There was no large boat at the dock.
“Nobody home, Homey,” Hoops called to Sam as he rounded the house. “Would you look at that view? Mikey’s got it made, Sam-Man. I didn’t think you guys made much more than us.”
Sam glanced briefly at the fluorescent yellow-green marsh grass lining the far side of the canal. Good fishing in here, he imagined. Too bad I won’t have time to enjoy it.
“We don’t, Hoops. At least not all of us do.” Sam walked toward the dinghy. “Hoops, if you were going to go sailing, wouldn’t you take your dink?”
“Depends on how far I planned on going. If I were to go a cruising, I would take it. If I were just out and about for a day sail, probably not. How about you? Do you have a dink?”
“I’m in need of one, actually. You think this would fit in your car?”
“Whoa, Sam-Man. I am not into borrowing like that.”
“Even if your ‘friend’ forgot to register his dink as well as his big boat?” Sam pointed to the inflated pontoons that were clear of any registration stickers. “I just need to borrow it to get back on board my own boat.”
“Small boats don’t need to be registered if there’s no motor involved.”
Sam pointed to the small outboard motor leaning up against the wall.
“You get the front,” Hoops conceded. “How come you can’t get to your boat? I thought you were in the town marina.”
“Long story. The short answer is I was out sailing and night came. I anchored and hitched a ride back in with a friend. Since then, I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to get back aboard.” Sam felt sure his live-aboard status wasn’t known to Hoops.
“Well, as long as you’re just borrowing Mikey’s dink, I’m cool with that. Wonder where he is? I guess I’ll drive by Andy’s house. If he’s not there, I’ll start the paperwork.”
Sam and Hoops wrestled the dinghy on top of Hoops’ car and tied the inflatable fast. Sam went back for the motor, disregarding Hoops’ raised eyebrows. Sam gave him directions, and the two started for the Causeway Bridge in Wrightsville Beach. Sam hadn’t been back to his boat in three days. He hoped it was still there.
Chapter thirty-eight
Cars with car-top boats are not an uncommon sight in beach towns. In fact, it’s a regular occurrence during summer months. Kayakers, windsurfers, and big-boat boaters all do the same thing to get their small crafts from one place to another.
What was curious about Sam’s little procession was that the car carrying the small boat belonged to the Coast Guard.
Usually, all the Coast Guard’s boats were docked near their station. Their ribbed inflatable could fit two of the dinghies Sam was borrowing inside it, and their fast maneuverable cutters docked nearby, always at the ready.
Following in the Mustang, Sam watched Hoops’ brake lights flare as they started to climb the high-rising bridge over Snow’s Cut, an east-west passage on the Intracoastal Waterway just north of the town of Carolina Beach. Great. A wreck.
Sam got out of the Mustang and walked up a few feet to Hoops’ car.
“Thanks for coming, Hoops. Hope it’s okay for you to be away like this.”
“Just doing my duty, Sam-Man; just doing my duty.” Hoops lit a cigar and took a long drag.
Sam moved away from Hoops’ open window to get a breath of fresh air. Looking toward the top of the bridge where a blue light was flashing, Sam noticed a sailboat mast creeping toward the bridge.
Three steps forward, Sam saw it.
Toothless’ long silver hair. Toothless stood at the helm, impatiently calling out to a small craft in front of him as he headed west toward Masonboro Sound.
“Hoops! Get on your radio! I saw Mike’s boat heading west.”
Hoops cupped his hand to his ear to hear Sam better.
Sam repeated: “Mike’s boat! It’s heading west.”
“Not much I can do about it now, sitting in this traffic.” Hoops obviously enjoyed another pull on his cigar. “Besides, you said Mike wouldn’t mind if you borrowed his dink.” Hoops pointed to the car-top treasure.
Sam threw his hands in the air. “Hoops, I wasn’t going to bring you into all of this. It’s a mess, and I need your help.”
Hoops leaned over the seat toward Sam. “What’s up, Sam-Man?”
“Mike’s a dirty cop. He and Andy both. They are involved with a drug ring, and they took hostages when I tried to bust up their little party. They may be on that boat right now!