The Pirate (18 page)

“Find the men responsible and kill them,” Samatan ordered.

“What about the women?” Habeb asked.

“I will see to them. Shoot to kill. This ransom is ours and we won't give it up easily.”

“Yes, sir.”

Samatan moved across the deck quickly. He had a speedboat stashed on the port side of the ship. If it became necessary for him to leave he'd go. But he wasn't leaving without the women. One of them was the key to a lot of money.

He went down the stairs two at a time and headed for the room where Habeb had stashed the woman and the tanker captain. When he opened the door he found it empty.

He cursed.

Somehow the hostages were trying to take back the tanker. He went to the infirmary next. He'd kill their sick friend as payback. No one would be alive after tonight except the one woman he needed. And then she would die when this was over.

Samatan got to the infirmary and forced the door open. It was quiet in the room but he hit the light switch as soon as he entered. The man on the table was breathing fitfully as Samatan walked over to him.

He put his gun to the man's temple and fired. The body jerked and there was a scream.

A woman launched herself at him from behind the table. She had her hands extended and clawed at his face. The scratches hurt as he backhanded the woman and knocked her to the floor. She started to get back up but he kicked her hard in the gut.

She curled into a ball moaning. The other woman—the one he'd held his gun on earlier—lifted her hands up and stood on the other side of the bed.

“I surrender. Don't shoot me,” she said.

Samatan was so angry he almost shot her. They'd taken away his bargaining chip. “Get your friend up and come with me. If you do anything other than what I say I will shoot you.”

She nodded and went over to the fallen woman, who seemed to be completely out of it. Samatan's face stung as the air stirred around him.

It would be easier to take just one woman but he didn't want to take the wrong one and not get paid. He saw a roll of medical adhesive tape on the counter. “Tie her hands together.”

“That's not necessary. We'll come with you,” she said.

“Do what I say or I'll put you both in a body bag and carry you out that way.”

She shuddered and reached for the tape. She bound the other woman's hands. “I'm Daphne by the way and this is Franny.”

“This isn't a social gathering,” Samatan said.

“Just wanted you to know who we were so it'd be harder to kill us.”

“It's not hard to kill someone whose name you know,” he told her. “Hurry up.”

“I'm done,” she said.

“Bring the tape to me.”

She did.

“Hold your hands out, wrists together.”

She did and he bound her wrists tightly, double-checking the other woman before binding their arms together so they were effectively chained to each other's side. Samatan had learned over the years that it was harder to run when you were tethered to another person.

Franny was still crying and he could tell from the way she walked gingerly that his kick to her gut pained her.

He knew how vulnerable females were there. Back when he'd been Strongman, sometimes he'd had to beat women to make their men behave. And they'd used a bag of oranges to smack them in the gut. That way there was no outward marks of the beating.

“Move. If we encounter anyone along the way or you attempt to raise the alarm I will kill you.”

The women stayed huddled together as he forced them through the door and then down the hall. “Go to the end. There's a rope ladder that leads up to the deck.”

“We're not going to be able to climb the rope ladder tied together,” Daphne said.

“Stop talking and do what I say.”

They would do it. Fear was a great motivator and he assumed they both wanted to live. One thing he'd seen again and again was people doing all kinds of things to stay alive. It was funny how badly most humans wanted to live.

They got to the ladder. “Climb.”

They were awkward but Daphne did most of the work and pulled her friend up and onto the deck. Samatan stayed right behind them, nudging them both with the gun when they hesitated.

Once they were on the deck he dragged them to their feet and to the port side of the tanker.

Habeb was waiting for him. When he saw the women he came forward. “The crew has retaken the ship.”

“Not for long. Let's get these two back to the mother ship and then we will come back.”

“Yes, sir. We lost Jamac.”

Samatan nodded. “You can tell me later. Let's get out of here.”

“Overboard, ladies,” Samatan ordered.

Franny shook her head. “I can't swim.”

“There's a boat down there,” Daphne said. “I've got you. Lean on me.”

“I want to die,” Franny said.

“Keep whining and you might get your wish,” Samatan said.

Daphne gave him a look of pure venom but helped the other woman over the railing and down to the speedboat. Samatan followed the women and Habeb stood and waited for orders.

