Although Anne was unable to see anything in particular, the blindfold was loose enough to allow some light through near her nose. An abrupt change in light told her that a lamp had been switched on. I have to think of something, she thought, and fast.

"It's about time we leave, ladies" Glenda announced, then proceeded across the room. A few rustling noises any from Anne told her Glenda was untying Drea first "Up we go." the professor announced cheerily. "I'll give you a little bit to stretch before re-tying your hands." she said.

A light popped in Anne's mind. Here's my chance! After a few moments Glenda announced "There, now its Anne's turn."

Glenda then came to Anne's chair, then united the young sleuth's left leg, then the right, followed by the left hane and finally the right. With Anne loose, Glenda then helped the Associate to her feet. "Okay, same as before."

Judging by that breath on my face, Anne reasoned, she's right infront of me. It's now or never. In a second Anne lunged foreward and clumsilly threw her arms around Glenda, causing the two women to crash to the floor!

Glenda was momentarily winded, which gave Anne a chance to pull off the gag and blindfold and spit out the cotton packing, but her eyes needed to adjust to the light. During the time it took for them to ajust Glenda tried to throw a clumsy punch at Anne. It missed but Anne 's arms and legs will still a bit stiff. The daring sleuth lifted a bare foot, set it on one of Glenda's shoulders as the latter was trying to get up, then pushed downward. Anne then hurried toward Drea, but only had time to remover her companion's blindfold before Gelnda was back up and ready for action. She grabbed Anne and yanked her away from Drea, knocking the latter back into the chair.

Anne then tossed her her chair aside while Glenda came toward her and Anne attemted a karate kick. Glenda leaped backward, which gave Drea an opportunity. She pulled her legs back and gave Glenda a shove using her feet, causing the latter to to fall face down on the floor. Thinking quickly, Anne picked up a piece of rope, then pinned Glenda to the floor, then tied the professor's hands "There." Anne said hoarsly.

Anne then untied and ungaggaed her partner. "Good work." Drea rasped after the cotton was removed. "Thirsty."

Anne nodded. "Finish here though."

Drea agreed. She retreved another piece of rope and tied Gelnda's ankles while Anne cleave gagged the captor turned captive.

"Here's an idea." Anne said. "Get one of the blankets off one of the beds."

While Drea fetched the blanket, Anne recovered their beach bags and collected all the rope, scarves, and bandannas she could find. You never knew when they'd come in handy. Drea returned and the duo wrapped Glenda from head to toe in the coverlet. With the former educator secured, the set off for their hut.

Drea and Anne compare notes on the way back to their hut. They were as hungry as anything, but wanted to wear something other than beach clothes to dinner. As they approached their hut, they noticed a light on. "Who could it be?" Drea asked.

"I don't know." Anne replied "It's probably trouble."

"Maybe one of us should go in first."

"Good idea. You do that."

Drea tried to hold back a smile. Serves me right for bringing it up. She carefully opened the door and slipped into the room. Somebody with long bark hair was sitting and listening to something on earphones. Drea tapped the person's shoulder and the intruder jumped to her feet and relaxed on recognizing Drea. "Pilar, what are you doing here?" Drea asked.

Pilar didn't exactly reply to the question. Instead, she reached into the pocket of her white cotton pants and flourished a Swiss Army Knife. "I believe this is yours." she said as she handed the knife to Anne.

"I don't believe you came here just to return my knife."Anne observed.

"No, but there's something I think you two might like to hear."

"Would you mind discussing it over dinner?" Drea asked, "We've had a rough day."

"Very well."

Drea and Anne changed quickly and soon the trio found itself awaiting their meal. They brought one another up to date on their activities from the time they had left Pilar in the room. "Regretably, my superiors think stealing national treasures is not a very serious crime." Pilar said. "But I think it is. Even so, I believe it is like your Federales with Al Capone. What ever prison sentence he gets, he deserves."

Anne was impressed. "You sound like you've spent some time in the State Pilar nodded. "Went to college there."

"Really? Where?"

"University of Texas." Pilar replied and gave the "Hook 'em Horns" salute.

"Anyway" Pilar continued "I've overheard Stoneman talking about transferring the treasure from the warehouse to his yacht. Perhaps You've seen it."

"That big one we saw when we flew in?" Drea asked "There's probably a bunch of navies that don't have anything that big."

"The same. I'd like to get aboard that thing, but don't so far Stoneman hasn't allowed me to do so. Him and that Chafe woman are working together, along the leader of the dig. A Doctor Vadez, the traitor."

"So we stake out his boat." Drea said.

"Won't you be missed?" Anne wondered.

"Stoneman doesn't control my actions." Pilar said, with a hint of defiance. "Besides, I said I'd spending a day or so after with relatives. After what happened to my yesterday, I think he bought it."

"That's good." Drea said as she lifted her wine glass. "To success."

"Hear, hear," Anne said. as the glasses clinked.

