Chapter 2
Steve flipped the burger on the grill and then reached for his beer, taking a swig of it and then quickly covered his mouth with the back of his hand to prevent the liquid from coming out as he laughed at a story being told by Chin.
"I swear on my life," Chin argued with a hand up in a 'Scout's Honor' pose. "It really happened that way."
"I was there," Kono defended. "It's true."
"That's crazy," Danny laughed.
Steve closed the grill and turned around with his beer in his hand. "I believe it. I would never in a million years cross a Hawaiian wahine of any age. Look at Kono when she gets all riled up. I steer clear."
"As well you should," she agreed, setting a hand on Gracie's shoulder. "You may not look Hawaiian but here is another tough wahine."
The three men, Steve, Chin and Danny all agreed, raising their beer.
"Wahine?" Gracie commented with a smile. "That may be the first time you all haven't used the word keiki, when talking about me."
"Keiki?" Kono replied. "No, you aren't a keiki anymore. Although the guys here will always see you as that so get used to it."
"College bound keiki," Chin added. "No, I think once you start cheering at The Rose Bowl the word keiki will cease to exist."
Gracie smiled brightly over that vision and then it faded just slightly as she glanced over at Danny, "But cheering at Aloha Stadium would also make me a true Hawaiian wahine. I'd be happy doing it at either place."
"What?!" Chin asked, shocked over her suggestion of staying local, not aware of the financial burden that Steve and Danny had discussed. "No more UCLA?"
Gracie shrugged, "It's no big deal."
"Yes it is," Danny jumped in. "You've worked your ass off since you were eight and you are going to cheer at The Rose Bowl if I have to sell my soul to get you there."
Gracie rolled her eyes but the wide grin returned, "Thanks, Danno, but staying home would be nice too. Look at all the great BBQ's here at Uncle Steve's I would miss."
Danny didn't reply but just winked at her. The gesture told her two things, one, that he was proud of her for the offer and two that he would get her there no matter what. She wanted UCLA more than anything else in the world, but also knew that her father was not as financially secure as Stan her stepfather, and also knew that Danno would never in a million years take help from him. She would go to UCLA on her Father's dime no matter what it cost him. That was what bothered her the most.
Steve saw the proud look in Danny's eyes as he winked at Gracie. She was a great kid, proving her selfless behavior by giving up her dream rather than see Danny burdened by it. He knew then that Danny would do anything to get her there.
At that moment he glanced over in his direction and the two men exchanged a glance. Danny's expression went from proud to worried yet again as he nodded to Steve. He got the meaning of it, solidifying their earlier discussion on the matter. Danny would sell his soul to give his daughter her dream. They both agreed she deserved it.
…
Danny stood in Steve's kitchen getting a beer when he heard a knock at the front door.
He glanced out the window seeing Steve and the others sitting in lawn chairs down by the water.
He answered it and was taken back by the well-dressed man carrying a briefcase. He looked at Danny just as surprised, expecting Steve to answer.
"Hey," Danny said. "Can I help you?"
Gordon looked past him trying to locate the person he had come to try and persuade one last time before going to the airport and catching the last plane out for the day. His previous reservation was bumped to a later flight due to the insistence of his client to get McGarrett to sign on.
"I'm looking for Steve McGarrett."
"Yea," Danny pointed over his shoulder with his thumb, "he's out back. Is he expecting you?"
"Not in a formal appointment way, no, but we do have some business to discuss."
"Really?" Danny replied, wondering what kind of business Steve would have with this guy, stepping back and inviting him in. "C'mon in."
Gordon came in and stood in the living room as Danny went out to the lanai. "Steve!" he shouted to him across the backyard, getting his attention as he turned in the chair, looking back at him.
"What?"
"There's someone here to see you."
It took him about three seconds to try and guess who, not expecting anyone, especially anyone that Danny wouldn't know. By the time he stood up and headed inside he had a good idea who it was.
