Chapter 26: More Problems

  “JJ. Get to the Bridge. Now.”

  The spray made the Challenger’s deck slick as ice. Despite that, he moved fast, boots finding traction where they could.

  The man they’d cuffed was gone below, escorted by ship security. The rest of the deck was tense and quiet.

  JJ climbed the ladderwell two rungs at a time and shoved through the bridge’s hatch.

  Inside, the air was warmer, dry with electronics. Screens glowed in the dim. A radar tech sat rigid at his station. Kimo stood at the forward windows, binoculars in hand. Naomi was at the chart table, a telephone pressed hard to her ear.

  She didn’t look up when JJ came in. “We’re not alone out here.”

  She put the call on speaker. The voice that came out was male and Spanish.

  “Muldoon, this is Director Vargas, from the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública.”

  JJ stopped at the chart table, one hand on the edge to steady against the ship’s slow roll. “Director.”

  “You are operating under Costa Rican authorization in Costa Rican waters,” Vargas said. “Which means you will not start a private war on my waters. Do you understand?”

  JJ’s finger tapped on the table. He tried hard not to lose his patience. “I understand, Director. But you need to understand that an unmarked aircraft approached my vessel, refused to identify itself, and boarded my ship.” He let that sink in before continuing. “They were unarmed and did not open fire, so we detained the intruder.”

  There was a pause before Vargas said carefully. “We are tracking the same aircraft. Senior Muldoon.”

  JJ let out a breath before he answered. “Are they sanctioned by the Ministry or not?”

  “They are not, Senior. Again, I don’t want this turning into a firefight.”

  “I understand, Director Vargas. I won’t shoot if they don’t.”

  “Good, I want you to hold your position,” Vargas said. “My Cutter is two hours out.”

  “That’s fine,” JJ said. “We’re in the middle of a rescue operation. You're welcome to our prisoner.”

  Vargas exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. “I am aware. I won’t get in your way, but if anyone you find needs to be brought to the Ministerio for debriefing.”

  JJ nodded. “I know, Director. You have my word.”

  “Contact.” One of the Radar techs said from his station. A second blip on the radar was approaching fast from the west.

  Kimo lowered his binoculars. “We got a ship coming in.”

  Naomi tapped the table with her pen. “They’re either very confident or very stupid.”

  JJ’s turned on the bridge intercom. “All security personnel to the deck.”

  He turned off the intercom. “Director, we got a vessel approaching us now, this one’s running dark as well.”

  “I see it,” Vargas said. “Don’t escalate the situation.”

  JJ nodded again; he already knew that. “Understood, Director.” He ended the call. For a second, the bridge was only radar hum and the faint creak of steel.

  Naomi’s pen hovered over the chart. “At least we’re covered if they start something.”

  Kimo’s eyes stayed on the fog outside. “Cold comfort.”

  JJ turned toward the hatch. “All hands on alert till the coast guard arrives. I’m going to talk to our guest.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  JJ moved with purpose down the ladderwell, the ship’s bones groaning around him, the distant whine of hydraulics and shouted deck orders bleeding through the steel. The Challenger felt tighter now, every hatch a choke point, every corridor a lane.

  Little Bear fell in behind him.

  They passed the mess on the way down. Through the open doorway, Maria and Emilia still sat at the far table.

  The brig sat deeper in the ship, with cooler air and fewer voices, the kind of space built for problems. Two security guards stood outside the door. Helmets on. Rifles ready.

  “Muldoon,” one of them said.

  JJ nodded once. “How’s he been?”

  “Quiet,” the second guard answered. “Smiling way too much.”

  JJ didn’t like that. He entered the cell. The room was small and clean, with a steel bench, a steel table bolted down, and a drain in the center. The detainee sat with his wrists cuffed in front of him, elbows on the table. He looked to all the world like a man sitting in his own office. He sat hard-faced, with calm eyes. Morales was entirely too calm for a man facing prosecution.

  He looked up as JJ stepped in and smirked.

  “Took your time,” he said.

  JJ stood by the door, face blank as he stared the man down. Little Bear stood behind JJ, the pair of them stone-faced. The bastard sat there unfazed. It annoyed JJ and worried him.

  “Your name?” JJ asked.

  The man’s grin held. “You already know who I am.”

  “No, I don’t. You boarded my vessel and refused to identify yourself. Name.”

  The man’s eyes flicked to Little Bear, then back to JJ. “Does it matter?”

  “I suppose it doesn’t, but I want to know the name of the shit stain I’m about to bury.” JJ said.

  He was silent for a beat. Then the detainee shrugged. “Call me Morales.”

  “Morales,” JJ repeated flatly. “Who sent you?”

  Morales’s smile thinned. “You’re in the wrong place, Muldoon.”

  JJ sat across from him. “You’re not sanctioned. Morales. Director Vargas from the Ministry is on the way to bury you in a hole. Talk to me, and I can put in a word for you.”

  Morales’ expression didn’t change, but something behind his eyes began to shine. “Vargas doesn’t run everything.”

  “True. But Vargas and Guiterez?” JJ shrugged. “I don’t like your chances.”

  Morales leaned back in his chair as far as the cuffs allowed. That glint behind his eyes vanished. “Maybe, but you're still screwed. My bosses aren’t going to let you waltz all over the island.”

  JJ’s voice stayed even. “We’re not leaving until we find all the survivors.”

  Morales’ gaze dropped briefly, then lifted again. “That’s a mistake.”

  JJ leaned back. “We’ll see. Here’s what’s going to happen, Morales. The Costa Ricans are coming. They got a cutter that’ll be here right when your friends arrive.”

  Morales' face twitched. It was subtle, but JJ saw it. “You’re going to be turned over to them, and you better pray that other ship plays nice.”

  Morales’ eyes narrowed. “Threats, really?”

  “Really,” JJ said. “The only reason you're alive is that you were smart enough not to be armed.”

  For the first time, Morales’ smile vanished. His gaze hardened into something colder. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Muldoon,” he hissed. “Leave now, and things won’t get ugly.”

  JJ didn’t blink. “Except I really hope they do.”

  Morales’ lips pressed together. “They said you were stubborn.”

  Then the overhead speaker crackled with Naomi’s voice. “JJ, we have company.””

  Morales’ eyes lifted toward the ceiling, a pleased smile on his face.

  Little Bear’s voice was low from the door. “We done here, boss?”

  JJ stared at Morales. “For now.”

  He stepped back, already turning.

  Morales’ voice followed him, calm as ever. “If you go back to that island, you’re signing your own death warrant, Muldoon.”

  JJ stopped at the threshold and looked over his shoulder. “I’ll take my chances.”