CHAPTER SIX
Buck's van, I-20/59—Sunday afternoon—4:30 PM:
"How did we do, Cool Hand?" Willy asked. "What is the total in the fund?"
"It's embarrassing," he said and smiled. "No, actually it's not. Even with expenses, we 'won' over $105,000.00. I feel like a bank robber. Well, I would if I had ever robbed a bank, I think. By the way, only our original fund, plus a modest addition, is in the bank. This is a cash only fund."
"I know what you mean," Cathy said. "I have been actually looking out the back window since we left. It's a bit uncomfortable but I don't intend to give any of it back, to the casinos that is, but I do feel as though I have taken too much from you guys."
"Never feel guilty for taking money that is given to you, Cathy," Gail said. "We all pocketed some, close to $2,000.00 each. If you feel any guilt, forget about it. You earned it as much as anybody here. If you haven't, you will. You can be sure that this bunch will call on you to earn it."
"I don't feel as though I have earned anything. It has been just like a vacation. So far everything has been fun. Everything! And as far as the extra little chore, that will be a cake walk. I don't really like little Joe but he is on the list of those to be checked out anyway. Betty's profile on him was dead on; he's a real prick but he's no problem.
"How did Wayne and C. T. do?" Swede asked. "I didn't get a chance to see them this morning."
"As you know, we divided the casinos that had machines on the list There are 13 in the area but we listed only 11 as having the right machines. We visited the Casino Magic, the Copa Casino, Treasure Bay, the Lady Luck and the Isle of Capri. I don't think we attracted any unusual attention. We didn't take more than one jackpot from each place, one per person per casino, that is. And we drew blanks on one, the Lady Luck. We'll double up on her the next time."
"That's further proof of what I have always said," Swede said.
"And what would that be?" Susan asked.
"Lady Luck is a bitch!"
"The problem," Buck said, "is that the ordinary guitar picker is on the wrong side of the odds when courting the 'Lady'. Her father is Mr. Mathematical Odds."
"And what would her mother be called?" Gail asked. "Forget I asked that dumb question. I never quite understand the connections you make to philosophy, mathematics and the computer sciences. But how did the other set of pirates do? Wayne and C. T.. You know, I kind of liked those two."
Jeannine said, "That is probably because they have the same streak of larceny in their souls that the rogues we know and love have."
"I'm crushed," Swede said. "All this time the four of us thought we were chosen because we are handsome, suave and debonair. We are smart enough to know that we were chosen and not the other way around. That would make you girls the choosers and us the choosees. Right?"
"I'll say one thing for the four of you," Cathy said. "You are as full of it as anybody I have ever met and you girls are lucky to have them. I must admit to some envy. Did you talk to Wayne and C. T., Buck?"
"Briefly. They 'won' more than we did."
"Weren't they concerned about running up the red flag?" Betty asked. "We divided our 'winnings' among nine people. Two people winning, what?. . .$50,000.00+ each. Didn't they agree to remain low-key?"
"I ask them about that and they said that it wasn't a problem. C. T. found a billfold in the parking lot. It belonged do some guy named Roberts. They used his identity to claim most of the winnings."
"Didn't they look at the picture on the. . .what? His driver's license?" Betty asked.
"I guess not," Buck said. "They had him paged and by chance, located him two casinos later and returned it to him. C. T., as a gesture of generosity, put $200.00 in it before he returned it."
"What did the guy say?" Susan asked. "I mean about the money. I know he expected it to be empty when he got it back."
"Something to the effect that if he knew where he lost it, he would take it back and loose it again. He didn't know he had lost it until he got it back. C. T.'s guilt induced gesture covered about what he had lost."
"Have they gone back to Kentucky yet?" Jeannine asked. "You said something about their picking up some trucks today."
"They said 'tomorrow' but they meant this 'tomorrow', or Monday. They went fishing today."
"There's no way they can scam the fish, is there?" Gail asked.
"I'll ask him the next time I talk to him," Swede said. "Our fishing luck could use an upgrade."
