It was Captain Scofield who met them in Martigua, bringing with him the necessary papers to let them onto the island without trouble. It didn't hurt that the man on duty at the gate was the same one Scofield had bribed to spy on the detectives before. One look at Scofield handing over the papers and he allowed the detectives in without a fuss.
"Well, now, hello again," Scofield said smoothly, leaning on the counter as he turned to look at the group. "Chief. Mr. Allen, Mr. Ryder."
"Hi," Murray chirped with a wave.
"Hey, Captain," Cody greeted, while Nick eyed him warily. "Where's the Guirilinis?"
"On the ship," Scofield replied. "They've pulled back in at the dock for now, but they're all tied up at the moment. So they sent me to bring you boys out."
"He's still calling us boys," Nick hissed in Cody's ear.
Cody waved him off. "So what's actually been going on?" he asked. "We don't know much more than what Giovanna told us over the radio last night."
"Well, now, that's a long story," Scofield drawled. "And I understand that you've brought your ghost-hunting equipment, Chief." He looked to Murray, who gave an enthusiastic nod.
"Everything I could fit on the plane," he declared.
"Of course, there might not really be any ghosts," Scofield said as he led them onto the old, clanking Volkswagen Bus that served as one of Martigua's taxi cabs.
"There probably aren't," Nick spoke, "but that's why we want you to tell us everything that's been happening."
Scofield leaned back as the bus groaned and started to move. "Miss Guirilini filled you in on most of it," he said. "I was there and I heard what she was telling you. It started a week ago, with the fog comin' in every night and this mysterious gondola easin' itself out of the mists. Scared the crew out of their boots, I'm telling you. Just seeing that without hearing anything was enough to make most of them run for their bloody lives. And then what happened last night, with the chap finally saying something and threatening the lot of us, sent the rest of those superstitious idiots runnin' for shore this morning."
"I think even without believing in ghosts and superstitions, that would be more than enough to scare off a lot of people," Cody said. "Even if they thought it was a living person doing it, that's a scary thing, being told you're all going to die."
Scofield nodded. "You're quite right, and Captain Guirilini is willing to cut those deserters some slack because of that. But the truth of the matter is that they all think the expedition's cursed, the ship's cursed, and everybody foolish enough to stay with it is cursed."
"This sure sounds like déjà vu," Nick sighed, shaking his head. "Except for the ghost bit, of course."
"And I'm going to find out once and for all whether it's ghosts," Murray declared.
"I guess you're gonna be checking for auras and all that kind of stuff again," Nick said.
"That's just one aspect of this investigation," Murray retorted.
"What about that bug spray stuff?" Nick persisted. Cody snickered to himself.
"Well, I could spray the ship, if Angelo wants that," Murray said. "But I think it would be better to try to find out why the ghost wants everyone to stay away. That would mean not spraying with the, err, ghost repellent."
"You never did say what you were actually going to do if it is a ghost," Cody said.
"You just kept us awake telling us all the different kinds of ghosts," Nick added.
"Like I said, there's different things to do depending on what kind of ghost it is," Murray insisted. "For instance, if it's a messenger ghost, then naturally we have to talk to it and get the message."
"I think they've already got the message, Murray," Nick said.
"Yeah, that spear was mighty telling," Scofield said. "Now if you can tell me how it disappeared, Chief, we might start getting somewhere."
"A spear?!" the trio echoed in shock.
Scofield nodded. "They threw it right at Miss Guirilini. Then when I went to pick it up, it vanished, leaving behind a puddle of water."
"Wait, is Giovanna alright?!" Cody interrupted.
"Oh yeah, she's fine," Scofield assured him. "It had already happened when she radioed you boys."
Murray frowned. "I'd say the spear was either a ghost or a hologram if it wasn't for the water left behind. That's really unusual. Did you make sure the water was real, Captain?" he asked.
"That was the first thing I did after the spear vanished," Scofield said. "It was real, alright."
"Very unusual indeed," Murray declared, shaking his head.
By now the bus was pulling up at the docks. The Arrivederci, Baby was anchored on one of the piers.
"I'm afraid all of you will have to pinch-hit until Guirilini can find some more crewmembers," Scofield said as he got down from the seat and headed for the door.
"Well, that's no problem," Nick said.
"Yeah, we'll be happy to fill in while Murray tries to catch our ghost," Cody added.
Murray was about to retort when the sight of someone getting off the ship perked him up. "Hey, it's Angelo!" he announced. "He's coming to meet us!"
