“I swear, I didn’t know what he had planned at first,” Porter had said. “It was too late for me to do anything when I did.”
“Bullshit,” Quinn said.
Porter looked nervous, but didn’t push the point again.
“How did you get everyone’s names?” Quinn asked.
“I don’t know. Either Harris or Romero did that.”
“The prisoners-you’re sure they haven’t been killed?”
“They were still alive last I heard.”
“But the plan
Porter nervously licked his lips, then whispered, “Yes.”
As soon as they’d extracted the information they needed, and learned about the boat, they packed Porter into the car, where Liz had been waiting, and headed out.
“Got one,” Liz said. She raised the computer and flashed the screen at Quinn. On it was a map of the island.
“Perfect,” Quinn said. “Nice and big.”
Liz smiled, and lowered the machine back to her lap. “I’ll save it to the drive.”
“The turnoff’s coming up,” Porter said. “You’ll see a sign for Cordoba Royale Marina. Just after that. The turn will be on the left.”
There was a brief pause, then Orlando said, “I see it.”
Quinn turned to Porter. “Tell me again, how many on the boat?”
“Only two.”
“What about elsewhere in the marina?”
“Elsewhere?”
“Men on another boat, maybe? Or housed on shore?”
“No. Only the two guys.”
“You know what happens if you’re lying.”
“You’ll kill me.”
“We’ll kill you.”
“I’m not lying. There used to be more, but Harris had everyone but a few who were still on the payroll moved out to Duran.”
Quinn looked for signs of deceit, but saw none. Still, they wouldn’t let their guard down.
As Porter had said, the unmanned marina gate was opened by entering a code on a keypad.
“Give me the number,” Orlando said as she rolled down her window and pulled to a stop in front of the gate.
“Four, seven-”
“Before you finish,” Quinn said. “I’d strongly advise you not to give us a code that will alert anybody.”
Porter’s chin began to shake. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“Then give her the code.”
“Four, um, eight, two, two, nine.”
“You’re sure?” Orlando asked.
“Yes.”
She punched in the numbers. There was a two-second delay, then the gate rolled out of the way. Porter directed them to a parking area in front of pier number eleven.
“That’s it,” he said, looking out the front window. “The one with the white top and dark blue side, tied up on the right.”
The boat was a beauty-a Princess V57. Quinn was familiar with its specs, and knew once they were away from the island, as long as the water wasn’t too choppy, they should be able to make thirty knots easy, getting them to Duran in about an hour.
“Last chance, Porter. How many on the boat?”
“Two. I swear.”
“Names?”
“Hansen and, um, Flores.”
Orlando took Quinn’s place in the backseat next to Porter, while Quinn and Daeng went to pay the men on the boat a visit.
No one was on deck. Unfortunately, the glass door to the cabin area was locked. Quinn explained to Daeng what he wanted to do. Once his friend was in position and ready, he knocked on the door.
“Hello? Anyone awake? Harris sent me. Hello?”
There was a thump somewhere beyond the door, then the sound of feet shuffling. Quinn knocked again.
“Hello? Where is everyone?”
Through the door, he could see a shadow come up the stairs from the below-deck living area and walk across the cabin. The door opened, and a man who’d obviously just crawled out of bed looked out.
“Are you Hansen or Flores?” Quinn asked.
“What? Who are you?”
“Look, Harris sent me. Are you Hansen or Flores?”
“I’m Hansen.”
“Good. I’ve got something they want out at the island, but I need your help carrying it on board.”
“No one told me anything about going out there today.”
“Not my problem.”
“I should call and check.”
“Fine by me,” Quinn said. “But help me get this on board first, all right? You’re not the only stop I’ve got to make this morning.”
Hansen frowned. “Let me put on my shoes.”
When Hansen was finally ready, Quinn said, “It’s over here.”
As he led Hansen to the dock, Daeng moved in behind them, and gave the deckhand a quick shot in the arm from the vaccine gun.
Flores was even easier. He was still asleep in one of the beds below, and stirred only slightly as the tranquilizer entered his arm.
They put both men in the same cabin and locked the door.
Quinn returned to the car and pulled Porter out. Orlando followed right behind with the duffel bag full of equipment. When Liz climbed out, Quinn said, “You’re not coming with us.”
“But-”
“You’re not coming, Liz.”
“You might need me,” she argued.
In the past, he would have gotten mad and told her she was staying, end of story. But this time, he put his hands on her arms and said, “I do need you. That’s why you can’t come. This is one of those not-safe situations. I can’t do my job and worry about you at the same time. I swear I’ll let you know the second everything is okay.”
As she looked at him, he could tell she was trying to find something she could use to change his mind, but then the tension drained from her shoulders and she nodded. “Okay. I understand.”
He pulled her to him, and she hugged him back.
“Find him,” she whispered.
“We will.”
When they parted, she said, “Be careful.”
He smiled. “Go back to the plane. I’ll call you there.”
CHAPTER 50