"Speaking of fishing," Cool Hand said, "what shape is your gear in, Willy?"
"Gathering dust, mostly. We have been spending most of our time elsewhere, as you know. It's just as well, though, for now. I am behind on a few chores around the house that I need to take care before the cruise."
"Same here," Buck said. "Speaking of which, the cruise that is; will you have any control over cabin assignments, Cool Hand?"
"I have to contact the cruise line tomorrow," Cathy said, offering an answer for Cool Hand. "I need to reserve two more cabins for Wayne and C. T. Interest has been high. We exceeded the usual number of sales, according to the bank's records. The cruise line people were delighted. Why do you ask?" "It will be 'convenient' if Swede's cabin is adjacent to Mr. Smith's and preferable if Wayne's and C. T.'s are at least one deck away. Actually, it doesn't matter which of our cabins is next to his."
"I have mentioned to the cruise line that there will be some VIPs from the bank aboard and that it would be 'proper' if they had choice cabins. In making those choices, I may be able to arrange it. I'll suggest the possibility of personality conflicts, or something. I'll let you know. For now, I intend to take a nap. You people have kept me up too late the last couple of nights but I loved every minute of it."
Dockside—Port Canaveral—Saturday, just before start of cruise:
"Is everybody here?" Willy asked.
"If you ask Cathy," Susan said, "she would probably tell you that everybody and his brother is here."
"Tell me," Jeannine said, "are those people, the four VPs, as asshole at work as they have been here this afternoon? Don't they know that Cathy is on vacation. Well, maybe she is working but they could lighten up."
"What you see is what you get," Cool Hand said. "They are the 'Aristocracy' , the ''Ruling class', both on company time in the public's eye. If you don't believe it, just ask them. Actually, you don't have to ask them, as you have observed. Our man, Joseph, is not as bad but he fits the pattern. They will have the lot of us running errands for them if we aren't careful. That is why I have been avoiding them. I intend to give them time to get to their cabins, which thanks to Cathy are away from ours."
"Except for my cabin," Swede said. "I don't have to be nice to them, though but I will. Cheer up, Cool Hand. Maybe they will get seasick."
"It's not likely. They usually make all of these cruises. They have their sea legs."
"Cathy just signaled us to come on aboard," Gail said and started across the level gangplank. "Maybe our favorite VPs are out of her hair, and ours, for a while."
"How is it going, Cathy?" Willy asked, giving her a hug.
"These people are like a herd of chickens."
"Flock!" Buck said.
"Whatever. You can wring a chicken's neck. Children would be better. You can threaten, even force them. But not this bunch. I need a drink."
"Is everybody in place?" Swede asked.
"Yes," Cathy said, pointing to an officer about five years younger than herself , "and see that young hunk? He is going to make an announcement that while aboard ship, all travel arrangements will be made by ship's company only. At least he is going to tell that to the block of passengers the bank arranged for. In less than an hour, they will belong to him and I will be on vacation. I hope."
"Don't relax too much, Cathy," Buck said. "By the way, does he have his computer with him."
"Oh, yes. I got my hands on it briefly but that was while assisting him to his cabin. There was no chance to see anything; too many prying eyes. I also checked him over but he didn't have the 3.5 inch disk on him. If he brought it aboard, it's probably in his luggage. There may be a problem in getting close to him because of Mrs. Hightower. Her husband is blind or just doesn't care."
"Be careful," Swede said. "What else have you learned about him?"
"He is a Bonanza fan. He has oak leaf clusters to prove it."
"What do you mean?" Buck ask. "Bonanza?"
"The TV western. You know, the one with Ben, Hoss, Hoss 1 and Hoss 2. Just about every conversation I have had with him includes at least one quote from that show. Can you imagine someone quoting line from some dumb TV series.?"
The entire group almost burst into laughter, even Susan who had done the same thing to Cool Hand. "It is somewhat dorky, I suppose," she said.
