Chapter Four
It was a long, tedious process, but Denise and Ashley managed to wriggle themselves loose of the ropes. Both women had severe rope burns on their wrists. It took a while to get their circulation going to the point where they could use their fingers to work on the ropes, but they were eventually able to free their ankles and remove their gags.
"What's the next step?" Ashley wondered.
"Get Kate in on this," Denise replied. "We're certain the Slaytons are involved, and there's still the possibility they may have something to do with her case.
Over dinner that night, Denise and Ashley told of their ordeal and the problems they faced. "I'll admit the Slaytons need some scrutiny, but Carrie and I need to work on the case that we're being paid to do."
"Of course," Denise said, "I understand completely. But you have to consider things the fact their presence may have something to do with your case."
"We can't dismiss that completely, Kate," Carrie said.
"Or you may have inadvertently walked into her operation which is completely different from ours," Kate put in.
"Well, a pretty good way to find out would be for you to look into it. You know the Slaytons better than I do so why not? I can keep on the trail we've been following."
Kate pondered for a while and said "All right, I'll look into it. If I turn up
a connection, then we can all concentrate on the Slaytons."
Denise nodded her approval. "As usual, I made photocopies of all the documents," she said. "At least we'll be looking for the stuff instead of worrying about who has it."
A rain squall passed that night, but cleared out by dawn. When Kate woke, Carrie was out of the hotel room, out on her morning run, no doubt. Kate took a quick shower and dressed. Silk panties and a tube top went on first, followed by a white short-sleeved blouse with blue pin stripes. She didn't button the blouse, rather she tucked the ends into the gray Capri pants she donned. For footwear she chose sneakers, which were both quiet and comfortable. Over breakfast later, Ashley wondered aloud if the Slaytons had set themselves up ashore. "It's possible," Kate conceded. "They may have a boat and use it, but they strike me more as people of the land. Besides, a shore base might be close to where they want than the marina."
"Then it's settled," Denise said.
On arrival at the marina, Kate carefully scouted Grail. There was no sign of life aboard, save a young woman –not much older than a girl straight out of high school—sunning herself on the foredeck. Nobody left or boarded the vessel, which was moored to a concrete pier. Satisfied the sunbather was the only person aboard, Kate approached the vessel.
Kate leaped from the pier to diving platform on the stern. She hesitated for a moment, to see if the noise altered anybody. It didn't, so she climbed up to the fantail and started to look around. Above the rack of scuba tanks, there was a rack of diver's knives. Quite a handy little tool, so she took one from the rack.
As she began her search, Kate came across a toolbox. On opening it, she discovered a roll of duct tape. Perfect, now I can make some noise. She went down to the galley and set the tape on a counter. Kate opened the cabinet doors until she came across one with pots and pans inside. The cooking implements made quit a bit of noise. When Kate heard faint footsteps approaching rapidly, she unsheathed the knife and steeled herself for the arrival.
The girl burst into the galley, sapphire eyes wide with astonishment and light brown hair askew. Her powder blue bikini was cut more in a European style than an American one. Kate made all these observations in the time it took to reach out and grab the girl with one arm and pull her to where the younger woman's throat was a fraction of inch from the blade.
"I don't want to hurt you," Kate said, "but if you resist or try to run away, I'll have to."
"Very well ma'am," the girl said. "But Uncle Percy isn't here."
"Do as I say, and I won't hurt you."
The girl nodded and Kate continued: "Where's the nearest cabin?"
"This way."
Kate prodded the girl, with the tape in one hand and the knife in the other. They soon arrived at a cabin, probably the girl's. "Lie down on that bunk," Kate ordered. "Face down, and put your hands together behind your back."
The girl did as she was told. Kate spotted a purse and turned it into a handbag by cutting off the straps. She used one to bind the girls' wrist, they other the ankles. Next, Kate tore off a piece of tape and smoothly placed it over the girl's mouth.
With that important but distasteful chore out of the way, Kate went about searching for any useful information. She decided the best place to look would be in the dining area, as that would offer the most room to make plans hold meetings. Sure enough, there was a desk and filing cabinet in a corner. Kate lost no time in going through the drawers. Seconds seemed like minutes as Kate thumbed through the Manila folders. She came across the ones Denise and Ashley had done, but that did not link the Slaytons to her case. A further search turned up a folder with "Atocha" hand printed on the tab in block capitals.
Kate nodded in the satisfaction of finding the link and put the folder back in its drawer, as its absence would no doubt raise suspicion. After Kate returned it, she noticed a slip of paper on the deck. She picked it up and examined it. It read "Possible treasure Hopkins Cay."
Intrigued, Kate searched for a chart and found one on the desk. Hopkins Cay was circled in red ink. She didn't recall if her client had mentioned the place, but she could always check. Carefully, Kate folded the paper and tucked it into the pocket of her Capris.
Kate started to leave when she heard a voice call out "Diana." Not just any voice, it belonged to Blanca Slayton. It was time to make a hasty exit, but the way out was blocked by two men. They same two men, Kate observed, who had caused Denise and Ashley so much trouble that first day. Presently, Blanca appeared with the girl. "Is she the one did that to you, Diana?" was all Blanca said.
Diana nodded. Blanca merely smiled. "Good. Boys bind, gag, and blindfold our unwanted guest."
The two moved toward Kate. One, with a badly managed moustache touched the collar of her blouse. "Don't strip her," Blanca said. "Just do as I told you."
Kate's hands were seized and put together behind her back. The rope began to bite into her flesh even before the knot was secured. Her ankles were bound in much the same fashion.
"I'd like to do some," Diana said. "She ruined my brand new purse."
"I have no objections," Blanca said. "Floyd?"
The bald man with the big grin handed Diana a piece of blue cloth. It was about two and a half feet long with a knot the size of a prize-winning strawberry in the center. "Just stuff this part in her mouth," Floyd said indicating the knot, "and tie it tight as you can behind her head. If she puts up too much of a fight, pinch her nose, or better yet, pull her hair."
Kate didn't resist. The knot of the gag was stuffed into her mouth and secured at the back of her neck using. The cloth had come over Kate's earlobes and squeezed her earrings against her skin. A red and white bandanna was folded over for a wide cover and Diana placed it over Kate's eyes and tied the knot.
"Very good," Blanca said. "Of course, this is just for starters. I have just the thing. Come with me Floyd."
There was a silence the seemed like hours to Kate before Blanca returned with a cheery greeting, followed by an inexplicable thud on the deck. "Diana and I can take care of this," Blanca insisted. "You two stand as lookouts in case her friends are nearby."
Kate felt rope going around her legs. Whoever did the binding started at the knees and did worked downward around the calves, then up past the knees around the thighs then back down the knees, where the rope was secured. Next, they went to work on Kate's upper body. The first two loops went around her waist then the ropes went around her arms, but in the space between her arms and body for a couple turns before going around her waist and arms until it was time to secure the knot.
"There," Blanca said. Kate could only speculate, but she believed Blanca was smiling broadly right now.
"What's this?" Diana asked.
"Something we shall tie her to later tonight," Blanca said. "It's a piece of building material. I believe it's called a cinder block."
Bahama Drama
Chapter Five
Bahama Drama
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