A/N : Sorry for the delay. I faced a serious pc crash and had to start over.

Ch. 28 Low-hanging fruit

Two days later, late in the afternoon he was wandering along the streets of

Melbourne. The previous days had been busy with signing contracts and stuff like that. McGregor Shipping Lines Ltd was born. There was a ship, no name yet, but there was still no crew.

Jeez, mate, what kind of adventure did you get yourself into?

Was it really a good idea?

Where do I start? You should have asked for time to think about it. But no, you dummy, you said 'yes I will' and now you're toasted. Damn!

You've invested an extremely high share of your inheritance in a carrier adventure with a man you don't even know. Simply because he's Kate's father. If I tell Charlie, then I can already imagine her disapproving look and blame me for being an utter lunatic!

Finding a crew?

Easier said than done. Labour agencies propose a lot of sailors, but they're all

Filipinos or whatever except Aussies, New-Zealanders, British or Americans. Where am I going to find them?

Moreover Kate's reaction to the phone is still spinning in my head.

So, you're going to sail again, she has said, but I couldn't feel if she was happy with it or not. I think I felt a bit sadness in her voice. Does she really agree with my decision?

Her reaction was such that I forgot to tell her that I've invested the money of my inheritance in it. I could have had a bit more enthusiasm from her, then I would have had a better feeling!

He was brought back to reality when he heard two people shouting at each other and one of whom was a woman.

He looked up to see where the quarrel was coming from.

Damn, I know that voice!

"What?! Are you saying I made a pass at him?! He couldn't keep his filthy hand off me!"

"You're fired! At once! You've hit my chef with frying pan"

"He deserved it, but it wasn't that hard, he was still standing on both his feet!"

"It was not about him, but I lost all the steaks that were in it!"

"Well put your steaks where the sun never shines and put your frying pan next to them!", the woman yelled angrily. She turned around and quickly walked away.

Dylan smiled widely, "Well well, isn't it a surprise!", he said to the woman.

She looked up furiously, "What do you want now!", she snapped, but her anger

melted away when she saw who it was, "Dutchy!", Bomber exclaimed.

"Hi Bomber, you seem to be in the middle of a quarrel?", he asked.

"Oh! Yeah that asshole thinks that he can afford everything with me", she replied irritated looking over her shoulder.

He chuckled, "That means that he doesn't know you yet".

"Now he does", Rebecca said deadpan.

"You seem to need a drink, no?", he asked.

"Yeah, is it so obvious?"

He chuckled again. "Come," he said and turned to walk to a terrace.

"Hey?! Did you have had an accident? You're limping a bit", she asked surprised.

"Hmm, accident is not the exact word. I stayed employed and I was sent to

Afghanistan. During a patrol it went seriously wrong. We were ambushed and blown up. I survived with a leg in tatters. They put a platinum plate in it and after intensive physiotherapy I was able to walk again."

"Oh shit! That's really bad. And what are you doing now?", she replied quite

shocked.

"Well, I'll tell you in a minute. But, about the limping, is it still that obvious?", he

asked her.

"Nah, you only notice it when people know you, otherwise…", she replied.

They found a terrace and they sat down. The waiter brought them two beers and they took a sip.

"That's what I need", Rebecca grumbled looking annoyed in the direction of the

restaurant.

"What went wrong?", he asked.

"Oh, they all think that I'm a sex doll to play with, but then they are terribly wrong!", Rebecca answered.

"Yeah, what do they all dare to think nowadays", Dylan said deadpan.

He looked at her outfit and chuckled to himself. She was wearing a shorts showing her beautiful legs, strappy sandals, and a tight T-shirt that accentuated her ample bosom.

No wonder! Her outfit says something else.

"Did you move on?", he asked her.

"Nope, when you've irregular hours in restaurants and taverns, then it's hard to have a stable relationship", she replied with her well known sad look.

"And you? ", she let follow.

"Yeah, recently. With Kate", he replied with a smile.

Rebecca frowned, "Kate?! Our XO?"

"Yep."

"Ah! But, uh… Wasn't she with the CO, Mike?", Rebecca asked.

"Yeah, she was, but the relationship got stuck. He was no longer interested in her."

"Oh! I didn't expect that from him", she replied baffled.

Dylan shrugged, "No, but now I'm the lucky guy", he replied with a grin.

"For how long have you together?", she asked him.

"Not so long, I've found her back a few weeks ago", he said.

"Found her back? ", she tried.

"Later", he mumbled as he grabbed his glass.

They took another gulp.

"So, what are you doing now? In which unit are you now?", she asked him.

"I'm no longer in the Navy. I was fired because of my injury. I travelled a lot and

since a few days I'm in the field of the shipping industry."

"Oh, great!".

"And what are you going to do now?", he asked.

Rebecca shrugged and looked in the distance. "I don't know. Going back to the

labour agency", she replied annoyed.

He looked at her and she noticed it.

"Hey, you've such a weird look. Did I say something strange?"

"No, but maybe I have something for you", Dylan said and waited to gauge her

interest. He didn't have to wait long because she raised her eyebrows.

"What then?", she asked.

"I told that I'm in the shipping business again and I'm setting up a crew for a small merchant vessel. I'm looking for a medic and a cook. It's a bit better paid than the Navy and with these two functions, you'll be a petty-officer. Interested?", he said looking at her reaction.

Her eyes lightened up, "Oh! That would be great, … but…, what kind of

crewmembers are you going to have? I don't want to work between Chinese or

Filipinos", she said.

