The Big Thaw - Donald Harstad [138]
He had him there. Art, though, really was good at this. Rather than make some lame excuse, or sound like a cop caught in the act, he just said, very loudly, and slightly away from the mouthpiece, “Look out! Cops!” and pressed the disconnect. He grinned, also pleased with his performance.
We were impressed. He’d not blown his cover, and left them worried and concerned, most likely. Good deal. And the icing on the cake was that we now could place Gabriel on the boat.
Unfortunately, knowing and arresting were two different things. I mean, it was surely a simple problem. Basically, all we had to do was figure how to get to a boat 100 feet from a dock. Well, maybe just a bit more complex. We had to figure how to do it with a stretch van filled with armed men between us and the boat. With people on the boat who would certainly, in the spirit of Sally’s “pirates,” repel boarders. Not to mention possibly sink it, or blow it up.
“Just what kind of fuel does she burn, Mr. James?” asked Volont.
“Diesel. No real fire hazard.”
“Gabe tends to like explosives,” I said. “If memory serves.”
“Not under his own butt.” Volont seemed sure. I wondered.
“If he starts her sinking,” said Captain Olinger, “I’d suggest running cable, hook them to a couple of large wreckers, and pull her to shore.”
We explained the method he’d used to blow off the cleats.
“No problem. There are structural members that would be accessible, and would bear the load. Do you want me to start rounding up the materials?”
We did. He got right on it.
Moments later, the phone rang. It was Gabriel. It was for me, at least at first.
“Deputy, did you enjoy your little chat with my people?” Confirmed he wasn’t in the van, I thought. Well, given the fact that he would lie whenever necessary, maybe a 90 percent chance.
“The one is just a kid,” I said. “Way too young for this shit.”
“You’re never too young, Deputy. Go to Fort Bragg and check IDs sometime.”
“This one’s been brainwashed.”
“Welcome to the real world. But I digress. I want you to know I’ve talked with them, and I’ve given instructions to shoot on sight if anybody even tries to approach their position again.”
“Don’t you think ‘predicament’ would be a better choice than ‘position’? These guys make Custer look safe,” I said.
“Modern weapons… no. Never mind. But I wouldn’t try them. They have a long reach.” He sounded kind of mysterious. Rocket launcher? We knew he’d stolen a bunch a few years back. Good God, if they were to just step out of the van and fire a couple of LAWS rockets at the General Beauregard…
“Let me speak with Volont.”
“I’m here.”
“Stop playing with my people,” he said. “In a short while, we’ll be leaving. Stay out of the way,” and he terminated the conversation.
“I think,” said George, “we’re definitely getting to him…”
About a minute later, the phone rang. Nancy, for me.
“Houseman,” she whispered, “how are you coming with getting us off here? These people are starting to act kind of squirrelly.”
“The bad guys or the passengers?”
“Don’t be silly,” she said. I thought it had been a pretty reasonable question.
“We’re getting there,” I said, trying to be a comfort.
“No progress, huh? You’re gonna have to do better than that. One of the passengers is a little tipsy, and went over to one of the ski masks and asked him for a light. The ski mask knocked him down with his gun, and threatened to kill him.”
“No shit?” We must be getting to the ones on the boat, too. I couldn’t figure that out. They were the ones who cast off, apparently stranding themselves in the river. With explosive charges that had obviously been placed by them. Planned. With Gabriel there for leadership. So, what was screwing up their program? Something to do with the stretch van?
“No shit. This isn’t a good situation here, Houseman. Not at all.”
“Who’s in charge? Can you tell?”
“It’s supposed,” she said, testily, “to be you.”
“No, but in charge of the bad guys. Where’s the leader? Where on the boat, I mean.”
“I don’t have the faintest. I didn’t even know they had one.”
Hester