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replied. “It’s sure to be rougher on the outside. If we have to, dad can bring the trailer down to the ramp at Dockside and pull the skiff out of the water.”
    I was right, it was pretty rough crossing Bahia Honda Channel and trying to stay between the waves was difficult, but Julie did it like a pro. It calmed down quite a bit, once we passed Pigeon Key and we were able to ride in relatively calm waters toward Knights Key, on the western outskirts of Marathon. But, once we cleared the jetty at Knights Key Campground it really started getting rough, as the wind was coming straight out of the south. But, in no time we were pulling into the calm waters of Boot Key Harbor, a little wet and a bit shaken up, but the ride wasn’t too awful bad.
    I stepped off onto the dock and told Julie I’d catch up to her at the Anchor and left her to tie off at the dinghy dock, while I ducked into the office at Dockside to let them know Julie’s skiff would be tied up in my spot, until we could arrange to get a trailer over. Once that was taken care of, I went back to the dinghy dock and grabbed my gear out of her skiff and walked over to the end of the dock, where Gaspar’s Revenge was tied up. Jimmy was there, as usual. Although I only took out one or two charters a week, sometimes not even that many, Jimmy stayed close by and had recently started sleeping aboard, in the guest cabin. It was fine with me, in fact I felt more secure knowing that someone was there and Jimmy was at least reliable.
    “What do ya think, Jimmy? We gonna have to take her down to Cuba to avoid the storm?” I asked, as I put my gear on the transom.
    “Really, dude? That’d be too cool,” Jimmy replied. Sometimes, Jimmy was just too gullible.
    “Just pulling your leg, man,” I laughed. “We should be pretty safe here in the harbor. We’ll need to tie her off better with more lines, but we can ride it out right here, unless the storm turns and comes straight for us. You have a place to stay?”
    “Not really, el Capitan. My latest girlfriend sort of kicked me out a couple weeks ago. I been staying here on the Revenge . But, I don’t know about staying aboard during a hurricane.”
    “Well, I don’t mind having you stay aboard, feel free to make it permanent. But, the same rules apply right here on the dock, as out on the blue, okay. Nothing, absolutely nothing, illegal on board. We’ll head up to the Anchor and see what Rusty’s plans are. But, let’s get her tied down first.”
    We spent the next hour storing everything away below decks that might get knocked loose and tying the Revenge down with several extra lines. The dock is pretty new and the piers are heavy timbers, punched down through the limestone. They’ll hold up well in a storm, I’m sure. At least I hope so.
    After we finished, Jimmy and I walked to the Rusty Anchor. The whole time we were getting the boat ready, I was nervous and apprehensive. Would Alex be there? What will I say? What will she say? Now, I felt like a man walking to the gallows. It was the longest mile I’d ever walked.

6
Nine Days Earlier
    Friday, October 14, 2005
     
    “Ya sure this is the place, Russ?” Lester asked. This was his only day off. If it were up to Sonny, he’d be working seven days a week, but Friday was Sonny’s day at the track.
    “Hell no, I ain’t sure kid. That ship was sunk near here by a Union warship over a hundred years ago, toward the end of the Civil War. Likely, it broke up and is scattered over a mile long. You seen the bottom on the depth finder, there’s something down there alright. No way to tell till we get down there, though. For all I know, it could be a ‘64 Impala with a couple of gang bangers in it.” Russ wasn’t greatly impressed with Lester’s mental acuity over the last couple of weeks. But, the kid was stronger than a bull and did what he was told. Russ had been looking for some sign of this particular wreck for over a year and this was the thirteenth pile