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The Price of Dreams
by R. V. Riccio
S m a s h w o r d s E d i t i o n
Copyright 2009 — R. Vincent Riccio
ISBN 9781605856155
* Romantic Suspense Series *
(Drama-Mystery-Crime)
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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CHAPTER 1
The early June sky blazed the kind of blue you usually see only on magazine covers, with a few perfectly placed, willowy clouds drifting by to provide a touch of character. The waves on the Sound were dark and short, delivering a two foot chop to the big cruiser, which sliced through them with a stable, easy troll. Jason Raleigh put his feet up on the transom of his 12 meter sport yacht, Archimedes, ash-blond hair blowing in the breeze, two fishing lines out, poles in the rod holders for the moment, feeling at peace with the world.
It wasn’t that he loved fishing, far from it. It was his younger brother Christopher who was captivated by it, and with whom he enjoyed such times. It was a regular feature of their visits North, when they synchronized their Summer vacations to visit with their parents in southern Connecticut, jointly maintaining a home in the picturesque town of Essex, overlooking one of the more splendid water views of the Connecticut River, where they'd grown up. A week earlier he'd boldly driven the fast sport yacht along the Intercoastal Waterway from North Carolina, where he lived and managed his own engineering firm, piloting through the tumultuous and often dangerous Cape Hatteras, directly North until he made Long Island Sound, a beautiful but fierce stretch of water that ran by his scenic hometown.
“Jayce!” A distant male voice called from the cabin below. “What do you want to drink?”
“We've some juice boxes down there, bring me up one. Too hot for beer.”
“Got it!” Chris brought up sandwiches and placed them on a stable tray table on the aft deck. He looked around to absorb the charm of the warm, relatively dry day, catching the few overhead gulls floating by, occasionally bantering among themselves, scrounging about for food. “Think we ought to cut the throttles back to a slower troll until we down lunch?” the younger brother suggested.
“That occurred to me, but I was afraid we might catch something,” Jason tossed back, his blue eyes glinting at their duplicates in the equally handsome face that confronted him.
“What a fishing machine!” Chris said; his face was more deeply tanned and weathered than his older brother’s, owing to the longer periods spent outdoors, as a Marine Biologist in southern Florida, teaching at the University of Miami, and working for an environmental research firm. These days were busman’s holidays for him.
“Hey - I pilot the boat, you’re the oceanographic expert. You let me enjoy the sea my way, and I’ll let you enjoy it yours.”
“Right. Another dazzling proposal from the genius engineer!” he quipped. He watched his elder stroll to the cockpit and pull back the twin throttles, slowing the boat to a pleasant couple of knots, the powerful turbocharged diesels barely a perceptible rumble below. You could hear the waves gently splash up against the bow and chines as they crept sturdily through the light surf.
“So how's the scientist business in Miami, these days?” Jason asked.
“Fascinating, as always. The last six months we’ve focused on exploring more effective ways to extract elements and minerals from the sea - along with more efficient desalination. The dry places in the West can really use it. Be crucial in another twenty-five years.”
“Mm-m. Eventually we could join forces to do some work on the same team!”
“That’d be cool. You know we farm out most of the engineering work, but so far it hasn’t precisely been in your line. Hey, enough business, this is down time. How’s Alycia? You know, we’ve gotta get together more often so I can see my godchild! Till I have some of my own, she’s all I’ve got.”
“Yup. You come up to our place more often, too. You don’t need an invitation, you know. ” He reached out fingered the tautness of the fishing line, then leaned back. “How are you guys doing with kids, anyway?”
“Oh, hell - don’t bring that up in front of Anne! We’ve been trying the last year, after she got off the pill, but - nothin’ yet.”
“Yeah? I thought you two were simply busy with your lives, and had made that decision. Been checked out?”
“Sure. Annie’s squeamish about all that. We’re on one of those conceptual rhythm systems now, you know, where you take her temperature, have sex when it’s a little higher than normal - whenever that is. Real romantic, I can tell you that.”
“Sounds like it. Then again, it fits your scientific perspective, doesn’t it?”
“Hey, my perspective’s not always scientific! Yours just came right away, no troubles like this?”
“No. Nothing like that,” Jason said thoughtfully, reflecting back to his deceased wife of five years. It was a topic he'd not discuss with anyone else but his brother.
Chris nodded his head as they both ate and drank for the next several minutes. So far no fish had interrupted their solitude. “What's she going to be now, eleven?” he asked.
“She’s twelve, Chris! Thirteen in a few months - a teenager. Had her right after I got my bachelor’s degree, remember? While you were still a Freshman at FSU.” There was a two-year difference in their ages, thirty-four and thirty-two; but Jason, always a brilliant student, had fast-tracked his way through college far more speedily.
“Right. Man, time really moves. Hard to believe.”
“That’s the truth! She’s changing into a woman right before my eyes - smart and beautiful. You haven’t seen her in a few months; she’s something! I almost get embarrassed looking at her, parading around half-nude the way she does all the time. Amazing figure for such a young girl, but, she’s been that way from birth - beautiful.”
“That's for sure. Remind you much of Lynda?” Chris referred to Alycia’s mother.
“A little, looks-wise. She’s much more passionate about life - emotional.”
“That's certainly different than her mother!”
“Mm-m. I love her exactly like that.”
“Yeah, me too.” Chris put his plate and beer can down, grabbing the rod to check the line. “Mom and Anne should be havin’ a great time together. Ma keeps buggin’ me about having one like her.”
“Why don’t you tell her how it is?”
“Because, Annie's sensitive, and once Mom's told, everybody on the planet will know. Annie'll freak.”
“You talk to Danny, Jayce? I know he’s been pretty sick.” Chris referred to their longtime friend, whom they’d boated and raced around with from childhood, Dan Paolillo, a graphic artist who’d recently been battling a serous illness.
“Yeah. I’ve been asking him to come down to Carolina and work with me, and he was intending to do just that, but, his illness and treatments have kept him up in Massachusetts. Hopefully he’ll beat this thing and we’ll get him down there. Been meaning to expand the firm to include Graphic Design; but, without Dan’s brilliance, I can’t do it. Nobody else I’d trust.”
“He’s going to divorce Ellen?”
