He zipped his suitcase and left the cabin. He walked down the long hallway and entered the elevator that deposited him on the main level. When he made it to the exit, he registered with the cruise ship employee by handing over his passport. It was scanned and logged into the ship’s databank—a careful record of every passenger who disembarked from the ship. This ensured that the exact number of passengers made it safely back onboard before The Emerald Lady pulled out of port. It was here that another opportunity for failure presented itself. If Claire were not able to pull this off, then a hunt for Aaron Holland would ensue later today. Montego Bay would be put on alert. The Jamaican authorities would be called, and when they failed to locate the missing American, by protocol The Emerald Lady would contact the US authorities. A progression through the chain of agencies would follow, starting at the US consulate in the Caribbean and eventually involving the Department of State. The international branch of the FBI would eventually get involved.

Come on, Claire, he thought as he walked down the stairs and stepped onto the dock. Work your magic.

Without looking back, he walked along the pier until he stepped foot onto the mainland of Jamaica. He had studied the map and knew the route by heart. Forgoing the taxis and buses, he chose to cover the three miles into town on foot. It was hot and humid and by the time he reached Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant he was sweating through his shirt. At the bar, he ordered a Red Stripe and drank greedily.

As was the plan, he blended in with the other tourists. After he cooled down, he paid his bill with cash and headed into the market where he haggled with street vendors for fifteen minutes. When he was sufficiently comfortable, he disengaged from the crowd and crossed the main thoroughfare until he found Hobbs Avenue. He walked for a quarter of a mile, as instructed, with his small suitcase doing its best to keep up behind him. It contained all his possessions in the world. His entire existence reduced to a single suitcase.

As he rounded a bend in the road he saw the neon-green Jeep Wrangler on the shoulder. The vehicle was without a top or doors. A dreadlocked Jamaican man sat behind the wheel. He walked up and waved.

“Yeah, mon. Aaron Holland?”

“Yes, that’s me,” he said.

“No problem, mon. Come on.”

The man gestured for him to get in. The green Wrangler pulled a U-turn and headed off into the heart of Jamaica. The Emerald Lady disappeared behind them.

CHAPTER 73 - Trelawny, Jamaica Tuesday, July 13, 2021

CHAPTER 73

Trelawny, Jamaica Tuesday, July 13, 2021