Monthly Archives: March 2020

While Kelly was stowing the food and gear and Shadow was exploring the entire boat, Jack was re-familiarizing himself with the controls and electronic equipment. After fifteen minutes he was confident he was up to speed. He gave a silent thanks to his father, who had given him extensive hands-on boat handling and seamanship practice. Jack looked up from the instrument panel and saw Kathy walking toward the dock. Jack thought, Her spy training with the CIA is always in the ‘on’ position. She didn’t want the taxi driver to know where she was going, so she walked the last few blocks.

High tide was just turning. A ten-knot wind was out of the southwest. Jack motioned to Kathy to cast off the fore and aft lines and get on board. Making allowance for the tidal current and the wind, Jack backed the 50-foot craft smoothly out into the river and headed north up the Amelia River to the Cumberland Sound where small craft coming to Fernandina Beach from the Atlantic would enter the Amelia River.

Jack called his two crew members to come into the cockpit. “Okay, crew here’s the word. Lissen up!”

Kelly said, “Aye aye, Captain.”

“At least one of you has the right protocol. Move in so you can see this chart.” Pointing at the Sound, Jack said, “I’m headed to this general location. I believe the Night Lady will have to enter through the Sound to get to the Amelia River and the freighter at the Fernandina Beach dock. I just don’t know when. So we will be looking for a place to loiter and watch somewhere near Egans Creek or on the Georgia side of the Sound. The Night Lady is a big boat, 70 feet long drawing five and a half feet of draft. She should be easy to spot in daylight. Her maximum speed is 33 knots. We have nearly 20 more knots at top speed. So we can easily catch her and make up for some timing mistakes on our part.

“When we spot her or even think we have, on go the official-looking windbreakers and ball caps. We must surprise them. If we don’t they may kill Sally and throw her weighted body overboard. They probably have a drill that does that. Getting rid of the evidence is a standard practice for kidnappers. There is not a big difference between the penalty for murder and kidnapping. I’ll lay out the attack scenario after I get a fresh look. It’s been awhile since I’ve cruised these waters.”

“We have some hours of daylight,” Kathy interjected. “Kelly and I could set up the telescope and get familiar with the optics.”

“We have fishing poles and bathing suits. Do everything you can to make us look like people cruising the river. Bikinis are good. Just don’t attract any studs. Be thinking of what we do after rescuing Sally. Head north or south? Stay with the boat or get rid of it? We don’t know what shape she will be in. If she needs professional help, that will be a problem. I expect she will be heavily drugged. Our medical kit has morphine and an IV set up. Beyond that there is not much we can do. Oh, while you’re playing tourists, look for secluded places we can anchor and go ashore with Shadow who is under cover as a drug sniffing dog who never learned to use a boat head and spreading newspaper is messy and offends his dignity.”

While Kelly and Kathy were on deck setting up the scope and viewing the shore line, Jack was studying the charts for places he could trap the larger Flybridge 70, Night Lady between a shoal and his boat, the Surveyor, not a bad name for a real estate developer. It even looks official. The Surveyor could easily run down the Night Lady. Another five minutes of scanning the chart and Jack remembered the jetties on the both the north and south side of the entrance of the Cumberland Sound. A dangerous hazard at high tide when they were awash. A plan began to come together. A little difficult for a three-person crew, but still doable. Jack called his crew and Shadow to come into the cockpit. When they were all there, Jack went over his plan, listened to questions, and assigned responsibilities.

When he finished, Jack said, “We have a little daylight left. I want to run a walk through practice of our roles when we hail and stop the Night Lady. Okay? Costumes on and let’s go.”

Kelly went to her position armed with two of the full automatic 12-gauge shotguns, a silenced .22 High Standard handgun and settled herself into the firing position behind the full-scale model of the .50 caliber forward deck gun. She thought, This thing is plastic but from 20 feet it looks real enough. She traversed the .50 caliber through its 150-degree arc. A little stiff but still believable and quiet. The shotgun now loaded with five rifled slugs was her primary weapon. Jack believed five rapid shots of the shotgun would convince anyone in poor light that the .50 had just fired a short burst. If need be, she could resume firing with the second shotgun.

Kathy positioned herself between Kelly and Jack’s position in the cockpit. She had the same firepower as Kelly. Kelly and Kathy were wearing dark blue windbreakers, baseball hats with their hair tucked in, khaki shorts, and white deck shoes. Jack yelled out, “You guys look good. Don’t forget your no-nonsense look and stay in your firing lanes. Yell if you have to move.”

