The Double-Cross In Paradise; Episode 2, Meeting Up With Allie

  This is the second episode of my latest novel in The Trace Troy Adventure series. It is titled The Double-Cross in Paradise. It is not yet available in paperback or digital format. 

  The first title for this book was The Deception in Paradise. There are a couple of other books bearing that same title. Double-Cross really fits the book's theme better. 

   As soon as it is available on Amazon, I'll let everyone know. In the meantime, it will be serialized and scheduled for 50 episodes. I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Meeting Up With Allie 

A day later, they docked at Suva. Cally was there to reclaim the unused equipment from the rescue of the cult members on Flint Island. 

Trace talked with Paul and Tom. He wanted to reassure them that he valued their work and wanted them to stay. They expressed a willingness to continue working on The Tramp Islander.

Trace walked to Allie’s office. He rapped on the door and she barked to come in.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of Trace as she lifted her head from the pile of papers and invoices on her desk. She stood and rushed from behind her desk and gave Trace a hug.

“How are you doing?” Allie said with moist eyes. “It is so good to see you. Where’s Adam?

“Hawaii,” Trace said, “honeymoon.”

“What!”

“Dad had an old love in Pago Pago,” Trace said.

“Talei?” Allie said. 

“Yes,” Trace said. “You know about her?”

“Oh my goodness. When he came back here from Pago Pago after their breakup, we couldn’t get a smile out of him.” She shook her head. “So he went and did it. Good for him. So what about the other thing?”

“From all appearances, it was a success,” Trace said. “We rescued over twenty members of the cult from the island, and that included Franks’ son.”

“I bet that was quite a payday,” Allie chortled and said, “Have a seat and tell me all about it.”

Allie returned to her chair, and Trace sat down in the chair in front of the desk.

Trace held Allie spellbound as he related the details of what happened on Flint Island. He told her how they ferried to the island on rubber boats, blew up the guard tower, two airplanes, and three boats. He continued with how they escaped from the stockade, grabbed the cult leader, and held him hostage. And then how they transported over twenty cult members back to Pago Pago.

“Did anybody get hurt?” Allie asked.

“I scraped my arm on some coral,” Trace grinned. “There were a couple of cult members injured, but most importantly, no loss of life.”

“So what happened to the cult leader, Demetri?” Allie asked.

“Demeter,” Trace corrected. “He was handed over to authorities. He’s facing death or life. He may be responsible for the death of some cult members.”

“Have you seen Waldo yet?” Allie asked.

“No,” Trace said, “but I’ll see him soon.”

“What happened to his son?”

“He’s one of my deckhands,” Trace said, “along with another former cult member.”

“Hiring Franks’ kid?” Allie said. “How’s that working for you?”

“Not bad,” Trace said, “he’s nothing like his dad. He’s a fine young man. A little nerdy, but a hard worker.”

“Sure not like father like son,” Allie said from the side of her mouth.

“Who knows,” Trace said, “maybe beneath Franks’ slimy outward appearance, there’s a nerd.”

“So, do you want me to get some cargo together for you?”

“Give us a week. The last few weeks have been enough. A break would be nice.”

“What’s your plans?” Allie said.

“Well,” Trace smiled, “I was thinking about taking you out for dinner tomorrow.”

“Let me check my calendar,” And without hesitation. “There’s nothing on it.”

Trace got up and grabbed hold of the doorknob. “Can you pick me up?”

“Sure.”

Trace walked halfway through the door and turned back. “My dad said to send his love, and he expects you to visit him and Talei in Texas real soon.”

“I’ll do that,” Allie said, “but what will I do about that hot, dry sun? I’ll dry out and crack.”

“No, ya won’t,” Trace grinned. “We got saddle soap. We have saddles older than you and look better than the first day it was strapped to a horse’s back.”

“Well,” Allie looked at the pile of papers on her desk, “some days, I feel like a saddle.”

The Double-Cross In Paradise; Episode 1, The New Crew

  This is the first episode of my latest novel in The Trace Troy 
Adventure series. It is titled The Double-Cross in Paradise. It is not yet available in paperback or digital format. 

  The first title for this book was The Deception in Paradise. There are a couple of other books bearing that same title. Double-Cross really fits the book's theme better. 

   As soon as it is available on Amazon, I'll let everyone know. In the meantime, it will be serialized and scheduled for 50 episodes. I'm sure you'll enjoy.

The New Crew

Three days from Pago Pago, Trace sat at the wheel of The Tramp Islander. He looked through the windshield and beyond the bow. Six to seven-foot waves splashed over the pulpit. This was the roughest seas since leaving Pago Pago. 

Paul and Tom nervously worked on deck. Mistakes were made. Sage continued patiently instructing them how to handle the sails and work the deck. He was fully aware of their background as well as limitations. They both experienced some seasickness, but not extreme. 

There was too much for them to learn to keep from becoming bored. And they were eager to please Trace and Sage.

Sage put Paul and Tom to work scrubbing the deck. It had been a while. 

And as they scrubbed away, Sage walked into the pilothouse from the aft door. He reclined on the bench.