Realizing that she had touched on a small nerve, however trivial, Cathy said, without as much as a flinch, inflection or hesitation, "It just doesn't have the intellectual impact of Star Trek." She held a straight face as long as she could but it gave way to a betraying grin.
"Let's check the pool area," Gail said. "They have a well stocked bar, I understand. They serve Romulan Ale, I think."
"In the square glasses, right?" Cathy said, holding up two thumbs. "Hey, I studied the classics too. I ain't no dummy."
"That leaves us to get the carry-on luggage to the cabins, guys," Willy said. "But that is why we are permitted to stay on the planet—to lift and carry heavy objects."
"Have you seen Wayne and C. T.?" Cool Hand asked. "Wayne is attired as some sort of dignitary from Asia. His accent is atrocious. C. T. is posing as his assistant, or something. I have no idea what they are up to. They pretended not to know me. Are there any machines they can hit aboard the ship?"
"I don't know," Swede said. "I'll try to find out. How is the old stomach holding up?"
"We haven't left dock, yet. But don't remind me."
"I do hate to remind you but we are already moving," Willy said. "Just keep you mind off of it. By the way, just what is Romulan Ale? Is there such a thing?"
"Who knows?" Buck said. "Did you bring all of your 'gear', Swede?"
"Everything. I can even do a Cambridge attack if the need arises. It's part of the kit. Let's join the ladies at poolside. Maybe we will find out if the Romulans have made the booze deliveries."
Tuesday—Day Three—Main dining room:
"Any luck on getting the disk, Cathy," Buck asked. "I saw him using his laptop earlier this afternoon."
"No, but I was watching him myself, through my binoculars. I bought them at the ship's store." She held them up and smiled, "Buchnell, with a zoom lens. All I could see was his entry screen. He has a killer of a password. It must have 15 to 20 characters in it. I couldn't pick up on any of them but he has received and sent something, E-mails or downloads. I'll keep an eye on him but I'm not the only one. 'Lady' Hightower is around him more than she is with 'Lord' Hightower. Their behavior is, to say the least, unusual." "What we don't want to happen is for them to have a social/marital flair up," Buck said. "At least not until we get a look at that disk. And it may have nothing on it. Why do you have your binoculars with you, here, at supper? Pardon me, at dinner?"
"The skies are perfectly clear and the stars look great through these," she said, again holding the binoculars up as though they were a prize catch. She nodded her head and said, "At three o'clock, the Royals are being seated."
"You don't like them any more than Cool Hand, do you?" Willy said.
"It's an acquired level of fondness." She smiled and nodded to the VPs who were being seated at the Captain's table. "He has his laptop with him."
"Why don't you go over and speak to Mr. Smith, Cathy?" Buck said.
"Because I don't like the son-. . ." She stopped in mid word, paused for a moment and then continued. "That laptop is so cumbersome. He probably wishes he did not have it with him and just may ask good old Cathy to return it to his cabin. After all, she does work for the bank."
"Right!" Buck said. "Your best smile, girl. Swede, Susan, didn't you leave something in your cabin?"
"Her smile isn't what will do the trick," Gail said as Cathy walked up behind Joe and leaned forward just enough to get his attention. "We should take notes."
"This is as close as I will ever get to dining with the Captain," Cathy said, continuing to smile and nuzzling Joe with her breast. 'Lady' Hightower forced a chagrin like smile while her husband was less subtle in his expression of humor at his underling's position at the table. She straightened her stance and asked, "Did everybody get the right type and location of cabin? I just wanted to take this chance to speak to you guys. Everybody has been so busy; there's just so much to do aboard this ship."
"Why do you have the binoculars, Miss. . .?" one of the wives asked.
"Miss McBlevins," Joe said.
"She has just been hired at the bank and bless her heart, Mr. Hightower said, "She has been burdened with dealing with the likes of us, seeing to our needs and such."
"It has been my pleasure," Cathy said. "The binoculars? . .I have been bird watching. Whenever the ship gets close to an island, they will fly out close to the ship. They are beautiful! I meant to put them into my cabin but lost track of time. They are in the way now so I decided to do it before we eat."
