“Couple of reasons. Let's start with the fact that this little side trip has nothing to do with our NUMA assignment.”

Paul ducked the pillow tossed at his head. “Since when have you gone by the NUMA rule book?” Gamay said.

“Like you, whenever it has been convenient. I've stretched the rules but never broken them.”

“Then let's just stretch them a little by saying that the river is an integral part of the ocean, therefore any dead person found on it should be investigated by NUMA's Special Assignments Team. Must I remind you that the team was formed precisely to look into matters nobody else would?”

“Not a bad sales pitch, but don't put too much stock in your powers of persuasion. If you hadn't suggested looking into this thing, I would have. On similarly flimsy grounds, I might add. I have an aversion to someone getting away with murder.”

“So do I. Do you have any idea where we might start?”

“Already handled that. Don't let my taciturn Cape Cod nature deceive you.”

“Not in a hundred years, my dear.”

“Back to your original question, the reason I hesitated was my surprise. This is the first time Ramirez mentioned his boat. He's given us the impression he used dugouts. Remember the fuss he made about how great our little putt-putt inflatable was? I was sniffing around one day and found a shed holding an air boat.”

She leaned up on one elbow. “An airboat! Why didn't he say something?”

“I think it's obvious. He didn't want anybody to know. I think our friend Ramirez is more complicated than he appears.”

“I have the same impression. I think he was being disingenuous about sending us scientific geeks off on a potentially dangerous mission. We've told him enough about the Special Assignments Team for him to know what we do when we're not counting river dolphins. I think he wants NUMA brought into this thing.”

“Looks like we've played right into his hands, but I'm not sure why he'd be so Machiavellian.”

“I've got an idea,” Gamay said. “He was talking about the scientists from the university acting as bio police. He is a scientist from a university. He sort of side-slipped the implication.”

“I noticed.” Paul stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes. “So you think he's actually a bio cop disguised as a botanist?”

“It would make sense.” Gamay paused in thought. “I must confess that the real reason I want to investigate was in those bags we found with the Chulo. I'm intrigued at how a backward Indian got all those high-tech toys, aren't you?”

There was no sound from the other side of the bed except that of low breathing. Paul was exercising his famous talent for dropping off to sleep on command. Gamay shook her head, pulled the sheets over her shoulders, and did the same. They would be up with the sun, and she expected the next day to be a long one.