“We had a bunch of dead flying fish on the bow,” Sage said. “It was collecting a lot of seagulls and their crap.” Then he said in a pirate's voice, “It was a chance to swab the deck, matey.” 

Trace swirled around in his chair. “How are they doing? Are they catching on?”

“They ain’t used to physical work,” Sage said. “They’re a little clumsy and uncoordinated. They toss a line like a girl. I had Paul practicing until he at least looked like a tomboy. There’s ladies on the rodeo circuit more manly than him.”

“You haven’t been teasing them, have you?”

“Nah, they’re hard enough on each other,' Sage said. “I had to talk to them about that. I want them to be a team, not competitors.”

“The challenge will be when we start stowing cargo,” Trace said. “We have to keep them from dropping crates on each other.”

“I’m sure we’ll damage some cargo in the process,” Sage said. “How much have you got in the budget for damaged goods and equipment?”

“You know what?” Trace said. “If they are conscientious and deliberate, we have little to worry about. It might take us a little longer to load and unload. They’ll get better. I bet in a couple of months, we won’t recognize them.”

“I  remember my first couple of weeks,” Sage said, “It took me that long to really figure things out. And I’ve done a heap of grunt and sweat work before getting here.”

“Well,” Trace smiled, “one thing is for sure, there are no bad habits we have to unlearn. We got ‘em raw.”

“You got a point.”

“And by the way, Sage, from what I can tell, you’re doing a good job training ‘em.”

“I learned that from Dad,” Sage said. “Everybody thinks he’s a gruff SOB, but he’s a good teacher. Kind in his own way.”

“Ya miss him yet?”

“In my own way.”

“How do you think Makani is getting along with them?” Trace asked. “And vice versa?”

“Not bad,” Sage chuckled. “They keep trying to teach him proper English. Makani tells them where he’s from, that is proper English.”

Trace leaned his head outside the window and called out. “Hey, Paul, just scrape the crap, not the varnish.” 

Paul flashed a thumbs-up.

He pulled his head inside. “A little too aggressive. You paid good money for that varnish.”

Sage sat up on the bench and leaned closer to Trace. “What did your dad think of his old ship?”

“He didn’t say much one way or another. I’m sure he wished that it was the way he remembered it, but he was really happy with all the changes. I think if it weren’t for Talei, he would have stayed a little longer. He’s not giving us, the South Seas, or The Tramp Islander a second thought. He and Talei are having a great time in Hawaii.”

“Have you thought about the possibility of Paul and Frank quitting as soon as we get to Suva?” Sage leaned back.

“It’s crossed my mind,” Trace conceded. “Paul will stay because it is expected of him by his dad. Tom has no place to go. Are you hoping they quit?”

“No,” Sage said. “What they lack in skills, right now, they make up for in willingness and cooperation.”

“Those two were looking for something,” Trace said. “Demeter came along and promised them something—they ended up with a bag full of nothing. We are offering nothing; maybe they’ll make something from it.”

Friends Until Death

James had nothing in mind, just mindlessly surfing the internet. He
typed in his own name. There were the usual sites, White Pages, and people of some sort of renown whom he shared names with, but nothing with his own personal name. He clicked forward to the fourteenth page. Halfway down the page was the blog of Raymond Callaway.

“Raymond Callaway,” James mumbled, “a real idiot, couldn‘t stand him.” An excerpt from the blog read, “My friend James Freeman and I were inseparable…”

“What!” James said at his computer screen, “I don’t even remember having a decent conversation with him. He was a jerk. I told him that to his face. He was obnoxious and bothersome. He spread some rumors around about me and my sister. We almost fought in the hallway. We both had to go to the principal's office. I almost got expelled over him.”

James clicked the link. To James’ surprise, there was a picture of him and Raymond. It looked like they might have been seniors. Their arms were draped over each other’s shoulders.

“How could I have missed that?” James said. “I can’t imagine under what circumstances I would even envision my arms around him. I hated the guy, and he hated me.”

James read, “As I face my last days, there are things that stand like darts in a board fresh in my mind; solid and painful. One had to do with my friend James Freeman. He was ever loyal and understanding. Although not aware of the ailment that will shortly take my life, he showed uncommon courage and understanding.”

“He had me confused with someone else,” James said. “That was not me, it was Bob Constantine.  He was a nice guy; polite and —too polite. Teachers were enamored with him.”

At the end of the post was Raymond’s email. James typed an email, “I’m James Freeman. This is my phone number. Give me a call.”

James left the computer and fingered through his bookshelf. He found his senior annul and looked through the random pictures posted in the back. There it was: the picture he saw on the computer screen (James and Raymond with their arms draped over each other’s shoulders). “I don’t remember this.”

The phone rang. James picked it up. “Hello.”

“Is this James Freeman?”

“Yes,” James said. “Is this Raymond Callaway?”

“Yes,” Raymond said. “I just got your email.”

“I read the post,” James said. “Forgive me for being so direct, but how long do you have to live?”

“The doctors say anytime,” Raymond said. “My system will just shut down. I liken it to a storm; the lights flicker, and suddenly no power. The lights haven’t flickered yet. It’s a condition I’ve had all my life. It’s been managed well.”