He smiled and shook his head, "Don't worry, the crew has to be our people", he said.

"That's better. Who's the captain?"

"I don't have a captain yet, but I'll be the first officer", he said.

"Wow! Promotion?", she asked impressed.

"Hmm, let's say that I'm also a little bit the owner ", he said showing a little space between his thumb and his index finger.

"Wow! Now I'm really impressed!", Rebecca said smiling and he shrugged.

"Which company and which vessel?", she asked.

"It's a new company, MGSL and we have a ship, but it doesn't have a name yet", he said.

She frowned, "A new company? Is that all right?"

"I committed to this and are you trusting me?", he asked.

"Yeah, I do", Rebecca said convinced.

"Well then, deal?", he asked.

"Deal!", she replied.

A broad smile appeared on his face.

This is it mate! Bomber has given you low-hanging fruit. Recruit your former

colleagues, then you'll have a very reliable crew!

He stood up, leaned over the little table, cupped her face in his big hands and kissed her.

"Thanks Bomber, you've just solved my problem!", he said as he sat down again.

Rebecca looked at him baffled.

"Why?"

Jeez what's happening to me?! I'm blushing like a schoolgirl.

Dylan noticed it and smiled.

"Well, I was wondering how to set up a crew. I already posted some

announcements, but nothing really reliable reverted to it. But by seeing you, I found the solution. I'm going to call our former crews".

"Ah?! Well then", she replied a bit surprised.

"We're no longer in the Navy. How do you want me to call you? Bomber,

Rebecca, Becca...?", he asked.

"It doesn't matter, make sure you don't call me Beccy, because then you'll get a

couple of blows", she replied.

He raised his eyebrows, "Oh? Why".

"At school. Some pestered me at school with that nickname", she grumbled.

"Hmm, well, I'll keep it in mind. But by the way, have you the phone numbers of our former colleagues? And those from the other boats? The Kingston, Bundaberg,…

My mobile was destroyed in that explosion and I lost all my contacts", he said.

"I still got them all", she said fishing the device out of her handbag.

"Well, let's see, hmm…", she murmured scrolling through the names.

"Blake?"

"Yeah, wait", he said creating a new entry in his phone.

"Dutchy, uh… Dylan, or sir, now that you'll be the XO", she started unsure.

"Becca, we're no longer in the Navy. Call me what you want. The most important

thing is that we're a team!", he replied.

She smiled sheepishly, " yeah, but what I wanted to ask is what's the full name of MGSL?"

"McGregor Shipping Lines", he replied and she saw that she looked at him wide-

eyed.

"Dutchy! What's this all about? Who's your business partner? Kate?", she

answered baffled.

He made a face, "Well Becca, it's a bit complicated and I think I need your advice here".

"From me?!", she replied even more baffled.

"Yes, you. My business partner is Kate's father, Arthur McGregor. We met by

accident in Melbourne", he said.

She cheered up. "Oh! Fantastic. So Kate is reunited with her father again. And

you're in relationship with her. A real family business!", she said joyously.

Dylan made a face again, "No, not so quick. She doesn't know it yet and he neither does he", he said ill-at-ease.

Rebecca's mood changed immediately, "Dylan! What are you playing? You didn't

tell her about her father! She's not a toy you know", she ranted indignantly.

He raised his hands, "Shh, shh Becca. It told you it's complicated and I understand your anger, but let me explain. I also told you that I found Kate back. In a café as a waitress."

He noticed that she looked at him wide-eyed again in disbelief.

"She was busy putting her life back on track because she was coming out of a deep depression. And I really didn't know how she would have reacted if I had told her that I had seen her father and that he was still looking for her. It could have caused another crisis and I wanted to avoid that."

Rebecca calmed down, "Was it that bad? "

"Uh-hu".

"But how? She has always been the most optimistic person on board".

"Outwardly yes, but I know her better and deep down there was sadness. She was one of the fired people…", but he was interrupted.

"She? One of the best officers?!"

"Yep, a deliberate move from the Brass and Knocker. Mike, Ryan and Bird are still employed. And I? They needed a lunatic in Afghanistan. Be that as it may, she suffered setback after setback and fell into depression. "

"Jeeeeez!"

"Indeed, but now I don't know how I have to handle it. Sooner or later Kate and

Arthur will have to meet, but how can I do that without creating a disaster?", he said looking at her in the hope of finding a reasonable solution.

Rebecca raised her eyebrows and took a gulp from the beer.

"Pfft, you've made it pretty difficult for yourself, no?", she said looking at him concerned.

"Yeah, you can say that".

"Hmm, you better tell the old man first. From what I hear from you, he isn't mentally old and he'll react in a reasonable way. I would say that if you tell him the truth, then you'll be two to think of a good approach", she said.

He nodded, "Yeah, you're right."

"Dylan, hmm, that sounds strange to call you that, when should I start?", she asked.

"Becca, wait, we'll first establish an employment contract that you'll have to sign and wait for the ship to be ready. Meanwhile I'll recruit other crew members. With the numbers you gave me, I don't think I will take much time. But, you have to give me your address where I can contact you for the contract and when the ship will be at our disposal", he said.

He gave her a wink, "One thing I'm already sure of is that we're going to have good meals! And if you don't mind, I'll to start calling these phone numbers right away", he said by waving his hand at her, "No, the drinks are for me."

"Oh? Thanks mate", she replied by putting her purse back in her handbag.

They said goodbye and went their separate ways.

To be continued