The Double-Cross In Paradise; Episode 50 (Final Episode), New Crew

This is episode forty-seven in the sixth novel of The Troy Adventure Series. It is titled The Double-Cross in Paradise. Here are the links to  The Double-Cross In Paradise: paperback, Kindle. 

New Crew 

Trace felt a relaxed, warm feeling. A soft, contented smile fell across his face. He turned around. Sage stood nearby.

“It’s over,” Trace said.

“What do we do now?” Sage asked.

“We have to muster a crew,” Trace said. “We need two deckhands. Tom told me he worked as a short-order cook when he was in college. It’s easier to find deckhands than a good cook.”

“Back to Fiji?” Sage asked.

“Yeah,” Trace said, “I’ll check with Allie. She may know some guys who’d like to sign on as deckhands. There’s always Sneaky Pete’s. Dad said back in the day, he could always find deckhands there. They may not be the best of character, but who knows what we’ll find, maybe a diamond in the rough.”

They sat on the hatch to the forward hold. They chatted and watched the Royal Australian Navy’s frigate set stationary like a gray metal island. 

“Welp, they’ll be gone soon,” Sage said. “Prison for Franks, Paul, and Makani. Patterson, I hope he gets a break and uses it to do good. And Kelsey, it will all start over for him again, going after the bad guys.”

“Kelsey may end up back in the cattle business,” Trace said. “I always got the feeling it was in his blood.”

“The sea can teach you a lot,” Sage said. “I’m glad I’m doing this. What about you?”

“I sometimes wonder when it will be enough,” Trace said, “You know, pack up and head back home.”

“Are you thinking about it?” Sage said. 

“If I hold that thought for more than five minutes, I’ll know it’s time,” Trace said. “What about you?”

“No way I’m leaving my partner out here to fend for himself,” Sage said. “And I gathered by what you said to Makani about eventually turning The Tramp Islander over to somebody, that you will be grooming someone to take her over.”

“That would be the way I want to leave her,” Trace said, “but when I’m ready, and there’s no one to take over, I’ll just sell her outright. The first offer that comes along. I’ll always worry about her, though, so I might be just a bit choosy.”

“Ahoy!” A voice came from the frigate.

Trace turned toward the frigate and waved at an officer on its deck. 

“You’re free to go,” an officer yelled from the deck of the frigate. “Get on the radio.”

Trace went into the pilothouse and turned on the radio. 

“Troy, here.”

“Troy, this is Kelsey. While we were risking our lives and scraping our collective arses, a solid case was being put together on everybody.”

“That’s good to hear,” Trace said. “Take care, over.”

“Where are you heading, over?”

“Nice and slow back to Suva, over.”

“Have a safe voyage, over.”

“Likewise, over and out.”

The Tramp Islander gently sailed through pleasant seas with gentle breezes back to Suva. The nearly nine-hundred-mile voyage took a week. They sailed late into the evening and dropped the sails. With a crew of only three, Trace did not want to overburden anybody. If bad weather or a critical situation occurred, he wanted everyone to be well rested.

After docking at Suva, Trace immediately called Allie.

“Allied Freight, Allie speaking,”

“Guess who?”

“Trace, when did you get in?”

“Five minutes ago.”

“What took you so long to call me?”

“Give us a week before getting any cargo.”

“No problem. I heard you had quite a stir in Vanuatu.”

“Yep. We’ll get together and tell you all about it.”

“It’s a date.”

“I need a couple of deckhands. If you come across anybody, can you steer them my way?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“I’ll catch up with you later. Bye.”

“Goodbye.”

Trace grabbed the intercom mic. “Anybody who wants to go to Sneaky Pete’s, the cab will be here in ten minutes.”

Ten minutes later, Trace, Sage, and Tom crammed into a cab and drove to Sneaky Pete’s.

“Why are we going there? Tom asked, squeezed in the backseat between Trace and Sage.

“Remember Pete, don’t ya?” Sage said. “He owns a bar.”

“He’s a friend,” Trace said. “It would be wrong not to see him. If he heard we’d been in town and didn’t stop by, he’d think there was something wrong or that our friendship didn’t mean much.”

“Friendship means a lot to you guys,” Tom said.

“Before we get there, we should be on the same page,” Trace said. “You want to be the cook, right? If you don’t, we look for a cook and one deckhand. If you want the cook’s job, we need two deckhands.”

