Island Retreat

Chapter 5

The next morning dawned clear and bright, but you couldn't prove it by asking Abby or Sebastian. Their late night, turned early morning, turned just past dawn 'playtime' had worn them both out and they slept in, quite late. At 10:15 Sebastian got up and after a stop in the bathroom, he went to the kitchen and pushed the button on the coffee maker to start it going, then returned to their bed to press a gentle kiss on Abby's shoulder, who only groaned and covered her head with the pillow. He jumped in the shower and let the water pound down on his head and back until he finally felt somewhat refreshed. At least his eyes would stay open by themselves.

Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he took it outside and sat in a lounge chair by their pool. Gazing out over the open water, he thought he saw something... possibly a glimmer of sunshine off of metal? Maybe a boat of some kind? He kept searching the waves, but even with his dark glasses on, the glare of the sun partially blinded him and he was unable to spot it again. He closed his eyes and almost immediately dozed off. When Abby stepped outside and joined him by the pool, she did pretty much the same thing he had. Only the mysterious object was now much closer and it was clearly a fairly good sized boat.

She watched as it slowed seemingly to go around the island. How strange she thought, as it was just close enough that she could hear several men on board barking at each other, but couldn't make out what they were saying. She suddenly got an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach and reached over to wake Sebastian from his nap. About that time, Chris came from the back of their house, looking extremely apprehensive.

"Abby, Sebastian... you need to move inside, close the shades and stay put. Don't answer the door for anyone but me."

Seb looked at the man like he was speaking Greek, but Abby stood immediately and grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the bungalow.

"Abs, what the hell?" he felt like he had closed his eyes and opened them to find himself in Wonderland...

"I don't know baby. I saw a boat coming toward the island, then it turned, to circle around I think. It didn't seem like it was leaving. It gave me a bad feeling. Let's just do what he says, okay?"

They got inside and started closing the blinds to make the hut look empty, when Chris tapped on the window, just as Seb was starting to close the last one. Abby jumped and he went to the door and opened it partially.

"Do you know how to use this?" Chris asked, holding up a 9mm SIG Sauer and offering it to him.

"I've never done much shooting, but I have had training in handling guns for films." Seb was fully awake now, and 'worried' would not begin to describe how he felt or the gnawing pain growing in his gut.

"Good. Here's the safety, here's an extra clip; keep these close."

Sebastian took the revolver from him asking, "Chris, what the fuck is going on?"

"No time to explain. Just, stay low, away from the windows ... and take care of Abby."

There was no mistaking the truth of what he was saying or the concern in his voice. They were in real danger, and it was up to Sebastian to keep Abby safe. He nodded and Chris turned and headed out to face whatever danger waited on the beach. Mendoza and his group of pirate friends had arrived several hours before the previously agreed upon time. Probably in hopes of destroying any kind of plan to surprise them. It had almost worked.

Around the bend of the island, the larger boat anchored and deployed a much smaller dinghy to carry the men on board to the island. Just as they pulled ashore, Chris appeared from nowhere and greeted them heartily. As they exchanged a few words, Mendoza surveyed his surroundings, seeing two men standing beside and old car, its hood up, looking like it was ready for the junkyard. There was a gardener, spraying down the sidewalk, knocking the sand off; and occasionally turning his hose to water a planter of flowers. They had passed a small fishing boat on their way in to the island, two men with a young boy, apparently not having a lot of luck.