Peter went in the house to talk to the Nguyens. He said, “I have some bad men in the boat house that tried to capture and hurt Bernadette. They wanted her to do something she didn’t want to, and they were going to rape and torture her. I captured them and now it’s time to question the leader.”

Mrs. Nguyen said, “I have many times questioned prisoners. If he won’t answer your questions, call me. He will answer for me.”

“Thank you. If he refuses to answer, I’ll ask you to help.”

Before the interrogation started, Terry said, “I want to see the Whaler before we start.”

“Go ahead. The door is unlocked.”

Terry came back 15 minutes later and said, “I got it started. Did you hear it?”

“Yes and I’ll bet Conners also heard it. If your towel trick doesn’t work, we can take him out in the boat. That may be more humane than turning him over to Mrs. Nguyen. Not that I care.”

“It’s time to introduce ourselves to Mr. Conners.”

Peter opened the garage side door and turned on the lights. “There is more room in the boathouse. The door in the back of the garage leads downstairs to the boathouse. He isn’t a big man. Let’s take him there.”

Terry said, “Bring the tape. We’ll put him on the empty workbench.”

Peter opened the sliding door in the VW and reached in to pull Conners out. Peter took his upper body and Bernadette pushed Terry out of the way and said, “Sorry big guy, but no lifting for you. Remember, I’m in charge of your recovery.”

Starting down the set of ten stairs, Peter said, “Just drop his legs, I’ll drag him down from here.”

Once Conners was taped down on the workbench, Peter stripped off the duct tape over his mouth and eyes. Conners’ eyes roamed around the boathouse and stopped when he saw Bernadette. He said, “You bitch, you’re a dead traitor.”

Peter leaned over him and slapped him hard across the mouth and nose, which immediately caused him to bleed. Peter said, “We’ll do the talking here. You talk only when we ask you a question.”

Conners tried to spit in his face and Peter slapped him again harder in the same place. “Maybe you didn’t understand. Do you understand now?”

Conners said, “Fuck you, whoever you are. You will also die. You don’t know who you’re fucking with.”

“You mean the IRA? Guess what, unless you do what we tell you, your days with IRA are over.”

Terry said, “Enough of his phony tough talk,” and put a towel over Conners’ face and began pouring salt water over the towel. After 30 seconds, Conners started to struggle. Terry poured more water on the towel. When the struggling slowed, Terry pulled off the towel. Conners gasped for air, sputtering water.

Terry said, “How about some more?” and started to put the wet towel back on.

Conners screamed, “No, no more! You people are crazy. You’ll drown me!”

“Does it look like we care?” Bernadette whispered in his ear.

Peter said, “First question. Answer truthfully or the towel goes back on. Where is the rest of your group?”

“They’re in a motel South on A1A toward Jacksonville.”

Bernadette shook her head. Terry put the towel back on and poured more water on it. Conner began to sputter and struggle. This time Terry waited until the struggling stopped and pulled the towel off.

Conners’ face was blue and for a moment Peter thought Terry pushed it too far. Then Connors gasped, coughed, and spit up water.

Peter said, “Shall we take you closer to drowning this time? Same question, please answer.”

Bernadette said, “Listen Sam. I’ve been with these people for several months now. They are killers. Your only chance of not being drowned is to tell them what they want. They don’t care. I’ve seen them do this to someone a lot tougher than you who in the end told them everything they wanted. This man is now living under a different identity in South America. Do you want to drown or cooperate?”

“My people are in a trailer park on the east side of A1A going north toward St. Mary’s. It’s the Sunset Park. We have two big ones on the south end of the park.”

Peter described the scooter couple and asked, “Are those the people?”

“Yes.”

“Who else is with you?”

“No one.”

Peter stepped back and nodded to Terry who stepped forward with the wet towel.

“No, no! There are two more.”

“Who are they?”

“They’re shooters. Bernadette knows them, Casey and O’Malley.”

“When you and Harry didn’t show up with Bernadette, what will your people think?”

“They’ll think we took her some place to fuck her before showing up at the trailer. Where is Harry?”

“I ask the questions. Do you want the towel again?”

When Conners shook his head, Peter said, “Harry was in the back of the VW with you. Didn’t you two talk?”

“I thought there was someone back there with me.”

“Harry was there but he is dead now and will soon be with the sharks. You may be with him, only you won’t be dead. We’ll see how far you can swim with a 20-pound anchor. Not far I guess. Are you a good swimmer?”

“Christ! Don’t do that to me. I’ll help you.”

“You had better start now. The boat is ready. Harry is waiting for you. He doesn’t want to see the sharks alone. So tell me, who gives you your orders?”

“I can’t do that. The lads will kill me.”

Bernadette moved in close and said, “I told you he won’t help. Let’s put him in the boat and go finish the rest of them in the trailers.”

“Okay, I guess you’re right. I’ll tape him up. Connors do you want to go swimming with your eyes open or taped closed?”