“Oh yeah. She’s a cold fish, and their marriage has been a platonic affair for a few years now. He stayed with her because of his daughter.”
“God, I haven’t seen Lisa since she was about two. She must be about ‘Lycia’s age now, huh.”
“Yeah,” Jason said thoughtfully, somberly ruminating about his friend’s dire situation.
“A good wife in your life is important, Bro, no doubt about it.”
The older brother made no response. They both soaked up their floating silence and the cooling sea air for several minutes.
“You need to get married again, Jay,” Chris injected, “have more kids. Then if Annie and I can't have any, I’ll be able to borrow some of yours.”
Jason chuckled. “One of these days soon. Business has just been so -”
“Don’t give me this business malarkey!” Chris interrupted. “You need to start looking seriously! You’re daughter's a terrific little person, but you have to get focusing on a live adult, with regular sex. Even irregular sex!”
Jason smiled, letting the helpful humor seep in. He finished the last of his sandwich.
“This shouldn't be a tough thing to do, Jay! You’re smart, decent looking, you have a good business, home, a boat. You should have a line of women at your door, for godsakes.” Chris scrutinized his older brother. “Aren’t you worried about how it’s going to affect Alycia?”
“Yeah,” he said distantly, “but, soon she’ll grow out of her youth, and leave her Dad alone.”
“Kids survive, Big Brother. Your daughter adores you, wants the best for you. Ever sat down and talked it out, told her you're an adult man - you need adult relationships!”
“Uh, no. That would be a great conversation! Hi Honey, do you mind if Daddy brings a sexy bimbo home tonight so I can screw her brains out!”
“There you go!” Chris responded brightly.
“Yeah, you'd probably do just that, too.”
“Of course!”
“She won't be crazy about the idea yet,” he replied uncomfortably.
“And she’s nearly thirteen? It's time, Bro! Promise you’ll do it soon! It’s tough enough on her these last few years without a mother around.”
“I’ve thought about it, but - somehow, the words just don't come out.”
Chris nodded sympathetically. “Engineer to the bone, huh!”
The big brother shrugged.
“She's probably more savvy than you think. Don’t underestimate her.”
“It’s not just that, Chris. Here I am, I’ve worked my tail off - you know how much, nobody ever gave us anything. Mom and Dad couldn’t send us to school without scholarships and working. We worked and studied while other kids played.”
“I recall! I was there. And I'm eternally thankful for all your help, but so what? It built character in both of us, right!”
Jason looked around him at the majesty of the sea surrounding him, took in a deep breath and exhaled, relaxing himself. “The women I run into - they look at what I have - see what's in it for them. Emotion never enters into it. The only good women I find are in my wildest dreams.”
“That’s a pretty jaded view of females, Big Guy!”
“You say that because you were lucky enough to find one of the few great ones. Annie's a fantastic woman! Let me know if you ever want to let her go!”
“Don’t hold your breath!” he replied quickly, with a smile. “Maybe you need a new community, Jay. You might've used that little one up.”
“Nah. The Outer Banks is a great little place - I hate mobs of people. Besides, folks are pretty much the same all over.”
“Then time to make some new moves.” Chris eyed the line before him critically, noticing its slight jiggling. “Jayce,” he whispered, “I think we’ve got something nibbling on the line.”
He pulled the rod out of the holder and put it in his lap, secured in his fighting chair. The line began to peel out slowly, and he yanked back abruptly to set the hook. The line rushed out more quickly, as the fish ran with it.
“I’ve got a big one here.”
“Need some help?” Jason asked with a smile.
“Yeah! Go heat up a frying pan!”
“Right.” He sat back in his chair, pulled a floppy, white beachcomber hat over his eyes, and put his feet up back on the transom, waiting for his brother to finish playing out the fish.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
It was nearing seven PM as the Lisa Lee picked up speed, heading Northeast, toward The River and home port. The late afternoon sea had begun to chop, with the increasing winds, now averaging four footers, making for rough going for the twenty-four foot cruiser.
“Bart!” An attractive girl with long, auburn hair shouted at the pilot. “Slow down! It’s too rough at this speed.” The boat was pushing forty, it's top end.
“Calm down, Kerry Lynn, it’s cloudy and gettin’ darker. We want to be home before nightfall.”
“We’re only a half-hour away,” Karen, the girl’s shapely blonde-haired sister, said to her recent steady boyfriend. “Maybe she’s right. Ouch!” She held her ample breasts tight to herself with her left arm while clutching onto the back of the pilot seat with the other; the boat had hit a slightly larger, rogue wave.
“Why don’t you three sit in the back seat! It’s the best ride in the house.” Bart pulled back the throttle, allowing the three bikini-clad girls to make their way aft. “It’s been a beautiful day, Girls. It gets a little lumpy when the wind kicks up a bit.” Bart pushed the throttle forward to get on fast plane again. The vessel responded sluggishly, so he nudged it further forward. The nose of the boat pointed up in the air, higher than normal. Finally it began to level off, the bow dropping slowly. The girls talked amongst themselves, not detecting the small change in ride.
“Bad gas,” Bart mumbled, content that the boat was normally underway, even riding a bit smoother. He nudged the throttles further. The vessel responded slowly, but inched its speed upward.
“Whatever you did, Bart, it worked. The ride’s better,” Kerry called.
“It’s the added weight back there!” he returned.
Karen lightened her grip on the rail as the boat rode somewhat easier, with only the occasional jolt, routinely looking around them. She noted the small stream of water jetting out from the rear, starboard fitting below her. “Bart!” she sang out. “The bilge pump's on; water's coming out.”
“Automatic!” he shouted back, “Should stop in a minute. Can’t be much there.”
In several minutes, as the boat continued its lethargic maneuverability, Bart called back to Karen. “The water stopped yet?”
Karen looked over side. “No! It’s the same.”
“Damn,” the young Skipper said, slowing the boat again. He kept the engine going, the vessel moving along at a knot or two. “You girls get forward. I have to check under the deck.”
They moved forward, watching the only male aboard lift the aft bench seat, then the hatch covering the engine compartment . Immediately he witnessed the problem: a foot of water sloshed back and forth, just beneath the spark plug level of the V8 engine. Already the alternator was wet. He worried that if he shut the engine down, he wouldn’t be able to restart it.
“What is it?” Kerry asked.
