Chapter 35 - Sky High

   Well, that was that. Panic never was one to play follow the leader on things like, its you against the little lady. Dude, you gotta wear the pants, you gotta be the man. I never would have gotten that much into Little Robbie's face like I just did, but oh well. I can remember a long time ago. Not that I hold a grudge, but Rob has a thing. Men are to be in charge, and women are to be obedient.

   Now granted, most women are naturally on the submissive and beta side. Most men lean more towards the dominant side. At least as far as relationships. And? I will admit, and agree with Rob a hundred over a hundred. They sort of push this concept, of all women are to do whatever they want, lead everything, and... its silly.

   But. All this stuff, is geared towards most people. Key word most. Not, all. I didn't decide to have an opinion, and lead in the bedroom and in the relationship? Because I read a girl power article in a women's magazine one day. I actually hate feminism, at least what they make it into these days.

   Yet? I'm a big strong girl. Both physically, and other ways as well. I told Wizzy what I was like on day one, and he liked it. Panic now as well. I'm not a bitch, a cunt, or a nag. Its not my way or the highway. But I simply can't have a guy that has this silly I wear the pants bullshit. Wizzy and now Panic both knew. I can be confronted, and easily. You have logical reasons? Lets hear it. But, if I have logical reasons? I refuse to be dismissed, talked over, all that jazz.

   What works for most people? Won't work with me. Wizzy even reported to me. Standard guy to guy advice? Never did work for him. When he threw out the rule book? He liked the results. Me too. Panic has a mind of his own. You can't just... charge him up, and send him home with this stuff. Dude, she's basically asking to be put in her place. She's challenging you, dude. Women like it, when you can be the man like that.

   I'm not a bitch, nag or cunt like that very often. So, Panic took one look at the situation? He thinks, I must have a reason. And I do. What Rob did? Challenge Panic. Aw, do you need the wife's permission? Does she wear the pants? That actually works on a lot of guys. Panic, operates on results. Not, an opinion poll. I've heard him tell Rob before. On this subject. Rob? How exactly... alpha is it? If I start doing this stuff, just because everyone says I should. Sounds pretty, I don't know. Like that would make me a follower. I like my results. I'll keep doing it. I tried the standard advice? Never got results I liked.

   We're different. We both march to a different tune. I can set a watch by his reactions.

   "Lightning? Honey."

   "What's going on. Something's up."

   "I don't know yet. But even if it is. You believe us, when we tell you. We're not talking behind your back, it has nothing to do with you."

   "I know the drill. Secret Merry work shit."

   "Something like that. Its not like we're trying to get rid of you, but..."

   "But, you're trying to get rid of me."

   "Its, not like it sounds, Light."

   "Panic? I'm teasing. Francois's wife has been asking me to go shopping. She's been trying to... make up, girl time, like that."

   "Sounds perfect. Light? You have your own money, or... its rude to expect people to pay for stuff automatically, just because they're filthy rich. We invited you, we intended to pay for you."

   "No. I have my own money on me. I'm fine."

   "Okay, honey. I'll see you, when I see you."

   As soon as we were alone and had privacy, he started in. All business, too.

   "What's up."

   I started in, start to finish. Every last detail. Start, to finish. A complete rehash of my reverie, my council. All of them. And? How I was starting to apply it all.

   "Panic? I want your serious opinion here."

   "I remember asking you what to do. You said, list my hunches. Go with them. Instincts, gut readings. A lot of people that get a lot of results, do it that way. No matter what? Karma. I told you to make a decision, I was lost. You made it. We're somewhere now."

   "Do you agree with me? Karma, the universe. Wants us here. Brought it all to this point."

   "Yeah. I do. I don't think, you're one of those dippy women. Making up the... female mystical power, to... feel all important. Its just not been you up until now."

   "Anything else?"

   "You're the psychologist. You comfortable, with thinking that you're listening to, what. Subconscious, instincts, gut feelings. Whatever you choose to call it, doesn't matter."

   "Honestly?"

   "Definitely."