"Great," Cody said, following Scofield and the others off the bus.
"Ah, my friends!" Angelo exclaimed as they drew closer. "Bozin the Doctor, Nick the Pilot, and Cody the Mustache!"
Cody tried to push back his embarrassment. "Hey, Angelo," he greeted, very keenly aware that Scofield was giving him a highly amused look. "It's really good to see you again."
"I only wish it wasn't under such disturbing circumstances!" Angelo bemoaned, embracing each of the detectives in turn. "By helping us, you are putting yourselves under the curse!"
"Well, we don't believe in curses," Cody said. "And if it's just a regular old human doing it, we'll catch him."
"But will that be before or after someone is harmed?" Angelo worried.
"Hey, Angelo, don't worry," Nick said, clapping the older man on the shoulder. "No one's going to get hurt."
Angelo still looked worried. "I hope you are right, Nick the Pilot," he said.
Giovanna came on deck by the time they reached the pier and were climbing onto the Arrivederci. "You're here!" she smiled. "I was getting worried."
"Giovanna!" Cody beamed, relieved to see that she really did seem to be just fine.
"Everything went like clockwork, Miss Guirilini," Scofield declared. "You gave me the right papers and the boys got aboard without any trouble."
"Well, good," Giovanna returned. "And there weren't any accidents on the way here?"
"No accidents," Cody said. "Unlike what's been going on here. Captain Scofield said somebody threw a spear at you!"
"And missed, thanks to him," Giovanna put in. "But it couldn't have been a real spear anyway, when it disappeared like that."
"Can you show me exactly where it happened?" Murray spoke up. "I should set up some of my equipment there and take some readings."
"Of course. It was right up this way," Giovanna said, leading him towards the bow.
Cody and Nick trailed after them. "You know, I think Murray really wants it to be a ghost," Nick said under his breath.
"I'm not sure what would be worse," Cody frowned.
"And what do you think of how Scofield and Giovanna are interacting?" Nick persisted.
"Very professional, nothing more," Cody retorted.
"It sounds like Scofield saved her from the spear," Nick said.
"Just like any decent person would do," Cody shot back.
"Unless he arranged the whole thing to make himself look good in her eyes," Nick hissed.
Cody felt like throwing his hands in the air. "For crying out loud!" he said instead. "Scofield isn't behind any of this. I'm sure of that."
"I hope you're right, Buddy Boy," Nick said.
"I am," Cody snorted. "This is just ridiculous. I know I was just as suspicious of him in the past, but I let that go after he saved our lives."
"A guy could be decent enough to do that but still not be so nice in other ways," Nick pointed out.
"I know that," Cody scoffed. "It's just that I don't think he's in that category! And he's right behind us, you know. I don't know how he could help but hear everything we're saying."
But if Scofield heard, he chose to say nothing. Which, Cody hoped, meant he really didn't hear.
By now they had reached the bow of the ship. Murray had been talking a mile a minute, explaining all of his equipment to Giovanna and how he was going to set it up and use it. Giovanna was nodding and listening, seeming both interested and amused. Cody decided to tune in; it had to be better than hearing Nick's wild theories.
". . . Now I'm going to put this special camera right here," Murray announced. "It will show us if there are any auras in the area. And this meter here should register whether there's an overabundance of electromagnetic energy in this spot."
"And that will tell us if there are ghosts?" Giovanna wondered, folding her arms.
"It would be a clue in that direction," Murray said.
"That's really interesting and all, Chief, but somehow I don't think all that fancy machinery can ever really piece together the mysteries surrounding ghosts." Scofield folded his arms. "The natives have claimed that the ghosts have been here a lot longer than this stuff has. And they've spotted them just fine as it is."
"Yeah, but they're also overly superstitious and believe that ghosts are around a lot of times when there's a logical explanation," Nick said. "What about you, Captain? Do you believe there's ghosts? And what about voodoo? That's around here a lot, isn't it?"
"Now we're getting into some gray territory," Scofield mused. "I've been in this part of the world for a long time, Mr. Ryder, and I've seen a lot of strange things I can't explain. I can't say I believe in ghosts or voodoo, but I also don't know that I can say they don't exist. And yes, there's a lot of voodoo around here."
"Have you ever seen a voodoo priest at work?" Cody wondered, finding himself genuinely curious. The last time they had been there, they had been so occupied with Angelo's problems and being suspicious of Scofield that they really hadn't had time to take in the local culture.