“I like being dry,” Tom said.

Soon, they stopped in front of Sneaky Pete’s. Trace paid the driver, and he drove away.

They walked in. The bar was half full. The smoke hung heavy and kept the odor of beer from escaping. Pete was busy behind the bar. He smiled and waved.

Trace glanced to his right. Two men sat at a table. One was very familiar. It was Kelsey.

Kelsey smiled and gestured to sit. “Have a seat.”

They sat at the table.

“What are you doing in town?” Trace asked. 

“Well, everything is moving smoothly back in Brisbane,” Kelsey said. “My job is done. There’s a pretty solid case against all of them. And it looks as if Patterson will have to do only six months.”

“That’s good to hear,” Sage said, “but what are you doing here? You aren’t arresting us, are you?”

“Nah, no way,” Kelsey said. “I quit my job on the force. I need a job. You wouldn’t need a deckhand, would you?”

“I thought the sea made you sick,” Trace said.

“My last day, I felt as good as I’ve ever felt since the days when I was a young jackaroo, ” Kelsey said.

“Well, sure,” Trace said, “I’ll take you on. But I need another deckhand.”

“Remember, I told you about my brother?” Kelsey said and nodded toward the man with him. “This is my younger brother. He’s a bit soft, but he’d like to come along with me. The sea is a good place to get to know someone. We want to get to know each other better.”

“Let’s drink to that,” Trace grinned. He rose in his chair. “Hey Pete! A round for the crew of The Tramp Islander.”

The Double-Crosse In Paradise; Episode 49, Skeleton Crew

This is episode forty-seven in the sixth novel of The Troy Adventure Series. It is titled The Double-Cross in Paradise. Here are the links to  The Double-Cross In Paradise: paperback, Kindle.   

Skeleton Crew

Tom volunteered to take over the kitchen duties. 

Trace ordered Makani, Franks, and Paul to stay in their seats. He felt there was no need for them to be guarded. 

Trace, Sage, and Kelsey climbed up to the pilot house and waited for the Navy’s frigate. Trace sat in the captain’s chair, Sage at the chart desk, and Kelsey on the bench opposite Trace and Sage.

“That was some good detective work,” Kelsey said.

“Thanks,” Trace said. “No matter how it turned out, I knew it wouldn’t be good. There were times I trusted Makani with my life and the lives of my crew.”

“He was a good cook,” Sage grinned.

“Well, partner,” Trace said to Sage, “We’re going to have to sail her with a skeleton crew.”

“Should be no problem,” Sage said.

“I’m not doing too good when it comes to crews,” Trace said. “In all the times I’ve owned The Tramp Islander, I’ve had four crewmen turn on me. I wonder what the average is?”

“Don’t try to compare this with ranch hands in Texas,” Sage said. “You know as well as I do that some of those guys will rustle a steer or two for his own. It’s just baked in. It’s expected. Your dad and my dad turn a blind eye to it, as long as it's under control.”

“I wonder what Makani’s motivation was,” Trace said. “He had plenty of money.”

“It’s something we’ll probably never know,” Sage said.

“If I may,” Kelsey said, “some guys don’t need motivation. Some guys do it to improve their lot in life. They might have an addiction to feed. Some like the challenge, which gives them an adrenaline rush. And some guys—well, l it’s like getting up in the morning. It’s just something they do. They’d rather still have a dollar than even have it given to them.

“Looky there,” Sage said, pointing starboard, behind Kelsey.

Kelsey turned around. “There ya go, mates, the Royal Australian Navy!”

The frigate hailed The Tramp Islander. Arrangements were made for the frigate to move alongside at a distance of 50 yards.

The frigate stopped, and they lowered a launch. It motored cautiously to The Tramp Islander. Sage and Tom grabbed the tossed lines. Two Naval Police Coxswains awaited to receive Makani, Franks, and Paul.

Trace stood close to the launch. He wanted to speak to each man before leaving The Tramp Islander. 

Franks faced Trace. 

“You’ll be tried in Australia this time,” Trace said. “You won’t be able to buy your way out, there. I can’t be angry at a snake that bites me, because that’s what he does.”

Franks stepped onto the launch.

Paul smirked, facing Trace

“You still have a chance,” Trace said. “Don’t waste it as your dad has. Break away from his spell. That’s your weakness, admiration of men you perceive as great.”

