Circumnavigation 96: Judas

[C James]

Chapter 96, Judas, is up.

 

Also, I'm adding a link to an interactive map of the area, centered to show the relevant spots, including Kookaburra's anchorage and Murchison house. I suggest taking a look. Here's the link.

CJ

[Daddydavek]

Another interesting chapter. I was struck with your choice of the word "emplaced" when describing attaching the GPS to the windshield with a suction cup. To me the connotation is of someone being very carefully specific about placing something and we are after all talking about the windscreen of an old but serviceable off road vehicle. So it seemed a little odd. But then again you do throw out these little tidbits some innocuous, some not.

[Benji]

...............I Love it!!! Lisa is the Judas in her minds eye regarding Bridget (Like I said). Finally Lisa see's through Bridget's managed manipulated pretense. Joel tries to comfort Lisa as she slowly realizes that Bridget may have been behind all the attempts on Trevor's life When she put the other clues together and will they trust the guesthouse again? I was surprised at how little info Henry extracted from Joel and Lisa, of course he is not a detective and would hammered the witness/suspect for hours, but really a 15 minute interview?

 

The meeting with Joel and Dirk should prove very interesting, as the statutes disappear Dirk can divulge the truth and of course Trevor will hear it from him or sooner. Given the newly found wealth of Dirk, is it possible I misjudged the next victims here? Could it be Jim ande Dirk instead?

 

Finally is anyone else nervous about an airport so close to the boys designation, how does Mr. B ignore the obvious press reports and fly off the handle. I'm going to go out on a limb here and think that he will fly over the area and spot the Kookaburra on a chance that they went south instead of north. The next few chapters are going to be filled with a least a cliffhanger or two and the final showdown of our heroes!

 

Great chapter CJ!!

[MartyS]

.

Hi Benji,

 

..............I Love it!!! Lisa is the Judas in her minds eye regarding Bridget (Like I said). Finally Lisa see's through Bridget's managed manipulated pretense. Joel tries to comfort Lisa as she slowly realizes that Bridget may have been behind all the attempts on Trevor's life When she put the other clues together and will they trust the guesthouse again? I was surprised at how little info Henry extracted from Joel and Lisa, of course he is not a detective and would hammered the witness/suspect for hours, but really a 15 minute interview?

 

Benji, you must remember one thing. Sergeant Gonzalez and Henry planned and are doing the Good/Bad cop routine on Joel. Let’s face it, its working. One thing has definitely become apparent to the two investigators. Neither Joel or Lisa are involved with Bridget and George as co-conspirators.

 

Congratulations on the Lisa/Bridget Judas prediction.

 

The meeting with Joel and Dirk should prove very interesting, as the statutes disappear Dirk can divulge the truth and of course Trevor will hear it from him or sooner. Given the newly found wealth of Dirk, is it possible I misjudged the next victims here? Could it be Jim ande Dirk instead?

 

You lost me on this one. How are Dirk and Jim going to be the next victims?

 

Finally is anyone else nervous about an airport so close to the boys designation, how does Mr. B ignore the obvious press reports and fly off the handle. I'm going to go out on a limb here and think that he will fly over the area and spot the Kookaburra on a chance that they went south instead of north. The next few chapters are going to be filled with a least a cliffhanger or two and the final showdown of our heroes!

 

There is no doubt in my mind The Hitman will be searching south. Sanchez must have told him Trevor was meeting Joel in Perth on December 23^rd. The only question in my mind is when he will start looking. Basingstoke is more or less tied up until Tuesday in Carnarvon until he gets the security set up in Ned’s boatyard.

 

I kind of doubt Mr. B will find the Kookaburra where she is presently anchored. The Goat has to keep the Cliffhangers going. We know there are going to be more than one hundred chapters. How many I am not sure. I copied this quote by CHJ from the “Red Sky at Morning Thread in the Forum.

 

Actually... there are two coming chapters I think will be seen as the big ones, in a lot of ways (including the revelations of the entire backstory), and the second of those is 99. It's chapter 98 that finds us at Dec 17th... all I'm promising is that us readers find out everything: I make no such claim regarding the characters. They may, or may not, find it all out then

BTW That discussion between Trevor and Shane about the interior structural beam in the bilges of Kookaburra, more or less eliminates the probability, that a Lagoon 55 was modified to become a Lagoon 57.

