~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Danny’s big day had finally arrived. We were all going to Kingston for the dedication of the Gene Barclay Youth Center, in honor of his best friend. Gene’s death was the reason my old Seal Team was called to Jamaica. I get really pissed when I lose a man. If you kill one of mine I’m coming after you, no question about it. It doesn’t matter how it happened or why. I look after the men on my team and they look after me.
Red Dog has his security team assembled on the isle now and will be left behind to watch over things here. The thirteen original team members will be flying to Kingston on the helicopter and our float plane. The opening ceremony was scheduled for 11:00 this morning.
“Danny, are you ready for Gene’s big day?” Karen asked over her morning cup of coffee.
“You bet. I called Gene’s parents as soon as you told me of what you did for him. They’ll both be there too. Gene’s mom said to thank you for your thoughtfulness but I’m sure she’ll take care of that herself when she sees you.”
“We’d better get rolling people,” I said after glancing at my watch. “Red Dog, keep an eye on things while we’re gone. You can expect us back around 1700 hours.”
“Roger that LT, we’ll watch the store while you’re gone,” Red Dog promised me.
We were all dressed in our island finest. After all we were opening a youth center not an office complex. Casual dress was the uniform of the day.
Patch would fly the float plane and Brady the helicopter. While Patch was getting good at flying the helicopter he still wasn’t licensed yet.
“All of you that want to get to Kingston in one piece better get on the helicopter,” Brady kidded his friend, Patch.
“Anyone who doesn’t want to deal with Kingston International Airport better get on the float plane,” Patch countered.
“Patch, you all know that my passengers will get to the dedication before yours do,” Brady bragged.
“I don’t know that at all. Hell you’ll be lucky to keep that eggbeater in the air long enough to get there,” Patch shot back.
“You all want to put your money where your mouth is?” Brady asked with raised eyebrows.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Patch said rising to the challenge. “How about dinner tonight after we get done honoring Gene’s memory?”
“The bet is dinner for the entire team?” Brady asked.
“I think you’re the cheapest millionaire that I ever laid eyes on Brady,” Patch accused. “I think Gene’s parents should be included in the bet too.”
“Okay, you’re on!” Brady agreed, shaking Patch’s hand. “Load up everybody we have a race to win,” Brady said hurrying to the helicopter.
“Those riding with me get on the floatplane,” Patch yelled out as he ran for the lagoon and the moored plane.
The team divided up between the two aircraft. They knew they’d all be winners because no matter who won the race they’d get a free meal out of it.
“Untie me Doc and shove me away from the dock,” Patch ordered as he jumped into the pilot’s seat and started the twin engines on the beaver.
Brady was reaching above his head throwing toggle switches. The rotor blades slowly picked-up speed. “Here we go,” Brady said pulling back on the cyclic.
As Brady lifted off he could see the floatplane’s pontoons lifting off of the water.
“Are you as fast as the floatplane?” I asked Brady from the copilot seat.
“They aren’t going to run away from us LT. We might be able to go a little faster than them. It’ll all depend on the heat conditions and wind.”
Doc looked over at a grinning Patch. “You know something we don’t Patch?” Doc asked his team mate.
“I know a lot you don’t know Doc. Like for instance I know the flight time to Kingston and the fuel consumption of that Bell Ranger helicopter Brady is flying. I know that after we were out yesterday testing out the Gatling gun, FLIR and new rocket pod that there is hardly enough fuel on board her to get to Montego Bay with,” Patch laughed.
“How are we doing for fuel?” Doc asked.
“We’re doing great. I topped off the tanks myself last night. I knew Brady’s mouth would get him in trouble. All I had to do is give him a chance to talk and he’d say something stupid.”
Doc was rocking back and forth laughing in delight. “You’re telling me you knew that you’d win the race before you even took off from our isle?”
“No question about it. Brady will have to stop at the airport in Montego Bay to fuel up. That should give us a fifteen minute head start on him.”
“Don’t you think you should give him a call on the radio and remind him to stop for fuel?” Doc laughed as he put on his headset.
“I was just going to do that very thing Doc. Sea Hawk this is Sky Pilot, over.”
“Go ahead Sky Pilot I read you loud and clear,” was Brady’s cheerful response. “You all ain’t trying to get out of our little bet already are you Patch? Because a deal is a deal and I know you are a man of your word!”
“I wouldn’t dream of trying to get out of the bet Brady and I know that you wouldn’t either. Texans are men of their word and if there is one thing I know Brady is that you always honor your bets.”
“That’s a fact you all can believe in,” Brady acknowledged.
“The reason I called was to ask if you remembered to top off your fuel tanks last night like I did to our float plane. I’d hate for you to have to crash land halfway to Kingston.”
There was a good ten seconds of dead air over the radio before Brady exploded. “Damn you Patch! You all set me up! You knew all along I’d have to stop for fuel when you made that bet with me!”
Patch was laughing uproariously over the radio. “The bet was your idea Brady! I knew all I had to do was let you talk and you’d hang yourself!”
“Steak and lobster is what I’m having on you tonight Brady,” Doc laughed into the microphone.
“Doc, were you in on tricking me?” Brady demanded. “If you were, my plans for getting even will have to include you!”
“If your ego is wounded I know where you can get an ego sized band aid for it,” Doc said chuckling over the radio.
“I can tell you where to stuff that there band aid Doc,” Brady threatened. “You’ll need a Proctologist to pull it back out!”
The entire team was laughing at Brady’s expense now. “Awe hell,” Brady said calling into Montego Bay airport to get landing instructions.
Patch and his float plane landed in Kingston harbor well ahead of Brady and his helicopter. A pair of taxi cabs were waiting at the dock for the float plane when it tied up. Soon they were at the site of the youth center dedication.
“Look at all the people,” Brian said. “This dedication is a big deal to the youth of Kingston.”
“Who’s that guy walking this way and waving his arms at us?” Doc asked.
“I’ve never seen him before,” Patch said as he watched the man approach them.
“I’m looking for Rick Chambers. I believe he is the leader of your group,” the middle aged man said.
“Yep he’s the guy you want to talk to. Is there anything I can do for you? I’m second in command of our field team, the name is Jake Morrison.”
“No, I’ve been instructed to talk to only him. The Governor General gave me specific instructions on that.”
The chief pulled his phone out and called LT. “LT, how far are you from the dedication?”
“We’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Why do you ask?” I questioned the chief.
“We got here and found a welcoming committee from the Governor General waiting for us. They want to talk to you about something.”
“We’re here now,” I said as we turned into the parking lot of the youth center.
The governor’s aide hurried over to my taxi cab as we pulled to a stop in front of the complex.
“You are Rick Chambers, the man who found Captain Kidd’s treasure?” The man asked.
“That’s me,” I said looking the man over. “What can I do for you and the Governor General?”
“Please, you must come with me. We have a dire emergency that we are ill equipped to handle.”
I turned to Danny, “I’m sorry Danny but you’ll have to do the dedication without me,” I said apologizing.
“I understand Rick, It’s not your fault,” Danny said slapping my shoulder, “Go.”
“Chris and Chief Morrison are with me. The rest of you stay for the dedication. We’ll get back here to you as soon as we can.”