“Take the chopper so they think we are airborne.”

“Yes, sir.”

Samatan was angry and more than a little pissed off at his men who were responsible for the loss of this tanker. He'd have to deal with those men. Anyone who made it off the
Maersk Angus
alive was going to be very aware of his wrath.

“We need life jackets,” Daphne said.

“Too damned bad,” he said. “Sit down and shut up or I will drag the both of you through the water as we go.”

“No you won't,” she said. “We'd drown and die and you'd only have a corpse to ransom.”

As angry as he was he didn't care. “Don't tempt me by talking. I might decide the ransom isn't worth the aggravation of keeping the two of you alive.”

The other woman started sobbing in earnest and Daphne shook her head. Samatan cast off the boat and worked it up to full speed as soon as they were away from the tanker. This was the first job he'd taken that had gone this way. He wasn't used to losing and he realized he didn't like it.

He would take steps to ensure that it never happened again.

L
az was bloodied and more than a little exhilarated as he and Wenz took over the bridge. He monitored the fighting on the earpiece. Wenz stood guard at the door as Laz readied the ship to get under way. He had missed this, he realized. Sitting still had been a nightmare. Now he was back on the bridge and things were about to wrap up on this mission.

Soon they'd arrest Samatan.

“Movement around the chopper,” Mann said.

“How many?” Savage asked.

“One target. I have him in my sight,” Mann said.

“Hold. Is it Samatan?” Savage asked.

“Unable to confirm.”

“One? Can you go?”

“Affirmative. Two is in charge of the bridge.”

Wenz took over his position. Everyone on the team had read the specs on the tanker before they'd come on this mission so Wenz could pilot it if need be.

Laz vaulted down the stairs two at time. He wasn't going to take a chance on letting Samatan escape now that they were so close to taking him down. That pirate king had been a menace in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden for a long time. Many, including their client, believed he worked for someone else because of the sophisticated operation he had. For instance the Eurochopper was something that most governments bought for their militaries to use. The U.S. government used them in the Coast Guard.

Laz pulled his weapon as he got to the bottom of the stairs. There was no one on the deck and he sprinted toward the chopper as he realized the man was going to enter it.

“Freeze!”

The man hesitated and then fired at Laz. Laz tucked his body and rolled across the deck toward the pirate. He came to his feet and returned fire.

Laz aimed for the pirate's kneecap and saw the man stagger and fall into the side of the chopper. Laz was on him before he could make another move.

The pirate raised his own gun and fired at Laz. Laz moved quickly, feeling the burn against his cheek as he turned his head just in time to miss being hitting by the bullet.

“Damn it,” he cursed. He brought his heel down on the pirate's shooting hand and bent over to take the gun from his grip.

The pirate punched him on the side and reached up to grab him between the legs. Laz danced out of range and brought the butt of his weapon down on the side of the man's head.

The pirate slumped on the deck. “This one. Target down. Not Samatan. Repeat not Samatan.”

“Copy that. Do you need backup?”

“Hell no.”

“Medical?” Savage asked.

“Negative,” Laz said knowing that he'd have Daphne patch him up later. Her hands were way softer than Wenz's, and she was always caressing him when she bandaged his cuts.

“I think we're all clear. Everyone gather on the main deck by the chopper. Flex cuff all the pirates. Four, prepare to process them.”

“Affirmative, leader.”

Van would take pictures of everyone they captured and record their name and nationality. Then that information would go into an international criminal database. If for some reason they couldn't make the piracy charges stick, then their clients would search for other outstanding warrants.

Savage walked out into the open leading two pirates whose name Laz didn't know.

“Did we get Samatan?” Laz asked. “He wasn't on the bridge.”

“Or at the chopper. Did he leave while you were locked up?” Savage asked.

“I don't know. This man was attempting to get on the chopper. Maybe he can tell us.”

“Revive him,” Savage ordered.

Rudy brought over a bucket of water and splashed it on the man's head.

“Who are you?” Laz asked him.

“Go to hell,” the man replied.

“Is Samatan still on this ship?”

The man kept his mouth shut and looked up at him with disdain. Laz didn't give him the satisfaction of getting upset. Van would question him and get answers whether this guy wanted to give them or not.