Jack had the most critical job. He had to handle the boat and use the spotlight and loud hailer at the time of attack. If the Night Lady failed to heave-to immediately, he planned to use the power of the Surveyor to nudge the bow of the larger boat landward toward a jetty or shoal area where the Night Lady would not be able to maneuver. She needed six feet under her keel. He planned to drive her aground if she tried to escape. Jack thought the drill went well. Shadow took his position beside Kelly and barked when she yelled at her imaginary target.

The weather was good. Not much wind from the southwest. They had to maintain a 24/7 watch on craft coming through the entrance to Cumberland Sound. When they were all eating a supper of bologna sandwiches and clam chowder, Jack said, “Here’s my thinking. They’ll be running outside unless there’s a storm to avoid attracting attention to the size of their boat in the Inland Waterway. Boaters notice big expensive craft and some will notice that the boat crew is unfriendly and don’t look like rich tourists. They won’t run outside in the ocean down here. Coast Guard and police in this general area are careful about drug running in these waters. I doubt they will have the knowledge to run this section of the coast at night. The tides are enormous, current is strong and tricky especially coming into the Cumberland Sound. They will be tied up at some marina or anchored in protected waters out of the way of water traffic. All that to tell you, I don’t expect them to come through here at night. Probably no sooner than mid-morning. We’ll have to be sharp. The weather forecast for tomorrow morning is cloudy, with patchy fog and light rain. Just about perfect for us.”

Kelly asked, “Why?”

“I don’t want a lot of boat traffic that can see and hear some police action going on. If all goes well, we won’t need the shotguns. No prisoners. Use the .22 High Standards. When we rescue Sally and get her on board, we must get rid of the Night Lady. Carolina girl will take over the helm here and I’ll take the Night Lady well outside the three-mile limit and sink her. Kelly, you stay with Kathy and be prepared to launch the four-man zodiac to pick me up. The currents offshore from a strong ebbing tide coming out of the Sound with the added flow from the St. Mary’s River can make swimming a real experience.”

Kelly said, “One more thing, if Sally isn’t too drugged up, she can be a real asset. She is tough, pretty good at Aikido, and can shoot. She grew up in Montana on a horse ranch.”

“Good,” Jack said approvingly. “I’ll be happy if we just get her back.”

Friday morning, June 6th

 

After a morning of dozens of unrewarding calls to marinas, Kathy got a positive response. A busy marina operator told her the Night Lady left his Hilton Head Island mooring at 8:00 AM. It was a seventy-foot, white Azimuth Fly bridge Cabin Cruiser. The captain paid cash for fuel and mooring charges.

Kelly was listening to the rapid fire phone calls to locate the Night Lady to get the plane ready with a flight plan. She was just coming to understand the extent of the Brandon wealth. New cars, luxury hotel suites, private plane, and nobody seemed to worry about expenses.

Kathy called Jack from the bedroom and said, “We barely have time. The boat left Hilton Head, South Carolina this morning. When it gets in open waters it can run at 25 to 30 knots. They can be in Amelia Island the day after tomorrow at the latest. Is the plane ready?”

“It is standing by. Gather what you need. Don’t leave anything behind that could help anyone to find us. We can eat on board. Let’s go.”

Kelly ran for her overnight bag. Shadow saw the action and jumped up, wagging his stubby tail. He was ready to go. Enough of this luxury hotel stuff.

Three hours later, the Learjet was making its final approach into the Jacksonville Airport. After loading their baggage into the back of the Chevrolet Suburban and getting Shadow settled, Kathy got behind the wheel. She loved to drive and was better at moving through traffic. Jack had no trouble with his passenger status. He needed to call a lead he had on buying or renting a suitable boat. He preferred to buy. Fewer questions and no awkward questions about damages. His goal was to have the boat in the water in a few hours. Kelly was driving a Ford Flex. Both cars were rented in aliases, using documents Jack’s contact in Pittsburgh had supplied.

Kelly’s job was to buy windbreakers, navy blue with the word Navy or Coast or some other official nautical law enforcement organization prominently displayed. With white boat sneakers and blue baseball caps, Jack thought they could pass for officials for the critical first few minutes. Not many other props were required, a loud hailer, big American flag, a 10x telescope and 4x binoculars. The shotguns and handguns came with the plane.

