Surveying the radar screen, Pitt noticed the image of a vessel appear ahead of them, traveling on a similar heading. He stepped closer to the screen to see the ship’s AIS registry. The Automatic Identification System, a satellite-driven program required of all commercial ships over three hundred tons, provided speed and heading data, as well as an identity, for all such ships at sea. But for the ship on the radar now, there was no AIS display.

“She doesn’t have her AIS turned on,” Pitt said to Gomez. “That seems a bit suspicious out here.”

“Sometimes the signal is lost,” Gomez said. “Or she could be a military vessel. It means nothing.”

The captain stepped close to the helmsman, whispered something in his ear, and then moved to the opposite end of the bridge. Pitt ignored the captain and kept tracking the Adelaide’s speed and heading. He wasn’t surprised when the mystery vessel slowed a knot or two until it vanished from the radar screen.

Forty minutes of silent tension passed before Giordino entered the bridge to relieve Pitt. “Are we sailing happy seas tonight?”

“Cruising on waves of hysteria.”

Pitt, preparing to leave, quietly reported the earlier encounter with the ship. A new helmsman arrived to relieve the one on duty, but Gomez remained on watch. As Pitt turned to depart the bridge, he glanced once more at the radar screen. Something caught his eye, and he hesitated, studying the numbers. It was the course heading. The ship had suddenly changed from an east-northeast heading to east-southeast.

“Why are we running southeast?” Pitt asked.

“There is a strong head current at this latitude,” Gomez said. “We will drop below it for a day or two to maintain speed, then readjust our heading to Long Beach.”

Pitt’s recollection was that the north equatorial current ran some distance south of their position, but he didn’t argue. He turned and gave Giordino a skeptical look. “Guess I’ll turn in. See you on the next shift.”

Pitt finally exited the bridge and climbed down the companionway. Rather than exit on the second level to go to his stateroom, he continued down to the main deck to get some fresh air. Reaching it, he ran into Plugrad racing up the companionway. The Coast Guard lieutenant had an agitated look.

“You’re up early,” Pitt said.

“Trying to find two of my men who didn’t report for their watch. You didn’t see them up on the bridge?”

“No. I’d suggest the mess. They probably went for some coffee to stay awake.”

Plugrad grumbled an acknowledgment and trodded off toward the mess.