Patterson walked by next. He stopped. “Kelsey said he’ll put in a word. He said probation might be all I’ll get. I can live with that.”

“It’s sure better than murder,” Trace said. “Good luck.”

“Same to ya,” Patterson said.

Makani walked by, ignoring Trace.

Trace grabbed Makani’s shoulder. He turned Makanii to face him. “Why?”

“White men come here and make big money off us,” Makani said. “They use people. Treat like not smart. Treat like dog. I was going to show white man how to be really big. I wanted to have many white men work for me.”

“I always treated you good,” Trace said.

“Yeah,” Makani said, “you treat me like poor dumb island boy.”

Makani stepped onto the launch.

Kelsey stepped next to Trace. 

Trace shook Kelsey’s hand.

“It’s been good, mate,” Trace said with an Australian accent.

“Same to ya, partner,” Kelsey said with a Texas accent and went back to his normal accent. “Don’t leave until you get the all clear.”

“I’ll wait,” Trace said.

Sage tossed their gear aboard the launch.

Kelsey stepped onto the launch, and it motored back to the frigate.

The Double-Cross In Paradise; Episode 48, The Double-Crosser

This is episode forty-seven in the sixth novel of The Troy Adventure Series. It is titled The Double-Cross in Paradise. Here are the links to  The Double-Cross In Paradise: paperback, Kindle. 

The Double-Crosser

Trace stepped quietly up the companionway steps.

“I haven’t run into an iceberg or anything,” Kelsey said.

“You’re coming along nicely,” Trace quipped. “You may have a second career in the Australian Navy.”

“I’m through with the ocean,” Kelsey said. “I feel like I’m perpetually about to chunder.”

“Some people are made for the sea, and others fill the sea with chum,” Trace said.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Kelsey asked. 

“I did.”

“And…?” Kelsey said.

Trace lifted up on his toes and looked down at the instrument panel. “…And we drop our sails and wait. We are at the coordinates sent to the Navy.”

Trace grabbed the phone and called Sage’s and Tom’s cabin to get up and drop the sails.

He asked Kelsey to contact the Royal Australian frigate for an ETA. It was two hours. 

He called Makani and told him to have breakfast ready in an hour.

Sage unchained Franks and Paul and led them to the salon. They had plenty of questions, but nobody answered them.

The Tramp Islander sat quietly on a calm sea. The crew sat at the table eating breakfast. Makani sat on a stool in the galley. Idle chatter bounced around the table. 

“There’s been something that has troubled me the last couple of days,” Trace said. 

There were a couple of curious responses.

“We kind of outdid the plane,” Trace said. “We changed course, and if the plane was sent up, it didn’t find us.”

“What troubles me is how they found us?” Trace said. “ It is a very big ocean. Dumb luck? Maybe they figured us out and knew what we would do? Then I wondered, is there any way for them to track us?”

The consensus between Sage and Tom was luck.

“Makani!” Trace said back toward the galley. “You want to get in on this?”

“I go with Sage and Tom,” Makan said. “It luck.”

“Yeah,” Trace said, “that’s what I settled on.”

“What about you, Kelsey?” Sage said. 

“It’s like they say, mate, it’s better to be lucky than good.”

“Kelsey will attest to this,” Trace said. “If you settle on one reason, you owe it to yourself to eliminate the others. If you don’t, they will nag at you and keep you awake at night. There’s something about the sea: because there’s so much nothing, your mind isn’t cluttered, and you can really think. You can solve about any problem. You can even figure yourself out, not to mention figuring others out as well.”

“He’s right,” Kelsey said.

“I began to wonder,” Trace said, “to qualify being found by luck, the other ways would have to be eliminated, and it might mean we had to be tracked somehow. But how?”

“Some sort of tracking device?” Tom asked. 

“And it would have to be hidden, right?” Sage said.

“Exactly,” Trace said. “So I looked. And guess what I found? A tracking device.”

“Where?” Kelsey asked. 

“Sage,” Trace said, “Scoot over, and Tom open the seat.”

Sage moved over, and Tom lifted the seat.

“Go ahead, take it out,” Trace told Tom.

Tom held up a small black box slightly larger than a pack of cigarettes. A D cell battery was attached to it.

“I’m no expert,” Trace said, “but my money is on it being some sort of tracking device.”

“Where did you find it?” Sage asked.

