She of the Sea

43 of 53 - A Frantic Plan

Bruce Webb gathered with Ofelia, Rafe, and Milos Argyros in the harbormaster's office. He had called Bonnie and told her he was working with the authorities on a kidnapping case and wouldn't be home. From the way she responded and the tone of her voice, he wasn't sure she bought it. His marriage hung by a thread.

He had summarized the story for Milos:  Rafe had returned to the picnic table a half hour after Cassie went to find him. Webb and Ofelia assumed the two of them had been together patching things up after their quarrel. When Rafe said he hadn't seen Cassie, they frantically searched Anclote Key looking for her.

It didn't take long for Webb to realize what had happened. His suspicion was confirmed by one of the tourists who had seen a teen girl matching Cassandra's description being carried aboard a speedboat. The boat had left the dock at high speed heading north.

"Verdanx Pharmaceuticals owns a high-powered boat," Webb told them. "They're taking Cassandra to Doctor Armando's lab on Live Oak Key."

"Where is that?" Rafe asked, desperation in his tone.

"And how do you know where they are taking her?" Milos asked.

"I already told you, I used to be part of the team working for Armando. I've been to his lab. He owns a small key, north of here along the coast southwest of Gainesville. Live Oak Key is just large enough to accommodate his lab in a private, controlled-access setting."

Ofelia pulled up Google Maps on the harbormaster computer. "I see it. It's a hundred twenty miles from here to there. By boat it's approximately ninety-five miles. I suppose it'll be quicker to get there by car even though its farther."

"Are you sure Cassandra will be taken there and not someplace else?" Milos asked.

"Doctor Armando's lab is well-equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. If he has a secondary location, I don't know about it."

Milos shook his head as if disbelieving, his thick black hair disheveled as if he had just gotten out of bed. "This Doctor Armando must know we will make a move on him. Is the man so naïve as to think we would just abandon Cassandra?"

"He's not naïve. He's arrogant. He doesn't see us as a serious threat. He doesn't know your reputation."

Milos narrowed his eyes. "What are you implying?"

"Look, I don't care about the activities you're involved in. I'm not here to judge. I'm thinking only about how to rescue your niece and suspect you have the resources to make it happen."

Webb was glad Milos didn't insult his intelligence by trying to deny what he had said.

"Why don't we just call the police or the FBI?" Ofelia asked. "We can tell them about the kidnap, who we suspect, and the location. Why not let them handle it?"

To Webb's surprise, Milos answered her question and got it right. "It would take too much time. The official authorities need to deal with protocols and bureaucratic overhead. They'd spend hours interviewing us to determine the validity of our claim. They'd have to assemble a hostage rescue team from who knows where, maybe Washington, D.C. They'd need to secure a judge's permission to get proper warrants. Then they'd need to mobilize. It would take days."

Rafe paced, his piercing green eyes and eagle nose making him look especially fierce. He shouted, "Enough talk. What are we waiting for? Let's go get her."

Webb sympathized with the young man's impatience, but they all needed to calm down and have a clear head for what was coming. "One does not simply drive up to the causeway gate and demand access to the compound. I'm thinking up a plan."