Death Echo

of that game.”
    â€œWhat can I do about it?” he asked. “I’m not in Vladivostok.”
    â€œA year ago, a black-hulled, forty-one-foot boat—the exact twin of Blackbird —disappeared in transit from Asia.”
    â€œIt happens,” Mac said.
    â€œSomehow only the multimillion-dollar yachts fall off in transit.”
    â€œShock and awe.”
    â€œWe’ve been watching Blackbird since Singapore,” Emma said, ignoring his sarcasm. “We want to keep on watching it until—” She stopped abruptly.
    The server strolled up. “You ready to order?”
    â€œHamburger and fries,” Mac said without looking away from Emma. “Salad with blue cheese.”
    â€œThe same,” Emma said. It wouldn’t be the first cold hamburger and fries she’d eaten.
    â€œThere’s a fish special,” the server said.
    â€œI smelled it first thing,” Mac said. “I’ll stick with the cow.”
    â€œWhatever. You want beer?”
    Idly Emma wondered if they served the beer as warm as the coffee was cold.
    â€œCoffee’s fine,” he said.
    â€œSame here,” Emma said.
    The server turned and walked off in sneakers so old they fit like slippers. No socks.
    When they were alone again, Emma said, “— Blackbird is delivered to its owner. Then the insurance company is off the hook.”
    The continuation of a previous conversation didn’t throw Mac.
    She hadn’t expected it to.
    â€œWhat if the owner isn’t in Rosario?” Mac asked.
    â€œI’ll need a captain and a boat to follow Blackbird until the owner appears and signs off.”
    â€œA thousand a day, plus fuel.”
    â€œTell it to Faroe.” She held out her cell phone. “Punch two.”
    Using his index finger, Mac nudged the phone away. “I don’t work for anyone I haven’t had face time with.”
    â€œYou’re going to love Faroe. He feels the same way.”
    â€œWhen do I see him?”
    â€œTomorrow, unless he gets lucky and gets here sooner.”
    â€œHere?”
    Emma looked around the casino. “Right here? Doubt it. Probably at his motel in Rosario.”
    â€œWhich one?”
    â€œYou’ll know when I do.”
    There must have been a replicator in the kitchen, because the server appeared with two plates of food and two small bowls of salad. She dumped them on the table. French fries leaped onto the cloudy surface. The salad was too heavy with dressing to scatter.
    This so won’t be worth the calories, Emma thought.
    But she needed fuel. It would be a long day and a longer night.
    She picked up her burger and bit down. Not quite as cold as the coffee. Definitely warmer than the fries.
    â€œKetchup?” Mac asked, holding out a plastic squeeze bottle to Emma.
    â€œGood idea.”
    The server dug in her pocket until she found a piece of paper. She dropped the bill on the table and walked away to talk to the hostess.
    Emma finished slathering ketchup over her food before she looked at the bill. Without a word she dug a ten and a twenty out of her wallet and put them on the check.
    â€œI can make change,” Mac offered.
    â€œNo need.”
    He lifted black eyebrows. “Fine tip for lousy service.”
    â€œHer ankles are swollen.”
    He bit into his own hamburger, chewed, and swallowed. “I think I like you.”
    â€œSame goes.” She lifted a limp, ketchup-drenched fry. “I think.”
    Mac’s slow smile transformed his face. “Get back to me when you know for sure.”
    â€œI’ll have to find you first.”
    â€œI’ll be nearby.” He looked at her expression and knew she wasn’t happy. Fair enough. Neither was he.
    He couldn’t wait to see what a sober Tommy had to say for himself.

15
    DAY TWO
ON THE RESERVATION
1:30 P.M .
    A s Mac turned onto Tribal Road, he kept watching his mirrors. Apparently the intriguing Ms. Cross was more interested in hanging out at the marina than she was in following him. All he saw behind him was the glorious blue sky and whipped-cream clouds of a San Juan Islands autumn.
    The air flowing through the open truck windows was cool, silky, and rich with the smell of intertidal mud flats. The state highway leading past the casino and gas/liquor store deeper into the reservation was lightly, if carefully, traveled. The few vehicles that were out had no interest in anything but getting