking at her over the top of the frames.
“I was wondering when you’d get here,” said Dewey.