“I did. Why are you calling instead of the captain?”

“He’s in his cabin,” Marcus replied.

“I repeat the question,” Darling said. He could tell when someone was being evasive. They tended to answer directly and quickly, as though the answer had been rehearsed.

“He had a run-in with Mr. Hawke,” Marcus said.

“Is Mr. Hawke with you?”

“No,” Marcus replied. “Shall I get him?”

“That isn’t necessary,” Darling told him. “What happened?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Marcus replied. “We made the rendezvous at the rescheduled time. As the launch was setting out, Mr. Hawke came below with several of his men. He asked me to tell Captain Kannaday that Hawke was in the radio room. I was to remain above deck until they came for me.”

“How long were you up there?” Darling asked.

“About ten minutes,” Marcus told him. “Mr. Hawke came up and told me it was all right to go below.”

“And the captain?”

“Hawke said he had retired and was not to have any visitors or messages,” Marcus told him.

“Are you sure Captain Kannaday is alive?” Darling asked.

“I went to the door and had a listen,” Marcus said. “I heard movement but nothing more.”

“He hasn’t asked for anything,” Darling said.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Marcus replied. “He hasn’t used the intercom.”

“So Hawke has been running the ship.”

“Apparently,” Marcus replied. “He brought us in. I was asleep most of the time.”

“Is anyone coming ashore?” Darling asked.

“Not yet,” Marcus said. “Mr. Hawke asked me to call in. I have no further instructions or information.”

Darling poured himself more coffee. It was already prepared to his taste, dark and sweet.

John Hawke was smart. Kannaday had obviously done what Darling had suggested. He had made noises like a real captain. Hawke must have threatened Kannaday in return. Perhaps they had tied him up or beaten him. But locked in his room, Kannaday was still the captain. If there were ever a fall to take, legally or with Darling, he would still have to take it. But that was Kannaday’s problem. Darling’s problem was that if he asked to see Kannaday, he would find out what happened. That Hawke had pushed him to the wall and won. Then he would either have to replace him or send him back to the Hosannah. If Darling left him in charge, then he himself would look weak. He could not knowingly leave a crippled captain in charge. Unfortunately, there was no one available to replace Kannaday except for Hawke. But if Darling asked Hawke to take charge, he ran the very real risk that Hawke would decline. John Hawke preferred the shadows to the light. His refusal would also make Darling appear weak. As Hawke had just demonstrated, he was not afraid to push back.

The next pickup was not for another four days. The yacht was scheduled to cruise with its “paying” customers until then.