Part 14 (2/2)
”That should be lively.”
”Not really. I've seen the numbers. Seventy-three people. Hardly worth bothering with. I'll see you later. I'll need to be back for the Dakota.”
”I might be ready for that test flight later.”
”No problem. There's no traffic, so just go.” He drove away and Parry said, ”That's nice of him.”
”Don't count your chickens. Now let's go across and see if she's open for breakfast yet.”
ABOUT SEVEN, Caspar and Billy ran the inflatable to the jetty where the station wagon was parked. Billy got behind the wheel and drove it a short distance to the garage and made certain the tank was full. When he returned, Caspar pa.s.sed him three flight bags. Billy was just wearing his green diving jacket, his eyes anonymous behind dark gla.s.ses. Caspar maintained his full disguise, the fold across his face. The harbor was barely stirring.
”It's going to be hot later,” Billy said.
”You could be right.”
They got into the boat and Billy turned on the engine and moved away from the jetty.
”How are you feeling?”
”How should I feel?”
”d.a.m.n it, Caspar, you are her father.”
”True, but in such a situation as I find myself, I realize I'm still a Muslim and, as we say, Inshallah Inshallah-as G.o.d wills.”
”Maybe.” Billy pushed up to top speed and went out in a long sweeping curve toward the Sultan. Sultan. ”And maybe not.” ”And maybe not.”
HAL STONE WAS SITTING in a wicker chair, a cup of coffee on the table beside him, a pair of enormous gla.s.ses to his eyes, gazing toward the great house on the cliff.
”A number of gardeners working away. Activity already on the water, several fis.h.i.+ng boats. Mainly on that side, things like motorboats, skiers. The beach over there attracts them.”
Billy took the gla.s.ses from him and looked.
”I see what you mean.” He handed them back. ”Where's Dillon?”
”In the galley seeing to bacon and eggs.”
”That's even better,” Billy said, and went down the companionway.
Dillon was whisking scrambled eggs. Like Billy, he just wore a diving jacket. ”I've left the weapons in the saloon on the table. You'd better take a look.”
”What about the woman?” Billy asked.
”She'll be frightened out of her wits if things go our way. I've put some stuff out that should take care of it.”
Billy went into the saloon. There were two Walther PPKs on the table, Carswell silencers screwed in place. He handled them both expertly and two Uzi machine pistols that lay beside them. There were some plastic clip-on handcuffs, a roll of plastic tape.
Dillon looked in. ”Breakfast's ready.”
Billy turned, went to the kitchen behind him, picked up a laden tray and Dillon brought another. It was all calm and orderly, the sounds of traffic drifting across the water. They found the others at the table.
”What happens now?” Billy said as he ate.
”We finish eating, then we seem busy, just in case anyone is looking. Mess around with the diving equipment, stuff like that.”
Hal Stone said, ”The Uzis on the table in the saloon. I shouldn't think Caspar and I would need them.”
”Nice weapon-always liked them,” Dillon said. ”If you drop one, it stops automatically.”
”I remember very well,” the professor said. ”It's just that it's been a long time. What about you, Caspar?”
”My experience with any kind of firearms has been severely limited,” Ras.h.i.+d said.”So, if things go according to plan, the woman with Sara will be handcuffed, dragged below and locked in a cabin?”
”Better than a bullet, which is what she'd get from some people. They'll find her whenever they come looking for Sara and the others.”
”A lot of places to look,” Hal Stone said.
”I think you'll find the women at the house have already heard about yesterday's visit.” Dillon shrugged. ”Hussein Ras.h.i.+d is a special kind of man. Every sense in him sharpened like some jungle animal. He'll work out what's happened here quickly. That's why we've got to move very fast indeed.”
There was silence. Billy went to the side table, got a bottle of Bush-mills whiskey, poured half a gla.s.s and brought it to Dillon.
”Oh, if only I didn't hate alcohol, but to us, here's looking at you.”
Dillon toasted them and emptied the gla.s.s, then got up. ”Let's look busy, Billy.”
”I'm with you.”
Caspar loaded the tray. ”I'll get rid of this.”
Hal Stone said, ”Better bring the weapons back with you,” and as Dillon went over the side, he picked up the gla.s.ses and focused them on the house on the bluff.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT, but n.o.body at the house except Sara even wanted to go to South Port that morning. Sitting at a table on the terrace and reading an Arab newspaper, Hussein was enjoying a coffee after breakfast. His uncle had just been called away.
Sara, with Jasmine, stood on the upper terrace looking down on him, Hamid and Ha.s.sim behind them, smoking and talking.
Sara turned to them. ”Do you know if he's going to South Port this morning?”
”Well, he doesn't look like it,” Hamid replied. ”He hasn't said a word.”
She tried to stay calm. ”What a shame. I'd hoped to go and see them diving again.”
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