   "Well? I told you once, about asking Teddy ball for answers. When, I asked him something. I'm sitting there. I know Lightning does the voice for him. I'm sitting there, and I'm saying it. I'm looking at an old soccer ball, to solve my problems for me. I said that, a couple times? Then, it just hit me. Girls with serious issues on our team. Were... looking at playing soccer? To solve their problems. I mean, I kind of... asked Teddy Ball for the answer? One I couldn't come up with, and I'll be damned if an answer that was weird, insightful, and worked? Came out of it."

   "Go on."

   "Well? Teddy Ball, is a motherfucking oracle, is what he is. Look? At what all he's done for Little Lightning. Now. Your, head council you taught me?"

   "Yeah."

   "Similar deal. I'm... imagining, that famous people give me council? And... how's that really any different, than asking a soccer ball. And, maybe there's something to the whole generic process. Maybe, that's how... praying for answers? Many people report getting them. When your, oracle. Whatever your personal oracle is? If you get results. And people report results, from lots of different stuff. How is my council any different."

   "Okay."

   "Okay, what."

   "Guts, oracle, head council. You, got something. A trend. A, coincidence. We got anything else? No. Go with it. Advise me."

   "I honestly thought it was going to take a lot more to---"

   "Well? It didn't. What's next."

   "You know what I know. Thing is? We can't realistically tell anyone, that... here's what we think everyone should do, or think, why? Because... my girlfriend ate some pot candy, and had a vision."

   Panic corrected me.

   "Well, it was really strong pot candy? And, you had two visions."

   "Funny. Doesn't sound like I'd be convinced. As a rational person, hearing it fresh. Would you buy it?"

   "Okay. We leave that part out, but... results are results. I agree with you, though. If we assume the priest was killed, that his hunch was right? He's forging ahead. I mean, the wife's a logical target."

   "The Queen. I'm assuming, its her."

   Panic mused.

   "What's her ship named?"

   "The Spoiled Princess."

   He wiggled his eyes.

   "Princess, Queen. Priest, Bishop."

   "More coincidences."

   He's good at crossword puzzles, and I mean the hard ones. Someone will be sitting there, stuck with not much filled in. If you let him in on it? Christ, he scans the thing, and starts filling hard ones in, all over. Then, those letters? Are giving him clues and you get more. Its uncanny.

   "Merry? What is Elise's little French tart calling her now?"

   "Le Roi."

   "Meaning..."

   "Oh. The best."

   He grinned.

   "Means that. But, literally... the king. And, the girlfriend of the king, would be, who?"

   I stared at him.

   "The queen."

   He's on a roll now. Napoleon made fun of me. A big puzzle. Too bad, you don't have puzzle master. Where would you find one. As he said it? Panic was laying next to me.

   "Where did the queen on the chess board start, and end up."

   "I can't, photographic memory you the board."

   "Well? Ballpark it."

   "You know. Pieces are sort of clumped together, game was underway. White was in this area, Black in that area. Naturally, some blank areas."

   "Queen starts in..."

   "Her side."

   "Goes to..."

   "A, more or less blank area. Fairly far away. Out of the action area, I'd call it."

   "Honey? I can't... just."

   "I know you can't."

   Panic mused.

   "We have no choice? But for the game to develop a little more. When its time? We'll suggest moving the queen. All we can do, so? We do it."

   "What about, Joan and her new magic acts."

   "You said, she did... advanced, coin behind the ear type of tricks."

   "Reminded me? Of a while back, you told me about... the magician, staged a comeback? And... he was the classic magician, and he took all the whole standard old time up close act, to the next level."

   "Yeah. Told you, I even got bought his... merchandised magic act kit for kids. Brand new in the box and plastic? But, from years back. I was the only kid who heard of him, or had the kit."

   "Her coin tricks? You, do the basic ones. She? Did... like you described he was... wow with them."

   "Then, you said she... did the hangman's trick."

   "No... burned at the s---"

   "Pretty sure I told you once. About a different magician, did the... he got hanged? Then... he's the executioner, not the guy hanging there."

   "So, that's a standard illusion? The condemned person trick."

   "Really? Its no different, than... the simple coin behind the ear. Can I do all these tricks? Hell no. But, the basic idea is all the same. The coin tricks, are mostly all misdirection. Done different ways, but..."

   "What was your hangman one."