"Shit," he mumbled under his breath, hoping it wasn't him, but as he came in the house he could see him standing in the living room.
"Who is that guy?" Danny whispered to him as he came in the kitchen, clearly seeing the annoyed expression on Steve's face.
"Just some lawyer who wants to hire me for a bullshit job. I already turned him down three times!" he said angrily. "Guy doesn't take no for an answer." He went by Danny, motioning for him to go back outside, "I'll be out in a minute. Let me get rid of him, again!"
"Mr. Linfield," Steve said as he came toward him. "I thought I made myself clear yesterday when we spoke on the phone. I'm not interested."
"Yes, Mr. McGarrett I understand, but my client…"
"Tell your client, Cash McKay, Peter McKay or whoever that I said no. No is no. I have guests here and…"
"Forty thousand," Gordon blurted out. "The offer is now forty thousand dollars for two weeks."
Steve stared at him dumbfounded over the new offer.
When he didn't reply right away Gordon upped it once again, "Ok, fifty thousand. That's twenty-five thousand a week, Mr. McGarrett!" He needed him to get on board. Peter and Cash McKay had insisted that this was the person for the job, telling Gordon to make it happen. Those words were not a request by Peter McKay but a demand, and if he couldn't make it happen, then he knew quite well that there was another lawyer around the corner that would, as well as the other future requests by the McKay family.
The outrageous offer of money was Gordon's way of making it happen.
"You got to be kidding me," Steve said.
"I certainly am not, Mr. McGarrett. Now see here, fifty thousand dollars is quite a sum of money. There must be something you want or need that a simple two-week job could get for you. No offense but it would take you years to save up that kind of money on your salary."
There was really nothing off the top of his head that he needed but having fifty thousand dollars in his account would be really nice, but once again the job itself just seemed to good to be true. It was that moment that he heard Gracie's laugh coming from the backyard.
He could use the money of course, but not having it wouldn't affect his life either way, however he thought just then whose life would be changed because of it. Danny could use the money.
"You know," Steve said, "my partner might be interested in this job."
Gordon shook his head, "The offer is for you, not…"
"I understand, but if you run a background check on Detective Daniel Williams, I think you'll be more than satisfied with his credentials."
"It is your credentials that bring me here Mr. McGarrett. The job offer is for you and only you."
He thought it over for a second longer and decided that maybe it was a gift in disguise. He could help pay for Gracie's college with this money. He could keep some for himself and give the rest to her.
It didn't take him long to make a final decision based on that. Whatever the, 'too good to be true', lie ahead, Gracie was worth the risk.
"Ok," Steve said, holding his hand out, "I'll do it."
Gordon's face lit up with pleasure over his agreement, shaking his hand, "Excellent, excellent! That is good news." He then went to the coffee table with his briefcase. "I have the contracts right here for you to sign."
"Hold on, I'm not signing that until I've had chance to go over it in more detail. There's a couple of rules on there that need to be discussed."
Gordon's pleased expression faded just slightly, knowing he was going to miss his flight and have to stay another night, hoping Steve didn't change his mind by the next day. "Very well, Mr. McGarrett. I'll leave you a copy of the contract and we can discuss details tomorrow. How about ten in the morning?"
"Sounds good." He stuck his hand out and was about to offer him a beer but changed his mind. "I'll see you here tomorrow at ten." He walked him to the door.
Steve held the contract in his hand and went out back to the BBQ.
"So who was that guy?" Danny asked as Steve sat down in the chair by the water.
"He's a lawyer that wants to hire me for a private security job."
They all looked surprised and then impressed.
"Where?" Chin asked.
Steve shrugged, "Somewhere over by the Cook Islands, on a yacht."
"On a yacht?" Danny laughed. "You got to be kidding me?"
"That's what I said," Steve replied.
"Wow," Kono huffed, "that's a sweet deal. For how long?"
"Two weeks."