Suzanne Barkley, Karen's friend, anxiously waited for a verdict.
“Took on some water. Might be a hole somewhere. At this rate, we’ll fill up before we get to shore.”
“Oh God!” Suzanne said, the acrid taste of fear stinging the back of her throat. “We’re going to drown! Is there anyone that can help us?”
Bart looked around, nervous, but not panicked. “We’ll send out a Mayday.” Late in the day, during early June, no other boats were visible. Someone would come eventually, but would it be in time to keep the boat from sinking? They were more likely to die of exposure in the fifty degree water than drowning; the boat was fairly buoyant and would take awhile to sink. “Don’t worry,” he added, comforting them, “we'll find someone. Might need a tow. Karen, get the life jackets for everyone just to be safe.”
“Oh my God,” Suzanne complained. “How could this happen? Did we hit anything?”
“Don’t think so. Can't see any hole from here, and we should have felt it. It’s coming from somewhere. And getting higher, even with the pump on. I knew I should've put that high capacity pump in.”
“Great thought now, Bart!” Kerry quipped. She and her sister were perennial boaters, having grown up along the shoreline. At twenty-six, she was the oldest, two years older than her sister and Suzanne, a few months older than Bart. She felt, as always, it was her duty to be responsible; it was how she was raised, the oldest of four. Heather, her youngest sister at twenty-one, married last December and lived in Wyoming with her husband, while their brother, Donald, Karen’s twin, was at UCLA doing graduate work in Political Science.
“There’s one other problem, you know,” Kerry whispered seriously to Bart.
“What?”
“It’s only June - just. We had a cold winter and cool spring. The water's cold, even on a warm day. Out here it’s even colder. You’d better hook up with someone soon or we won't last an hour in the water.”
“I know,” he spoke softly. “We’ll get help before then.”
“I hope you’re right, Bart. Drowning at sea would ruin my whole day!” she tried to make light of the situation.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that. I’m working on it, Kerry Lynn!”
“Good. Let's have everyone put on their warmer clothes just in case. You’d better get on that radio before the water shorts out the battery.”
“Okay. Maybe if I put it on plane and hit the throttles all the way, we might be able to beat it out.”
“If we have a hole, won’t we take in more water? It doesn’t seem like it’s gone up since we’ve slowed. I think it would be wiser to stay put. Let someone find us.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Bart sounded disgusted. “Let me get on the radio. First damn time I've ever sent out a distress call. And on a new boat!” He let the hatch fall down, and walked forward. “We want you girls to put on your clothes to keep warm, much as I love looking at you in your swim suits. Just in case the water fills up with a little water.”
“Oh my God,” Suzanne reiterated softly. “This can’t be happening. Why is this happening to me?”
“Suzanne,” Kerry said consolingly, “Just put your clothing on, Honey. Everything will be all right, really. We’re taking every precaution - the smart thing to do out here. Put your clothes on, your life jacket over them, and stay calm. We’ll be fine. Maybe you ought to get some hot coffee below before any water gets down there. Karen, why don’t the two of you do that?”
“Good idea,” the sister replied dutifully, familiar with the role; she provided her sister with an anxious frown. “Come on Suze, you’ll be okay.”
“Bring my things up, please, Karen,” the eldest sister asked.
“Okay.” She tossed Kerry’s shorts and sweatshirt up a minute later.
Bart held the radio mike, having sent out his Maydays, and watched Kerry snuggle her excellent, exercised figure into her tight clothes. “Hey, Big Sister, need some help with that?” he teased her playfully, eyeing a figure which was only a shade slimmer but more solid than his girlfriend’s bountiful curves.
Kerry pursed her lips together and stared him down.
“Never mind! Just trying to be helpful!”
“Sure. Help my sister. When she comes up. I’ll be fine,” she answered briskly.
“Yeah, that’s what I hear from everyone that meets you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sure - everyone says you’re extremely self-sufficient, always in control, cool, in charge of every situation.”
“Just a bit of an exaggeration! Even so, what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, I guess, except for the frostbite anybody might get when they try to get friendly - or even walk by.”
She stared at the man for a few moments, then a smile grew on her lips, matching Bart’s. “Well, nobody’s ever died from the chill yet. So don’t worry.”
Bart gave a quick laugh. “Now see? Much better! You’re almost beautiful when you smile like that. As sexy as Karen.”
“Thanks. But as much as I love my sister - philosophically we have very different approaches to life.”
“That’s for sure. I’ve talked to some of the guys you’ve turned down for dates. I’m not sure why the hell you do that. Some of them are pretty decent guys! After all, who else have you dated except those business stiffs at work?”
She stared at him with some incredulity. “Since when is any of this your concern, Mr. Campano?”
“I’m just sayin’, Ker. You’re a beautiful girl, why don’t you lighten up a little, that’s all, give the world a break. I’ll never understand how your sister can be so hot and you so cold!”
“Well you don’t know exactly how I am, now do you!” she responded with some irritation, uncomfortable with a description that was too close for comfort. “I keep my private life private!”
“Hell, I’m just talkin’ about socializing and conversation - forget about anything else!”
She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, then smiled, knowing that no malice existed in Bart. It was one of the main things her sister liked about him. “I’ll keep it in mind. Now, hadn’t you better get back on the phone?”
“Sure-sure.”
“Nothing personal, Mr. Campano, but I do get a little nervous at the prospects of dying from exposure out here. The radio?” She gestured toward the device.
Bart laughed, betraying more than a trace of nervousness; then began transmitting again.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Jason reeled in the last of his fishing line readying it to pack away. “That’ll do it for the fishing experiment today, Chris.”
The younger brother nodded, continuing to reel in line slowly, waiting for that last minute nibble. “Not much biting out today. Sometimes a chop will do that. Disturbs the fish’s environment in comparatively shallow waters - they get spooked.”
“That’s the Marine Scientist's technical explanation?” Jason said, smiling broadly, “They get spooked?”
“Right! Good enough for you lay-people. The couple eels that bit indicate that too. They’ll bite in a blow. So will the Sea Robins - of course, they’ll bite in anything.”
“Sure, but you can’t eat them, they’re poisonous. Right? ”
“Actually, there’s this little part just behind the head - ”
“Great, great! Just don’t serve it at your mother’s house!”