“That’s where I found it,” Trace said.

“Not a good place to hide it,” Sage said. “That doesn’t even qualify as a hiding place for anything.”

“You’re right, Sage,” Trace said. “It was hidden and in a pretty clever place. I’ll get to that in a minute.”

“So,” Trace continued, “it wasn’t luck. I toyed with the idea that it may have been planted. But as you said, Sage, who would plant something that could be easily found? It didn’t square with me.”

“It’s one of the crew,” Sage said.

“That’s right,” Trace said. “I examined everybody. I hate to say this, but it could have been anybody. Doesn’t everybody have a price? At least, that’s what they say. And I kinda went under that assumption, no matter how uncomfortable it made me feel.”

“Which one?” Kelsey said.

“There’s no such thing as a perfect crime,” Trace said. “There are always clues. If a crime is never solved, it’s not for the lack of clues. They are there. It’s just not finding the ones that are there.”

“And what clues did you find?” Sage said.

“You look for things that are out of place,” Trace said. “But if somebody is intent on hiding their intent, they make sure things are not out of place. My dad told me that people try to lie, but always slip up. I tried to recall things that were said and seemed strange, but you know, it just didn’t register at the time.”

Sage leaned back in his seat. “Trace, ole buddy, you’re hopin’ somebody will say it’s me, and jump overboard and start swimming for New Caledonia.”

Makani walked out of the galley. He leaned against the doorway to the mess.

“Have a seat, Makani,” Trace said. 

Makani sat next to Trace.

“It’s you, Makani,” Trace said. “It crushes my heart. I’m sick in the pit of my stomach.”

Makani’s face tightened. He stared at Trace. 

Trace stared back and said. “I not staying here much longer. I was going to give, give The Tramp Islander to you.”

“It mean nothing,” Makani said. 

“A few weeks ago,” Trace said, “somebody said, ‘How do you make instant mashed potatoes taste like real potatoes?’ And Makani, you said you never use instant potatoes. And somebody said they had to be instant because there are no lumps. You replied that you really take the time to make them creamy.”

“I remember that conversation,” Sage said.

“This morning, I dug through our food invoices,” Trace said, still staring at Makani. “We order a lot of instant mashed potatoes in cans. This morning we had a case with six cans. Over the last three months, we’ve ordered eighteen cases of instant mashed potatoes. The funny thing is that our bills don’t reflect it. We were only charged for a can, but we got a whole case. So what happens to all the cases? We leave you alone on the boat a lot. I think you use that time to get rid of whatever is in the cans labeled instant potatoes.”

Makani looked away. He stared out the porthole.

Trace continued. “A couple of hours ago, I went to our food supply room. There, I found a case of instant potatoes. I didn’t open them in the galley. I didn’t want to wake anyone, so they were taken to the engine room. I opened them there. Guess what I found? Instant powdered mashed potatoes! I emptied one can, and guess what? A sealed plastic bag of white powder. Who guesses baby powder?” Trace looked around the table. “Nobody.”

Everyone moved uncomfortably in their seats.

Trace moved forward and attempted to look into Makani’s eyes. Makani turned his head further away.

“You’re smuggling drugs, Makani,” Trace said quietly. “You put your crew, your friends, and yourself at risk.”

Makani turned his head to face Trace.

“I’m not done,” Trace said. “When Sage needed an empty beer can to make an explosive device, you insisted on getting it for him. You wanted to make sure Sage didn’t go into the galley and grab the first beer can he saw. That can had been sitting on a shelf for several days. Nobody goes in the galley but you, so you felt comfortable with where it was sitting. It had the tracking device that was under Sage’s seat. When you removed it from the can, you didn’t have time to find a proper hiding place. How am I doing so far?”

Makani lifted his head. He stared above the portholes.

“I pulled back the curtain to the porthole in the galley. On each side was a sticky, glue-like substance. I looked in the drawers and cabinets. And guess what I found?’ A mirror with a sticky glue-like substance, matching what I found on the porthole. The tracking device will get you in the right neighborhood during the night, but finding the right house, that’s the trick, and if there’s no light on, the next best thing is a mirror. A ship with a spotlight from a distance could be missed, but if it had something to reflect, it would stand out.”

“You not prove nothing,” Makani said.

“I don’t care if I can or not,” Trace said. “I know, and now we all know. Go over there and sit with Franks and Paul.”