Death Echo

boat, go straight to Tofino,” Emma added.
    â€œRoger.”
    The plane kept on a course that angled slowly away from the boat. Before it was out of sight, Emma was on her special phone.
    Grace answered immediately. “Anything?”
    â€œWe found a ship identical to Blackbird going down the west side of Vancouver Island,” Emma said.
    â€œThank you, God,” Grace breathed. “Above or below Tofino?”
    â€œAbove.”
    Grace sighed more thanks into the phone. Then her voice became precise, efficient. “I have permission for you to repossess a ship of Black Swan ’s description.”
    â€œRepo? As in steal?”
    â€œStealing is illegal. Repossessing is part of a legal process.”
    â€œUm, right,” Emma said, feeling an absurd kind of laughter tickling her throat. “So we go to the local cops and—”
    â€œWe’d rather you didn’t,” Grace cut in. “The insurance company paid off Black Swan, which means that they legally own the ship if and when it is found. However, it would be a much smoother ownership transition if you simply hijack the bitch and run for the border.”
    â€œPossession being nine-tenths of the law.”
    â€œFaroe knew you would understand.”
    Emma laughed.
    â€œWe’ve arranged for a rental car,” Grace continued, “and silent water transportation.”
    â€œCome again?”
    â€œKayaks.”
    Emma made a strangled sound.
    â€œAccording to your files, both you and Mac have some past experience with them,” Grace said.
    â€œPast being the operative word.”
    â€œWould you rather do an underwater approach? In the dark?”
    â€œKayaks it is,” Emma said, remembering the look of the water north of Nanaimo. “Unless Mac objects.”
    â€œHe won’t. This kind of kayak is easier to get into and out of than diving gear. The rental car papers, necessary personal items, cash, and repossession papers will be at the airport.”
    â€œWe’re on a float plane. Water, not paved runways.”
    â€œJoe assured me that your plane does solid as well as liquid landings,” Grace said. “Call Steele when you control Black Swan masquerading as Blackbird .”
    â€œWhat if—”
    â€œThen call me.”
    Grace disconnected.

68
    DAY SIX
PORT RENFREW
5:25 P.M.
    L ina Fredric paid the truck driver in cash, then watched as he racked the fuel hose after refueling the boat. Fuel in Port Renfrew was by arrangement only, and trucked to the water’s edge; rather like an undeveloped country or a step back in time. The tourist-oriented waterfront was the most modern element of the town. The rest was mostly shacks, rocks, evergreens, water, and the sense of a vast ocean waiting beyond the rocks guarding the harbor.
    The boat Lina had rented from the friend of a cousin of a friend—or perhaps an enemy, considering the dirty interior—was topped off and ready to run. Except for having a bigger kicker and extra fuel cans lashed inside the stern gunwale, the boat was essentially like the Redhead II, with all the benefits of speed and drawbacks of a boat run by anyone with the cash to rent her.
    At least the chart plotter worked. Because most users of the boat had been sport fishermen chasing salmon, radar wasn’t required. In the dense fogs that haunted the west side during summer, pleasure fishermen stayed within view of shore, or went out in packs following someone who had reliable radar.
    â€œWell?” Demidov prodded.
    Lina stepped down into the boat. “There is a light for night running, if you insist. I can’t recommend it. We have no radar.”
    Demidov looked at the screen of his phone. “I’ll guide us.”
    Right into a tanker, she thought sourly.
    But she was through arguing with Demidov. As far as he was concerned, he had his orders, he had her, and the boat she had scrounged up was fueled and ready to go. Discussion over.
    â€œDo we leave now?” she asked.
    He looked from the numbers on his phone to the paper chart he had found aboard the Sea Tiger . The scow was more like an alley cat than a tiger, but he’d had worse transportation in his career. The van in Rosario came immediately to his mind. At least the slops bucket on the boat could be emptied overboard with each use.
    â€œWe have an opportunity for food,” Demidov said. “Is that pub still open?”
    â€œPartially. It seems