 

And I think CJ did a good job with this chapter also.

Edited October 18, 2011 by MartyS

[MartyS]

Benji

 

This is from the chapter:

 

Gonzalez gave Henry a hard look. “He paid off the mortgages and loans early, finishing with several big payments not too long before Rachel died.”

 

I think when Dirk did this, he started the clock for the Expiration on the 10 year Statute of Limitations Criminal Conspiracy.

 

Next interesting something I noticed: The ending part of the chapter. George and Bidget are having a real deep conversation. They are talking about the future. One thing was not mentioned by the Witch. I think it was in Chapter 95. Bridget told Rob of Rob's Marine, to install additional fuel tanks, to give the Sea Witch extended cruising distance. I have a hunch, if The Fit hits the Shan, Good Old Buddy George will be standing all by himself.

 

Marty

Edited October 18, 2011 by MartyS

[WinStuart]

The story is leaving second gear and moving almost up to third on a five-gear transmission. The comments above are good.

 

Nobody commented on "The murmur of the water, punctuated only by the buzz of insects and the distant, passing hum of a small Cessna, made for an idyllic scene of sun and water."

 

While the boat is hard to see from the town, not so from the air. Blasingstoke could be in that aircraft noticing both the boat and the swimmers crossing the river. He'd have time to linger off to the side and see them leave in the jeep. It wouldn't be hard for him to land and locate the boys at the station. He could spy on them long enough to see them leave for the Kalbarri National Park. He'd then have lots of time to set up an assault on the boat. Once the trap is set, all he'd have to do is dig in nearby and wait.

 

Glad to see Brigit and George squirming. Maybe if they get rattled enough, they'll make some mistakes. Hope so.

 

Five fictional days to December 18th. Can't wait.

 

Like the link from the story to the forum. Nice. Nice job all around on this chapter, CJ.

[Zombie]

Nobody commented on "The murmur of the water, punctuated only by the buzz of insects and the distant, passing hum of a small Cessna, made for an idyllic scene of sun and water."

 

While the boat is hard to see from the town, not so from the air.  Blasingstoke could be in that aircraft noticing both the boat and the swimmers crossing the river.  He'd have time to linger off to the side and see them leave in the jeep.  It wouldn't be hard for him to land and locate the boys at the station.  He could spy on them long enough to see them leave for the Kalbarri National Park.  He'd then have lots of time to set up an assault on the boat.  Once the trap is set, all he'd have to do is dig in nearby and wait.

 

 

Well spotted! Evidence of yet another cliffhanger

[Benji]

.............This is the 2nd mention of the structural beam of the Kookaburra that is the only difference between the 55 and 57 other then it's length. I still think the Aries was modified into a 57 and it is now the Kookaburra.

 

I too noticed the hum of the Cessna, while our heroes were swimming the river, but Mr. B still has to install Ned's new security system. Still, when he does fly into Kalbarri, if he were to keep to the coast looking for the Kookaburra and then swing inland towards the airport (Thanks for the google map CJ, I found the airport) he could very well spot the boat.

[MartyS]

Sorry guys, but...........

 

Quote from Chapter 88

 

Alone in his single engine Beechcraft Debonair, a streamlined four-seater low-wing retractable-gear aircraft long beloved by private pilots, he eyed the gauges, alert for any sign of trouble. An engine failure could well prove fatal, given the dearth of places to land below, and Basingstoke was a careful man. He kept a close eye on the oil pressure and temperature

Now i agree the Assassin could be flying a Cessna, but I do not think he arrived in Carnarvon flying one.

[MartyS]

As I have previously stated, I am tracking Australia time in the story.

 

In Chapter 96:

 

Trevor and Shane arrive at the Murchison Station on Sunday, December 10th.

 

If the meeting between Henry and Joel/Lisa took place as planned in a previous chapter, it occurred on Monday, December 11th (Florida Time/Date)

 

All Statute of Limitations will be expired by Saturday December 16th in Florida.

