
This is episode eighteen of the fifth book in the Trace Troy Adventures in Paradise series. The Title is A Cult in Paradise. It will be featured in episodes over the next few months. It will eventually be published in full on Amazon. All of the Trace Troy books, as well as my other novels, can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the Bookstore tab above. I hope you enjoy. And thanks for stopping by.
Sylvia
The next morning at 7:00 AM, Talei picked up Adam in her car. Before getting into the car, he gave an informal wave to Trace, who sat in the pilothouse. Trace reached out the window and gave a short wave.
Trace spent the rest of the day either on The Tramp Islander or taking a couple of short walks. During one walk, he stopped at a bar for a beer.
Trace sat at the bar and ordered a dark draft. A tourist, a bald, round man in his sixties, sat three stools away.
“I saw you get off the schooner,” the man said. “Are you the captain?”
“That’s what the hat says,” Trace said and sipped his beer.
“Where did you sail from?” The man asked.
“Suva,” Trace said, “Fiji.”
“That’s quite a way,” the man said. “How long did it take you?”
“I’m not sure,” Trace said. “I just got here when I got here.”
“I’d say about five days,” the man said.
Trace ignored him.
“You heading back to Suva or going elsewhere?” The man asked.
“By nature,” Trace said, “I’m not rude, but I really have some serious things on my mind and I’d just like to be left alone.”
“I find the beach is a good place to go when you want to think things over,” the man said.
Trace took a couple of large gulps from his glass of beer. He set the half-full glass on the bar. He stood and walked toward the door.
“You are rude,” the man said.
“Just heading to the beach,” Trace said. “Taking your advice.”
Trace didn’t go to the beach. He walked a little further and returned to The Tramp Islander. He didn’t want to take any chances of the inquisitive stranger showing up at the beach and engaging in any further attempts at conversation.
Trace returned to the pilothouse and read through some reports on Demeter’s cult. Something on shore caught his attention. It was the man from the bar. He paced back and forth next to The Tramp Islander.
After a few times, he stopped at the gangplank. He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!”
Trace placed the file on the chart desk and walked to the gangplank.
“What is it you want?” Trace said.
“I knew you wouldn’t go to the beach,” the man said. “We had an accidental meeting back there, but I was looking for you all along.”
“You still haven’t answered my question,” Trace said. “What is it you want?”
“Can I come aboard?” The man said.
“No,” Trace said. “And like I said back at the bar, I have a lot of things on my mind, and I want to be left alone.”
The man reached into the side pocket of his jacket. He pulled out a white envelope and tossed it onboard. It fell next to Trace’s feet. Trace looked at it lying on the deck and back at the man.
“Inside is twenty-five thousand dollars,” the man said. “I know where you are going. I have a daughter on that island.”
Trace motioned with his head toward the pilothouse. The man came aboard and followed Trace to the pilothouse.
They stepped inside, and Trace said, “Have a seat on the bench.” Trace sat on the chair at the chart desk.
“Who sent you?” Trace said.
“Franks,” the man said.
“How do you know Franks?” Trace asked.
“I don’t,” the man said. “What I mean is, I didn’t know him until a couple of days ago.”
“And how did you meet?” Trace asked.
“I visited him,” the man said.
“What brought you to Frank's?” Trace asked.
“My daughter is Franks’ son’s girlfriend,” the man said.
“And she’s with Franks’ son?” Trace asked.
“As far as I know,” the man said.
“She’s the one who contacted Franks?” Trace asked.
“Yes,” the man said.
“And you want us to rescue her, too?” Trace said.
“Yes,” the man said.
Trace turned away. He rubbed his cheek.
“Look,” the man said, “I don’t have anywhere near the money Franks has. I’m a mail man. That money is all I have. I had to borrow from an uncle and a friend to scrape that together. If it takes more, I’ll sign an IOU.”
“Where are you from?” Trace asked.
The man twisted his head slightly to the side as if not quite hearing or understanding.
“You know, town or state,” Trace said.
“Wichita, Kansas,” he said.
“What are the zip codes?” Trace said.
“There’s quite a few,” the man said. “They all start with six seven.”
“What zip code do you deliver?” Trace asked.
“Six, seven, two, zero, eight,” the man said.
“You’re kind of chubby for a mailman,” Trace said.
“I haven’t walked a route in years,” the man said. “I delivered from a jeep.”
“Are they in love?” Trace asked.
“Yes,” the man said.
“What’s Franks’ boy’s name?” Trace asked.
“Paul Parnell,” the man said. “My daughter’s name is Sylvia Bedford. My name is Wallace Bedford, they call me Wally.”
Trace hung his head and looked at the floor.
“I can get more money,” Wally said.
Trace looked up. “It’s not that. You see, whoever I try to rescue, I believe their lives will be at greatest risk. Demeter has likely trained his guards to recapture or kill one of his before one of ours. He will create martyrs. Your daughter will be at greater risk.”
“I think she will be willing to take that risk,” Wally said. “She has already risked a lot to get word to me and Paul’s mother.”
“So Paul Parnell brings your daughter into this cult,” Trace began speaking. “If I’m able to get Sylvia out with no problem, do I leave Parnell behind?”
“You have it all wrong,” Wally said. “My daughter brought Paul into it.”
“Hmm,” Trace said, “he leaves a possible career in a rapidly growing industry for the woman he loves, and a member of a cult. That guy was in an emotional knot. Then you have a girl risking everything to make contact for help.”
“The sums it up,” Wally said.
“If that’s the case,” Trace said. “I don’t think one would leave the other behind under any circumstances. If we find Parnell first, he won’t leave without Sylvia.”
“I guess I’ve complicated things,” Wally said.
“Hardly,” Trace said. “You’ve probably given us one of the most important bits of information we have. It changes a lot of things. Not knowing this, we would have been doomed to failure. We may not succeed as it is.”
“Then you will rescue Sylvia?” Wally said hopefully.
“A picture would be nice,” Trace held out his hand.
Wally pulled his wallet from his back pocket. He opened it to the pictures and handed it to Trace. Trace removed the picture and handed the wallet back.
Trace looked at the picture. It looked like a picture taken at an arcade. Her face was full of life. Her dark hair turned up on the ends. She had a wide, full smile showing plenty of straight teeth.“Pretty girl,” he said.
“She looks like her mother at that age,” Wally said. “I married up. Her hair is longer now.”
“I’m taking this,” Trace said.
“Sure.” Wally gestured to take it. “When do you plan on everything happening?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t tell you,” Trace said. “Right now, I have a good story, a picture, and a worried dad. Don’t get me wrong, I believe you, but sometimes it’s not good to trust your instincts. Folks can be mighty cunning and deceptive.”
“I understand,” Wally said. “Knowing you’re this cautious is assuring. I’m on vacation and you know…”
“Yeah, I understand,” Trace said, “you have got to get back to work.”
“I have a whole month coming to me,” Wally said. “And I can take a leave of absence for up to a year.”
Trace stood. It indicated he was done. Wally hesitated and stood. Trace shook Wally’s hand.
“If Sylvia’s there, we’ll get her back,” Trace said. “Every man on this boat is as tough as nails.”
“Thanks,” Wally said.
“On your way out, pick up that envelope full of money. We’re running a two-for-one sale this month,” Trace said. “Call your wife. Use the money to fly her here. Support each other. And when we bring your daughter back, have a good vacation. Samoa is a great vacation spot.”