"I have, actually," Scofield replied. "You can't live in these parts as long as I have without seein' that at least once."
"So what happened?" Nick demanded. "Did he chant over a voodoo doll and somebody dropped dead?"
Scofield chuckled. "You know, the funny thing about voodoo dolls is that they're really meant to bring good luck, not bad. A lot of people don't know that because Hollywood villainized voodoo and everything connected with it."
"Oh yeah?" Nick blinked. "That's interesting. I never would've thought that."
"I knew about that, Nick," Murray said, glancing up from where he was positioning the camera. "All those things about voodoo priests trying to kill people with their magic, that's wrong. The only ones that actually do that are renegades."
Scofield nodded. "So in answer to your question, what I saw was a blessing ceremony. The priest blessed everyone in attendance to have good fortune the next day."
"And did they?" Cody pressed.
"Well, nobody keeled over or nothing like that," Scofield shrugged. "Maybe everybody would've had a good day anyway, but I suppose a few blessings here and there couldn't hurt."
"Oh wow!" Murray exclaimed without warning.
Everyone jumped a mile.
"What is it, Bozin the Doctor?!" Angelo cried. "Have you found something?"
"Have I! The needle's giving me the highest rating it ever has!" Murray held up the meter and the group crowded around.
"So? Ghosts can't be the only reason for that," Nick frowned.
"They're not, but it would be unscientific to discount the possibility," Murray replied.
"Well," Scofield said slowly, rubbing his chin, "I guess we'll see."
xxxx
The group went inside after Murray finished setting up his equipment, which included a tape recorder. "There's plenty of documented evidence that ghosts will speak into tape recorders, even if only a few words," he insisted, and Cody and Nick opted not to protest.
Giovanna went into the galley to retrieve the treats she had been preparing for the detectives' arrival. When Captain Scofield sidled in after her, she casually glanced over her shoulder at him.
"So," she greeted, "I didn't know you'd had so many experiences with voodoo, Captain Scofield."
"I wouldn't really say I had 'so many', Miss Guirilini," Scofield answered, picking up one of the two snack trays. "Just now and then."
She smiled at him for his help as she collected the second tray. "Well, I suppose the logical question to ask is, have you ever met a renegade voodoo priest?"
"Met one, no. Seen one, yes." Scofield carried the tray into the main room where the others had gathered. "He was ranting and raving and carrying on about something. Probably cursing someone or another."
Giovanna looked to Murray as she followed Scofield in. "So, Murray, do you think we're under a renegade voodoo curse?" she asked playfully.
Murray started. "Huh? Oh. Well, I guess that's another possibility, but then we'd have to ask ourselves why any renegade voodoo priest would want to curse this expedition."
"Why would anyone at all want to?" Cody returned.
Angelo shook his head. "I have been going over and over it in my mind and nothing makes sense!" he berated. "Tony and Giovanna and even Capitan Scofield have been diving under the ship to see if anything seems out of place in the ocean. But unlike the other times, there is nothing!"
"Maybe we should plot a course that would take us past all the places you were at when you saw the gondola," Cody suggested. "If there's something you're not supposed to see, it has to be on that course somewhere, even if you haven't reached it yet. They were probably trying to turn you away before you could get to it."
"Yes, we have thought of that, Cody the Mustache," Angelo sighed. "That is part of why we have kept going despite the threats. But after what happened last night, I don't know that we should go on at all anymore."
"Oh, Papa," Giovanna sighed too. "We have been all over this! We cannot let them get away with whatever it is they're trying to do! That's why we sent for our friends. Surely you're not going to have brought them out here for nothing, huh?"
"Giovanna's right," Murray said. "We came to help and that's what we intend to do."
Cody and Nick nodded in agreement. "So why don't we go out now to the first spot where you saw the gondola?" Cody said.
Angelo leaned back, deeply in thought about it. "Very well," he said at last. "We will go to the spot. But I still do not know that it is the right thing to do."
"It's the only way we're likely to figure out what's going on, Angelo," Nick said.
Weariness played across Angelo's features. "If only we could find out without harm coming to anyone," he said.
"We'll do our best," Cody promised.
xxxx
The ride to the first "haunted" spot proceeded in peace. Cody, Nick, and Murray mostly spent the time visiting with the Guirilinis and catching up on what had been happening in the months since they had seen them. Captain Scofield leaned back and listened, drinking from his ever-present rum bottle.