"When?" Danny asked.
"I leave in two weeks."
"Do you need an assistant," Gracie asked, raising her hand. "I'm available."
Steve laughed and reached over putting a hand on her shoulder. "You would be my first choice."
"What am I," Danny argued, "chopped liver?"
"I tried to get you on board partner, but they are adamant that they only want the best, me," he grinned getting a laugh from Chin and Kono.
"Yea, whatever," Danny snorted.
"Seriously though," Chin asked, "what does the job entail?"
"Seriously…" Steve said uneasily, "it sounds like I'm babysitting some rich ass kids for two weeks. I guess the last time they took daddy's yacht out for a spin they caused some serious damage so now they have to have security if they want to play on it again, which basically means I'm babysitting a yacht."
"What?" Danny snorted again as he laughed. "Why in the world would you of all people take that job? It's going to be miserable."
"It pays fifty grand," Steve said with a raised eyebrow.
"Wait, what?!" Kono exclaimed. "Did you say fifty grand?"
"You heard right. Fifty thousand dollars for two weeks."
"You gotta be shitting me?" Danny said, staring at him with his mouth hung open in disbelief.
"Fifty thousand dollars?" Gracie repeated. "Wow, Uncle Steve, you are so lucky. Who is it, the Kardashians?"
He knew that name and knew of the reality fame, but that was it. "No, the McKay's," he replied, watching her reaction wondering if they had some sort of pop culture impact that these Kardashians had.
Gracie shook her head, "Never heard of them. Where are they from?"
Steve now shook his head, "I don't know. I have another meeting with the lawyer tomorrow to sign the contract and go over some of the rules that are just not going to cut it for me."
"Rules," Danny snickered, "they expect YOU to follow rules. They really want to get their monies worth out of you don't they?"
"Or maybe they have no idea what they're getting into," Kono added as they all laughed.
"What kind of rules?" Chin asked.
Steve read off the paper. "These are my two favorites. 'Subject will wear a uniform at all times that will be provided at no cost. Subject will not mingle or interact with members of the McKay family or any guests of the McKay family while on board the vessel or during excursions.' "
"Uniform?!" Danny roared, looking him up and down, "I gotta have a picture of that? Oh wait! Oh my god, I hope they put you in starch white shorts," he roared, getting a round of laughter from the others as well.
"Knock it off," Steve chuckled. "I'm not wearing a uniform. That is one of the rules they are just going to have to do without."
"And how are you not supposed to interact with the people on board?" Gracie said with a disgraced look on her face. "I'm only seventeen and even I know that is stupid."
Steve motioned to her, "Thank you! I agree."
"What else is on there?" Kono asked.
"I have to eat in the kitchen. I'm on call 24 hours a day the entire trip. Oh wait, here's a good one. If we go on any shopping excursions, I'm in charge of getting purchases back to the boat." Even he laughed at that one which he and the others considered absurd.
"Well you have fun on that job," Danny said, finishing off his beer. "Like I said, they are going to make you earn every penny." He stood and motioned to Gracie, "Time to hit the road, you have a book report to finish."
Gracie rolled her eyes and stood up, "Thanks for the burger, Uncle Steve."
"You're welcome, Gracie. Good luck on that book report."
"I'll see you guys." Danny put a hand on Steve's shoulder as he went by. "Thanks for the grub and just know that I will be praying for white shorts, sailor shirt and hat for your uniform."
"I'm not surprised," Steve laughed.
"Don't listen to him," Gracie rolled her eyes again. "This is a great job and you'll be great at it. They're lucky to have you."
He smiled over at her, pleased with his decision about the money for her college. "Thanks, Grace. You're a great kid, you know that?"
"Yes, and I deserve a car too, don't you think?" she joked, smiling over at her father.
"Car or UCLA? You decide?" Danny replied in that direct fatherly tone.
"Ok, ok!" she quickly caved. "UCLA."
