Blue Velvet by Iris Johansen Page B

said tersely, pulling off her tennis shoes. “They’re going to let the
Searcher
be boarded.”
    Julio muttered a curse and began to take off his own shoes.
    Beau and Daniel were at their sides and Beau’s face was dark as thunder. “What the hell do you think you’re doing now?” he growled. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. No matter how much clout Despard has with the government, I can protect you there. The conglomerate can buy and sell Castellano.”
    “He’s right, Kate,” the captain inserted swiftly. “I’ve seen it happen before. All Beau has to do isexert some economic muscle and we’re home free.”
    “
You’re
home free,” Kate said grimly. She was climbing over the rail. “It will be easy for them to pull you out of their bureaucratic clutches. It wouldn’t be so simple for Julio and me.” She tried to smile reassuringly into Seifert’s worried face. “Don’t worry, we’re not that far from shore and we’re both very good swimmers. Jump, Julio!”
    The boy slipped over the rail and dropped into the sea like a stone. Kate drew a deep breath and was about to release the rail herself, when Beau grabbed her roughly by the shoulders. “No! This is crazy. I tell you you’re both perfectly safe, blast it! I can protect you.”
    “You think you can.” Kate was struggling frantically. “Let me go! Do you know what happens to women who are imprisoned in Castellano? That gang rape you mentioned would be short and sweet in comparison.”
    “They wouldn’t touch you,” Beau said fiercely. “I wouldn’t let them.”
    “You couldn’t stop them,” Kate cried, her eyes blazing. “That blanket of protection you’re sosmug about doesn’t work for people like Julio and me.”
    “Why the hell not?”
    “Because we don’t have a country to back us up. They’ll just lock us up and throw away the key.” He was still looking at her with that expression of incomprehension and the launch was getting closer every second. “Because neither of us has a passport, damn it!”
    “What?” Beau’s grip loosened and she tore free and tumbled backward into the sea.
    “No passport! How the hell can anyone go wandering around the world without a damned passport?” Beau asked furiously, jerking his shoes off and slipping over the rail. Julio’s and Kate’s heads were bobbing several yards from the ship as they struck out strongly for the shore. “I suppose I should have expected it. There isn’t one single ordinary or reasonable thing connected with the woman!”
    “Since when has the ordinary or reasonable appealed to you?” Daniel asked, raising a brow. “I gather you’re going dashing … er, swimming, after her?”
    “What the hell else can I do?” Beau askedtestily. “There’s no telling what trouble she’ll get into next. My God, no passport!”
    “Any instructions, or do I play it by ear with the authorities?”
    “Cover for us,” Beau said tersely. “Tell them you let the four of us off at Santa Isabella and stick to it. I’ll try to get in touch with you before the conglomerate pulls you out of Castellano, but if I don’t, take the ship to Santa Isabella and we’ll join you there.”
    “Right,” Daniel said, scooping up the litter of shoes on the deck and tossing them overboard. “Wouldn’t want to leave any evidence lying around when we’re boarded, now would we? Have a pleasant swim, Beau.”
    “Thanks a lot,” Beau said ironically, and dove into the sea.

F IVE
    T HE WATER HAD felt cold at first but now it was like warm satin flowing over her. She could see Julio’s gleaming dark hair a few yards ahead and the shore seemed miles away. She felt a shiver of apprehension run through her. Would they be able to make it?
    She bit her lip and struck out more determinedly. She mustn’t even think there was a possibility of their not reaching the shore. She’d discovered a long time ago that doubts could be your worst enemy when you were striving to reach a goal.