It was only when Giovanna got up to take the empty trays to the galley that Cody jumped up and offered his help in order to get a moment alone with her. But even as the words tumbled out of his mouth and Giovanna smiled, pleased, he wondered what he was really going to say. It was easy to talk to her when the others were there; he didn't have to be the one really carrying the conversation. But alone, he always ended up so tongue-tied.
Really, he realized in chagrin, he barely knew her. They had only associated for less than three weeks, counting both prior encounters. Romantic interest or not, Scofield probably knew her better after working with Angelo on this latest expedition. It had been months in the making.
"So, Giovanna," he said when they entered the galley and he knew he had to say something, "what's it been like these last few months? You know, aside from the weird stuff that's started to happen. What's it been like being around Captain Scofield so much lately, for instance?"
Giovanna threw him an amused look. "He is a strange man," she said. "Nice enough, friendly enough, but he's aloof. He keeps people at arm's length."
"But he treats you well," Cody quickly interjected.
"Yes," Giovanna blinked. "Actually, to my surprise it's been nice having him around after Guido. . . . He's such a character. He certainly helps to get my mind off of those unpleasant memories. Of course, he associates more with Papa than with me."
"Oh," Cody said, feeling awkward again. "I thought there might be times when you'd be alone together or . . ." He knew he was blushing.
Giovanna looked further amused now. "Well, there have been a few times where we talked a little before going to bed. In our separate cabins," she emphasized.
Now Cody knew his entire face could give Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer a run for his money. "That's . . . that's good," he stammered. "I really didn't mean . . ."
But Murray's sudden exclamation saved him from further embarrassment. "We're here! We're here!" he yelled into the galley as he thundered past. "And something's happening above deck!"
Exchanging amazed looks, Cody and Giovanna left the galley and hurried after him.
Nick and Angelo were topside, staring at what seemed to be a harmless enough gondola floating in the water. "Look at this, Nick the Pilot!" Angelo was exclaiming. "This must be our ghost boat. But where is the gondolier?!"
Giovanna hurried over as they reached the top of the stairs. "I don't like this," she frowned. "He just left it here, where we would be sure to see it?"
"It's close enough that we could jump over to it," Cody said. Before anyone could protest, he vaulted over the railing and leaped into the gondola. It rocked but didn't overturn.
"See anything?" Scofield asked.
"No," Cody called back. "It's empty."
"Are you sure?" Now Nick was flying over the railing after him. He landed on the other side of the gondola. "It doesn't make sense. There has to be something here."
"Not unless it's on the bottom of the boat," Cody retorted. "Something's not right here. He wouldn't just leave his boat here unless there was some reason for it. And that reason probably involves causing some kind of trouble for us or the Guirilinis and Scofield."
"Maybe we should get out and check the bottom of the boat," Nick suggested. "Just to be thorough."
"That's a good idea," Cody said.
"You lads had better come back up here," Scofield called, leaning on the railing of the Arrivederci. "No real sailor would abandon his boat unless . . ."
He was cut off as a small but fierce explosion under the surface spun the gondola out of the water and sent Cody and Nick flying into the water. Giovanna screamed. Angelo and Murray cried out in horror.
Swearing under his breath, Scofield removed his hat and shoes and dove into the water, seeking the two detectives and fearing the worst. When a dazed Cody bobbed to the surface, Scofield hurried to his side. "How badly are you hurt?" he demanded.
"Not bad, I don't think," Cody mumbled. "The explosion was meant more as a warning. It wasn't strong enough to kill. But . . ." He perked up as a horrible realization came to him. "Nick. Where's Nick?!"
"He's not up," Scofield told him. "They're sending out a lifeline for you. Take it and I'll look for Mr. Ryder." Without waiting for a response, he disappeared under the surface.
Cody barely processed the life preserver flying down at him. "Cody!" Murray yelled. "Come on; we'll pull you back up!"
Cody rested one arm on it but continued to stare at the water. Scofield came up once, without Nick, and dived again. After the sequence repeated a second time, Cody couldn't stand it. Pushing the life preserver away from him, he followed Scofield under the water.
"Cody the Mustache!" Angelo shouted.
Giovanna gripped the railing, her knuckles turning white. Each second felt like an agonizing year. Now none of them were coming back up. She was just about ready to dive in after all three of them.
"Cody!" she wailed. "Nick! Jack!"
There was no response.