Captain Vacarro and the crew of twelve were lined UP on deck. The captain burned down the gangplank to greet the new arrivals. ' morning, Signor Stanford,' Captain Vacarro said. ''ll take your luggage, and .. ' luggage. Let's shove off.", sir." a minute.' Stanford was studying the crew. He frowned. ' man on the end. He's new, isn't he?", sir. Our cabin boy got sick in Capri, and we took on this one. He's highly -" rid of him,' Stanford ordered. The captain looked at him, puzzled. ' ... ?" him off.
Let's get out of here.' Captain Vacaffo nodded. ', sir.' Looking around, Harry Stanford was filled with an increasing -sense of foreboding. He could almost reach out and touch it. He did not want any strangers near him. Captain Vacarro, and his crew had been with him for years. He could trust them. He turned to look at the girl. Since Dmitri had picked her up at random, 17 here was no danger there. And as for Dmitri, his faithful bodyguard had saved his life. more than once.
Stanford turned to Dmitri.-'Stay close to me.", sir.' Stanford took Sophia's arm. ''s go aboard, my dear.' - Dmitri Kaminsky stood on deck, watching the crew prepare to cast off. He scanned the harbor, but he saw nothing to be alarmed about. At this time of the morning, there was very little activity. The yacht's huge generators burst into life, and the vessel got under weigh. The captain approached Harry Stanford.
"You didn't say where we were heading, Signor Stanford.' ,, I didn't, did 1, captaint He thought for a moment. '.", sir." the way, I want you to maintain strict radio silence.' Captain Vacarro frowned. ' silence? Yes, sir, but what if ... T Harry Stanford said, "Don't worry about'it. Just do it. And I don't want anyone using the satellite phones.", sir. Will we be laying over in Portofinot "I'll let you know, captain.' Harry Stanford took Sophia on a tour of the yacht. It was one of his prized possessions, and he enjoyed 18 vessel. It had a 91 Sbowm' it off. It was a breathtaking luxuriously appointed master suite with a sitting room and an office. The office was spacious and comfortably hirnished with a couch, several easy chairs, and a desk, , which was enough equipment to run a small town. On the wall was a large electronic map with a small moving boat showing the current position of the yacht. Sliding glass doors opened from the master suite onto an outside veranda deck furnished with a chaise longue and a table with four chairs. A tea k railing ran along the outside. On balmy days, it was Stanford's custom to have breakfast on the veranda.
There were six guest staterooms, each with hand painted silk panels, picture windows, @and a bath with a Jacuzzi. The large library was done in koa wood. The dining room could seat sixteen guests. A fully equipped. fitness salon was on the lower deck. The yacht also contained a wine cellar and a theater that was ideal for running films. Harry Stanford had one of the world's greatest libraries of pornographic movies. T"he furnishings throughout the vessel were exquisite, and the paintings -would have made any museum proud- ', now you've seen most of it,' Stanford told Sophia at the end of the tour. ''ll show you the rest tomorrow.1 She was awed. ''ve never seen anything like it! It's ... it's like a city!' Harry Stanford smiled at her enthusiasm. ' 19 steward will show you to your cabin. Make yourself comfortable. I have some work to do.' Harry Stanford returned to his office and checked the electronic map on the wall for the location of the yacht. Blue Skies was in the Ligurian Sea, heading northeast. 7hey won't know where Fve gone, Stanford thought. They'll be waiting for me at JFK When we get to Portofino, F11 straighten everything out. Thirty-five thousand feet in the air, the pilot of the 727 was getting new instructions. ' eight nine five Papa, you are cleared directly to Delta India November upper route forty as filed.". Boeing eight nine five Papa is cleared direct Dinard upper route forty as filed.' He turned to the copilot. ' clear.' The pilot stretched, got up, and walked to the cockpit door. He looked into the cabin. "How's our passenger doing?' the copilot asked. ' looks hungry to me."
Chapter Three
Ligurian coast is the Italian Riviera, sweeping in a semicircle from the French-Italian border around to Genoa, and then continuing down to the Gulf of La Spezia. The beautiful long ribbon of coast and its @Wrkling waters contain the storied ports of Portofino, Vernazza, and beyond them Elba, -Sardinia, and Corsica. Blue Skies was approaching Portofino, which even from a distance was an impressive sight, its hillsides covered with olive trees, pines, cypresses and palms. Harry Stanford, Sopbia, and Dniitri were on deck, studying -the approaching coastline.
"Have you been to Portofino oftent Sophia asked. ' few times.' 619there is your main home?' Too personat ''ll enjoy Portofino, Sophia. It's really quite beautiful! Captain Vacarro, approached them. ' you be having lunch aboard, Signor Stanfordt ', we'll have lunch at the Splendido.' 21 ' good. And shall I be prepared to weigh anchor right after lunch?" think not. Let's enjoy the beauty of the place." Captain Vacarro, studied him, puzzled. One moment Harry Stanford was in a terrible hurry, and the next moment he seemed to have all the time in the world. And the radio shut down? Unheard of! Pazzo. When Blue Skies dropped anchor in the outer harbor, Stanford, Sophia and Dmitri took the yacht's launch ashore. The small seaport was charming, with a variety of amusing shops and outdoor trattorie lining the single road that led up to the hills. A dozen or so small fishing boats were pulled up onto the pebbled beach. Stanford turned to Sophia. ''ll be lunching at the hotel on top of the hill. There's a lovely view from there.' He nodded toward a taxi stopped beyond the docks. ' a taxi up there, and I'll meet you in a few minutes.' He handed her some lire. ' well, caro." His eyes followed her as she walked away; then he turned to Dmitri. ' have to make a call.' But notfrom the ship, Dmitri thought. The men went to the two phone booths at the side of the dock. Dmitri watched as Stanford stepped inside one of them, picked up the receiver, and inserted a token. 40perator, I would like to place a call to someone at the Union Bank of Switzerland in Geneva.' A woman was approaching the second phone booth. 22 Dhlitri stepped in front of it, blocking her way.