The Reef

your charm on her, Frenchie,” Buck grumbled and whacked his hammer.
    “But, mon ami, I have so much to spare.” Amused, LaRue glanced back. “And what would you like me to bring you back from the island?”
    A bottle of Black Jack, Buck thought, nearly tasting that first shock of whiskey in his throat. “I don’t need nothing.”
    “As you wish.” He patted his pocket where his tobacco was stashed, then wandered back to the rail. “Ah, here comes my lovely shopping companion. A bientôt. ”
    Gallantly, LaRue took the tiller, executed a sweeping turn so that Marla could wave to Ray before they cruised toward St. Kitts.
    “I really appreciate this, LaRue. Ray’s so wrapped up with his charts and inventory I didn’t have the heart to ask him to run me in.” Delighted with the prospect of poking through markets, she lifted her face to the wind. “And everyone’s so busy.”
    “You work very hard yourself, Marla.”
    “It hardly seems like work. Now, the diving.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s work. You enjoy it, though.”
    “Matthew is an excellent teacher. After so many years on the water, it’s become a pleasure for me to explore beneath. Ray is the best of diving partners.”
    “He’s always loved it. Now and again, he still tries to convince me to try it. I actually tried snorkeling once. The reefs off Cozumel were very exciting, but I forgot myself and paddled out a bit. Before I knew it, I was looking down at open water. It’s the oddest sensation.” She shuddered. “A kind of vertigo.” Amused at herself, she patted the life jacket she’d strapped on. “I’ll stick with boats.”
    “It’s a shame you can’t see for yourself the Isabella. ”
    “With all the sketches Tate’s done, I feel as though I have. What will you do with your share, LaRue? Will you go back to Canada?”
    “Spare me. Such cold.” He studied the shoreline in the distance. White sand, swaying palms. “Me, I prefer a warmer clime. Perhaps I will build a home here, and lookdown on the water. Or sail the world.” He grinned at her. “But whatever, I will enjoy being a rich man.”
    It was, after all, a fine ambition.
    Once he’d docked the boat, he escorted Marla into town, charmingly insisted on paying for their cab. Enjoying himself, he strolled through fruit and vegetable stands with her.
    “Would you mind terribly if I took a turn through a couple shops, LaRue? I’m ashamed to admit such a female failing, but I’m feeling deprived. I’d just love to look at some trinkets. And I do need to buy some more tapes for my camcorder.”
    “Then you must. I would like nothing more than to go with you, but I have an errand or two to take care of myself. Is it convenient to meet you here, in, oh, forty minutes?”
    “That would be perfect.”
    “Until then.” He took her hand, kissed it charmingly, then ambled off.
    As soon as he was out of sight, he slipped into the lobby of a small hotel. He needed the privacy of a phone booth, and settled inside. The number he needed was inside his head. Such things were dangerous to write down for other eyes to see.
    He waited patiently, humming to himself as the operator connected the call. Collect, of course. He sneered as the pompous voice announced, “VanDyke residence.”
    “I have a collect call for Silas VanDyke from a Mr. LaRue. Will you accept the charges?”
    “One moment, please.”
    “One moment, please,” the operator repeated in her lovely island voice for LaRue’s benefit.
    “I have nothing but time, mademoiselle.” To pass it, he rolled a cigarette.
    “This is VanDyke, I’ll accept the charges.”
    “Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. LaRue.”
    “ Bonjour, Mr. VanDyke, you are, I hope, well?”
    “Where are you calling from?”
    “The lobby of a little hotel on Saint Kitts. The weather is quite wonderful.”
    “The rest of them?”
    “The lovely Mrs. Beaumont is souvenir shopping. The others are at sea.”
    “What are they looking for? The Marguerite is played out. I saw to it personally.”
    “So she is. You left little even for the worms. Tate was very upset.”
    “Was she?” A trace of malevolent pleasure crept into his voice. “She should have stayed where I put her. But that’s another problem to be dealt with. I want a full report, LaRue. I’m paying you very well to keep tabs on the Lassiters.”
    “And I’m delighted to do so. You may be interested to know that Buck has gone on the wagon. He suffers, but he’s yet to reach