…..
Steve sat across from Gordon the next morning on his lanai with a fancy black and gold trimmed pen in his hand. It had taken close to two hours to negotiate the contract, focusing on the 'rules' that he was to follow and getting rid of the ones he refused to.
Gordon had made several texts back and forth with both Peter and Cash McKay until they all came to an agreement, Steve feeling that he came out ahead on his end.
He looked over the contract one more time before signing his name.
"Excellent!" Gordon said, reaching over and taking it seconds after he lifted the pen from signing it. He folded it up neatly and put it back in his briefcase and took out an 8x10 manila envelope and slid it across the table.
"Here are your tickets. You leave on the 9th of this month as negotiated and return on June 28th. I will deposit half of the money in your account on the 9th and the other half on the 26th the day you depart the boat. Do you have any more questions for me Mr. McGarrett?"
"How will I get to the boat?
"The day you arrive in Rarotonga a driver will pick you up at the airport and transport you to your hotel where a room has been arranged for you. You will have a full day of rest to catch up on any jet lag and then the next day, the 12th, a driver will pick you up and take you to The Fair Maiden. It will dock back in port on the 26th and you will be transported straight to the airport to board your flight home. All the information is in this packet with your tickets." He tapped his finger on the manila envelope.
"The Fair Maiden?" Steve questioned. "That's the name of the boat I take it?"
"Yes, she's quite a spectacular vessel too. I had the privilege of being on board not long after Mr. McKay took possession. You can rest assured your accommodations will be very comfortable."
"I'm sure they will be," Steve replied uncaringly as he looked over the plane tickets. The flight was long, which he knew it was going to be. He flew from Honolulu to Sydney, Sydney to Auckland and then from Auckland to Rarotonga, the main island in the Cook Island chain. The whole trip was about 36 hours long, which is the reason for the extra days that were added to the agreement, which he negotiated as well. The flights were all first class, which he had not negotiated; it was just a perk for working with the super-rich.
"I've attached my card to the agenda, you can call me if you run into any problems during your travels, but once you are on the boat, you are under the orders of Cash and Amanda McKay as we discussed."
Steve nodded already having heard all that during the two-hour negotiation. He refused to take orders from the Captain of the yacht, which was really not frowned upon by either Cash or his father, but he could not and did not complain about taking orders from the owner, that was just going to have to be one of the downsides of the job.
He'd taken orders from some of the most uptight assholes on the planet when he was in the Navy, if he could handle that for eight years, he could deal with a couple of spoiled rich kids for a couple of weeks for $50,000.
…..
Danny pulled up to the curb of Honolulu International Airport the morning of the 9th of June and put the Camaro in park, releasing the trunk. He and Steve got out and went to the back.
"You sure about this trip?" Danny asked.
"Yep," Steve replied, pulling out his suitcase and garment bag. He'd been instructed to bring a suit from Gordon, since he refused the uniform, but there might be an occasion when it was needed. A night out at a nice dining establishment perhaps, he'd said, letting him know that he would not be sitting at the same table, but some of those places require a dinner jacket, even in the tropics. Better that he be prepared.
He picked up the suitcase and slung the garment bag over his shoulder. "Hold down the fort while I'm gone."
Danny shook his head, "I still can't believe you're doing this."
"You'll understand soon enough."
Danny narrowed his eyes, "What does that mean?"
"Never mind," Steve said, backing up. "I'll call ya and let you know how it's going."
Danny gave him a half ass salute, "Good luck, partner. I'll see you in a couple weeks."
….
The flight to Sydney was relaxing. The seat next to him was vacant and he had a good chicken dinner and a couple of beers while he read one of the books he'd brought for the trip; the story of a Russian spy.
The layover in Sydney was the worst part, it was twelve hours and he had nowhere to go except wander the airport, not even able to leave otherwise he'd have to go through customs again and he didn't want the hassle. So instead, he read, walked, read and even did a little shopping, picking up a nice pair of Bluetooth headphones and downloaded some more music on his phone to past the time.
