Carrie joined up with Denise and Ashley. Unfortunately, the two archaeologists were starting to come to the conclusion that there wasn't anything to be had on land. There was nothing to indicate any treasure had been buried on land. "We're out of options," Ashley said.

"So you'll go home empty handed," Carrie said. "It's starting to look that way," Denise said.

As Noon approached, they went to a cafe near the waterfront, from which Grail was visible. "Why are they docked?" Ashley wondered.

"Good question," Carrie said. "Maybe they're getting ready to go to sea."

"Why would you say that?"

"It seems to me it would be easier to load food and supplies from a dock than to take it across the water in one of those rafts." "Good point," Denise said. "Uh oh." "What's wrong?" Ashley asked.

"Percival Slayton. And he's with those two guys who jumped us the other day."

Carrie's first thought was to turn around. Her second thought was not to. Percival Slayton didn't know who she was or what she looked like. Better to keep being an acquaintance of Denise and Ashley a secret. Not knowing what Carrie looked like or was in with Kate would work to the Slaytons' disadvantage. "Where are they? Carrier whispered.

"Three tables over," Denise said.

"Let me know when they leave." "They just got here." The women's order arrived. Denise wondered if this was a case of one of those unwritten rules that seemed to occur among men and women. A group of women eating out tended to socialize throughout, while the men talked mostly before the food arrived and kept conversations to a minimum while actually eating. It was something she had observed many times but was at a loss to explain.

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Kate took a break from her struggles. Her arms and legs ached. Her struggles seemed to change the positions of the ropes rather than loosen them. She wondered why shoelaces came undone so easily, but these knots seemed to stay in place. Once the throbbing subsided, she waited a bit, then returned to her struggles.

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Carrie, Denise, and Ashley finished their meal before Slayton and his companions finished theirs. Still Carrie decided to keep the cafe in view after she and her group paid their bill. Her patience was rewarded when the three went to an open air food market. She was able the get close enough to Slayton to hear him say "Can you have this delivered to the Grail no later than four o' clock?" "Sure," the proprietor said.

On hearing that, Carrie rushed back to thie hotel to share the information. She was able to do so with Denise and Ashley, But Kate was a no-show. "I'm beginning to to think Kate's been captured by the Slaytons," Carrie concluded. She also reported the order Percival gave. "Looks like they're up to something." "What'll we do? Ashley wondered.

"Well since there's going to a be a bit of a distraction, I think we should take advantage of it."

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About 3:30 that afternoon, Carrie, Denise and Ashley approached Grail in a rented boat. Their plan seemed simple: they would get as close as they dared to the other vessel, swim over to it, climb aboard, and release Kate. Their problem would be doing all that with getting caught. They had one thing going for them: There was a rubber raft tied to Grail's stern. If speed was of the essence, they could always swipe the raft.

All three were down to their bikinis as they strapped knives to their legs: right for Denise and Carrie, left for Ashley. Denise also wore a waterproof backpack, in which was a roll of duct tape. At ten minutes to four, they were committed to going into the water, truck or no truck. Once in the water they stayed just below the surface and breathed through their snorkels. They managed to reach the vessel without incident. Although dripping wet, they managed to find Kate without detection. Diana was watching over Kate, but she was quickly subdued by Carrie. While Denise and Ashley cut Kate loose, Carrie secured Diana with duct tape around the wrists, knees, and ankles. Just as she was appling tape to Diana's mouth, Blanca walked in. She too was subdued and secured in the same manner as Diana. With that, the quartet rushed topside. "We're thinking of swimming back," Carrie said.

"Let's take the raft," Kate said. "It'll be quicker that way."

They piled into the raft. While Ashley cut the line, Denise started the outboard motor. In moments, they were on their way and leaving Grail behind. As they reached their boat, people appeared on Grail's afterdeck. They were angry, but there was nothing they could do about it. Denise started the boat's motor and with a jaunty wave from Kate, the quartet left the scene.