“I’m so sad to hear that,” James said. “I always knew there was something wrong with you, but I didn’t know. I don’t think anybody knew.”

“I shared it with no one,” Raymond said. “I didn’t want pity.”

“I must confess,” James said. “I don’t remember the picture being taken that you have in your post. In fact, I found it in our senior annual.”

“There is likely something else you might confess,” Raymond said. “We were not friends. That is probably why you don’t remember the photo being taken. It was a big joke, in the spur of the moment.”

“Yes,” James confessed. “That did confuse me, but we were kids.”

“I was still a jerk,” Raymond said.

“I think I know why, now,” James said. “You didn’t want pity.”

“That’s right,” Raymond said. “A strange way of looking at things, but we were kids.”

They talked for half an hour.

“James,” Raymond said, “you’ll have to pardon me. I’m becoming extremely tired.”

“Sure,” James said, “I’ve kept you too long.”

“Yeah,” Raymond joked, “you're just trying to speed up my death.”

James quipped, “You are such a jerk.”

“Music to my ears,” Raymond said.

“I’ll call again,” James said.

“Absolutely, make it soon.”

“Goodbye, my friend.” James pressed “end” on his phone.

Lights Out

It was the end of the night shift. May slowly walked toward the nurses’ station. She leaned into each room on her ward to make sure everyone was resting well.  May tiptoed into Gilda’s room.

“No need to sneak in like you’ve come home after curfew,” Gilda chuckled weakly 

 May sat in the chair next to Gilda. 

“I wanted to stop in and check on you before ending my shift,” May said.

Gilda smiled and, in a worn voice, said, “Above and beyond.”

“Not really,” May said.

“I think this is the night,” Gilda said. 

“Do you want me to call the family?” May said.

“No,” Gilda said, “They are exhausted. I don’t want them to risk an accident coming in here.”

“Then I will stay,” May said.

“No,” Gilda said, “I’m so full of surprises. You may be staying the whole night for nothing.”

“It would never be for nothing,” May said.

“No,” Gilda said, “go home to your family.”

“You are like family,” May said.

“And my family is sleeping,” Gilda said.

“I don’t think I’ve won an argument with you, ever,” May said.

They sat in silence for a moment.

“I’m the end of my generation in my family,” Gilda said. “We were all quite a bunch; the prohibition, depression, World War Two. It was my generation that invented the computer and put a man on the moon. We also dropped two horrible bombs and killed millions over nothing. I think we’ve done enough.”

May smiled and patted Gilda’s hand.

“I’d like to sleep now,” Gilda said. 

“I’ll see you when my shift begins tomorrow,” May said. 

“Good night, May,” Gilda said.

May stood. She bent down and kissed Gilda on the forehead. “Is there anything I can do before I leave?”

“No,” Gilda said.

“Do you want me to turn off your light?” May said.

“I’ll turn it off,” Gilda said. “Can you tell my family I love them and I’m happy?”

“Sure, Gilda,” May said. “I’ll do that.”

May walked out of the room. She paused for a moment, walked to the nurses' station, and grabbed her purse. She turned back and looked down the hallway towards Gilda’s room. The light shone from the room and into the hallway. May looked down in her purse to search for her car keys. When she looked down the hallway again, the light was out.  

Revenge of the Duck

“Don’t you ever think that maybe we’ve lived before?” Benny said. “You know, reincarnation.”

“No,” Harry said. 

“How do you explain de ja vu?” Benny said smugly.

“Time travel,” Harry said confidently. “For an instant, you go forward and come back.”

“That can’t happen,” Benny said. 

“Deja vu happens all the time,” Harry said.

“No,” Benny said. “I meant time travel.”

“People think it’s reincarnation when it’s really time travel,” Harry said.

“What about people who remember things in the past as a duck?” Benny said.

“You were once a duck?” Harry said.

“Yeah,” Benny said. “But don’t tell anybody.”

Suddenly, Harry stared blankly. He blinked his eyes, and his head twitched peculiarly several times. After a moment, he smiled pleasantly at Benny.

“What was that all about?” Benny said. “Are you okay?”  

“Time travel,” Harry said.

“Time travel?” Benny said.

“Yes,” Harry said. “Time travel.”

“Where did you go?” Benny said.

“Into the future,” Harry said.

“How far?” Benny said.

“Far enough,” Harry said.

“Far enough for what?” Benny said.

Harry snickered. “Far enough to tell everybody you believe you were once a duck.”

“Oh no!” Benny said. “When can I expect people to start laughing
at me?”

“You got about a year,” Harry said.

“How could you do this? Benny said.

“Do you remember when you were a duck?” Benny said.

“Yes,” Harry said. 

“Do you remember one day you were with a bunch of little ducks and you were quacking at another little duck?” Harry said.

“Well, I vaguely remember something like that,” Benny said. “My duck memory is foggy.”

“Well, that little duck that you and all your friends were quacking at was me!” Harry said. “Every time you hear a little kid quack, run, and hide, you’ll know why, and you’ll curse the day you were reincarnated.

“I’m confused,” Benny said.