“Nah, we throw them back. They’re really too weird too eat. Some of the guys think they go back to prehistoric times.”
“Fascinating. So, what do we have - Doc?”
“A few fluke, couple eels. I threw the sand shark back.”
“Good move!”
“Actually you can eat them, too, you just have to -”
“I know! Shark stew. Forget it! What else?”
“Uh-h, two blacks. That’s it. Kind of a smorgasbord. Not much for a day’s fishing.”
“I’ll say. Figuring the cost of the equipment, that puts them at about ten times the price of Beluga caviar.” He laughed robustly.
“Right. Fortunately, that’s not the only reason we’re out here.”
“True. At least Mom and Dad can make anything taste good. We’ll keep ‘em on ice tonight and they’ll do something with them tomorrow. Is everyone supposed to eat there tonight, or what?”
“Don’t know. Did she say they were going to wait?”
“I didn’t ask. Not that it’s a problem. The kid sees me all the time. She needs some Q time with her grandparents. Alycia’s been planning this for a couple months. She won’t miss me for a night. Why? You want to stay out here and eat something? A little choppy.”
Chris scanned the clear horizon, professionally eyeing the capping waves around the boat. “Nothin’ much to affect us - three, four footers. Will only bother the little guys, if any of them are still out this early. You always get a few caught with their pants down. Let’s see, where are we? Which heading's home?”
“Northwest. That way.” He pointed off the port side bow.
“Right. Tide’s coming in. Pull up the hook and let her drift. The wind'll push us toward home, and the ride will be fine. Then we'll grab some eats. Long as we’re home by nine, ten.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of being out here? After all, you’re out on the ocean half the week. For me it’s a thrill, when I have the chance to get out here.”
“Never. It’s beautiful out here. It’s - life. You want some more sandwiches, or you want to cook something up?” he asked Jason.
The eldest brother made his way to the command station and pulled the windless switch which reeled in the anchor. “I have some chicken with lemon and garlic that Dad cooked up, and there’s a few containers of salads: potato, tuna, greens. Sound okay?”
“Sure, fine.”
Jason walked down the circular companionway stairs leading to the galley.
“Hey Jay? I’ve been meaning to ask you. Lynda’s crazy sister Janine ever contact you again?” He followed his brother.
“Why would you bring her up?” Jason turned to look at his brother.
Chris shrugged, “Because she was such a nutty pain in the neck for awhile! She harassed you enough. Just checking to see everything's all right on the home front.”
Jason stared at him for a few moments before speaking. “It is. Every once in awhile she bugs me, but I think she's finally out of our life. Except in a couple of nightmares!”
“Yeh, I remember you told me. The ones where she took the kid. Weird.”
“For sure.”
“I think she truly is insane, Jason,” he stated professionally.
“Yeah.” The older brother continued retrieving food from the refrigerator, grabbed the chicken to put in the microwave, having turned on the generator. “Clean up the aft deck while I get the stuff ready. Put the trays up. After all, we’re here for the atmosphere.”
“Right.” Chris rearranged the rear deck seating from fishing to lounging posture.
It was several minutes later when the Marine Biologist heard the Mayday on the hushed radio. Jason was coming up the stairs with a couple of platters and caught the end of the broadcast.
“What’s up?” Jason asked.
“Small cruiser, about fifteen miles East-Southeast of us. Taking on water. The guy on the mike sounds nervous.”
“How small?” He put the plates down on a tray.
“Twenty-four, he said.”
“Heck, that’s not too bad. Unless he’s got a two-foot hole in the thing. We’ve been out here in worse weather with much smaller boats! They’re probably scared though. Maybe a little cold. Turn it up. Let’s see if anyone else close responds.”
He turned the volume level higher. “We’re about twenty minutes away. Less with those turbo-diesels full out.”
“Yeah. Might have to tow them in. That’d kill the day right there, and we wouldn’t get home until late.”
“True,” Chris responded in kind, equally unenthused.
They listened to the radio as they munched on their dinner. The Coast Guard responded, but was involved in an investigation close to Montauk. It would be an hour and a half before they could get a boat over. They ascertained that the situation was not immediately life-threatening, that the major danger would be from exposure as the boat sunk; they'd be okay for several hours yet. They could be there before it got critical if no other boats were available.
A tow boat called in from New Haven Harbor, poking its way to home port at Cedar Island Marina in Clinton, West of Lisa Lee’s position, but wouldn’t be there for a few hours. Within five minutes the Raleighs knew that they were closest and all other options were off. Agreeing in a nod, Jason revved up the powerful turbocharged engines while Chris quickly secured the food below. Two minutes later, both men in the command seat, they headed swiftly eastward toward the troubled vessel, notifying the Coast Guard.
“Lisa Lee, Lisa Lee, this is Archimedes. We are on route to your position. We will rendezvous at your location within twenty minutes.” Chris manned the communications while his brother piloted the boat at a fast cruising speed, just over forty-five knots, about two-thirds throttle in the fast cruiser. “Shut down your engines and keep the pump on. Check your bilge for any hole and plug it with clothing or flotation devices if you find one. Let us know if you have any further complications.”
“Roger, Archimedes. And thank you!” came the pilot’s reply.
Within ten minutes the larger boat was able to catch sight of the stranded vessel off the port bow. It had already popped up on the Archimedes’ radar screen. It was nearing eight o’clock, but still light enough to see. Lisa Lee had her running lights on, as requested, and was easy to pick out.
Jason slowed the yacht to under twenty knots as they approached the smaller vessel. In a minute, Archimedes pulled along side.
“Hey, gang,” Jason called out. “Somebody need a lift?”
“I’ll say!” Kerry McKenna responded, smiling warmly at the larger boat’s captain.
“Everybody okay?” Chris continued seriously.
“Yes,” Kerry returned, still looking at Jason. “What should we do now?”
“Water still coming in?” Chris asked.
“I'm not sure,” she replied. “It hasn't gotten worse. Maybe Bart knows. He’s the owner.”
Bart came up behind Kerry and addressed them for the first time. “Seems to have gotten slower since we shut the engine off. I didn’t do it immediately because I thought the pump might stop.”
“Engine's shut down now?” Jason asked.
“Yeah. Everything’s off except the pump,” Bart answered. “But it’s weak.”