   "Your vision, doesn't count. Technically. Just the idea of it. But, the hangman trick I saw. Someone is condemned. Its a dramatic setting. You see him, the magician. Clear as day, its him... getting the hood put over his head. He gets led around, by the... executioners. I recorded it, I played it back a million times. I can't see where, but... at some point? There's a switch. One of those... robed, hooded executioners? At the end, the guy with the hood on, gets hanged, and... an executioner rips his hood off? Its him. I mean, sometime after his hood goes over his head, there's some kind of switch."

   "I see what you mean. No matter what got done or not done with the coin? The hand you pull it from behind the person's ear, that's where the coin is, when the trick is done. And... no matter what. At some point, and probably a lot sooner than you realize, that executioner was him."

   "I mean, the setting of the stage? All dark, blacks and dark browns and grays. The executioners? In hoods and cloaks. They march around, in two groups. They... lines of them go in circles, and pass each other... at some point? It happens. Just like, the coin is in that hand. A good trick? You just don't know when. But remember. Its all the same trick. Misdirection."

   "Panic? So that's it. We just wait, something's bound to happen."

   "Oh, no. I have another brilliant, can't miss, sure fire solution."

   "What."

   "I'm going to tie you to a chair."

   "Not a bad start. You, have my attention."

   "And? Feed you a whole bunch, of those magic worms."

   "Hmm. Keep going."

   "I may, or may not? Molest the ever loving shit out of you. In some twisted and quite perverted ways."

   "Go on."

   "And? Record you babbling. I figure, enough worms? It'll be like... speaking in tongues. I can review my recording, and divine the answers."

   I smiled.

   "I tell you what."

   "What."

   "I don't think that will work? But, lets try it. If just for the sake of argument."

   "Being serious now. We'll... next chance we get? I was thinking, two worms for you."

   "What about you."

   "Well. I just keep getting the... stupid Spanish lessons, as Lightning calls it. I take two worms? I'm expecting more of the same."

   "I wonder how good Joan's next magic act will get."

   "We may yet find out."

   "All I can think of?"

   He looked at me and shrugged.

   "Yeah? Go."

   "When Joan was doing the coin tricks. The coin changed, sometimes. When it reappeared. It could be... a different size. Smaller or bigger. And the blood marks? On the coin. They would change, too. Told you it had blood on it?"

   "You did."

   "One time? The blood was in some... artistic representation of the cross. A bloody cross, on the coin. Oh! And? There were little blood marks, just above the blood cross on the coin. Now that I think about it? Kinda looked like little... devil horns. Over the cross."

   Nothing especially interesting happened for a while. Eventually, Lightning and Elise and our hosts returned. Light was gabbing about where they ate, walking around to some places, like that. She particularly liked this one shop. It was a vintage clothing place. But, not a junk shop, more of a... antique clothing store. Not quite, but close. Little Lightning likes a number of things that are sort of retro.

   We were all sitting, and taking a late lunch. Gabbing, enjoying ourselves. We could see out over the water. When you're in paradise? You really don't expect anything but perfect views, perfect weather. We're sitting there, and Elise was looking out. She interrupted, and asked. She had stood up to see whatever it was that was interesting to her, and looked like she was almost saluting. Hand over her eyes.

   We looked. Every one of us, had a sort of a "what the hell" response. All different, but, all essentially the same.

   There was a big dark cloud, out on the horizon. It did look weird. I'm not talking about a regular sky cloud. More of a dark mushroom shape. Elise was just explaining, that she had seen a bright flash of some kind. She didn't get far into her explanation, before a big thunderclap and thunder roll came in.

   It was just, what. A novelty. Interesting. Panic stood and watched intently, and mentioned that if you looked? There were waves coming in now. We were all discussing it. Some people had seen the flash, more people had seen the dark cloud. The waves were noted.

   I didn't like the look on Panic's face. He stood around, in brooding mode. Thinking. He finally broke it.

   "Francois?"

   "Yes."

   "Do me a small favor?"

   "If I can. What, would you like."

   "Can you call the phone?"

   "What number."

   "I don't know it."

   "I do not..."

   "I mean, can you call the phone. The one you gave to Robbie? And, the other phone. Skykid's phone you loaned him."

   He reported trying the Rob phone first. Nothing. That number couldn't be reached. Panic urged him to try the other one, but the look he shot me... I suddenly grasped what he was imagining. That number couldn't be reached, either. Panic asked for a phone. Anyone's phone.