"Would you be dear and take my laptop back to my cabin for me, Cathy?" Joe asked.
"No problem," she said, again leaning over his shoulder to reach the computer. The maneuver did not escape the notice of Miss Hightower. She took three steps away from the table, turned and said. "Mr. Smith, I will need the key card to your cabin. I will return it shortly."
"I have two keys," he said. "I have the cabin to myself. You can return it anytime. Don't interrupt your dinner just for that."
Swede and Susan were already in their cabin, which adjoined Joe's by way of a pair of double doors, when she got there. She opened the door on Joe's side of the passage and said, "He didn't have the disk on him at the table," Cathy said, "but I do have the laptop, for what it's worth."
Swede looked at the machine and said, "Bingo! It's in the A drive. He removed it, started his own machine and said, "Give me a minute and I will have a copy. Start his machine, Cathy."
Both high-speed computers were booted within seconds. "See!" Cathy said. "Look at that password. We will never guess it unless you have some sort of hacking program that will do it. It has. . . " Counting, she said, "Fifteen, sixteen. . .seventeen characters."
"Look at these numbers!" Swede said. "They are dated. They look like. . .these are the numbers for the lotto slot machines. Put his disk back and let's get back to the dining room before too many people notice our absence. We can work on the password later. One more thing: Put his machine where he would most likely use it. There aren't many choices, especially if he is online."
"It would have be where I put it," Cathy said, "and it would be within the patch cord's length of the jack. Why?"
"I have a little device to install, a camera. It's resolution is not the best in the world."
"Can you get it into the overhead light?" Susan asked. "I'll take the cover off. Where is the tool kit.?"
"In the dresser, bottom drawer."
"Will you be able to retrieve the camera?" Cathy asked. "The cruise line people may find it later if you can't get into the cabin."
"No problem," Swede said, holding up a plain keylock card with an X marked on it with a felt tip. We have had keys to every cabin aboard since the second night. We'll get it back. Those little buggers are expensive. Pull the little wire out, the one on the camera, and hand it to me. Be careful with it; it's small." He attached the small device to the inside of the fixture with duck tape and said, "Look at my computer and tell me what you see."
"Joe's laptop," Susan said. "If only no one blocks the view, which is likely to happen. What else?"
"A couple of microphones and we're out of here."
"We should not arrive back in the dining room together," Susan said. "You go on ahead, Cathy."
"If the camera doesn't give you a good view, can't you use something called a keylock device?" Cathy asked.
"I could," Swede said, "but he would see it. He plugs and unplugs his machine into jacks all over the ship. How do you know about keylock hardware anyway?"
Cathy smiled and said, "I will run on ahead. We have taken more time than we should have."
When Swede and Susan arrived back at the dining room, Cathy was still at the Captain's table, speaking with some of the diners. Joe wasn't present but Mr. Hightower introduced her to the captain. She excused herself and started to walk off but then handed Joe's keylock card to Mrs. Hightower and said, "Give this to Mr. Smith. He may need it later."
"We have the 3.5," Swede said, "and it is just what we hoped it would be: the lotto numbers."
"He could have gotten them off the casino's website. Are they dated?"
"Yes, but I didn't look close enough to see how current they are," Swede said. "Then too, I don't know when the numbers change. Do you?"
"I'm not sure. We'll take a look at after we eat. You guys did a great job!"
"Yeah," Cool Hand said, "but if we aren't careful, those thieves are going to steal our money."
Swede's cabin—8:30 P.M.: "This shouldn't take long," Swede said. "We can do this and join the girls for the show. The files on the disk will run in a Lotus word processor. It is just a list of dates and numbers, for the six mega-payoff slots."
"Check the website," Willy said. "See if they are current, or why he would even keep this information. Anybody can get this information."
