Scene 3

In the hotel room, Everhard stripped off his shirt and said, "I’m in the shower. Will you join me Kim?" "Sure Jimmy, be right there." With that, Everhard removed the rest of his clothing and adjusted the shower’s jet of warm water and stepped into the spacious shower. In the room, Kim was removing her blouse when there was a knock at the door. "Room service," a voice from the hallway said. Kim cracked the door and was knocked to the floor as two large men dressed in black forced their way into the room. Kim tried to scream but one of the men clamped a hand over her mouth and then replaced it with a strip of silver duct tape and the two men forced her into a large linen cart that they had pushed into the room. One of the men went into the bathroom and when he saw Everhard in the shower, he pumped six rounds from a silenced automatic through the glass door. The glass shower door shattered, Everhard’s form crumpled into the tub and the two men left hurriedly pushing their large linen container toward the elevator. On the first floor, at the back door of that wing of the hotel, the men swiftly loaded the linen cart into an unremarkable white van and drove off into the Orlando traffic. Twenty minutes later a housekeeper discovered the nude and bleeding James Everhard unconscious in the shower.

Scene 4

Paramedics immediately extracted the naked James Everhard from the tub and began to assess his injuries. The consensus was that a round had grazed his temple and caused him to strike his head against the shower wall, knocking him unconscious. Another .38 caliber round found a home in his right buttock. Four more rounds were lodged in the tile showers wall. All in all, he was lucky to be alive. The paramedics stabilized their patient and bandaged his wounds. "Kim, where is Kim?" Everhard asked as he regained consciousness. No one knew that there had even been another person in the room until Everhard’s panicked questions. Police did find a yellow blouse lying on the bed. A detective rode in the ambulance with Everhard to the Emergency Room and took his statement. In route to the hospital, Everhard called an old friend on his cell phone. "Chapel? I need you in Orlando. Kim’s been kidnapped. Can you bring Magnum and Donna Vadelle? Everhard asked. "This may turn out to be a war." "We’re on our way James. Are you okay?" Chapel asked. "Took a .38 slug in the butt! But I’m okay. Chapel fought the urge to laugh and told his partner he’d be there as soon as possible with Magnum and Vadelle.

Scene 5

Chief of Detectives (retired) Nick Chapel headed the sleek Lear jets nose into the wind at Wiley Post airport and pushed the throttles to their stops. Bud Magnum was in the copilot seat and watched NW.50^th Street, and its traffic, approach with alarming speed as Chapel worked the flaps and pulled back on the wheel. The sleek jet climbed and streaked over the evening traffic. As the jet climbed steadily upward to its assigned altitude of 25,000 feet, Chapel banked the aircraft gently to the south east. "We should touch down in Orlando at around 10:00 PM Eastern Time," Chapel announced. "How come Everhard didn’t take the Lear?" Magnum asked. "We leased it to the electric company for a few months. Just got it back yesterday," Chapel told him. As if on cue, Donna Vadelle entered the cockpit with three cold sodas. "Sorry, but there’s no scotch on board," Donna announced. "No scotch on board?! That’s simply not acceptable!" Magnum said "It’s okay, I never drink and fly anyway. I’ll take a cola though." Chapel said. Donna handed out soft drinks and settled down in the plush cockpit with her two partners. "Leave it to James Everhard to find trouble in paradise," chuckled Donna, "Got shot in the butt chasing after his fantasy honey". Then she turned serious and asked, "Do you think Kim’s ex kidnapped her Bill?" "Martin is a powerful man Donna. He’s made a fortune in shipping and imports. It may have been him. My understanding is that he wants her back very badly, "Nick answered. The trio sat quietly, all three lost in thought, as the jet cruised eastward.

Scene 6

Everhard met the Lear jet when it taxied to the rented hangar at Orlando International. He waited as his three friends exited. The first person he greeted was Donna Vadelle. He kissed her warmly. Donna grabbed a handful of his right butt cheek as they kissed, as he often did her, and Everhard let out a sharp cry of pain. "Careful baby, I just had a bullet removed from that cheek," Everhard explained. "Can’t wait to see the scar," Donna joked. Then Everhard turned to greet his other two partners, Magnum and Chapel. "Thanks for coming so quickly guys." Everhard told them. "No problem" Chapel answered, "Where are we headed now?" "Martin has a small private island in the Caribbean, a few miles north of the Bahamas. My best guess is that is where he has taken Kim." I’ve rented a boat. We’ll leave at first light from Cape Canaveral. It’s easily large enough to sleep on board comfortably. I’ll take you there now." Everhard led the three adventurers to a waiting stretch limo. Moments later, the trio drove away.

