Part 38 (1/2)
”They were still alive last I heard.”
”But the plan is to kill them.”
Porter nervously licked his lips, then whispered, ”Yes.”
As soon as they'd extracted the information they needed, and learned about the boat, they packed Porter into the car, where Liz had been waiting, and headed out.
”Got one,” Liz said. She raised the computer and flashed the screen at Quinn. On it was a map of the island.
”Perfect,” Quinn said. ”Nice and big.”
Liz smiled, and lowered the machine back to her lap. ”I'll save it to the drive.”
”The turnoff's coming up,” Porter said. ”You'll see a sign for Cordoba Royale Marina. Just after that. The turn will be on the left.”
There was a brief pause, then Orlando said, ”I see it.”
Quinn turned to Porter. ”Tell me again, how many on the boat?”
”Only two.”
”What about elsewhere in the marina?”
”Elsewhere?”
”Men on another boat, maybe? Or housed on sh.o.r.e?”
”No. Only the two guys.”
”You know what happens if you're lying.”
”You'll kill me.”
”We'll kill you.”
”I'm not lying. There used to be more, but Harris had everyone but a few who were still on the payroll moved out to Duran.”
Quinn looked for signs of deceit, but saw none. Still, they wouldn't let their guard down.
As Porter had said, the unmanned marina gate was opened by entering a code on a keypad.
”Give me the number,” Orlando said as she rolled down her window and pulled to a stop in front of the gate.
”Four, seven-”
”Before you finish,” Quinn said. ”I'd strongly advise you not to give us a code that will alert anybody.”
Porter's chin began to shake. ”I wouldn't do that.”
”Then give her the code.”
”Four, um, eight, two, two, nine.”
”You're sure?” Orlando asked.
”Yes.”
She punched in the numbers. There was a two-second delay, then the gate rolled out of the way. Porter directed them to a parking area in front of pier number eleven.
”That's it,” he said, looking out the front window. ”The one with the white top and dark blue side, tied up on the right.”
The boat was a beauty-a Princess V57. Quinn was familiar with its specs, and knew once they were away from the island, as long as the water wasn't too choppy, they should be able to make thirty knots easy, getting them to Duran in about an hour.
”Last chance, Porter. How many on the boat?”
”Two. I swear.”
”Names?”
”Hansen and, um, Flores.”
Orlando took Quinn's place in the backseat next to Porter, while Quinn and Daeng went to pay the men on the boat a visit.
No one was on deck. Unfortunately, the gla.s.s door to the cabin area was locked. Quinn explained to Daeng what he wanted to do. Once his friend was in position and ready, he knocked on the door.
”h.e.l.lo? Anyone awake? Harris sent me. h.e.l.lo?”
There was a thump somewhere beyond the door, then the sound of feet shuffling. Quinn knocked again.
”h.e.l.lo? Where is everyone?”
Through the door, he could see a shadow come up the stairs from the below-deck living area and walk across the cabin. The door opened, and a man who'd obviously just crawled out of bed looked out.
”Are you Hansen or Flores?” Quinn asked.
”What? Who are you?”
”Look, Harris sent me. Are you Hansen or Flores?”
”I'm Hansen.”
”Good. I've got something they want out at the island, but I need your help carrying it on board.”
”No one told me anything about going out there today.”
”Not my problem.”