“You're going to be in jail for a long time. It might go easier on you if you cooperate now.”

“I know nothing,” the man said.

“Leave him,” Savage said. “Van, take him first. We need to know who he is and why he was attempting to leave on the chopper. And where the hell is Samatan?

Van lifted the man by his arm and dragged him across the deck.

“I think that man needs medical attention,” Jerry said. “I'd be happy to patch him up and anyone else who needs our assistance.”

“Thank you,” Savage said. “Your help tonight was invaluable.”

“You're welcome,” Jerry said. “I was glad to help. If you don't need me anymore, I'll head down to the infirmary and get it ready to treat the injured.”

“Sounds good. Rudy, thanks man.”

“No problem. Like I said, I saw some action in Peru.”

“Nasty place,” Savage said.

Laz waited for orders. “Want me back on the bridge?”

“Yes. Then you can head to the infirmary and check on your girl.”

“She's not a girl.”

“No?”

“No, she's a lady,” Laz said.

“Is she yours?”

Laz walked away from that. He had no idea how to answer that loaded question. He wanted her to be his. How was that? He was a man who called nothing but a shack in Florida and an old fishing boat his own and now he wanted to lay claim to a woman who was worlds better than he was.

Slowly he climbed the stairs to the bridge. Wenz waited until he was in position before he backed away. “That went well.”

“Except for Samatan not being in the captured group,” Laz said.

“Van will find out where he is,” Wenz said.

“I hope he gets the information soon. I want this wrapped up.”

“Got plans?”

Did he? He and Daphne had said when this was over they'd do something together but who knew if they'd have the chance. She might change her mind once the danger was past.

“No plans. Just want the mission wrapped up,” Laz said.

“Me too.”

“Team leader, confirm we are ready to move?”

“In a minute,” Savage said.

Laz looked down on deck and saw that Van had returned to Savage. At the same time Jerry came running up to Savage and Laz had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Team leader? Is Daphne still on this tanker?”

“Negative, one. She and the other woman were taken hostage by Samatan. Whereabouts unknown.”

“Wenz, you have the bridge,” Laz said.

He ran down the stairs again and got on deck in no time at all.

“Habeb is Samatan's second in command. Samatan is heading to the mother ship, which is great for us. We've been wanting to capture his hive,” Van said.

Jerry was standing next to Savage. His face was white and Laz put his hand on the doctor's shoulder. “You okay?”

“No,” he said. “Bob's dead.”

“I'm sorry he didn't make it,” Laz said.

Jerry shook his head. “You don't understand. He was shot in the head. He's dead.”

Laz felt his blood run cold. Samatan was going to kill one of the women. And if he knew Daphne she'd do everything to make sure that neither she nor Franny were injured—an action that would make the pirate king mad.

“Where is this mother ship?” Laz asked.

“I haven't gotten the exact location yet,” Van said. “But I will. Right now, Habeb revealed that Samatan is in a Sea King speedboat heading toward international waters.”

“I'm going after them,” Laz said.

 

Daphne held Franny as they continued to speed through the night. She was numbed by what she'd seen this man do: just walk up to a vulnerable person and shot them like he had. She knew that Samatan had no soul. If he had he wouldn't have been able to do that. She was still shaking and felt almost physically sick.

Her hands hurt where she was bound to Franny. Franny was in even worse shape so Daphne was trying to hold it together, but it was really hard and she felt like she might start sobbing at any second.

For the first time since pirates took over the
Maersk Angus
she actually felt like she might not make it back home. She prayed with all of her conviction that God would watch over her and Franny and help them to survive whatever Samatan had in store for them.

The moon offered little light this dark night but there seemed to be a million stars in the sky. As she looked up at them, Daphne wondered if this memory would always be the one that rushed to her mind when she saw a starry sky.

Samatan slowed the boat and put it in idle.

“There is no need to bring both of you with me. I only need the one who is related to Senator Paul Maxwell.”

Franny's hand started to shake in hers and Daphne held onto her hand more tightly. “We are both related to him.”

Samatan raised one eyebrow at her. “I don't believe so. I've only been authorized to collect the ransom on one woman.”