   Elise gave him hers. He got on GPS and maps.

   "Elise? Point to where you think you saw the flash."

   Because the dark mushroom cloud? Was moving. The flash, was what he wanted. She did. Panic stood right next to her, and they decided together. Standing here, where she was. If you sighted down, just off of this end of the one dock... more or less up and out, on that line.

   He fiddled and worked out a bearing line.

   Francois was just about to call The Green Frog, when Panic rushed over, and snatched his phone he had and put it down.

   "But, I know, what you think might have... we have, radar, and... information, computers."

   Panic got in his face, but tried to remain calm. Panic's face was already dropped.

   "Francois? No matter what happened, or didn't happen. Think. It doesn't change? Anything. Whether... you stay here? Or, you go. Also. Will you please, for the love of god. Take my advice?"

   "Perhaps."

   "I hope so. Francois? Do you realize, what might have just happened."

   "We do not know, if---"

   "Francois? What are the odds, that both phones? Are out of service. Magically, at the same time. I mean, I'd believe one phone? Might have fell in the water. But both? No way. I don't have time to go into the long explanation right now. Merry? You remember, the guy we jumped from the bridge, pulled him out of the water. What was his name, Borstein or something?"

   "I think. I remember what you're talking about, that could be his name."

   "Well, you remember how we protected him, right?"

   I realized where he was going now.

   "Gotcha."

   "Great. I want you? To explain that. To Francois and his wife. Well, to Francois. His wife doesn't need to hear this right now. Merry? No police. No visitors. No phone calls. No emails? Nothing. Elise."

   "Panic."

   "Do me a favor? I want you, to put Francois and your little girlfriend, after you confiscate anything they can use to contact the outside world. In a room. I want you? To personally, sit outside the door to that room. Drapes closed, the works. If someone can locate you a handgun, a shotgun, anything? Great. But, Francois or his wife, can not call anyone to get it."

   "What are you going to do."

   "Me? I'm buddies with the navigation guy, on The Green Frog. I'm getting a hold of him? Asking him if he can locate Francois's Tadpole, the transponder? On his... boat, air traffic controller screen. Or raise them, on his marine radio. But, unless I can contact the Tadpole? I have a bearing line. I have a start point, a bearing line to the flash. My best friends, were on that boat. I'm getting on that bearing line, and getting out there."

   "Panic. If..."

   "Elise? Fishing... and scuba diving. Flip a coin, and pray for tails. Francois? Let me give it to you straight. You suspect, your priest got killed, right?"

   "I, will admit. I find it, suspicious. That, the Father Bishop, was..."

   "Father Bishop?"

   "Yes."

   Panic looked at me, with wild eyes.

   "Francois?"

   "Yes."

   "Lets say, Father Bishop, was killed. And, what if your boat, just mysteriously, blew up. Are you... reading me, here?"

   "Unfortunately."

   "For right now? You, were on that boat. And, that's all any of us know."

   "But? I was not."

   "Francois! You, and your wife? Your phones, were both on that boat! I know damn well, you had... GPS location turned on? Because the navigation app was working! Elise? You, post up outside whatever hole you stash these two in. Francois? Who would you normally turn to for advice on this matter right now?"

   "Yuri, is away. So? Vladimir."

   "Vladimir? Was on the boat! Let me try to help. I'll be back, couple, several hours. Okay?"

   "But, we can send out, men from the Green Frog, or? The Spoiled Princess. To search? For your friends. I, have two men on it, as well."

   "Francois? If they go looking, and pull up the boys from scuba diving, waiting. I can't call them, to say you were on the boat. They'll spill the beans! If they made it, because they were underwater? I really need to be the one that finds them!"

   "I am following you. Yet? I could instruct my men, to---"

   "Francois? We have, no idea. Who the hell to trust right this second. Elise? Try to talk some sense into him. I'm going. Clock? Is ticking. When I get back? I'll explain everything."

   I followed him when he went off. We hit the first police we saw, and explained. They directed us to the harbor, and where to get the people to handle what we were reporting.

