#4 - BOAT RIDE

     They stopped at a gas station and bought a map of Alabama, when they noticed a map of Mississippi. They bought it, too. Looking over the maps, they decided to head to Mobile and then SW to Biloxi, Mississippi. From there they would decide their next move.

     Once in Biloxi, they headed toward the shore. After a couple wrong turns, nothing appeared familiar. Small houses bordered the two lane road that stood for a highway. Bob remarked, "As long as we keep heading south, we've got to hit the shoreline."

     "Then what?" Ariel asked. "I know we're trying to hide away, but are you sure about this?"

     Kathleen responded, "No one's going to think of looking down here. Once we get to the shore, then we can figure out a way to get to one of the islands. From there, we should have time to figure things out."

     Ariel sat back doubtfully.

     Bob turned, "Trust me. Kathleen has a way."

     "A way for what?" Ariel asked, arms folded.

     "A way of making something out of nothing."

     As if on queue, Kathleen pointed through the windshield. "And there's our way."

     Ariel leaned forward to see ocean in the distance. Soon, they came as far as the road would take them and parked at a restaurant. Ariel looked around before she asked, "This is our way to where, exactly?"

     Kathleen unbuckled her seat belt, half turned, and said, "You'll see."

     Sarcastically, she replied, "And are you sure that you see because-"

     Bob cut her off. "Just, trust her. Let's go."

     She rolled her eyes. "Oh boy."

     The three walked to the coast where they came across a dock with a fishing boat, the Wreck of the Gulf, filthy with the smell of fish and one man moving gear around on deck. Kathleen walked quickly. "Excuse me.      Where are you headed?"

     "Just finished a little fishing. Going home." Came the man's gruff response.

     "You wouldn't by any chance be able to take me and my friends . . . out."

     "Out?" The man straightened.

     "To one of the islands." Kathleen asked as if everyone asked a perfect stranger to take them to a non-specific location.

     "I don't think so."

     Kathleen offered, "We have cash."

     The fisherman eyed her curiously, then glanced at Bob and Ariel. After considering, he asked, "Why is this so important?"

     "We need to visit a relative."

     He cracked a smile. "And what island does this relative live on?"

     "Dauphin Island?"

     The smile lessened. The fisherman considered again before he asked, "How much?"

     Kathleen held money. "Four hundred dollars."

     The fisherman grinned. "Come aboard. By the way, I'm Captain Jack."

     Bob, Ariel and Kathleen introduced themselves as Betty, Renee and Rick, and soon, headed out on the Gulf of Mexico. Within a few hours, Dauphin Island appeared in the distance, a strip of vegetation and earth that broke through the surrounding waters. From here, Bob and Kathleen would talk over the path they'd take to Nevada, and then work on the murder of women small business owners, beginning with the letter A. They also needed to find the best way to keep Ariel, aka Betty, alive.

     As the boat made its way for one of the smaller docks, Bob noticed the captain quietly singing a song. He turned to see the smile on Captain Jack's face. He stared down upon Bob and began to sing louder, which is when all three noticed the song he sang, one by Billy Joel with the same name as their navigator.

     Soon Bob began to sing along with him in a loud voice. By the time they pulled into the dock and tied down the boat, all four were singing loudly.

     Apparently, Billy Joel's music -- or, at the very least, this song -- had been popular to those around that particular dock on Dauphin Island, as the song found its way upon the voices of most everyone there.

     This lead to a question for Bob and Kathleen: Why?

Keep a lookout for more. I think it's high time for a little action.....