The two brothers stared at each other a few moments thinking.
“Take over the helm,” the eldest finally said. “I’m going to jump aboard and see if I can tell what’s wrong. I have an idea.”
“Sure.”
The brothers switched positions and Jason continued to the back of the boat, climbed down to the swim platform, and jumped aboard the smaller vessel.
“Hi,” he said to Bart and Kerry, once aboard Lisa Lee. “Jason Raleigh. That’s my brother Chris aboard our boat.”
“Hi,” they both returned, nearly in unison. “Kerry Lynn McKenna,” the attractive female said, extending a hand.
Jason took it, noting a firm grip and a long look from emerald green eyes that bore inquisitively into his own. He smiled amiably and gave her hand a squeeze back, noting a quick grin from her in response.
“This is Bart Campano, the owner,” she continued, still holding his hand, and his gaze, for another minute.
The blond Skipper nodded. “Good to meet you,” he stated formally, taking his eyes off the pretty passenger. “The others below?”
“Yes,” Kerry spoke up again, apparently in charge of the situation. She smiled pleasantly again, directing the conversation for her side to Jason Raleigh once again.
“Good,” the Archimedes Skipper said. “Remember hitting anything, a rock, a submerged stick or log, anything like that?”
“Nothing,” Bart was finally able to get a word in. “That’s what makes it strange. I can’t find the damn hole anywhere. But there’s obviously one there somewhere.”
“This is a new boat?”
“Yes, right.”
“This happened while you were under way, boat got heavy, hard to put on plane, sluggish?”
“Yeah! That’s right. You know what it is?”
“That would be wonderful if you did,” Kerry added, then quickly appended her statement. “Actually, it would be wonderful if you could fix it. Is - that something you can do?”
Jason smiled at her, intrigued by her intelligence, self-control, and unaffected beauty. “I’ll see what I can do.” He went to the transom and opened the hatch to the bilge. All he could see was water, sloshing around the engine. He looked around for anything broken, running his hands over the engine, under the water where he couldn’t see. He climbed down deeper, in water up to his knees, squatting to feel around the compartment, along the sides and into the rear. He waded around to the left, port, side and felt behind the engine, earnestly grasping and pushing with his left hand.
All four passengers were now watching him on the rear deck.
Jason stood up and looked about him, noticing the audience. “Folks, you ought to get up front to balance off the boat, otherwise your weight sinks us deeper back here where we need it least and draws in more water. Skipper, you can remain to render a hand if I need it.”
“Do you think you can fix it, Mr. Raleigh?” Kerry asked him, watching intently, not at all interested in going into the cabin.
“It's Jason. I’ll be able to tell in a few minutes. I believe I can stop the main leak.”
“You mean there’s more than one?” she asked him.
“Not sure yet. I'll know soon. You’re in no danger of sinking now. The leak's not very big. No need to worry unduly. We’ll get you fixed up, one way or the other.”
She nodded, feeling somewhat relaxed, still not moving toward the cabin with her sister and Suzanne.
“I’ll be right back.” Jason climbed back on Archimedes and went to the rear storage compartments.
“Know what it is?” Chris asked.
“Think so. Same problem we had as kids, remember? Off Branford Point?”
“Sure! The water pickup system. On our new boat!”
“Yeah! Happens sometimes when the crew doesn’t check everything out before taking the maiden voyage.”
“Just like we did.” Chris laughed at the memory.
“Precisely. Often the hose clamps on these newer boats are inadequate. What the heck do they think they’re saving, fifty cents, a buck?” Jason griped professionally, as he grabbed some tools and a heavy duty hose clamp, then jumped back aboard the smaller boat. He noticed Bart and Kerry still standing at the rear. He said nothing further about the girl moving forward, since the view was enticing, in her tightly fitted shorts and clinging white sweatshirt; her excellent figure was evident.
Climbing down below again, he worked his hands under the water at the rear of the engine, putting the new hose clamp on, then tightening it with a screwdriver. Only experienced hands enabled him to move as fast as he was in the dwindling light and poor working conditions. He grit his teeth and gave a last turn on the wet screwdriver, tightening it as much as he deemed necessary, then feeling about to verify his work.
He stood up and stretched out the kinks from working in cramped quarters. Night was falling. The smallest crest of a reddish sun was barely visible above the waterline at the horizon, laying down a dim, yellow streak up to their position.
“Can I help you with something?” Kerry asked, beating out Bart again in conversation.
“I think we're there! We’ll have to check it out. You’ll need to flush that salt water out of the engine and alternator as fast as possible. I’m going to tie a couple of ropes to you and tow you out for a bit. Now, you have a drain plug at the base of the transom, you know where that is?” He addressed Bart Campano.
“Yes, sure, I know where it is,” Bart answered cautiously. “Why?”
“It’ll take your pump too long to pump it out. You need a bigger pump. Four or five times the capacity to do you any real good.”
“I know. I’ll get it as soon as I get back.”
“Cheap protection,” Jason continued. “I’m going to attach a couple of ropes to you and pull you up.”
“Can you do that?” Kerry asked. “Get your boat up and pull up ours, too?” Her eyes were wide.
“No problem. I have plenty of power. All I have to do is get you going a bit to create an efficient drag back there.” He turned to Bart. “I’ll signal you as we get going. Then I want you to pull out the plug.”
“What?” Bart asked, incredulous. “The boat’ll flood worse than it is!”
“No, it won’t. It will allow the water to drain out. That’s why we call it a drain plug.”
“I thought that was only when you were dry-docked.”
“No, it works when you’re underway also. See, the forward motion of the boat creates a vacuum in the rear of the boat, as the water passes by. That will pull the water out - rather quickly, actually. You tell this pretty young lady, here - ”
“Kerry,” she said impulsively, more than a little impressed.
“Kerry.” He nodded politely toward her, indicating he remembered. “Bart, you tell Kerry when the water's completely gone, then Kerry, you signal us. Bart, be sure to put the plug securely back in before signaling Kerry - otherwise the boat will take on water when it stops. Got it?”
“Yes. You sure about this, Mr. Raleigh?” Bart responded uncertainly.
“Jason. I'm positive. It’s done all the time.”
Kerry nodded her head approvingly.