 

Trevor's Emancipation is effective on Sunday December 17th in Florida. This is also the date scheduled for the Online Conference between Sergeant Gonzalez and Dirk/Jim.

 

I am not sure of the legal aspects concerning the Time/Date difference on legal dates.

 

The time difference between Western Australia and Florida is, I believe 13 hours, during the Month of December

Edited October 18, 2011 by MartyS

[Benji]

Hey Marty!!

 

............ Well we all have to consider goat hours also, they can be excruciating slow I suspect that after Sundays admission, and meeting with Gonzales coupled with Ned's discovery of the Atlantis/Aries of an interesting cache of information left by Arnold, things will move quickly. Things that will directly link Bridget to many misdeeds, Fowler will call Gonzales on the discovery. Yet to be in play is Joel letting anyone know about Trevor's insistent search for the Aries, Gonzales, Fowler and Henry are not aware of it. This is the connect the dots scenario, once the papers and other information are recovered from the Aries and Gonzales grills Joel, everything will fall in place for the detective and Fowler.

 

Joel's part in keeping his promise to Trevor in continuing the search may dampen George's plan of framing them for drug smuggling in Australia, as I see Fowler and company escorting them of the plane and through customs, or rescuing Lisa and Joel. Now for the Idea that Bridget would flee without George, I don't think so, I see them both fleeing and into the lap of Sanchez and meeting Neptune, before he too soon meets his own demise.

 

The problem is the fact that Mr. B will still be on the hunt, so the excitement/danger will be how Trevor and Shane survive this.

 

My thoughts!

 

BTW, my take on Dirk and Jim as being victims was mere jest!

Edited October 19, 2011 by Benji

[C James]

Another interesting chapter. I was struck with your choice of the word "emplaced" when describing attaching the GPS to the windshield with a suction cup. To me the connotation is of someone being very carefully specific about placing something and we are after all talking about the windscreen of an old but serviceable off road vehicle. So it seemed a little odd. But then again you do throw out these little tidbits some innocuous, some not.

 

Good spotting!!

 

I used the word to convey that extra care was taken. Basically, in a car you can just stick the suction cup on the windshield, but for offroading you have to make sure it's attached very firmly, due to all the bouncing around. I learned this one the hard way, the first time I had a GPS on an offroading trail run. It got jolted off and went clattering around. oops...

 

Finally is anyone else nervous about an airport so close to the boys designation, how does Mr. B ignore the obvious press reports and fly off the handle. I'm going to go out on a limb here and think that he will fly over the area and spot the Kookaburra on a chance that they went south instead of north. The next few chapters are going to be filled with a least a cliffhanger or two and the final showdown of our heroes!

 

Great chapter CJ!!

 

I don't think anyone in the story is nervous about the airport; none of them know Bassingstoke can fly and has a plane. So, no worries.

 

And cliffhangers? Sorry, but there are absolutely no cliffhangers in Circumnavigation!!!

 

The story is leaving second gear and moving almost up to third on a five-gear transmission. The comments above are good.

 

Nobody commented on "The murmur of the water, punctuated only by the buzz of insects and the distant, passing hum of a small Cessna, made for an idyllic scene of sun and water."

 

While the boat is hard to see from the town, not so from the air. Blasingstoke could be in that aircraft noticing both the boat and the swimmers crossing the river. He'd have time to linger off to the side and see them leave in the jeep. It wouldn't be hard for him to land and locate the boys at the station. He could spy on them long enough to see them leave for the Kalbarri National Park. He'd then have lots of time to set up an assault on the boat. Once the trap is set, all he'd have to do is dig in nearby and wait.

 

Glad to see Brigit and George squirming. Maybe if they get rattled enough, they'll make some mistakes. Hope so.

 

Five fictional days to December 18th. Can't wait.

 

Like the link from the story to the forum. Nice. Nice job all around on this chapter, CJ.

 

Thanks!

The five fictional days will pass rather fast.. in one chapter, to be exact. Dec 17th, and the revelations it entails, is in 98.

