Peter walked to the main house and checked in with the Nguyens to tell them to keep the shotguns handy and Jack under watch. And to prepare a picnic lunch for six out by the pool.

Peter heard Terry’s car coming down to the boathouse and went out to meet him. Terry got out and said, “What’s going on?”

“Come up to the pool with me and I’ll bring you up to date.”

Seated in a cabana, Peter told him what went down at the beach. Terry grew visibly angry as he heard the story. “As soon as Bernadette checks in, let’s go kill the bunch of them.”

“That’s what will probably happen, but we have to question Conners and get both of them ready to go in the river tonight. I don’t think Conners will talk at first. He thinks he’s tough. He told Bernadette first he was going to rape her and then beat her so badly no man would ever want her again.”

Terry clenched and unclenched his huge fists. “Please let me talk to him,” he said.

Peter replied, “Okay. But don’t kill him until he’s answered our questions. And let’s give Bernadette some more time to check in here. She may have information that will help our questions’ focus. We don’t know yet what they wanted her to do. Maybe Connors never told her. Maybe this rogue faction of the IRA just wanted to clean up a loose end. While we’re waiting for Bernadette and lunch, let’s go and check on our prisoner.”

Before opening the door into the garage, Peter said, “Don’t make any noise. I want him to stay bewildered over what happened. When we rip off the duct tape from his mouth and eyes, he may be ready to talk. I don’t care what he sees and hears then. After dark he will be shark bait.”

Looking in through the VW windshield, they could see Connors trying to move. He could make slight noises but nothing that would be heard outside the garage.

Back at the cabana Terry and Peter talked over dumping Connors and Harry out in the Nassau Sound. Peter said, “I’ve not had the Boston Whaler out much. It came with the house.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get it running. I used to cruise and fish these waters in the same type boat.”

Peter jumped up when he heard Bernadette driving down the driveway. He laughed because Jack and Rip beat him to greeting Bernadette. She hugged them both and let them escort her to the pool, where she dropped her beach robe and did a flat dive into the pool, followed by Jack and Rip. Both were now strong swimmers. Peter yelled “lunch is served” and Bernadette swam over to the cabana and offered a hand to Peter who pulled her out. She said, “I needed that and I need some serious lunch.”

Peter handed her a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon and an Italian sub made by Vietnamese standards. Bernadette said, “You know I’m getting to like nouc mam. I think Mrs. Nguyen uses it to brush her teeth. Okay, I’ve settled myself after this morning’s horror show and am ready for some serious talk. Have you briefed Terry?”

“Yes. He knows as much as I do. Your turn to brief.”

“Okay. I followed the scooter couple to A1A North toward St. Mary’s. They pulled into a cluster of what you call in America, doublewides. It was a trailer park. Laid out in lanes. In the back of the site there were two doublewides almost touching each other. I saw the scooter people go into the double wide on the right as you face them. Before they went in, they stood around outside as if waiting for something.

“Probably the VW camper with Connors, Harry, and me. I should have walked up and asked them if they were waiting for me and then shot them. I’m sure they didn’t see me or notice the truck. They were speeding as much as one can on a scooter. I was never closer than 100 yards. It’s easy to follow the only scooter on the highway. Okay, that’s my report.”

“Did Conners ever tell you what he wanted you to do?”

“No and I asked him before things turned bad. He said the higher ups wanted me but he didn’t. He planned to make up a story of what he found out and kill or almost kill me for his made-up accusations. There’s no question he knows the plan or at least the target. My mission for the IRA almost always involved casing hard targets. I have a good memory and can sketch rather well. Occasionally the mission involved direct violence but my reputation was centered on my casing ability.”

“How do you suggest we interrogate Conners?”

“He’s tough. But he is very afraid of water. He can’t swim and is known for his fear of drowning.”

Terry said, “That is a big help. I’ll use a Special Forces procedure that gets good results and doesn’t injure the prisoner or mark him up. All I need is a couple of towels and a bucket of water. The process works on mental fear of suffocation not pain. It is unpleasant. I know. It was used on me in a training exercise.”

“Did it work on you?”

“Yes, after a number of sessions. I figured I’d held out as long as I could.”

“Okay, you’re on. Bernadette, can you write up a number of questions for your friend, Conners?”

“Give me ten minutes.”