In several minutes Chris and Jason had rigged two sturdy lines to Lisa Lee, attaching them to the rear tow rings on the transom of the larger vessel. They took off, slowly pulling the smaller boat up to about fifteen knots. In less than ten minutes Kerry gave the signal that the water was gone. Chris slowed down the Archimedes to a halt. As the powerful yacht slowly pulled along side the smaller vessel, Jason jumped back aboard Lisa Lee to inspect.
Looking into the clean and clear bilge, he announced, “I think we've done it.” He reached down in the rear of the engine and brought out a circular piece of shiny metal. “This is the culprit.” He handed it to the Bart.
“This? It’s a hose clamp!”
“Right. A bad one - too thin to do the job. Once it blew off, your engine pumped water into the boat. The pump's too small to handle it. Once you stopped, a bigger bilge pump would've helped a lot - kept you afloat. You should be able to start the engine now.”
Bart nodded, and immediately complied.
“I must say, Jason,” the attractive, auburn-haired girl began, smiling pleasantly, “this was very professionally done. I’m extremely impressed. Do you do this sort of thing for a living? Are you a boat mechanic? Or just an all-around great guy?” Her enthusiasm toward him was apparent.
The Archimedes Skipper laughed. “Actually, I’m an engineer, but I’ve been around boats all my life. Both of us have, since we were kids. We raced them back then, too. So you do have to know what's going on - if you’re going to be out here.”
“I see. Well it’s still very impressive.”
“Thanks. We were close. Most people out here would be as helpful.”
“Thank you just the same.”
“You’re not home yet. You can thank me then.”
She smiled amicably. “I think I just might!” Her sparkling green eyes flirted demurely with him.
He answered with his own smile.
Bart came out from the cabin. “Kerry, Suzanne's sick to her stomach. I hate to impose, but maybe she should go with you on the bigger boat, Jason. The ride’s got to be better.”
“Sure. Think nothing of it,” Jason responded. “I was going to suggest that everyone but the pilot come aboard with us.”
Karen and Suzanne came out of the cabin, the latter looking pale and upset.
“Kerry,” her sister, Karen, began, “you go aboard the big boat with Suzanne. I’ll stay here with Bart on the way back. After all, he is my boyfriend.”
Bart cranked the engine over.
Jason nodded at him, then watched the bilge for any leak. None came. He untied the tow lines from the smaller boat and tossed them to Chris, who grabbed them up for storage. “The two boats should go in together for safety’s sake, especially with darkness falling. You'll want to run this to charge the battery and get everything dry, but be sure to thoroughly flush everything with fresh water when you get in port, Bart.”
“Get all the salt out, yeah. I’ll remember that.”
“I'll stay with Bart, here, thanks,” Karen said, “I don’t want him to be alone.”
“Good girl,” Jason commented. “The two of you come aboard and we’ll get going. It’ll be pitch black pretty soon. No moon tonight. You stay right behind me. We have radar and GPS. We'll home right in. You people going into the River?”
“Yes.”
“Good. So are we. We'll be there inside a half-hour.”
“Great,” Bart answered.
“We’ll head in at about twenty-five knots. A fast cruise for you, but shouldn’t be a problem. Let us know if you have any trouble keeping up. Stay behind me and we’ll clear out most of the rough water for you. We'll be in before ten, with no other problems. And then,” Jason looked up to his brother, “we can finish supper!”
“I’m sorry we made you miss your dinner, Jason,” Kerry said to him softly and sincerely as they climbed aboard the Archimedes’ swim platform. “It was really a wonderful thing you did, going out of your way like that. I wish there were some way to make it up to you.”
“It’s okay. These things happen. It’s part of the responsibility we share for being out here. Next time it’ll be your turn to help somebody.”
She smiled and helped Suzanne up the rear steps and aboard the bigger vessel. Jason followed, Chris already in the command seat, keeping the boat at proper attitude.
“Both your clothes dry enough?” Jason asked the two girls.
“I’m fine, Jason, thank you” Kerry Lynn answered with thoughtful politeness, then turned to look at Suzanne. “You dry, Suze?”
“Yes. Just my socks are a little wet. Nice that this boat is so steady.”
The Captain nodded at them both, spending an extra moment looking over the shapely auburn-haired girl, who smiled charmingly back.
“You two get below. I’ll come down in a couple of minutes and turn the temp up on the air conditioning so you’ll be dry and warm. There’s some hot coffee on down there. Have a cup. The ride should be pretty decent all the way back. Just the occasional odd wave, but even that will be comparatively soft for you. It’s a sturdy, rough water boat, very steady, especially at the speed we’ll be going.
“Rest in the aft cabin, Suzanne, it’s most stable there. Let us know if you need anything else. Okay?”
“Thank you very much,” Suzanne said, with genuine emotion.
Kerry nodded in sympathy with the remark.
Jason quickly climbed up the companionway stairs and jumped into the seat next to his brother, immediately checking the chart, GPS, and Radar.
“Everything okay down there?” Chris asked.
“Fine. Some nervousness, that’s all.” Jason turned to check the smaller boat behind, looking to be in good shape to begin the journey back. “Let’s head home. I’ll go back down in a minute and check on how they’re doing. Turn up the air.”
“The chop’s starting to smooth out with nightfall,” Chris stated as they moved toward shore, “should be a good ride back for them.” He watched his brother silently monitoring the instruments. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. Why?”
“You seem a little thoughtful.” Chris pushed the throttles forward to put the fast sport yacht up on plane. He levelled the boat off at thirty knots to get its attitude quickly level, then throttled back to twenty-five for the cruise home.
The older brother turned around and looked to the smaller vessel tagging behind, for another minute or two. “They're doing okay back there.”
“Good,” Chris said, leaning back. “Not a bad looking’ crew there, huh, Jayce?” Chris jabbed an elbow into Jason’s side.
The older brother turned to him with a smile. “No, not bad at all. Why, you need a date?” he kidded him.
“Yeah! For you! I've got my own little beauty back home - remember?”
“Yes I do!”
“Well, you’re not going to get a better opportunity to make points with a girl than rescuing her at sea! Criminey!”
Jason’s blue eyes gleamed. “You may have a point.”
“I know. Did you notice that girl, Kerry, not only pretty, but fairly calm and collected, considering the circumstances? There's something to her - classy. She certainly took a good look at you. The blonde’s a little more my type.”