 

Well spotted! Evidence of yet another cliffhanger

 

Zombie!! It's not a cliffhanger!!! There are no cliffhangers in Circumnavigation! Go eat some brains! :P

.............This is the 2nd mention of the structural beam of the Kookaburra that is the only difference between the 55 and 57 other then it's length. I still think the Aries was modified into a 57 and it is now the Kookaburra.

 

I too noticed the hum of the Cessna, while our heroes were swimming the river, but Mr. B still has to install Ned's new security system. Still, when he does fly into Kalbarri, if he were to keep to the coast looking for the Kookaburra and then swing inland towards the airport (Thanks for the google map CJ, I found the airport) he could very well spot the boat.

 

Heh, one problem with that airport for anyone using Google Earth; the airport symbol shows up as on the coast south of Kalbarri. But, that's not where the airport is, lol.

 

I learned to fly at a little single-strip airfield like that, though at mine the landing pattern was atypical, due to mountians being in the way.

 

Sorry guys, but...........

 

Quote from Chapter 88

 

 

 

Now i agree the Assassin could be flying a Cessna, but I do not think he arrived in Carnarvon flying one.

 

You're right!

 

The plane he's shown as having (and arriving in) is a Beechcraft Deboniar. They look like this.

 

A Cessna (for a small plane) is a high wing, not a low wing, so here's a Cessna 172

 

See? No worries about that Cessna.

[MartyS]

Hi Benji,

 

IMPORTANT I posted a special for you in Brain storming Tuesday evening.

 

Now on to this post

 

Hey Marty!!

 

............ Well we all have to consider goat hours also, they can be excruciating slow I suspect that after Sundays admission, and meeting with Gonzales coupled with Ned's discovery of the Atlantis/Aries of an interesting cache of information left by Arnold, things will move quickly. Things that will directly link Bridget to many misdeeds, Fowler will call Gonzales on the discovery. Yet to be in play is Joel letting anyone know about Trevor's insistent search for the Aries, Gonzales, Fowler and Henry are not aware of it. This is the connect the dots scenario, once the papers and other information are recovered from the Aries and Gonzales grills Joel, everything will fall in place for the detective and Fowler.

 

Easy now Benji. First. Dirk and Jim know about Trevor’s Quest. I would think they told Henry all about his searching for the Ares. I doubt Henry would tell Sergeant Gonzalez. Henry does not want anything about Rachel to come to the Sergeant’s attention.

 

Correct about Fowler not knowing about Trevor’s Quest. Only Shane knows in Australia. Ooooooooopps forgot about the Dr. Shrink. Trevor may have told her.

 

I think that if Rachel had found anything Arnold would have hidden aboard Ares, she would have taken it with her when she disappeared.

 

I just thought of something. This is not a WAG. But it is pure speculation. I have very little to support this scenario, except one thing has been bothering me.

 

We know that Greg Fowler has been briefed, probably directly by Rachel. The way he has been pushing Ned to do the Doppler search made me believe he didn’t know about Arnold’s hidden compartments. I forgot one important factor. Rachel!

 

Rachel’s scheme to arrange for her Disappearance has stood the test of time. If it had not been for Trevor’s searching for the Ares, the Statutes of Limitations would have just expired on December 16^th . Dirk wanted Trevor to go to Australia when his school started the Christmas Break. That is December 21^st. Dirk would have been able to tell Trevor everything that was part of the Disappearance. Dirk was free and clear as of the 16^th. Dirk even told Trevor he would explain the divorce papers in a couple of months.

 

Anyway we know what happened. Trevor arrives in Carnarvon after two attempts to kill him. If he had completed the first half of his circumnavigation as planned, he never would have been near Carnarvon. We both believe Rachel is pulling the strings. Only Bridget and her associates know why Trevor has almost been killed twice. Law enforcement authorities on two continents are clueless.

 

Here is what I think may happen. Rachel knows where the hidden compartments were aboard the Ares. I believe she removed anything she found, that Arnold had hidden. I believe she kept the documents and brought them to Australia with her. I believe Trevor’s Atlantis used to be the Ares.

