Bait & Hook

35. Baring All

As soon as I had sent the message to Roxy, I clicked the bookmark for Canada Ship Registry, selected Query System and entered IncaVela.

The page loaded the boat's details, and I scrolled to the bottom to Owners to see Rosario Yupanqui Ravago. Very likely her. And being sole owner gives credence to the widow scenario – unlikely cheating on a husband, then.

So, where's deceitfulness? Might she be living with someone and cheating on them? But the grieving she showed – seems recent, and it's so easily triggered. Might her sense of deceit be to her previous, rather than to me?

I scrolled to the top of the page. Aha! Four-year-old boat, but it was registered to her only six months ago. I winced. After his death. Then in Advanced Search, it showed her previous joint ownership with Gonzalo Yupanqui Mendoza.

Scrolling back down, my eyes tripped on her address. Oh, my! Just along the crescent from here. Is that one of the towers?

I opened Google Earth and zoomed in, then in street view, I moved along, looking at the street numbers. No, hers is a three-storey townhouse like mine.

Opening the LTSA database, I searched the address. Registered to Rosario Yupanqui Ravago. Last appraisal three point two four million. One lien – just under two hundred thousand to a TD mortgage. Nearly a clear title. Very healthy, so it's unlikely she's after my money.

And admitting deceit. Takes a strong person to do that. Where next? Nowhere. I've already dug too far for non-professional reasons.

But not. Policing the internet for potential predators is everyone's business. If I don't assist, who will?

The flashing icon caught my attention, and I clicked on it and opened the new message:

        I was bound by company policy.
        We can start over – if you desire.
        This time I promise you'll have the real me.
        Unmasked and stripped bare, my heart is afire.

Oh, my! Company policy? What's this about? And stripped bare? Poetic or enticing? Both.

I typed a quick response and posted it:

        I would love to start over; I've grown very fond of you.
        Should I call you Rosario? Or continue with Roxy?

Within seconds, she posted a reply:

        What? How do you know my name?

I typed and posted:

        From querying IncaVela.

Half a minute later, her reply appeared:

        Oh, did I let that slip?

I wrote and posted:

        No, only her model, plus the Hydrovane, solar and mooring fees.
        Finding your name and address was simple from those.

Almost immediately, her reply appeared:

        You know where I live?

I typed and sent:

        I do. Shall I call on you, or do you wish to come here?

Less than half a minute later, she posted:

        I'll be there in five minutes – many hours late.
        And call me Roxy; it was Papá's pet name for me.