Before long, Kathy pulled into a shopping mall in Fernandina Beach with Kelly following. Through his contact Jack had found a used patrol boat to buy. Jack’s lawyer was now talking to the broker, arranging finances and transfer of ownership. Jack told them to fill it up with gas and he would be there with a check in 30 minutes. The boat was a three-year-old FPB 15M. It was designed to be a coastal law enforcement patrol boat, capable of top speed of around 50 knots. A local developer had used the boat to show clients oceanfront property until he went broke in the housing crash. The boat had been sitting in the marina for two years but had been kept seaworthy by the broker. The broker told Jack not to be put off by the plastic replica of a .50 caliber machine gun on the forward mount. If he took it off it would mar the deck. The previous owner used it to impress clients. Jack told him to leave it in place. He would deal with it later.

At Jack’s request, the broker said he would have the boat delivered to the shrimp boat docking area in two hours. Jack walked over to join Kelly and Kathy in the Ford Flex. He said, “In two hours we’ll be afloat. So let’s get the stuff we need. Kelly, add three sleeping bags to your list. Kathy, pick up rations for living on board for four days. Plenty of drinking water. Shadow will need a bag of his favorite kibble. There is an onboard galley but pick up some basic cooking utensils and tableware. I’ll meet the boat alone and take care of the paperwork. I don’t want to expose anyone else. We’ll load everything into the suburban. Turn the Flex in, we won’t need two cars. I want to be underway in three hours. I’m familiar with this type of boat. I’ll pick up the charts we need. The broker told me all onboard electronics are in working order.

“Kathy, after you turn in the Flex, get a taxi back here to do the shopping. Kelly and I will pick you and the groceries up at the Publix. Wait inside for us. We’ll find you.”

Jack dropped Kelly in downtown Fernandina near the shops carrying outdoor gear and clothing. He remembered where maps and charts of the local area were sold and quickly picked up what he needed to cover the Cumberland Sound and the Amelia River. He also bought charts for a hundred miles north and south of Amelia Island.

Jack arrived at the dock in time to see his FPB 15M coming in to tie up. The boat looked a little shabby. But that was better than having it looking new. He would polish the brass though. No official law enforcement craft would have dingy brass. The broker’s agent stepped ashore and introduced himself. He presented the sales contract and asked Jack if he wanted to inspect the boat before buying. Jack said, “No. You got it here and if there is anything critically wrong with it tell me now. If I find something seriously wrong with it in a couple of days, your broker will be in world of hurt. I paid a good price and expect good value.”

The agent said, “It is a bit shabby. But I’ll guarantee all operating systems work well and I would take it right now to the Islands.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear. Thanks.”

“Do you want me to check you out on the boat?”

“No. I’m very familiar with this class and have all the papers required. Here is your check. The local Bank of America is expecting you. My manager has set everything up. I’m too rushed for time to drop you back at the marina. Sorry about that, but that’s what taxis are for.”

Jack knew he had been abrupt but there just wasn’t time for pleasantries. When the agent left, Jack got Shadow out of the shady parking spot. Shadow knew about boats and at Jack’s command jumped on board. Jack followed Shadow. He saw that it looked better on the inside. He made sure the refrigerator was running. The water tank and fuel tank were full. Battery showing well. GPS was operating. In one of the lockers he found some vintage casting rods. Jack left Shadow on board and told him to guard. He locked the cabin door and left to pick up Kelly and Kathy. Kelly was standing outside the shop that sold outdoor clothing and equipment.

Jack pulled into the curb and opened the back hatch door. Kelly said, “Got everything and then some. Added several flashlights. Did you think of anything else?”

“No. Good job. Let’s go pick up Kathy.”

Kelly found Kathy just inside the store with four carts full of groceries and kitchen equipment. One entire cart was filled with water bottles and a case of Bass Ale. Jack was waiting at the loading curb when they came out of the store. With everyone working, they were on the way to the dock in a few minutes.

Fernandina Beach is a small town. Nothing in town is very far from anyplace else. Kelly gasped when she saw the boat. “Jack, it’s so damned big. Can we handle it?”

“No problem. One person can run it. It helps to have a few lower-ranking crew to help with tie-ups and clean ups. Let’s get it loaded up. The refrigerator is running. All systems are working. I want to get out of here at high tide. I want four feet of water under us. Kathy we have another…”

“Yes, I know you want me to turn in the suburban because we may not be coming back here,” she cut him off.

“That’s right. You’re always one step ahead. Kelly and I will get all this stowed and be ready to push off when you get back.”

Jack and Kelly searched the rest of the apartment. They found a digital camera and a vintage laptop. “I think we should take these,” Kelly said. Jack nodded.

As they walked back out into the living room, Kelly thought out loud. “What will the cops think when they reconstruct?”