 

Now I am speculating. I think the documents have been returned to the hidden compartments. I think Greg Fowler knows this. I think Rachel wants those documents to be found by Ned when he does the search. This way Greg is off the hook and does not have to explain anything to his superiors. I kind of doubt Ned has been briefed.

 

Joel's part in keeping his promise to Trevor in continuing the search may dampen George's plan of framing them for drug smuggling in Australia, as I see Fowler and company escorting them of the plane and through customs, or rescuing Lisa and Joel.

 

Sorry Benji, I do not understand exactly what you are trying to explain here.

 

Now for the Idea that Bridget would flee without George, I don't think so, I see them both fleeing and into the lap of Sanchez and meeting Neptune, before he too soon meets his own demise.

 

I will stand with my guesses here. Especially when I add in the info I posted in Brain storming for you.

 

The problem is the fact that Mr. B will still be on the hunt, so the excitement/danger will be how Trevor and Shane survive this.

 

I wont argue with you here. However, if Sanchez is killed or arrested, I doubt Mr. B will finish the job.

 

Those are my thoughts.

 

Marty

Edited October 19, 2011 by MartyS

[sdaddy]

I dont know how many different ways to tell you that I absolutely love this story. I can see several possible ways for it to come to a conclussion in the not too distant future and that will be a sad day for me because I want it to go on and on and on......

 

In support of Benji, I can easily see the ground work being laid to make Dirk at the least another tally in the body count field. If he turns himself in as planned, I see George and Bridget getting someone already in the system to do the dirty work possibly to keep him from testifying later. Ofcourse that all depends on exactly what it is he needs to have the statute of limitations for. If this is a possible direction, I do hope you get Trevor and Dirk to atleast reconcile before that happens. I also hope you have a particularly nasty punishiment lined up for Bridgett and George assuming they get caught and in that line, I hope you dont let them have an opportunity to run. I am so looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks for sharing with us.

[Trebs]

I haven't been keeping up on the forum, just on the story, so just posted in the thread for Bull Dust but it looks like, from MartyS' comments, that the Shelly Rachel Carlson Fowler connection has already been made...

[MartyS]

I haven't been keeping up on the forum, just on the story, so just posted in the thread for Bull Dust but it looks like, from MartyS' comments, that the Shelly Rachel Carlson Fowler connection has already been made...

 

To tell the truth as far as I can tell Rachel might be Shelly Foster, Sarah Blake or even Melody, Ned's Wife.

[C James]

To tell the truth as far as I can tell Rachel might be Shelly Foster, Sarah Blake or even Melody, Ned's Wife.

 

Has anyone considered the possibility that Trevor might have three mothers?

 

I haven't been keeping up on the forum, just on the story, so just posted in the thread for Bull Dust but it looks like, from MartyS' comments, that the Shelly Rachel Carlson Fowler connection has already been made...

 

I think I can say, definitively, that there is, or is not, a connection between certain characters that may, or may not, have been revealed.

 

I dont know how many different ways to tell you that I absolutely love this story. I can see several possible ways for it to come to a conclussion in the not too distant future and that will be a sad day for me because I want it to go on and on and on......

 

In support of Benji, I can easily see the ground work being laid to make Dirk at the least another tally in the body count field. If he turns himself in as planned, I see George and Bridget getting someone already in the system to do the dirty work possibly to keep him from testifying later. Ofcourse that all depends on exactly what it is he needs to have the statute of limitations for. If this is a possible direction, I do hope you get Trevor and Dirk to atleast reconcile before that happens. I also hope you have a particularly nasty punishiment lined up for Bridgett and George assuming they get caught and in that line, I hope you dont let them have an opportunity to run. I am so looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

Thanks!

 

Dirk would be a risk to Bridget and George, were he to testify, so that's a risk.

 

 

Okay, time for the mention of the coming chapter's title. "A Means to an End".

 

BTW, the meaning of the ending of last week's chapter, the words "Blissfully unawares." will be revealed in "A Means to an End".

CJ

[MartyS]

To tell the truth as far as I can tell Rachel might be Shelly Foster, Sarah Blake or even Melody, Ned's Wife.

