Chapter 13

Captains Bob and Jim took their turns at the wheel, and then it was Max’s turn again. Cofresí seemed restless all day. He had a few shots of rum from a glass, but no one passed the bottle around and drank freely as they had done the nights before. He prowled the decks a few times, and he dozed off once or twice, sitting fairly upright by his brother’s coffin. There was no way to play cards on the galley table, or even try up on deck, where they would likely blow away. Captain Jim busied himself with the chickens and food preparation when not on his turn at the wheel, and Captain Bob dozed off a number of times while he was off duty.

Anna slept, but she woke up often. One of the times she went up on deck and to the wheelhouse to check on their heading and progress was during Max’s second shift at the wheel.

“Weird vibes on board today,” she said to him.

“Certainly it’s very weird,” he agreed. “You, me, and Parker all know what’s really going on. Captains Bob and Jim think we’re really transporting a dead man’s bones, and Cofresí’s going to get a great big surprise. Didn’t you say this was all kind of crazy, just a while ago?”

“I did. But that’s okay. Just so Cofresí doesn’t notice the radar screen and start asking questions, or he somehow sees that boat behind us, I guess I’ll be okay.”

“I certainly can’t wait till dark. What’s Captain Jim planning for dinner tonight?”

Anna rolled her eyes. “Cofresí could find us out and maybe shoot us all, and you’re worried about dinner.”

“Captain Jim said dinner will be at four bells.”

Anna frowned. “Four bells. That’s sailor talk.”

Max’s face spread in a wide smile. “Yep, Yankee boy be smarter than you think.”

Anna gave him a dubious look.

“Okay, Captain Jim told me six in the evening is four bells in the US Navy.”

“Señorita Anna is not part of the US Navy—or any navy, for that matter.”

“I know, I know, everybody’s so tense. We all need to laugh a little. How about if we find some station that plays salsa music on that radio over there?”

“I have it set on the weather channel. I’ll laugh and listen to music again after we get rid of Senor Cofresí in Key West.”

“Okay.” Max gave a sigh of resignation. “But you know, after we do get rid of him and we can laugh again, and even if I’m still captain, I want to cook us all a dinner for celebration on the way back to Mayaguez. Maybe you’ll even drink some wine.”

“Good.” Anna did give a little smile. “Just as long as it doesn’t involve any of my chickens.”

“No, no, they’re safe with me.”

There was silence for a while. Then Anna spoke up again. “I’m really glad you say you’re coming back to Mayaguez on board.”

Max was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“Once Cofresí’s arrested, or whatever they’re going to do to him, you could just fly from Key West back to Maine or wherever you’re going to go.”

“No, I’ve been thinking over what you said about the tuna plant.”

“Oh…?” Anna waited, but Max did not say more. “What about the tuna plant?” she asked eventually.

“Oh, nothing,” Max said. “I’m still thinking… thinking about tuna and chickens. I’m trying to figure it all out.”

“Oh…”

While they were talking, Ms. Parker had gotten up and come back from the bow. She knocked lightly on the wheelhouse door, and Anna turned and motioned for her to come in.

“Everything okay?” Ms. Parker asked.

“Shipshape and steady as she goes,” Max reported with a quick salute.

Anna nodded. “Yeah, we’re doing good.”

“Good.” Parker smiled. “I told Cofresí I wanted to be alone for a while, so I could stay out of his way.”

“I’ve just got one request for you,” Anna said. “I want it dark as we can get it when we go into that Navy base tonight. The sky’ll be clear. Thank God we won’t have much moon. That and the stars will be enough to guide me. Much more light, and Cofresí might see enough to give away our change of landing.”

Parker smiled. “I plan to do my best to keep him occupied when the time comes.”

“Good.” Anna nodded. “He’ll be looking for his people. They’re supposed to be waiting at this deserted dock with a truck.”

“Oh, did he give you the location? My people might want to show up there and surprise them too.”

Anna got the map Cofresí had given her, and the two women briefly consulted on the location.

“While Cofresí’s eating, I’ll go back out on the bow and call my people,” Ms. Parker said.

“Captain Jim told me dinner’s at six,” Max volunteered. He looked among the instruments and found the clock. “Not too long now.”

“Good.” Ms. Parker smiled. “Maybe it won’t seem too much longer before this is all over.”

“We can do,” Max assured her. “So far, I think, we’re doing fine.”

Ms. Parker looked from one of them to the other. “When this is all over, if we have a chance in Key West, I should buy you both a drink for doing so well.”

“Okay,” Anna agreed. “And Merilee, or Ms. Parker, or whatever you’re really called, when we’re back in Mayaguez, come by the La Salida sometime and you can have one on me.”

“Okay, thanks.” Ms. Parker smiled. “And you can call me Firehouse. It’s kind of fun.” She left the wheelhouse and went below.

“Thought you didn’t like her,” Max said after she had gone.

“I still don’t, really, but maybe she’s not such a bad person…I don’t know.”

“Yeah,” Max halfheartedly agreed. “Not so bad for a federal agent, anyway, I suppose.”