Once in Auckland it was the same thing, waiting for the next flight, which was six hours away. He'd been up for close to twenty-four hours, barely getting any sleep on the plane. It was a bumpy flight and a family in first class with unruly kids didn't help the matter either. By the time he landed in Rarotonga he was feeling the brunt of the jet lag like he never had before, grateful for the free day of rest.
Customs was merely a formality on the small island. He came down to baggage claim and saw a man with a sign with his name printed on it as well as his luggage already on a cart.
"I'm Steve McGarrett," he said to him.
"Ah, very good Mr. McGarrett," he stuck his hand out, speaking with a heavy French accent, "I'm Frederick. I work for the McKay family as well." He was a foot shorter than Steve and about fifty pounds heavier too. He had dark brown eyes and tanned skin; his long dark hair was pulled back in a man-bun.
"Good to meet you, Frederick, please, call me Steve," he replied, shaking his hand, "What is it that you do for the McKay's?"
"I am the Chef aboard The Fair Maiden," he smiled proudly, showing off perfectly proportioned white teeth. "I will take you to your hotel, and on the way maybe you can tell me your likes and dislikes of food so I can accommodate your palate while you are aboard."
Steve smiled, "I'm really not a very picky eater."
"Everyone is picky, Steve, you just don't know it! Frederick will show you, you will see."
Steve chuckled over that, "Ok Frederick, I won't argue with the man who is in charge of my food for the next two weeks."
Frederick nodded with a broad smile. He liked him already. He seemed very easy going with a pleasurable mannerism, not at all what he had imagined the new head of security for The Fair Maiden to be. He was a gentleman and even looked the part Frederick thought excitingly, he would look even more striking in a security uniform, feeling his heart flutter just a bit over that vision as they walked side by side out of the airport.
….
Twenty minutes later Steve set his bag down just outside the five-star resort on Rarotonga and closed the trunk. He stuck his hand out, "Frederick, it has been a pleasure. I'm looking forward to my first meal under your expertise."
Frederick smiled proudly shaking his hand, having enjoyed the conversation with him on the drive from the airport. "You flatter me, Steve. You have a very interesting life experience with food, and I look very much forward to preparing your meals. I already have several in mind that I hope will fill you with great satisfaction."
"I'm sure they will."
"I will see you then tomorrow morning at ten right here and then we begin our adventure!" he exclaimed with a finger in the air to emphasize his excitement.
Steve chuckled, "Will do."
The entrance of the hotel had no visible doors just an open lobby that allowed a spectacular view of the ocean on the other side. Unlike most visitors that arrived, he didn't stop and gaze at the wonder of it, too tired, and having come from a beautiful island himself, the ambiance was not impressive to him. He walked inside feeling a cool breeze from the air conditioning that did impress him. It was humid outside and the cool air felt good.
A young man in black shorts and a white polo shirt quickly greeted him, taking the suitcase from his hand, "Welcome to Rumors Resort, right this way Sir for registration."
Steve happily gave up the baggage and the garment bag to him, following him to the front desk. Fifteen minutes later he was standing in his room at the opened glass doors looking out on the beach. The room was impressive to say the least knowing it had to be at least $500 a night, or that's what it would have been in comparison to Waikiki. He thought it kind of a waste since all he had planned to do was sleep.
He stepped out on to the wooden deck that separated the room from the white sand beach and crystal blue water. He pulled out one of the four chairs at the table and sat down, taking out his phone to call Danny.
He looked up, feeling his stomach growl and changed his mind for the moment. Instead he went back in the room and located the room service menu on the side table amongst a variety of entertainment pamphlets stating what was available at the resort and surrounding areas of the island.
"Food," he whispered, glancing over the mixture of items that varied from steak and lobster to chicken fingers, wanting something quick and filling, hoping it would put him in a coma for the next fourteen hours.