 

Has anyone considered the possibility that Trevor might have three mothers?

 

 

So speaks the Sage from the mountains in Arizona. Based on my understanding, knowledge and belief, a female can give birth to triplets. However, I have never heard of multiple mothers giving birth to the same infant.

Edited October 21, 2011 by MartyS

[Benji]

So speaks the Sage from the mountains in Arizona. Based on my understanding, knowledge and belief, a female can give birth to triplets. However, I have never heard of multiple mothers giving birth to the same infant.

 

So speaks the Sage from the mountains in Arizona. Based on my understanding, knowledge and belief, a female can give birth to. However, I have never heard of multiple mothers giving birth to the same infant.

 

........ Well first of all, I too am confused on who Rachel really is, the 'Shelly' reference in which Trevor fondly remembers as a nickname of his mother clues me into believing that Mrs. Fowler is Rachel and Mrs.Blake being her sister. What makes it difficult for this realization is the fact that the Blake's are into sailing and charters, which Rachel (the Blakes) was very much involved in, the opinion then shifts it back, to being that Rachel is actually Mrs. Blake and 7 year old Trevor misinterpreted Sheila for Shelly in his memories. Sheila being an Aussie slang term for an Aussie Girl. But would Dirk know the difference? If Trevor heard in his memories the word spoken by his dad in reference to Rachel be wrong? I'm 50/50 here on if it is Mrs. Fowler or Mrs. Blake as being Trevor's long lost mother.

 

BTW, Marty, I'm thinking that the new at this late of date 'news' between Gonzales and Fowler will make it clear that the 'kids' (Lisa and Joel) are being set up, and Fowler and company is going to walk them through customs and search the luggage on their own, without the actual customs report from the airport, they will send out a false one proclaiming to have arrested two American teens for smuggling drugs into the country. That should complicate Bridget and George in thinking that their plan worked, This is continent if the matters are unfolded between their scheduled flight and the realizations made by Dirk, Gonzales, Joel, Lisa, Henry and Fowler, plus what is found on the Aries from the late Arnold!

 

My thoughts!!

Edited October 22, 2011 by Benji

[Trebs]

Shelly isn't only remembered, it is on her "grave"...

[Benji]

Shelly isn't only remembered, it is on her "grave"...

 

.................... Damn, how true!!

[Canuk]

I haven't posted here as I tend to have added my comments at the "review" site, but this time I followed the link, and have had a greta time with peoples' speculations, some of which I had thought of others have not occured to me at all. I love the story for this reason; it does actually make you think and as for "no cliffhangers".......

 

I am glad you clarified the Cessna/Debonaire confusion. when I first read of the "cessna buzzing..." my heart lept, but then I recalled the spy was in a Deb (no I don't have an amazing memory; I used to fly Beach 36s and Debs, so it sort of stuck in my mind). Still knowing CJ's penchant for dropping in relevant facts at unexpected moments, I think this 172 has some deeper meaning (or we are being played......)

Great read, thoroughly enjoying it......

[Benji]

...................... Still the mystery of the 'name' Shelly in all of this, it alludes to Fowler's wife and further to Rachel, yet it is the Blakes that are the ones running the charters and man a catamaran boat . So it is still confusing on who is which a 'Shelly', Rachel or a Mrs' Blake here, so the only guess I can give is that 'Shelly' is Rachel and is having her 'sister' and Mr. Blake run the charters and they are splitting a bit of the money. I find that hard to believe as Rachel loved the sea, and is highly experienced in doing so, perhaps she taught Martin how to take the boat out. Then again what if there is no Mrs. Blake?" What if it was a cover? After all we never heard a word from her, what if Rachel was Mrs. Fowler and Mrs. Blake was a fake, Shane could have met Mrs. Fowler all this time, and not known it. Danger lies if he puts out any photos in front of Trevor of the owners.

 

Enough brainstorming here............ Because the length of the chapters could not handle the implications here.

