Fast and Loose

20

Jake Herman stood at a loose parade rest before Erik Macher’s desk in Christian St. Clair’s old library. He noticed that Macher seemed to have acquired a slight facial tic, the sudden lifting of his left eyebrow for no apparent reason.

“Good morning, sir,” Jake said.

“Not so,” Macher replied. “I have just had a long weekend of cruising aboard my yacht interrupted by a visit from the Coast Guard.”

“Ah, yes, that happens, sir. They like to check to see if a boat has all the required emergency equipment.”

“This was something more than that,” Macher replied. “They did an investigatory search of the yacht, going through the guest cabins and the owner’s cabin.”

“Did they find anything of consequence?”

“They came up with a plastic bag containing a white powder.”

“Uh-oh.”

“It wasn’t my white powder!” Macher yelled, losing it for a moment, then regaining control of himself.

“Of course not, sir.”

“St. Clair must have left it there.”

“Most probably, sir. Were there any consequences of this discovery?”

“A stern lecture from the captain of the Coast Guard vessel — a woman, for God’s sake! She’s having it tested in their laboratory, said she’d get back to me.”

“I don’t believe the Coast Guard has a laboratory, sir, so it probably went to the FBI lab for analysis. Have you taken any defensive steps?”

“The woman advised me to hire an attorney with maritime experience.”

“That’s probably good advice.”

“I have a call in to Tommy Berenson, our corporate counsel.”

“A good move.”

“What happens if the powder is cocaine?” Macher demanded.

“Well, conceivably, charges for possession could be brought, or if there is a substantial quantity, a charge for intent to sell might be added.”

“It was the first time I’d ever set foot on the yacht! I hadn’t even unpacked my bags!”

“In that case, a good attorney might be able to persuade them not to bring charges, since it was clearly left there by a previous occupant — one now deceased, I might add, and that should stand in your stead.”

“Jake, I smell a rat here, one named Stone Barrington. Do you think he might have been able to instigate these events?”

“Well, sir, anyone could call the Coast Guard and report that a yacht carrying drugs is sailing in Penobscot Bay, and the Coast Guard would be obliged to investigate such a report.”

“Even if the report were anonymous? I can’t imagine Barrington giving them his name.”

“Yes, sir, even an anonymous report. Of course, any person making such a report that was false and malicious would be subject to arrest for making a false report.”

“Aha!”

“However, if the substance found aboard turns out to be cocaine or heroin or some other illegal drug, the report would not have been false. In some circumstances he might even be financially rewarded, if the drugs were of sufficient value.”

Macher made a groaning noise.

“Sir, I would suggest that this incident is unlikely to result in a prosecution because of insufficient evidence. I think the best thing would be to consult your attorney to see if any legal moves were indicated, then to just be patient and wait for the lab to issue its report.”

“I am a little short of patience,” Macher said.

“Sir, I originally came in to report on yesterday’s incident in Central Park.”

“Oh, yes, I had forgotten. What happened?”

“We found Barrington and the Carlsson woman in a rowboat on the Central Park lake. One of my men very carefully fired a silenced round into the boat, causing it to spring a serious leak.”

“Heh, heh,” Macher said.

“Barrington managed to get the boat to the dock before it could sink, but he was seen to recover the spent round from it, so he knows that he has received a warning.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear!” Macher said, brightening visibly. “Now he knows where we stand.”

“Sir, this event took place early Saturday afternoon. When did your brush with the Coast Guard happen?”

“Late Saturday afternoon.”

“So that event could have been in response to the earlier one.”

Macher pondered that. “I see what you mean,” he said. “So the ball could be back in our court?”

“Possibly, sir.”

“Then we need to respond more forcibly.”

“If I may suggest, sir, it might be prudent to wait to hear from the Coast Guard before proceeding.”

“Oh, yes,” Macher said, sounding disappointed.

“I could do some preplanning for a response and get back to you,” Jake said.

“Yes, good, Jake, you do that.”

“Please let me know about the lab report from the Coast Guard,” Jake said. “It could affect our planning.”

“Yes, of course, I’ll do that.”

Jake left Macher as he had found him, including the eyebrow twitch, which was still there.

Macher got Tommy Berenson on the phone.

“Good day, Erik,” the attorney said.

“Good day. I may require some legal advice from an attorney with a knowledge of maritime law.”

“Shoot.”

Macher gave him an account of the stopping of the yacht and the subsequent search and powder found.

“First of all, Erik, I must ask you — and your reply is covered under attorney-client confidentiality — was this powder yours, and is it cocaine?”

“Tommy, I have just explained to you the exact circumstances.”

“Yes, but in this case, I need to know if we are up against an actual violation of the law, or just some awful coincidence.”

“Do not make me recount the events. What I have told you is the truth.”

“Then it is not cocaine?”

“I have no idea — it wasn’t mine.”

“Then it is not your cocaine?”

“Tommy,” Macher said, and his voice was a little shaky, “if I have to explain this to you again, I am going to do so with my hands around your throat.”

“I think it’s best to wait for the lab report, then discuss how to proceed from there.”

Macher slammed down the phone with a whimper.