   Panic explained to them. All he knew? Was that Francois Verte, and his wife. Were, as far as he knew? On their boat, the SS Tadpole. He saw a weird flash, and a dark cloud? And some kind of a boom. He can't get either phone to answer. Which was weird. But? He had a bearing line. He explained what one was.

   He gave them a completely fake bearing line. Wasn't hard, either. He just conveniently relocated his "starting point", a ways off from his true observation location. Then, a small adjustment to taking a bearing off of the flash, and. Voila. Misdirection. The authorities would all be instantly poured? Into the complete wrong location.

   He ambled around, until he found a boat he liked. He was mainly interested in small, reasonably fast, and a full tank of fuel. Also, he wanted it on the outside edge of the lines of docked boats. When he had what he wanted? He located the little bag of tools any boat has on it, and got pliers. Even with no concern for tools? No fishing guy wants to be without pliers. Fish, hooks. He unwound the threaded bezel that kept the key switch in the panel. With it out? He pushed the switch free to dangle down under the panel. He found it under the panel, laying down and looking in and up.

   He explained to me? The key switch on most boats, was simply an on off switch. It was also a feature he was using to choose. Instead of twisting both wires together, he used the pliers to rip apart an empty aluminum can in the garbage. Again using the pliers, he folded a wee chunk of it over. It bridged the two female blade connectors, he had used the pliers to worry off of the ignition switch dangling. He punched the start button? Off we went. I thought about it. Slick. He could easily replace the switch in seconds, and no one had hot-wired the boat. He watched GPS and stayed on his real bearing line. My job? Look around for things bobbing in the water. Or wreckage, or an oil slick. We listened to the radio. News, updates.

   An hour in, we located our first thing we thought looked like it came from a boat. Radio off now. Current moves things. You guess how far in an hour something moved. Run grids until you get something else. When he had more stuff in the water, he looked at the points he had marked on his GPS. That way, but with a preference for that bearing line.

   He explained that they were in the complete wrong area, and it would take them some time, to slowly grid out and begin to find things. Periodically? He would shut the engine off, and just listen. Eventually, we thought we heard... something. We swiveled cupped hands over ears around, until we thought we were both pointed at the same spot. That was our destination line, but very slow.

   Stopping periodically, after a few times we were definitely hearing someone making noise. It was easier to agree on our direction.

   We finally located them.

   We were happy, they were happy. Panic wasted no time, immediately explaining what was needed. Francois and his wife? Were blown up on that boat. Little Robbie and Skykid, were easy to convince. Vladimir only took a few minutes longer.

   "Hey, where did you get this boat. Rental?"

   Panic was up front and casual about it.

   "I stole it."

   "Why?"

   "Well. I wanted a boat, found this one. The key switch, was just a glorified light switch, so... I wanted small, reasonably fast. Big tanks, full of fuel. Easy key switch to bypass was kind of a must have feature, and... a fish finder was a plus."

   Rob just looked at him.

   "If you stopped to go fishing, taking a break looking for us? I'll strangle you."

   Panic was cool and calm, and just kind of threw the line away.

   "I knew where I was standing, when we thought we saw an explosion. I took a sight line, and got a bearing line. While there was still a pretty mushroom cloud to look at. Then? I lied about my bearing line, to the water police. Stole the boat I thought would do it."

   Sky took it all in.

   "So, what's the fish finder for."

   "New guy going scuba diving? Like you're gonna go past, what. 50 or 60 feet. Any fish finder, has depth. I ran back and forth, across my bearing line. When I ran into deep water? I'm too far out. Work back in a little different, to the current side of my bearing line. Found something might be wreckage, found some more. Eventually, by stopping and cutting the engine every so often... heard something. Homed in on that. Here we are."

   "How many laws did you break."

   "Well? I guess I filed a false police report. Stole the boat. Figured if I return it near where I got it from? I only borrowed it. But no matter what? Lets just all remember. Francois and his wife? Were on that boat. What did you guys know about what went on."

   Rob looked around.

   "We're about 45 feet down. Heard, something. Felt it more than heard it. We come up, and... no boat."

   Panic was curious.

   "Flaming wreckage, though."

   "No. No, boat. Gone. Some little things floating, but... the thing was just gone."

   "Rob. If a boat did explode. I mean natural causes, that might sound plausible. Don't you expect, what. Flaming wreckage, down to the water line. An oil slick."