[Gene Splicer PHD]

Bridget is her MOTHER

 

 

I have no idea what I am talking about

[MartyS]

Easy Benji, your going around in circles. That is exactly what the Goat wants us to do. Here is my take on who is Rachel. I was working on it when you made your recent posts

 

 

Hi Benji,

 

I wrote this for a damn good reason. (See quote immediately below.)

 

To tell the truth as far as I can tell Rachel might be Shelly Foster, Sarah Blake or even Melody, Ned's Wife.

There is no question in my mind that Rachel is in Australia and involved with what is going on in Carnarvon.

 

Trevor has seen none of the three females. Their presence in the storyline is almost non-existent.

 

Shelly Foster finally surfaced during the conversations with her husband Greg in Chapter 88 and the again in Chapter 92.

 

Sarah Blake is present with her husband during his phone call with Trevor at the end of Chapter 91, but does not speak.

 

Melody Kelly's only appearance is in Chapter 79. She answers the telephone when Trevor calls Ned.

 

When Greg Fowler met Trevor he did not know who he was. The following day he drove Trevor to the bank. He also was involved with Trevor when Shane came and met Trevor at the Custom’s Pier that evening. He was treating Trevor the same as he had the day he rescued him.

 

On Tuesday things have changed. Greg does a search of Trevor’s Atlantis. He finds the gun. I believe he was alerted to the probable presence of a handgun aboard the boat.

 

I believe when Greg returned home Monday evening, someone told him a lot about who Trevor was and the facts involved in the Disappearance. If his wife Shelly was Rachel, why wouldn’t he have been given the word when he returned home Sunday evening. Because the possibility does exist his wife did not learn about Trevor Sunday evening, either because she was already asleep or maybe away, I am not ready to commit she is, or is not Rachel.

 

Martin Blake loves Kookaburra. She is his first boat. He has owned her since she was new. That is a pretty big boat to start learning boat handling aboard. Based on his statements, he had to be taught to handle her. Someone had to teach him. The fact she is a sailboat as opposed to a powerboat makes the learning curve a lot more difficult. She is operated as a charter boat. We have seen this is a business you need to be trained in. Just like Joel had to in the Med.. It is not something become skilled at from a book. Someone had to tutor him.

 

There should be no question in your mind as to who is the boss when to comes to the Kookaburra. Sarah Blake made the original decision to help Shane, when he came literally begging. Martin Blake had to wait for Sarah to return home, to give the OK to use Kookaburra with the press.

 

You can ask why I included Melody Kelly. Back in Chapter 79 she became very flustered when Trevor telephoned Ned. That has been bothering me. The second reason showed up in Chapter 94.

 

Here it is:

 

 

“Costs? For equipment you already own?” Fowler asked, arching an eyebrow. “Ned, do you really want to put me in the position of having to tell your wife that you wouldn’t do something to help Trevor out, with gear you already have and would be using anyway? And, unless I miss my guess, you’ll be billing his insurance for, too?”

 

Why would Greg Fowler assume Ned’s wife would care if Ned didn't help Trevor. I do not know. I do not intend to rule out anyone right now.

 

I feel strongest that Rachel is Sarah Blake. But, knowing the Goat, I wouldn’t bet money on it.

 

According to the Goats posting, we, the readers will learn most of what occurred a decade ago when the Ares disappeared. The various participants in the story may not learn it at the same time. So let us wait until Chapters 98 and 99 are posted.

 

As far as Joel and Lisa heading for Australia, relax. The way Bridget is talking they may never leave on the trip.

 

Joel should be getting the word about Dirk shortly after the 17th. Then he and Lisa can pillowtalk in Bridget's guest house. When the Deadly Duo learn Dirk is free and clear regarding Rachel and learn the Ares was not destroyed, that is when things will get interesting.

 

I wonder how well Lisa will handle Bridget now that she is suspicious of her.

 

I doubt Basingstoke will have completed the hit on Trevor before the start of Chapter 98. I have no doubt that somewhere in Chapter 97 will be a humdinger of a Cliffhanger. The Goat has already said those two chapters, 98 and 99 are ready to go. This will create a three week CLIFFHANGER. Do you really think the Goat will pass up that kind of opportunity.

 

 

Marty

Edited October 22, 2011 by MartyS