about.'
Kate shook her head with a smile. 'I can't say that I've noticed any lack of intensity in him.' She wrinkled her nose. 'Nor any lack of emotion. At the moment I have the impression he'd like to channel that intensity in my direction with some violence.'
'I noticed he was a tad irritated,' Seifert drawled. 'I was a little surprised. Ordinarily he'd be looking forward to playing hide and seek with your local racketeers. It would be just the kind of thing he'd choose to while away a balmy tropic evening.'
'Well,' Kate said gloomily, 'he didn't seem to find the idea one bit amusing.'
'No, he didn't.' The captain's gaze was suddenly fixed on her in speculation. 'He was as furious as a speared shark and I think maybe a little worried. The latter is even more unusual. Beau regards worrying about the future as a sheer waste of time. Interesting.'
'I'm glad you think so.' Kate sighed. 'I'd much rather he'd let me go in alone if he's so displeased with the entire idea.'
'I just bet you would.' Beau's tone was sour as he appeared suddenly beside them. He was also shirtless and his supple muscles gleamed golden in the lengthening rays of the setting sun. 'You'd get a kick out of acting the big bold adventuress. How long do you think your luck is going to last pulling stunts like the one in Alvarez's saloon last night? If Despard ever gets his hands on you, he'll probably murder you.' His lips tightened grimly. 'After allotting a suitable amount of recreational time for gang rape.'
'I'm not doing it to get some kind of cheap thrill,' she said hotly. 'You know I had-'
'All I know is that you're going back to that island and risking getting killed for a damn airplane,' he interrupted harshly, his hazel eyes glinting gold. 'I'll buy you a blasted Cessna if that's what you want. Hell, I'll buy you a Lear jet. Call it a fringe benefit.'
The aching pain was raw and fierce and she looked away so that he couldn't see the liquid brightness in her eyes. 'I told you I didn't want any of those,' she said huskily. 'I just want to get back Jeffrey's plane for him.'
Beau muttered something violently obscene and Daniel gave a low surprised whistle.
'Then by all means let's go ashore and retrieve dear Jeffrey's property,' Beau said with bitter savagery. He turned to Daniel. 'I don't suppose you've noticed since you've been lolling on your duff passing the time of day with Kate, but we've come close enough to shore to launch the dinghy, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, that is.'
'No trouble at all,' the captain said genially, rising lazily to his feet. 'Always willing to oblige, Beau.'
Beau snorted inelegantly. 'When it suits your convenience.'
'Well, that goes without saying,' Seifert said, his eyes twinkling. 'Isn't it lucky it does in this case?' He sauntered off with surprising grace for so large a man.
He was only a few yards away when he halted in his tracks, his eyes on the horizon. This time his low whistle was sharp with startled apprehension. 'I think we'd better forget the dinghy for the time being. I believe we're going to have visitors.'
Kate jumped to her feet, her heart pounding in alarm. Her gaze followed Seifert's and she inhaled sharply. A launch painted a drab army green was headed in their direction.
'The local marines, I take it,' the captain murmured. He glanced at Beau. 'Do you want me to try to run for it?'
'Do we have a chance?'
'Not much.' Daniel was observing the launch's approach with keenly analytical eyes.
Beau shrugged. 'Then we'll let them board us. The most they can do is impound the ship and the conglomerate will be able to handle that. It will only be a matter of time.'
'Julio!' Kate's frantic call brought the Latin boy dashing from the far end of the ship toward her.
'Julio, hurry!' She was running for the rail facing the shore. With any luck the masts would hide them from being spotted through binoculars. Julio was beside her now, his face mirroring the same tension as her own. 'They don't have a chance of outrunning it,' she said tersely, pulling off her tennis shoes. 'They're going to let the
Julio muttered a curse and began to take off his own shoes.
Beau and Daniel were at their sides and Beau's face was dark as thunder. 'What the hell do you think you're doing now?' he growled. 'There's nothing to be afraid of. No matter how much clout Despard has with the government, I can protect you there. The conglomerate can buy and sell Castellano.'
'He's right, Kate,' the captain inserted swiftly. 'I've seen it happen before. All Beau has to do is exert some economic muscle and we're home free.'
'You’re home free,' Kate said grimly. She was climbing over the rail. 'It will be easy for them to pull you out of their bureaucratic clutches. It wouldn't be so simple for Julio and me.' She tried to smile reassuringly into Seifert's worried face. 'Don't worry, we're not that far from shore and we're both very good swimmers. Jump, Julio!'
The boy slipped over the rail and dropped into the sea like a stone. Kate drew a deep breath and was about to release the rail herself, when Beau grabbed her roughly by the shoulders. 'No! This is crazy. I tell you you're both perfectly safe, blast it! I can protect you.'
'You think you can.' Kate was struggling frantically. 'Let me go! Do you know what happens to women who are imprisoned in Castellano? That gang rape you mentioned would be short and sweet in comparison.'
'They wouldn't touch you,' Beau said fiercely. 'I wouldn't let them.'
'You couldn't stop them,' Kate cried, her eyes blazing. 'That blanket of protection you're so smug about doesn't work for people like Julio and me.'
'Why the hell not?'
'Because we don't have a country to back us up. They'll just lock us up and throw away the key.' He was still looking at her with that expression of incomprehension and the launch was getting closer every second. 'Because neither of us has a passport, damn it!'
'What?' Beau's grip loosened and she tore free and tumbled backward into the sea.
'No passport! How the hell can anyone go wandering around the world without a damned passport?' Beau asked furiously, jerking his shoes off and slipping over the rail. Julio's and Kate's heads were bobbing several yards from the ship as they struck out strongly for the shore. 'I suppose I should have expected it. There isn't one single ordinary or reasonable thing connected with the woman!'
'Since when has the ordinary or reasonable appealed to you?' Daniel asked, raising a brow. 'I gather you're going dashing… er, swimming, after her?'
'What the hell else can I do?' Beau asked testily. 'There's no telling what trouble she'll get into next. My God, no passport!'
'Any instructions, or do I play it by ear with the authorities?'
'Cover for us,' Beau said tersely. 'Tell them you let the four of us off at Santa Isabella and stick to it. I'll try to get in touch with you before the conglomerate pulls you out of Castellano, but if I don't, take the ship to Santa Isabella and we'll join you there.'
'Right,' Daniel said, scooping up the litter of shoes on the deck and tossing them overboard. 'Wouldn't want to leave any evidence lying around when we're boarded, now would we? Have a pleasant swim, Beau.'
'Thanks a lot,' Beau said ironically, and dove into the sea.