“Well, you're going to have to take both of us,” Daphne said.

She had no idea if Franny could swim or not or if Samatan would simply kill Franny outright if he knew she wasn't related to Paul. Technically, she thought, neither of them were related to him.

“What are you going to do with us?”

“One of you will be starring in a video begging for your life. The other will be going over the side of this boat.”

“We're in the middle of the ocean.”

“We aren't that far from the tanker. I'm sure they will have discovered that you are missing and started looking for you.”

Daphne suspected that he wanted to get rid of one of them to slow any rescue attempt down.

“I'm running out of patience,” he said. “I'm going to start hitting you until you give me the information I want.”

Franny whimpered.

“I am the one,” Daphne said. “But she can't swim and I will jump overboard myself unless you provide her with a raft or floatation device.”

“You are in no position to make demands,” Samatan said. “How do I know you are who you say?”

“You don't. But I will tell you—but only if you free Franny.”

He nodded.

“I am Paul Maxwell's ex-wife. We were married for seventeen years and have two sons. I live in a suburb of D.C. as does Paul.”

“Very well. I believe you. I have no raft for your friend,” he said.

“Then a life jacket. You aren't killing another of my friends in front of me.”

Daphne wasn't sure he understood how serious she was. She'd rather take her chances in the ocean with Franny than wait until Paul declined to pay ransom for her and have Samatan shoot her in the head like he had Bob.

He took a knife from his pocket and walked toward them. “Stop. You said she could go.”

“Be quiet, woman. I'm cutting her free. There is a life jacket under the bench. She may get it out.”

Samatan cut them free and Franny just looked at Daphne. “You can do this, Franny. The life jacket will support you.”

“I'm scared,” Franny whispered.

Daphne gave the other woman a hug and then lifted the bench as best she could with her bound hands. “Get the life jacket.”

Franny just stood there. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Samatan move closer. He was going to throw her overboard without anything if Franny didn't hurry.

“Franny! Get the life jacket,” Daphne yelled.

Franny blinked at her, then bent over and pulled out the life jacket.

“Cut her hands free,” Daphne said.

“No.”

Daphne reached for Franny's wrists, brought them to her mouth and bit through the medical adhesive tape that was holding them together. She hurriedly stuffed Franny into the life jacket.

“Someone will come for you. The Captain will,” Daphne said. She pressed the penlight into Franny's hand. “Be safe.”

Franny started to speak but Samatan pushed her over the edge of the boat. Daphne turned to make sure that Franny had bobbed to the surface. She thought she saw her friend's head but had no time to be certain as Samatan put the boat back into gear and started moving again.

Daphne fell back against the floorboard and sat there. She knew she should probably try to overcome Samatan and rescue herself but she couldn't do it. She was tired. Physically she ached from everything she'd been through today and emotionally she was drained. She'd lost a patient and then she'd lost a friend.

She was alone with a madman and she had no idea how she was going to get back home to see her boys. At this moment coming on an adventure seemed like the stupidest decision she'd ever made.

She'd give up everything just to see her boys one more time and hug them close. If she didn't make it back to them, she hoped they'd always remember how much she loved them.

“I thought you only ransomed tankers,” she said, screaming to be heard over the roar of the boat.

“Normally, we do,” he said, turning to face her. His accent wasn't that thick and his English had a lyrical sound to it.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“To my ship,” he said.

He turned to face the bow of the ship and then continued flying over the water through the night. The breeze was cold after she'd been so hot all day. She shivered a little and wondered if she had fatigue. Who cared? That was the least of her worries.

She wondered if Laz would come after her. But then she stopped herself. Of course he was going to come after her. Laz was the kind of guy who'd always rush to her side when she needed help. That was just a part of his nature that wasn't going to change because there was danger or even if it was inconvenient for him. If she needed him he would be by her side.

That thought comforted her and she started to get some of her spirit back. She wasn't going to let Samatan harm or kill her. She'd just found herself and she wasn't about to end up lost again.

 

Laz didn't wait to hear what else Savage had to say. As soon as Van had a location for the mother ship, as Habeb referred to the floating headquarters of Samatan's piracy operation, he got in one of the speedboats and went after Daphne.