Chase went to the property of one of the large hotels around the bay and found a taxi who agreed to his request for an off the books trip for cash. The request came with an implicit warning, which the generous amount of cash assured. The trip to Canaries was broken only briefly by a stop for gas and a bite to eat, ending on a street in town, a good walk from his destination.

When the taxi was gone, Chase took a circuitous route to Joseph's house. He stood in the shade of some palms and watched the house for a while. Nothing on the street raised any flags, so he went to the house, his gun out and ready as he knocked.

Clara cautiously answered the door, a small, red-eyed child clinging to her skirt. When she saw Chase she began sobbing, falling into his arms. He eased back inside and closed the door, senses alert.

"Okay, take it easy, Clara. What happened?"

She took his hand and led him into the small sitting room. On a cot he could see Joseph, his face swollen and purple, and one arm in a sling.

"Has he seen a doctor?" Chase bent down and studied his friend.

"We were afraid to go to the medico, they said they would come back."

"Get the girls ready, I'm taking him to the hospital. We'll all go."

"But they said--"

"Don't you worry about them, Clara." She blinked at the tone and after a short hesitation, she called to her girls.

******

The doctor stood in front of chase, his clipboard held rigidly while he scribbled notes. "Has this assault been reported?"

"It has been settled, so there's no need. Just do whatever he needs and tell me how much is costs."

"That's very unortha--"

"So is my shoving that clipboard down your throat, doc. Now. The bill."

"You can't--"

In a flash, Chase gripped his arm and quickly steered him into an empty room. A few moments later they returned to the front desk.

"This uh, gentleman would like the bill for Mr. Laforce, please. And please include any medication he may require for home recovery."

"Thanks, doc. I appreciate the co-operation." Chase smiled and patted the shaking back. "I'll see to that business we discussed as well – I'm a man of my word."

Back home, the Laforce family huddled around Joseph, Clara holding him close, and the girls all running little fingers over the fresh cast on the broken arm. Chase left an envelope on a side table, Joseph nodding, knowing it was money, and accepting the gesture silently.

"I am truly sorry this occurred, Joseph." He turned to leave, and stopped. "They won't bother you again, Clara. Trust me." He smiled at the little girls and left. It was unfortunate, but perfectly understandable, that Joseph gave up Barry Kirk.

******

"So, Captain Kirk is it? You gonna beam us aboard?" Fitz swaggered along the dock, his comments delivered in a sarcastic threat. "I told you, I don't know what you're talking about. I operate a taxi service. I get lots of requests."

"Here's a request for you, Kirk," Carver flashed a photograph of Chase, "take us where you took him or you'll be operating your service from the bottom of the marina."

"Listen--"

"No, you listen. Your buddy Laforce didn't just hand us your name, pal. He was stubborn too, and he paid for it, so unless you want to get deep-sixed, get that crate going and take us where you took Chase."

******

Chase listened to the waitress from Spinnakers as she described what she saw between Barry and the two men. He thanked her and hurried outside to the taxi stand.

"Marigot Bay, as fast as you can. There's a bonus in it if we don't follow all the rules." Chase dropped some bills on the front seat.

The cab took off so quickly he slammed back against the seat, unavoidably chuckling at the driver's eager departure.

The bonus had been gratefully accepted with a hearty laugh and a handshake. Chase made his way to Dolittle's Bar and Restaurant, where he found Kirk's girlfriend. She knew his boat had arrived but it had tied up further down the dock and Barry hadn't been seen. She offered that she had seen two men waiting for a water taxi about forty minutes earlier.

Chase went to the boat and climbed aboard, finding Barry bound and gagged in the small cabin.

"Very happy to see you, man. Your friends had bad plans for me."

"What did you tell them, Barry, and don't hedge."

"Nothing . . . well, I did say you took a boat, but I don't know nothing beyond that."

"Okay. Are you alright?"

"Just shaken, but not stirred" The smile was wide and Chase had to return a small one of his own.

"Your girlfriend is wondering about you. Not a word about those guys, got it?"

"I was just tired and had a nap." He grinned again and they both climbed off the boat.

"Sorry it happened, Barry, but it won't happen again." Chase left and walked to the water taxi dock. Barry watched him go, the words conjuring a possibility he didn't want to contemplate.

Chase stayed behind as the taxi discharge its passengers, and spoke to the skipper about the two men that crossed earlier. He learned that they had been asking questions about a man and woman, then clammed up, realizing Chase was the man whose picture they had shown him.

"It's okay, it isn't me you need to worry about." He tipped the man and scrambled onto the dock. After a few moments he spoke to a few employees of the nearby hotel and narrowed down his search to the vast Zoetry Resort Complex. Chase found a quiet corner on the dock and called Paula.

"Yes?" She answered nervously.

"It's me. I'm back in the bay, but I won't be coming up yet. I want you to make sure the entrances are locked, and keep the phone handy. You don't have to worry about it being traced - they're here."

"Here! How?"

"Doesn't matter how. They did a number on Joseph, I had to get him to the hospital." He heard the soft groan. "He's fine now, or will be. He gave them Kirk and Kirk led them here. I'm hunting them right now. I'm at the Zoetry Resort. You can read about it in the room book. I'll call again in an hour."

"What if I don't hear from you?"

"Have faith, Ms Regan, it's what I do."

"You aren't- are you going to--"

"Don't you worry about what I'm going to do. I'll call in an hour."

The call ended and Paula sat, numb, on the divan. After a few minutes she jumped up and ran around the guest house locking everything she could, then picked up the note from the kitchen table she had found earlier, along with the gun it described how to operate. She didn't know whether to scream or cry.