“Yeah. I noticed them. You don’t need to be a scientist to see everything.”
“You need something! Why don’t you go down there and get to know them better. Get a date! We have nothin’ to do for a half-hour. I'll handle things topside.”
“Maybe I will go down to see how everything’s going.”
“Good idea!” Chris grinned.
Jason sneered at his sibling jokingly, then stepped out of the command seat and walked down to the cabin door.
Coming down the stairs, he saw the enchanting Kerry Lynn pouring two cups of coffee from the pot that had been anchored on the stove by a bracket.
“Hi!” she said brightly, noticing the Captain entering the galley. “Hard to believe I can do this underway. This boat’s very stable. Need some coffee?” she asked cheerfully.
“No. Save it for you two. Chris and I will have ours later. I’ll check the air temp back here,” he answered, reading the thermostat, turning the heat up five degrees. “That should be comfortable and dry.”
“Thank you. Gee, I keep repeating myself.”
“You can stop. We’re just being neighborly out here.” He turned and walked over to the occupant in the rear cabin. “Are you all right in there, Suzanne?”
“Yes, I’m much better now, thanks. How long until we get home?”
“About twenty-five minutes. Shouldn’t be too unpleasant.”
“No, not at all. Not in this boat. What a great ride!”
“Want any coffee, Suze?” Kerry asked from the galley.
“No. My stomach is just getting settled. I'll wait until I get home before I put anything else in it.”
“Okay! Well,” she said to Jason who'd walked back to her side in the galley, “that leaves me with an extra cup. Have some? After all, you're trying to be neighborly.”
“Okay. I’ll have to get back up top with Chris to monitor the instruments as we approach the River. It's a little dicey out there at night, wandering through the buoys, rocks, and lobster pots around the mouth. Especially in the dark, and with low tide coming in.”
“I know what you mean. I don’t think I’ve ever come back in when it’s been this black out. Not even a moon! I suppose it can be scary.”
“It can. You don’t seem to be too frightened of it though.” He looked deeply into the pretty green eyes.
“Well, I’m here! With you, the gallant knight who saved us. Should I be?”
“No. We’re pretty familiar with everything. We know what we’re doing.”
“I was sure you did,” she offered, sipping her coffee.
“Do you all come out here often?” Jason asked, drinking from his own cup.
“Every now and then. Suzanne was my sister’s old roommate in college - they’re still chummy - and Bart is Karen’s current boyfriend. I tag along when I get the chance. It’s really a treat.”
“You like it out here?”
“I love it. I don’t get out here often enough, it’s really picturesque. And, not having a boat of our own, we rely on others.”
The Skipper nodded. “How long were you out?”
“I got to the marina about one-thirty. We’ve been out here since then. It was a beautiful day, nice and warm. But it's cold at night this early in the season.”
“Sure is.”
There were a few minutes of silence as they rode and drank from their coffee cups.
It was Kerry who spoke finally. “I can’t tell you how sensational this boat is, Jason. Not only is it gorgeous, but it rides so smoothly! It’s almost hard to believe we’re going.” Kerry put her cup in the sink, taking Jason’s and doing likewise.
“We like it. Our home away from home.”
“A beautiful one! Want me to clean these? There aren’t any others here; it looks like you boys are pretty neat.”
“That’s okay. Leave them for us when we get back to port.”
“Are you sure? It’s no trouble.”
“We’re fine. We don’t put our rescuees to work here!” He smiled again at her, as she put the cups in the sink.
Kerry turned back to face him. “How nice. Oops!” The boat had suddenly lurched, hitting a larger wave, and Kerry fell into Jason’s chest; he caught her shoulders in strong hands, and held her against him.
“Sorry! Couldn’t miss that one!” They heard the voice from the top call out.
The two laughed at each other, the boat’s Captain not letting go of her quite yet. The feel of her shapely body against his was tantalizing.
“What was that?” came Suzanne’s meek voice from the aft cabin.
“Just a rogue wave,” Jason answered, still closely watching the girl he held, “a little bigger than the others. Everything’s okay. You feel all right?”
“Yes. Fine now.”
“Okay.” He continued to hold Kerry Lynn, who was not at all perturbed at the turn of events. “I, uh, guess I should thank my brother for that one, huh. It was kind of nice bumping into you!”
“I was thinking the same thing,” she stated softly, placing her hands on his hips and smiling warmly back at him.
“Hm! How about that.”
The two passengers stared silently into each other’s eyes for a few minutes, their bodies close together, while they held onto each other, after which Kerry gave a delicate shrug.
The Skipper rubbed his hands lightly on the entrancing girl’s shoulders, before letting go. “Well. I guess I ought to be getting up top with Chris. If you need anything - food, facilities, whatever - we’ve got everything, you’re welcome to it.”
Kerry Lynn nodded, still looking into his deep blue eyes.
“I’ll see you later, when we get into the River, near the marina.”
“Okay,” she returned softly.
He turned from her and bounded up the steps to the bridge.
“Whew,” the attractive young lady said, leaning back against the sink counter, feeling warmed by the handsome Skipper with whom she'd just been in close contact. She walked to the aft cabin and looked in on Suzanne. “Doing all right, Honey?”
“Yes. Are you?”
“Mm-hmm,” she answered absently, staring into the bulkhead wall, smiling.
“You looked like you were getting pretty chummy with that Captain. You have a hazy look in your eyes.”
“Look? What look? Oh! Well, he did save us at sea. You can’t help feel a little obliged.”
The brunette sighed. “How long do you think it’ll take to get back to the marina now?”
“Hm?” she responded absently. “Uhm, oh, about fifteen minutes or so. Meanwhile, we get to relax here, in this beautiful yacht. A nice end to a very nice day.”
“For you maybe.”
“Yes it was!” she said thoughtfully. “You’ll be fine, Suze. Anything I can get you? He has a whole refrigerator full of stuff.”
“You’d just take it?”
“Sure! He said use anything we wanted. It’s just food, Suzanne, not the crown jewels! Want something?”
“No. I’ll wait until I get home.”
“Fine. Then enjoy the ride.” Kerry walked back into the kitchen and looked into the sink, spying the two cups. She smiled, washed them out, then opened up the cabinets until she found the one with like cups, and secured them and the cabinet door.
