§ § § -- May 8, 1995
Roarke extended a hand to help Greta Gail alight from the jeep that deposited her and Barry Lorimer at the plane dock Monday morning. "Ah, Miss O'Donahue…Mr. Lorimer. Again, I'm very glad we could be of help to you."
"It's been kinda fun, all things considered," Lorimer remarked with a grin. "Thanks again, Mr. Roarke and Leslie, especially for putting up with me Saturday. I was kind of a jerk, wasn't I?"
"Oh, you were merely on a mission," Roarke said graciously. Then he seemed to remember something and leaned forward with a serious look. "However…if I may beg your indulgence…I must ask you not to reveal what you have learned about the fates of the others who have, uh, 'disappeared' here."
"Don't worry, Mr. Roarke, if anyone ever does find out, they won't have heard it from me. Solemn word. Besides, nobody'd believe me anyway." Everyone laughed and Lorimer turned to Greta Gail, clearing his throat. "Uh…is there any chance I might see you again?"
Greta Gail regarded him with some surprise. "Well," she said, a slow smile crossing her features, "next time you're in Richmond, look me up and we'll have some Chinese together. Maybe we can talk then."
Lorimer grinned hugely. "Excellent. See you on the plane." He shook hands with Roarke and Leslie, then sauntered towards the dock.
Greta Gail snickered softly and reached out to shake Roarke's and Leslie's hands in her turn. "Here's wishing all the best of luck for the success of the oatmeal business," Leslie said, squeezing Greta Gail's hand.
The young heiress smirked. "I've got high hopes for it, especially since I have a little trump card up my sleeve. I'm the only one who knows how Mrs. Fearghal made her oats."
"What about your niece, though?" Leslie asked. "Won't she uncover the secret?"
"Nope. I found out that Mrs. Fearghal never learned how to write, and Fearghal wasn't gonna give her little endeavor enough credit to bother making a record of the method either. So if Dad wants me back in the family fold at all, he better treat me nice." Her laugh mingled with theirs. "I'll send you a shipment of the first oats off the production line. Thanks again, so much!"
Roarke and Leslie wished her a good trip and watched her jog onto the dock, returning her wave. Then Leslie remembered something and eyed her father curiously. "I wonder why Mr. Lorimer didn't ask…" she murmured, mostly to herself.
"Ask what?" Roarke inquired.
"Oh…he mentioned yesterday on the way to his bungalow that he meant to look into the disappearances of Amelia Earhart and Jimmy Hoffa," she said. "I thought for sure he was going to ask you, but I guess he forgot."
"Ah," said Roarke, watching the plane taxi across the lagoon. "Actually, it's just as well he didn't. I have no knowledge whatsoever of Mr. Hoffa's fate: that did not happen here, as I am sure you're aware."
"Oh? And what about Amelia Earhart?" Leslie persisted.
"She made me promise never to tell anyone," Roarke replied, pleasantly but firmly, and gave her the mysterious smile that he knew full well always exasperated her. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, while he grinned secretly to himself.
The character of David Farley is from the episode "Jungle Man/Mary Ann and Miss Sophisticate"; the character was played by Dennis Cole. Pete Gilbert was portrayed by Robert Goulet and appeared in the episode "Rogues to Riches/Stark Terror". And Duke McCall (Dennis Cole again) was a fantasizer in the final-season episode "The Mermaid and the Matchmaker"/The Obsolete Man".