Ch 107

An hour later, with the boat out on the sea, they started their usual exchange on their holidays.

"So, X. How was your shore leave?" Nav asked with a grin.

"Short. But I finally had time to spend with my family."

"Did your husband spoiled you?" Nav wriggled her eyebrows. The room went silent as everyone waited for an answer. Kate and Mike observed each other thoughtfully for a while before she broke on a huge smile.

"Yes, he did."

"Oh! Tell us more!" Kate laughed

"Well, it started with breakfast in bed. Followed by a spa day where I got the full works. And then, Bellocale restaurant for dinner."

"How romantic! And then what?" Bomber asked walking closer to her.

"We went down to the beach for a walk under the moonlight."

"Last Friday night?" Bomber asked

"Yes, why?"

"It was a full moon."

"Aw, that's even better," Nav said grinning. "And what happened next?" she asked with a mischievous grin. Kate looked at Nav and Bomber seriously before she turned around to face the sea with a bright smile on her face.

"Come on, X!" You can't leave us hanging like that!" Nav complained in dismay.

"But I can," Kate grinned. "What about you, Nav? What did you do while on shore leave?"

"I treated myself. Spa and shops until my wallet complained. It felt so good!"

"What did you buy?" Bomber asked

"Clothes, new bed, new sheets."

"Cotton, silk, satin?" Bomber asked.

"Cotton."

"You are joking, no silk or satin?"

"Nope"

"How… normal…" Bomber frowned.

"What about you, Bomber?" Bomber grinned with a dreamy look.

"Bomber, come on!"

"Four wonderful days in bed," Bomber answered.

"By your look, I'll take that your boyfriend was in town," Kate chuckled.

"Yup! We only got up to answer the door for takeaway food, drinks, and bathroom. The rest of the time we stayed in bed."

"For four days? No wonder you were on cloud nine when I saw you, Bomber!" Charge chuckled.

"Well, I hardly see my boyfriend. If you were in my shoes, I'll bet your ass you would be doing the same," she grinned making everyone laugh.

"Totally!" Charge nodded.

"I do have a question, Bomber," ET said. "How was he when he returned to his ship?"

"Tired," Nav and Kate laughed.

"Bomber! I can't believe you are talking about your love life like that in front of the crew!" Mike said surprised.

"Well, sir. If you and X were in our situation, you too would be doing the same thing," she grinned. "I'll better get back to the gallery and get lunch sorted." She said before she left.

"And we do know what she's talking about, right?" Kate whispered leaning close to Mike.

"That we do."

Nav looked over to ET, who was grinning at her. He gave her a wink before he too turned around to work.

Over the next two weeks, the crew found itself busy. They even hit the jackpot with an iceboat mothership. It was on the last day when NAVCOM called.

"Mike, I want the Hammersley in port asap."

"Right now, Steve?" Mike frowned

"Yes."

"Damn it," he muttered

"What was that, Mike?"

"I'm sorry, we are chasing an ice boat that's on Australian waters."

"How long do you need?"

"Two hours."

"Alright. Finish that and return to port. Fair winds."

"Thanks, Steve. Hammersley's out." Mike said and hung up.

"Swain! Hard to port, now!" Kate yelled out grabbing the mic. "Brace! Brace! Brace!" she said over the PA system. The Hammersley turned violently making some of the crew members fall onto the floor unable to find something to hold. "Stop all engines!" She ordered, and Charge did as requested.

"X! What that hell you think you were doing?" Mike snapped at her.

"We were about to go over a ghost net, sir. There's something in it," Kate huffed back.

"Sir!" Buffer called from outside.

Mike and Kate got up to Buffer's spot. He pointed to a place not far from the Hammersley where a ghost net caught something.

"X, call for duty diver."

"Yes, sir!" Kate walked back onto the bridge.

Mike groaned, he wasn't happy because that made them lose the ice boat. A few minutes later, everyone watched as Buffer, Kate, Swain and ET head to the net in one of the HRIBS. Swain and ET went overboard and returned to the side a minute later.