She looked around and further inspected the boat’s interior, gaging it with a practiced eye, then sat down in the dinette area and waited until the vessel slowed.
Jason sat down next to his brother on the command bridge and checked over the instruments: GPS, radar, depth finder. Then he looked over the chart he had next to the compass and checked their position. “Not bad! You didn’t get lost!”
“Yeah! So how’d it go with the girls? Anything happen?”
“Like what?”
“Like, anything!”
“I was only down there for about ten minutes! We talked a little.”
“You and the redhead?”
“Yes. Seems like a nice girl, all right. Very collected and intelligent. Classy.”
“Not to mention great to look at,” Chris added.
“Not to mention.”
“Seems like a different type than you’ve been seeing.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Your fault, Big Brother. About time you got someone like that in your life. Know what I mean?”
“I am able to grasp the concept!”
“Then grasp this! Ask her out! If you can’t make points with a thankful girl you just rescued at sea, you truly are hopeless!”
“Thanks for the encouragement.”
“Don't mention it. I owe you.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
It was five till ten when Archimedes pulled into dock at Essex. The small white and colored lights gleaming along Essex Island Marina broadcast the way in for the several hundred sailboats and yachts moored there. Jason hustled down below and informed the girls.
“Wonderful! The ride's been fabulous, Jason,” Kerry Lynn spoke for both of them. “This is such a beautiful boat. It’s certainly going to spoil me for anything less. I keep repeating myself, but thanks so much for coming to our aid. I won’t ever forget this experience.”
The two smiled, boldly taking another deep look into each other’s eyes.
Jason broke the silence, “Well then, seeing as how you owe me one, you might have dinner with me sometime soon, either out somewhere, or aboard. We give great meals here.”
She smiled broadly back at him, obviously pleased that he'd asked. “That would be lovely. You’re not, uhm, married, or anything, are you?” she asked hesitantly, shaking her head, frowning slightly, but displaying no embarrassment.
Suzanne’s eyebrows raised at what she believed to be Kerry’s brazenness.
“No.”
“Fine. I’m in the Old Lyme phone book. Kerry Lynn McKenna.” She extended her hand in friendship.
“Fair enough.” Jason returned her handshake gently, taking special notice of the firm squeeze she initiated once again. “I’ll call you sometime soon,” he added, as they continued holding each other’s hand.
“Hey Jayce. The other boat’s waiting. They have a little ways up river to go yet,” Chris called.
“Well, ladies, time to go.” Jason finally let the warm handshake break. Suzanne went first, Kerry trailing. “Kerry?” he called softly.
She backed down the stairway a step, her emerald green eyes wide, looking pleasantly into the youthfully handsome face. “Yes?”
“I would like to call you sometime soon. But I’m only in Connecticut visiting my parents with Chris for a few weeks. Then I have to return to North Carolina, where I live and work now.”
“Oh. That’s okay.” She quickly analyzed the statement. “I’m usually home after six. I have a fairly open agenda the next couple of weeks. I’m sure I’d enjoy spending a little time with you.”
Jason nodded. “Great. I have the same feeling. You seem like a pretty direct young woman,” he commented, surprised at his own interest.
Kerry Lynn raised her golden eyebrows. “Bother you?”
“No! It kind of - cuts through the haze. You know?” His sandy blond hair was casually windblown around his head, framing a youthful countenance.
She nodded understandingly. “You seemed rather no-nonsense yourself.” She tilted her head charmingly. “Perhaps we share that.” She leaned toward him, placing a hand on his shoulder for balance, moving her head close to the side of his face, intending to give him a kiss on the cheek. The handsome Skipper immediately grabbed her arm for stability, and the two looked deeply into each other’s eyes once more from this closer vantage. It took a moment for Kerry Lynn to make an uncharacteristic decision, then she kissed him softly on the lips, lingering there a minute, parting her lips just enough to click their teeth, and touch tongues for a moment; then she pulled back and smiled warmly, feeling a sensual thrill furtively diffuse throughout her body.
Jason returned the smile, feeling himself mildly stimulated at the unexpected gesture from the arresting young woman. “That was a pleasant surprise,” he commented in a hushed, deep voice.
“Yes, for both of us.”
“I’ll be kind of looking forward to doing it again,” the Skipper said.
His charming shipmate nodded, then sighed as she continued gazing into his eyes. “Once again, Jason,” she began, softly and sincerely, “thank you so much. I'll never forget this. All my tragedies should wind up this good. I’ll definitely look forward to your call.”
“Are you coming, Kerry?” Suzanne called down. “Bart and Karen are waiting to get back, not to mention me. This has been quite a day. It can’t end too soon.”
The couple laughed as Jason followed Kerry back up the stairs. He watched the two women climb aboard the smaller boat, now resting easily inside the protection of the marina, feeling fairly good about himself.
Chris leaned over next to him from the pilot seat. “You ask her?”
Jason gritted his teeth and thrust out his lower jaw. “I asked her.”
“She say yes?”
“She said yes.”
“Good thing you have me along to tell you how to do all these things.”
Jason looked over to his brother with a serious expression. “Good thing! Dock the boat, Doc!”
“Okay, Cap,” Chris grinned back at him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER 2
The Raleighs lived with their small families in a jointly-owned Northern vacation hideaway. It created a loving family atmosphere which they all relished during their regular meetings throughout the year. Anne and Alycia arose first the next morning, followed closely by Jason, who needed little sleep, lastly by Chris, who luxuriated in the late rest such occasions afforded him.
A beautiful and precocious young girl, Alycia was completely open and shameless, sleeping in little or nothing, and on occasion paraded around the house that way. Her aunt Anne admonished her to cover up, as her body was becoming mature, yet her response was a charming giggle and smile, and little compliance.
“Uncle Chris? Daddy and Aunt Annie made breakfast, it’s time for you to eat,” Alycia informed him, as he walked downstairs, pulling a powder blue tee shirt over her naked and amply developing chest, her large blue eyes, mirrors of her menfolk.
“Uh-h, thanks, Honey. I smelled the coffee,” Chris said, kissing her on the cheek as he walked by. He tucked a navy tee shirt into his grey shorts. “Criminey!” he uttered, catching a curvaceous eyeful of his blossoming young niece.