Day Four - The Marshlands

Frustrated that he couldn't reach Johnny, Rusty called in a reservation to the Hotel Tybee, grabbed a few things, and set out for the coast. He did not believe in coincidence. Noface had to be wrapped up in this somehow. He needed to reconnoiter the situation.

It was dark when he arrived. He checked in, changed his clothes and left the room. Walking a few blocks south, he found the bar he was looking for on the Tybrissa Pier. After a few discreet enquiries, he approached a tall, skinny, weathered man on a stool about mid-way down the long bar. "Cap'n, can we talk?"

"Talkin's thirsty business."

"Yeah, well, another time. Tonight I need you sober. Or, relatively sober.."

"Not int'rested."

Rusty flagged the woman bartender. "Can you apply this as a credit to the Captain's tab?" He handed her two dollars.

The lanky man downed his drink and said, "Outside. Can't hear a damn thing in here."

Sam followed Rusty halfway down the pier, away from anyone else. "Yuh wanna do this tonight?" He was looking at a map that Rusty had just unfolded.

"I need to get a look at this place on Whitemarsh. I'm told you know the marshlands like the back of your hand. There's fifteen bucks for you if we get in and out of there without being seen."

"Furst of all, it's called WIT-marsh. Second, you could drive over there. You don't need my boat."

Rusty didn't say anything for a minute, just let him think about it. Then he took out his wallet, licked his fingers, and counted out the cash.

"Just a look? We ain't gonna be breakin' any laws?"

Rusty laughed, "Don't look so disappointed. If this pans out, you'll get to see some excitement, I promise you that." The captain pocketed the money and they left the pier for the marina.

Rusty had chosen his man carefully. He wanted someone trustworthy but willing to take a few risks. Someone who wouldn't raise eyebrows if he went out at night. Knowledge of the area was crucial. Cap'n Sam Aiken met all of the requirements.

It was colder on the water than Rusty had expected. Cap'n Sam tossed him an old ratty sweater that smelled like last year's catch, but it warmed him immediately. It was not just cold, it was also dark. He had to trust that his pilot knew what he was doing. He could see homes lit up on shore but they were too far away for details. He wondered if it was going to be worth it, coming out this late at night, but he felt an urgency in his gut that he couldn't ignore. As they entered yet another narrow channel, Sam turned off the running lights and cut the engines way back to a purr.

"Yuh said yuh didn't wanna be seen so I come in from the side. That's the place up there on the right. He handed Rusty a pair of heavy binoculars. Is that what yuh was lookin for?

The house was lit up but so was a smaller building closer to the water. It could have been a boathouse but he couldn't tell in the dark. There was a long low dock extending across the marshlands into deeper water. The dock was lit with bulbs on poles every eight feet or so. Two men were unloading boxes from a fishing boat and stacking them on the dock. Rusty handed the glasses to the captain. "Let's watch them for a bit"

"Tides going out. They gonna wanna leave in the next thutty minutes or they gonna be there all night. Rusty turned to look at him. "We'll be alright," The old man told him. "We ahh in a deepa channel.

As it happened, they didn't have to wait all that long.  After stowing the boxes in the boathouse the two men stepped back onto the boat. They could hear the diesels fire up across the water. "Can we follow them?" Rusty asked.

Cap'n Sam just looked at him and eased his throttles forward a notch. Rusty thought he could see a slight smile crease the old man's cheek as they picked up speed.