“They will think it’s a professional hit. Probably over drug territory. A crack forensic team will find evidence of an interrogation, but won’t challenge the finding it was bad guys killing bad guys,” Jack said. “Final check. Have we missed anything? Left anything?”

Kelly said, “All clear. I have the trash. Let’s go!”

“Take my .22 high standard and dispose of it before coming back to the hotel,” Jack said, tossing the empty gun at her and turning to walk out the room in one fluid motion. In two minutes he was back in the panel truck with Shadow and Kathy. “Sorry Shadow,” Jack said, “We did okay without the A Team.”

After listening to the interrogation report back at the hotel, Kathy said, “You covered the waterfront and were only gone for 20 minutes. No choice but to kill both of them?”

“I couldn’t come up with any way they could live without endangering both Sally and us. Money and threats would not have stopped them from contacting the kidnappers at the first opportunity. None of the evidence we have would stand up in court. Captain Shorer would have thrown the evidence out. It was obtained illegally and our part in collecting the evidence would be disclosed. The prosecutor’s office would have to charge us and we could have gotten some serious jail time. I know and respect the rule of law. Our society is based on the sanctity of the law. But, I believe there is at times a higher law to protect the innocent and rescue those who are in hands of killers, like in the case of the serial killer in the Carolinas last year. Without us, a young innocent woman would have been tortured and killed. And several more each year. In her case the law would not have and could not have moved fast enough to save her. Again, the evidence we had would have been thrown out.

“I don’t know what the answer is, but it is different than the politically correct solution of blindly following legal procedure. The line between rights of criminals and rights of the victims is routinely crossed in the favor of some very bad people.”

Kathy nodded. “I don’t see how any of this can blow back on us, unless your friend Howie and his people talk. I worry that someday we are going to get into serious legal problems.”

“That is a risk. I decided to take it for Sally’s sake. I think we have a real chance of saving her if we move very quickly.”

“On the Inland Waterway by traveling day and part of the night at 15 plus knots on open water, the trip could take ten days from the Chesapeake, which is the natural place for them to start from. Far from the crime scene. Get underway before anyone is even looking. Weather is a big factor. In good weather they will run outside and make better time.”

Jack raised his eyebrows at her knowledge. “Kathy, you know a lot about boats and the waterways.”

“Don’t forget, I’m a Carolina girl.”

“Okay. Tell us what to do.”

“With or without help from the cops?”

“Without.”

“I knew you would say that. Call the pilots and have them file a flight plan to Jacksonville and Miami for tomorrow. We’ll rent two cars at the Jacksonville Airport using aliases and drive to Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.”

Jack said, “We both know Fernandina Beach. I like to operate on ground I know. I doubt the people we’re after will have much area knowledge. We’ll need a fast boat that can carry at least five people at a good speed. I know the waters around port. Not many people know Fernandina Beach is a deep-water port. Good-sized freighters are often tied up at the dock. To even up the odds, I want to make our move before their boat, the Night Lady, delivers her cargo to the freighter. We don’t even know the name of the freighter or its next port of call.”

“So you want to ambush the boat before it reaches dockside in Fernandina Beach?”

“Right on,” Jack said. “Outside an ambush I don’t see any other way. We’ll have two silenced .22 High Standards and a couple of 12-gauge shotguns with double 00 buckshot loads. It will be just the three of us. We’ll wear official-looking Coast Guard uniforms and be flying a big flag. That will be option one. We’ll need a plan B. There’s time to think the rescue attempt through. But we cannot let them put Sally aboard the freighter. Pirates operated from Amelia Island in the past. I guess we can follow old traditions and fly the skull and crossbones.”

“Playing it that way we have no choice but to follow the pirate axiom of ‘dead men tell no tales,’” Kathy continued. “The problem is identifying the small boat she is on. We have the name, Night Lady, but they could change that. We must know when the boat has entered the Inland Waterway through the Cumberland Sound to the Amelia River. Then we can pick an ambush site. We cannot just go and sit on the river and find the right boat. The odds of that are out-of-sight. At the least, we need to know when and where they last stopped at a marina. And what the boat looks like, size, color, make. Then, maybe, we can find it. Kelly and I will get on the phone and try marinas along the Coastal Inland Waterway. They will have to make several fuel stops and probably spend most nights tied up or anchored.”

Shadow ran to the door. Kathy opened the door before Kelly could knock. Kelly said, “How do you do that? I made no noise at all.”

“Just trade secrets. Someday you’ll learn.”