"Charlie eight two, sir. Swain and ET found two bodies in the net; they were able to ID them as Dave Williams and Steve Turner. Shot with execution style," Kate said

"Aren't those the men with the snakes, X?"

"Yes, sir."

"Alright! Bring the net and bodies on board."

"Yes, sir." Mike turned and walked back on the bridge.

"RO, get me NAVCOM on the sat phone!"

"Yes, sir." Mike turned and looked out towards where the ice boat was until RO handed him the sat phone.

"Mike? What's going on? I spoke to you a few minutes ago."

"I know. The ice boat got away," Mike said. "If it wasn't for Kate spotting a ghost net, we might have needed a tow back."

"I understand your frustration, Mike."

"The reason why I called is that they found two bodies in the net. They've been identified as Dave Williams and Steve Turner."

"The ones on the snake boat?"

"Yes. Steve, they have been murdered, shot execution style."

"Alright, I'll let the Feds know. Any idea on how long they've been dead?"

"We won't know until net and bodies are aboard."

"Alright, see you when you return. Fair winds."

Twenty minutes later, with the bodies and net on board, they headed back to Cairns. Steve was there waiting for Mike on the pier when the Hammersley arrived.

"Mike," He greeted him as he went down.

"Steve."

"I found out that both Dave Williams and Steve Turner were out on bond. They didn't show up for the court a month ago."

"That would be around the time they were killed and dumped into the sea. Kate was doing some calculations to see if we could figure out where they were dumped."

"Here she comes," Steve said, and they turned to see Kate walking off the Hammersley and over to them. Kate and Steve saluted each other.

"Commander"

"Lieutenant"

"Kate, did you manage to find where the bodies were dumped?"

"Yes. About Five to six miles from Ray Walsmen private island."

"Why would Ray Walsmen kill them?" Steve asked

"I have no idea, Steve."

"Witnesses. He would want to kill them before they talked, or maybe they saw something they shouldn't," Kate suggested.

"You have a point there, Lieutenant. Mike, did you get your new orders?"

"Yes. We will be ready at zero eight hundred in the morning."

"Alright, enjoy your night out."

"Thanks, Steve." He turned around and walked back to his staff car while Mike and Kate returned to the Hammersley.

An hour later, Mike and Kate were at Chinese restaurant enjoying dinner.

"Mike, since it still early, how about we go home for the night?" Kate smiled.

"Kate, we are leaving early in the morning."

"So? It's early, and we can get back to the Hammersley by five thirty am," she grinned. Mike looked around and found a waiter.

"Excuse me, can I have the bill please?" He said once the waiter arrived, making Kate chuckle.

An hour later, they were home making love before falling asleep in each other arms.

When they arrived at the Hammersley, early the next morning, Mike and Kate went to get changed while Buffer gave the wake-up call. Buffer grinned brightly when he saw them on the bridge.

"Morning sir, X."

"Morning, Buffer. The boxes have arrived. We need to get the crew together before the SAS team gets here," Kate said

"Yes, X." Kate turned to Mike.

"I wonder how many went to the pub last night," Mike grinned

"Who knows, Kate." Kate turned around and walked off the bridge just as RO walked up passing a couple of paper sheets to Mike They exchanged pleasantries, and soon they could hear Kate and Buffer yelling the ear of the hungover crew members.

"Commander Mike Flynn," a voice said a bit after seven-thirty when the SAS team finally arrived.

"Ah, you must be Captain Jim Roth."

"Yes, sir." They shook hands.

"Captain, this is Lieutenant McGregor. X as crew calls her."

"Captain," Kate grinned.

"Lieutenant, ma'am."

"Spider," Mike called him over.

"Yes, sir?"

"Show the Captain and his team the way to the aster."

"Yes, sir. This way, Captain." The team followed Spider as the last few boxes were carried on the boat.

"Shall we, X?" Mike said smiling

"Yes, sir."

By eight, they were on their way to Samaru Island.

"Commander"

"Captain," Mike turned from his position on the bridge towards the man. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"How long will it take to get to Samaru island?"

"Eight hours."

"Oh, thanks."

The Captain walked back the way he came from and went to get a drink in the kitchen. Spider had shown the group the location of what they could've had needed.