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A new voice echoed from the Bluetooth speakers in the car. “Working on it,” the voice said. “I think...hard to place—on the move. But...It’s not...it’s not...” A slow muttered curse, a pause, and a sheepish apology as the techie remembered who he was on the line with.
Cora was peering at the video though, leaning forward and frowning deeply. Then she yelled, “They’re on the water!”
“What?” the voice said over the speakers.
“They’re on the water—does that help? I see a rail in the background, but it only belongs to a type of yacht—you can tell in the way they soldered on the inside of the rail. Normally you’d solder away from where someoneseesit to avoid the eyesight. But on the vessel, it’s important to avoid the spray.”
Both men went quiet. Brady stared at her.
“What?” she muttered. “I used to live on those things. He’s on the water,” she said.
And then, her eyes widened. “This guy...this Warbucks—sound like the type of dude who might own a boat?”
Brady was already looking into it. But Sam, the techie, beat him to it. “Got it!” Sam exclaimed, crowing in excitement. “I have Wardell Castillo’s boat in the same vicinity the call is being made from. I can text coordinates.”
“Do it!” Cora yelled. “Do it now.”
***
Cora kept shooting quick glances towards where Agent Brady sat in the back of the boat, frowning across the prow. The Coast Guard boat had been a lender from one of Brady’s contacts. She was struck again at gratitude for her old partner’s willingness to come with her.
It felt strange, the two of them gliding across the water, occasionally skipping when they caught a particularly wild section of surf. But Brady stared straight ahead, refusing to look to the left or right. His phone was raised in front of him, his arm stiff as if somehow by keeping his arm extended, he was able to guide them better.
Cora didn’t object. The man’s contacts had been what set them up on this lead.
But she didn’t need the phone any longer. She could already see the giant yacht off in the distance, floating on the water. She’d already had recent experiences with the lifestyles of the rich and famous on their big bad boats.
Now, though, she felt a flicker of unease and glanced towards where Brady sat next to her. “Hey...” she said hesitantly. “Maybe...maybe stay on the boat, okay?”
He frowned at her, looking briefly down from his phone. “Excuse me?” he said.
“Just...I don’t mean...” She sighed, trailing off. She wanted to say that he was old. That he would get in the way. But she decided that it probably was best not to betoodirect with the man. He had been her mentor for years after all, hadn’t he?
Still...the thought of anything happening to Saul made her stomach twist.
She inhaled a blast of spray to the face, wincing and tasting salt dabbling her lips. So, she changed the subject. “Hey, Saul,” she said hesitantly.
“Yes?”
“Your friend...What was his name? Hatchett?”
“What about him?”
“Did he sayyouhad to be the one to return the boat?”
“No. I…I didn’t exactly clarifywhywe needed it.” Saul frowned now. He’d already insisted on calling in for FBI backup. But the Coast Guard wouldn’t have let them borrow the boat if they’d said they were waiting for the feds. The FBI was still twenty minutes away. The Coast Guard was undoubtedly being notified, and it would take them time to coordinate as well. Especially if they thought there were armed guards from some super cartel on that yacht.
They’d managed to borrow a small boat in the nick of time.
And so it was with some guilt that Cora reached a decision.
“Saul, you know I care for you, yeah?” she said quietly.
He hesitated, glancing at her. Only a second later did he spot the life ring in her hand.
“Wait—Cora!” he yelled.
But too late. She slapped the lifebuoy over him, grabbed his phone to spare it from the dip, then tossed her partner in the ocean.