   "I'm telling you, it was just gone. If the little tiny stuff had floated more, waiting on us to come up? I'd have thought someone stole it."

   "No listening for you, with the engine running anyways. We listened to the radio. They obviously didn't find you guys, and they sure didn't find the boat yet. I honestly don't think there's anything to find, except maybe a pencil or a plastic baggie floating."

   Rob shook his head.

   "So?"

   "Then... why did we hear early reports. Bolt of lightning, is supposed to have hit a private boat. I mean, I got them in the wrong area, no way they found wreckage yet. How do they make that call."

   "You got me."

   "Rob, you even ever hear of lightning striking a boat? I admit it might be possible, but... I never even heard of it, let alone would think that was what went on. And even if it did. Don't you need to find the boat first, to even make a guess?"

   "So, that's bullshit."

   "Boat blew up. I heard the thunder rolling, and it took some seconds to hear it, after the flames flash. Classic mushroom cloud. Clear, calm day. Not much of a cloud in the sky. Not one of us thought we saw lightning. I mean, I'm saying they had a bullshit story ready to go. Call 911, or whatever the number is here... hey, I saw lightning hit a boat. When they can't find more than a pencil floating? They'll be under pressure, so... go with the anonymous lightning tip called in."

   We pulled in, on the far side from any boat security. Me and Panic just strolled out the walkway. He had them swim around so he could pick them up somewhere else. He explained. Stolen boat, guys in scuba gear. One or more had a relationship to the supposed victims. Not good.

   Vladimir remarked on the way home.

   "Will we be talking about this thing? Or, will we remain silent."

   Panic shrugged and gave his best dead pan.

   "Vladimir? Feel free to chair the opening minutes, of the meeting. By talk, what do you mean. There's, talk to the police, or other authorities. There's we talk about it, but no one else. Then? There's... we just blab to everyone. Also? I'm thinking, we all decide on what to say. To who. Vlad?"

   "Yes."

   "What are your early thoughts."

   "Honestly. I am to be on vacation. If I wanted things blown up, while I was in them? I would take vacation in Ukraine. Hmm. Perhaps? Your NATO has decided. They will soon liberate, Bermuda."

   "I never met this Yuri man, but, I almost feel like I know him. You mention him so much. What would he think."

   "Oh. Yuri? Would be furious. I mean to say, Yuri will be furious. During vacation? I am to be making myself... useful. Getting yacht blown up? Yuri might possibly not consider this, useful activity."

   "Yeah. I'm not so happy myself about it."

   Rob was quiet up until now, all three of them squeezed into the rear seat of the Jeep.

   "I can be pretty patient. But I get a little... furious. When people try to blow me up. How about you, Sky?"

   "My sunglasses were on that boat. I'm not happy. At all."

   Rob shook his head.

   "Your sunglasses. You can buy, another pair of sunglasses."

   "They were limited edition. Those? Were the special, expensive, sunglasses? I wanted when I was younger. They came out with them again? As a limited edition, only so many pairs made. Why else, do you think I spent more on the special floating padded headband. So I don't sit on them, or lose them, or drop them in the water fishing. I mean, I spent more on that floating headband? Than most people, spend on the damn sunglasses in the first place."

   Rob mentioned his thing.

   "My wallet was on that boat."

   Skykid shook his head.

   "Rob? Pretty sure all our wallets were on that boat. How many times do you need your wallet, while scuba diving."

   "Its not the point."

   Skykid waited a minute or so.

   "Rob?"

   "Yeah, Sky."

   "Maybe, you shouldn't bitch about your wallet. When we get back. I mean, the guy lost two of his engine men."

   Rob sighed.

   "Point taken."

   Skykid wagged his head.

   "Although technically? Two engine men, can be replaced. Stuff you buy limited edition? Really can't."

   Panic muttered under his breath, as we pulled into the garage.

   "Maybe I better do the talking."

   Rob chuckled.

   "Oh, this? I gotta see."

   Panic shrugged.

   "What."

   "This? Is your operation. You ever hear the phrase, your operation is blown out of the water? Well... it has been. Literally."

   Panic muttered again.

   "With optimism like that. How in the hell did you guys ever manage to lose world war two."