Pikar insisted on staying the night in Drea and Anne's hut (She had brought her own sleeping bag along with a blanket and backpack)and volentarilly slept on the floor.

The trio awoke early the next morning and decided to make the appearance of spending the day at the beach. They each chose a different style swimsuit, Drea a white two piece that came somewhere between a bikini and a competition sytle suit in terms of coverage, Anne chose a light blue bikini, and Pilar a black scooped back one-piece. As coverage, Drea chose a colorful blouse and denim shorts, Anne a checkered blouse and gray walking snorts and Pilar simply a pair of white shorts.

Pilar drove the the group in a tiny car, which the two taller girls had difficulty getting into and drove to the east side of the Island, the one facing the mainland. This was devoted mainly to commercial piers and and the ferry dock to the mainland. "But as you can see." Pilar explained to her companions. "There is a bit of a beach, and Stoneman has it. That house up the beach is his. Those two girls with Dr. Chafee stayed there before she came down here, making arrangements with him. They still there, as far as I know. The opposite way is some sort of shop renting dive gear to tourist on trips from the mainland. Ones staying on the Island for any lenght of time generaly bring their own."

The trio was by then at the water's edge, carrying bags-- or in Pilar's case, her backpack-- and wading through the ankle deep surf. Drea and Anne found it diffuclt to keep their eyes of Stoneman's yacht, marvelling at its size, but remembering the cost. If Ted Stoneman was indeed following his dead brother lead, Anne noted then he's involved in drugs, gun running, prostitution, blackmail, and a host of other activities. God only knew how many lives he had ruined. Anne took the binoculars Pilar had brought along and examined the vessel. She took carful account of the crew. They, or at least the deck hands, wore mavy blue Bermuda shorts. The men went bare chested the women in white halter tops. Despite the binoculars, Anne could not make the design on the girls' top. Probably some dorky ship's wheel or sailboat she thought.

She then trained her gaze upon the stern, where a smaller boat, not unlike the ones the typical boat owner hauls aroung on a trailer hung on davits by the fantail, and an inflatable Zodiac boat was ferrying somebody or something from shore.

"What did you say about a navy, Drea?" Anne asked as she handed Pilar the binocs.

"Looks that way." Drea replied.

"I wonder if that shop has something to do with the yacht?"

"It is possible, Anne." Pilar said. "perhaps we should check it out."

"What about Glenda, Sylvia, and Ilsa?" Drea and asked.

"You two can take care of that, while I check out that little shop." Anne suggested.

"Agreed." Pilar said.

They went their seperate way, Anne heading along the water, Drea and Pilar away from the, turning toward the beach house as they reached the vegetataion. Shortly thereafter, Sylvia and Ilsa emmerged from the hous, carrying snorkel gear and heading towrd the water.

"Now's our chance." Pilar said, and the two edged almost up to the house they crept closer to the structure, where a deck extended over beyond it. immediately, a female figure appeared on the deck: Glenda Chafee! Pilar and Drea turned to run. Glenda blew a sharp whistle, then hurled herself over the deck rail. Drea and Pilar's escape was blocked by a huge muscular man on one side and Glenda on the other. The other woman grabbed Pilar and the man grabbed Drea. "Inside, you two!" Glenda ordered and the two captives obeyed.

"I don't think you've met Bruno." Glenda explained. "Anne already has, though she didn't get a good look at him."

"He's the one conked Anne over the head Monday night." Drea said. Three day ago, she reflected, but it seemed like months.

"That's right. I'll have to admit, I'd have to give you each an A minus on the bondage last night. It took a while for the girls to catch on, and when they got there. Well never mind. Forget about what I said last night. You and Anne could well ruin my plans."

"To double cross Stoneman?" Drea asked.

"Before her double crosses me." Glenda confirmed.

By now Ilsa and Sylvia were in the house. The two prisoners were made to sit in chairs. Rediculous Drea thought as her wrists and bound and a bandanna secored around her mouth. Here I am being trussed up and gagged by a pair of Bikini clad blonde babes, for what the fifh time in three days? And we're still no closer to the treasure than when we landed. She was now beginning to have thoughts of despair as she watched Glenda and Bruno tie Pilar in a like fashion. As her chest and arms were being secured to the back of the chair by Sylvia, Drea to her own utter amezment, found herself praying Anne would have the sense to call Jack or the cops before trying to rescue herself and Pilar.

Anne reched the shop and a glance in the windows told it somebody was using it. She looked around, noting only a van parked nearby, unoccupied and with its door open. She turned back toward the shop and nearly collided with a couple comming out of the shop "Sorry." she said.

"Its all right" the woman said. "Tim and I just can't take our eyes off each other!"

That remark and the obviously new rings on their left hands confirmed it. Honeymooners. Anne smiled inwardly. Maybe Jason and me some day. But there was something strange, Anne thought as she the woman did the usual dance when two people nearly collide, but the man's movements were odd, until his hand shot up with the cloth. Anne struggled briefly, but the chloroform took hold and she drifted into unconciousness.