He settled on a burger with cheese, bacon, onion, tomato and pickles all piled high on a pretzel bun with a side of fries and onion rings to top it off, making his mouth water. He added two Heineken beers to wash it down, knowing that would just seal the deal on the coma.
Before going back out he unzipped his suitcase and pulled out his shaving bag, taking it in the bathroom that had a separate shower and large bathtub big enough for two people with a skylight above it. He laid out the items he would need before bed, making it easier when the time came, feeling his body beginning to shut down from the lack of a good night sleep. He couldn't help but smile, being reminded of his Seal days when a twenty-minute nap here and there was sometimes all he got for days.
He splashed some water on his face and pulled out his laptop from his suitcase next and plugged it into the charger before going back outside to resume his call to Danny.
He sat in the chair and glanced at his watch. He found it amusing that it took him almost thirty-six hours to get to his destination, yet he was still in the same time zone as Hawaii. It was a little after 4:00 pm and he knew Danny would still be at work and hopefully at his desk, if they hadn't picked up a case.
It rang twice before he picked up. "Ready to come home yet?" he smiled into the phone.
"Not yet," Steve chuckled, kicking his Nike's off and relaxing back in the chair with his legs stretched out before him. "But I did meet Chef Frederick from The Fair Maiden. Nice guy, we got along well. I have a feeling if nothing else I'm going to be eating very well."
"Good thing. Never be rude to the person handling your food. Did you ask him about the family at all?"
"No, I didn't want to get into that with the Chef. It was a quick trip from the airport to the resort, only about fifteen minutes."
"Resort huh. How is the place they have you at for the night?"
"Nice, big and way too much considering all I'm going to do is eat and then go to bed. I'm fricking exhausted. It was a long ass trip to get here."
"I still don't get how you are in the same time zone as us."
"Well to make it even more confusing for you, it's winter right now, not summer."
"Ok stop, now you're really freaking me out," he laughed. "How is it there, pretty?"
"Yea, I mean it's the Cook Islands, but it's not any more prettier than Hawaii. It's small that's for sure. You'd go crazy here."
"When do you meet the boat?"
"Frederick is picking me up at ten in the morning."
"Have you done anymore research on the family?" Danny asked.
"No, just what I could find on the Internet and from what I got running a background from work. They just seem like your normal, run of the mill multi-millionaires."
"The brother Cash is really out there," Danny mentioned, "a playboy, but you don't see too much about the sister, Amanda."
"Yea, I found that too."
"She's pretty."
"Aren't all rich people pretty?" Steve huffed, "I mean if they aren't born that way, they always somehow seem to get there."
"Wow, that's very narrow-minded coming from you."
"Yea well, I'm tired, hungry and about to board a million-dollar yacht for what will probably be the longest two weeks of my life."
He looked over his shoulder hearing a knock at the door of his suite.
"Dinner is served. The room service is quick. I like that."
"All right then," Danny said, "you be good. Don't get in any trouble. Behave yourself and try to think positive. At the end of all the BS, you will be fifty thousand dollars richer. I hate you for that."
Steve smiled as he walked to the door, "Maybe I'll spread my good fortune around."
"To who?!" Danny laughed, "I Need More Ammo in My Life magazine, or maybe a lifetime supply of cargo pants from ?"
Steve laughed with his hand on the doorknob, "I'll call you when I can, Daniel. Goodbye."
He hung up just as he heard Danny mouthing off another type of imaginary military magazine.
….
Steve set the empty plate aside that had contained his burger, leaving a few fries that he just couldn't finish. He took a drink of the second bottle of Heineken and opened up his laptop.
He pulled up the file he had created from Gordon on the agenda of The Fair Maiden over the next two weeks. It contained many things including who would be the guests on board with the McKay family. Gordon cautioned him that none of the information he gave him was set in stone; Cash had a habit of changing things up at the last minute. Gordon described him as being sometimes careless but also having that right, he quickly defended.
