I am in our office waiting for Mercury so we can get the day going. I am anxious.
My phone rings, breaking the silence. It’s Merc.
“Yes?” I say.
The words spew breathlessly from her mouth.
“Silas … just got a call from Cassie. She was walking to work near the dock and she thinks she might have seen Armand. Said he was being led by someone … I don’t know who, she doesn’t know who. She says he was boarding the ship.”
“What ship?” I ask.
“The Lady Lux!” she says. “It’s the only one down there right now!”
“Oh … yes. I’m on my way.”
As I jog, I call the interim sheriff and advise him of Merc’s report. I have no idea what we’re up against, but with Armand, it’s impossible to tell.
I approach the docks on foot. I see Cassie and wave.
She takes a deep breath. “I swear it was him. Really, I wouldn’t call you if I didn’t think it was him.”
I take her arm. “It’s all good. We’ll get him. What have you seen?”
Lindy strolls up the embankment toward Cassie and me, looking toward the Lady Lux, as Mercury comes up alongside us. Three police vehicles appear to my left. I turn to the group.
“OK, no one boards until we have the all-clear. Lindy, stay close. I’m sure the police will have questions about the ship. Can I tell the sheriffs that we have your permission to board?”
“Yes,” Lindy replies.
I approach the vehicles.
“Sir, the owner of the boat, Mr. Fryer, has given us permission to enter. He’s going to direct us. We ready?”
Each is nodding toward me. I’m uneasy with their response. It appears I’m the one in charge.
Well, so be it.
“We want this to happen fast,” I tell them. “Let’s go.”
Lindy directs us to the far side of the boat, which means we’ll enter on the nearside and walk through. The police move ahead and begin climbing the ladders. I turn to Lindy.
“Thank you for this, but you’ll have to stay here. Merc’s armed and she knows her way through.”
Mercury pauses and glances toward Lindy, not meeting his gaze. He nods and relents, then grabs her arm. “Be careful,” he says.
She waves him off, climbs up the ladder, and I follow directly behind.