"Anybody can get most of this," Swede said. "The last set of numbers does not appear on the casino website. These are current! These can be played. . .now—until. . ? until midnight tomorrow. He received the last set sometimes after midnight, Sunday. Yes, it looks as though somebody has designs on our money and his name is Joseph!"
"This is definitely a problem, Huston!" Cool Hand said. "How did he get the numbers? He would have to be the person who wrote the program to be able to get the numbers out of the system."
"And to do that he would have to have help," Buck said. "Those people don't trust the programmers any more than they would us. We plan and talk about the possibilities of walking away with the big one and he apparently has put together the team to do it."
"Your mics are in place. Right?" Willy said.
"And they are sound activated," Swede said. "When the door to his cabin opens, we will get a video, and audio, of the action." Swede smiled and added, "I wonder if we will get an encore performance of his last video!"
"Well, let's let it rest for a while," Willy said. "Jeannine said that there are a couple of pretty good comedians in the show. We can still make it."
Wednesday—Noon—Deckside Brunch:
Swede and Buck were overloading their plate when they spotted Wayne and C. T. in line, doing the same. "What's with the get-up, Wayne?" Swede asked, trying not to grin too broadly.
"He met this chick, on line," C. T. said, "and he told her that he was some sort of deposed prince from somewhere in Europe. He invited her and her friend to come along on the cruise."
"Yeah," Wayne said, "and it cost me the price of two tickets but it's about to pay off."
"What country are you supposed to be a prince of?" Buck asked.
"He doesn't know!" C. T. said, laughing. "He forgot what he told her. It's not important, though. Neither she nor her friend really cares; they are getting a free trip at his expense. With the whistle, he can afford it."
"She is to meet me here for lunch," Wayne said. "She and her friend. Don't give us away, Buddy."
"Us!" C. T. said..
"Us!" Wayne replied. "You have a case for her friend, C. T. and you know it."
"If I do anything" Swede said, "it will to be to take notes. What else is happening? What about the panel trucks?"
"They are in near new condition," Wayne said, "Chevrolet 30's. The Supreme Corporation in Griffin, Georgia made the bodies. We can use them for anything but for now, as you asked, we are holding them." He nodded toward two young females approaching the dining area and said, "Remember: My name is Prince Wahna. That's Wah' Nay!"
The two girls were whispering to each other as they approached but stopped when they thought Wayne had seen them. Wayne held up a piece of lettuce with a fork and said, speaking to his manservant, C. T.'s role in their little charade, "Leaves? I do not eat leaves. Jackson, did not the chef receive my request for succulent goat, basted in Llama milk?"
One of the girls placed her hand close to her friend's ear and said, "These two are so full of it. When are we going to tell them that we work for the Paducah police department?"
"When the cruise is over. Surely you don't expect me to come clean before then, do you? As crooked and paranoid as the two of them are, they may think that we are some sort of agents instead of just a pair of McCracken County clerks assigned to the Sheriff's Department. We may get another cruise out of it. They are sort of cute, in a cloddish way."
"Prince Wahna," Buck said, forcing himself not to smile, "perhaps we can speak later. After the evening meal?"
"Yes, my good man," Wayne said. "Jackson, make the appointment!"
"There is Willy and Cool Hand," Swede said. "Grab us a table in some shade. I'll flag them down. You know, Wayne does sort of look like a. . .prince, or something."
"I suppose," Buck allowed, "if you like old movies and bad acting. And speaking of movies, his girl, his hope to be girl, bears a resemblance to that good looking female actress who played the part of the British secret agent's love interest, you know the one who walked up on the beach."
"A lot of them walked up on beaches in those movies," Swede said, "but you're right. She is a cuttie. They both are, and are probably smarter than Wayne and C. T. combined as well."
"Did we record anything, Willy?" Buck asked.
"Yes, we did," Willy replied, "but the stewards arrived to clean the cabin before we could play it. The timer indicated over 30 minutes of audio and video." He held up the CD and smiled. "Joseph had a couple of visitors. They came aboard when we docked this morning. I didn't get a look at them but I don't think they are native to the island."