Steve wondered what that 'right' was that gave him that privilege; money was the only thing he could imagine it being.
He looked over pictures of the boat from what he could acquire online to get an overview of how and where he would do his job. He shook his head and huffed over the fact that he was really going into this thing blind, not given any information that he considered vital. This was not the way he wanted to go about handling this 'security' job he was hired for. It was beneath his expertise. He'd asked for resources from Gordon and was practically laughed at over his request, which brought him to the conclusion once again that he was being paid an extraordinary amount of money to babysit two adult kids.
He turned away from the file and Googled the two names again, first Cash McKay. The search offered up five pages of photos from Facebook links, Twitter links and news articles with pictures of him at nightclub openings and black tie charity events in LA and New York. The one thing they all had in common, the handsome, tanned, blond haired, blue eyed playboy was always smiling brightly for the camera and had a beautiful woman on his arm each time, rarely the same one.
He then Googled Amanda McKay, she unlike her brother had far less pages to view. She was more reserved at the public events that she attended with her brother and father. The pictures were far fewer and she seldom had a man with her, but one man in particular did show up in a few shots. He had dark, slicked back hair with regal features on a tanned face. He was someone you might see on the pages of GQ magazine.
Amanda also was beautiful, her facial features resembled her brother's only in the feminine way, but her overall look was the complete opposite. She was dark haired and fair skinned. He couldn't make out her eye color because she very seldom looked directly at the camera; her head always turned slightly in the opposite direction of where the cameras were, or tilted downward. Her smile was forced that was obvious; from the first glance she looked as if she were being put off from having to go through the gauntlet of photographers. He clicked on one of the photos that was with the GQ man, his arm around her waist. The photo enlarged with an inscription beneath it.
'Bryce Bennett attends the J Werner Art Gallery opening in New York City with socialite Amanda McKay.'
She wasn't the headliner as her brother was; wondering if that pissed her off. If a picture could contain a thousand words, Amanda McKay's could certainly contain a thousand different reasoning's behind her expression and body language. He couldn't tell if she were angry, annoyed, or refusing to give them what they wanted by not looking at the camera because she simply didn't have to. She probably didn't have to do anything if it didn't please her he thought with a huff.
He stared at the picture, focusing on her profile, deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt; perhaps she had turned her head away because she was shy.
He smirked over that assumption. If he were a betting man, he wouldn't put money down on the shy theory; he'd go with the spoiled one and probably make bank.
He went back to the more detailed pictures of the boat that he had found online, which were far more useful than the few personal shots that Gordon had obtained when setting up the insurance for The Fair Maiden. The boat was impressive from every aspect. The outside was sleek and modern containing four levels, one looked to be the living area complete with an inside/outside room for large gatherings. The bridge mostly took up the fourth level but there was an outside seating area with a table, chairs and a lounger. The lower level was reserved for toys, such as jet skis' and a dinghy that could hold eight comfortably, used to get back and forth to land when not docked at a marina.
The pictures on the inside showed four suites, but Gordon informed him that there were seven bedrooms all together. He would have his own room, which consisted of a bed, small bathroom and a dresser. He assumed it was not one of those rooms shown, but he really didn't care as long as he didn't have a roommate. He had shared enough barracks in his lifetime to not ever want that experience again.
He closed the laptop and grabbed one more fry off the plate and finished off his beer. The fatigue was closing in around him and the sound of the waves from the beach outside reminded him of home, which relaxed him even more. He went in the bathroom; glad he had laid out the essentials earlier.
Five minutes later he was in bed, clearing his mind of the days ahead, they would be here soon enough. He just wanted a good night sleep. He faced the wall of windows with the air conditioning turned down to a cool sixty-eight degrees, knowing he would sleep like a rock in the cool air, which he did; for close to nine hours.