Scene 7

The Yacht Everhard chartered for the trip to Martin’s private isle was an 80 foot, Brownard, raised pilothouse beauty. It was a deep, v-hulled craft, made from fiberglass, sporting twin diesel engines. The "Cheeky tiger" the ships name, sported three spacious staterooms plus crew quarters, large galley and dining area, and a spacious deck for fishing and sun bathing. The tiger’s top speed was about 30 knots and she cruised easily at 25. The team bedded down for the night onboard the luxury craft, Everhard in one suite, Chapel in another and Magnum and Vadelle in the master suite. "Nice little tub," Magnum commented as he and Donna headed into their suite. "The Tiger is for sale if you’re interested Bud," Everhard told him. "How much?" Magnum asked. "The Captain told me a million-two." "We’ll sleep on it," Magnum told him, "See you at sunrise James." "Goodnight you two." Everhard said as he entered his stateroom for the night.

On Martin’s private island, locked away in one of the fourteen bedrooms of the enormous mansion, Kim tried to fall asleep, but sleep escaped her. She lay there and wondered if James was alive. Had he been able to survive the assault at the Marriott? She had heard silenced shots fired and …..God she hoped he was okay. She had completely shunned Martin when she was "brought before him" as though he was some sort of Emperor seated on a throne. It was then that she called him an arrogant, egotistical bastard with an undersized penis, and he had finally lost his temper and had her locked away in here, "until she came to her senses," as he had put it. "Well, I have news for you Martin!" she shouted aloud in the dark and empty room. "You can never force me to take you back!" and then she began to sob.

At first light, Everhard awoke to the hum of the two powerful diesel engines as the Cheeky Tiger left the harbor and got underway. He jumped up and headed to the shower. After a warm shower, he toweled off and pulled on a swimsuit and a pair of sandals and headed for the sundeck. On the deck at the aft of the ship, Donna Vadelle was sunning in an extremely brief bikini, sans the top. She sipped a drink, orange in color and garnished with fruit. "Morning, beautiful. Careful you don’t burn those beauties." Everhard warned her. "They’ve always been my favorite of your many fine assets." "Oh, they’ll be just fine James. But thank you." Donna laughed. Just then the porter appeared and Everhard said, "I’ll have what she’s drinking." The porter nodded and disappeared again. Everhard took a reclining chair next to Donna. "Tell me Donna, how are things between you and Bud these days?" "We’re in love James, truly in love." Donna answered, "Let me ask you my friend," Donna said, "Is this more than just an infatuation with Kim?"  "I’d sure like it to be Donna. But you know me baby. She’s a damsel in distress.  That always peaks my interest." "James, you are a piece of work," Donna told him. Then the porter arrived with Everhard’s drink.

Scene 8

Bud Magnum came out on the sundeck holding a Bloody Mary in his right hand and crunching on the celery stick. "Fine day for an island invasion," he said. "Actually, I thought we’d go in right after dark," Everhard said. "It’s nothing we haven’t done before." "True, but it’s been a while and I may be a bit rusty at the bullet dodging part." Magnum said with a grin. "It’s like riding a bicycle old friend, one never forgets." "This being said by a man with a bullet wound in his ass," Magnum said. "Well", replied Everhard, "there weren’t too many places to take cover in that shower stall." Magnum bent over and gave Donna Vadelle a deep, passionate kiss and said, "Good Morning my love. Sleep well?" "Like a baby," she purred. "Where the hell is Chapel?" Everhard asked. "Last time I saw him he was cleaning that evil looking shotgun of his." Donna answered. "Ah, his weapon of choice," Everhard said, "his sawed off Mossburg, 12 gauge pump. That cannon has saved both our lives more than once." A voice came out of the stairwell, "Had to oil her up a little, she’s not at all partial to this salt, sea air." Chief of Detectives (retired) Nick Chapel said, talking around the ever present cigar in the corner of his mouth. "What’s for breakfast?" "Vodka and various fruit and vegetable juices," Magnum said raising his glass. "Ah, the breakfast of champions! I’ll also have a tall Bloody Mary my good man." Chapel told the porter who nodded and disappeared below again. "Meanwhile, what’s the plan James?" For the next fifteen minutes Everhard told them what he had found out about Martin’s private island. "It’s very small, only about 10 acres of sand and trees surrounding a huge house. There is a small security force patrolling the island and a surplus PT boat patrols the lagoon surrounding it. I’m sure there are security cameras in the surrounding trees and native fishermen have reported hearing dogs at night." "Wonderful, just fricking wonderful," Magnum said. "We will have to go onto the island from the north. It’s the only way without scaling the cliff that surrounds the house on three sides," Everhard continued "Won’t they be expecting an assault from the easiest entrance?" Vadelle asked. "Brains and beauty!" Everhard said.  "Yes, they will but I thought the cliff climb might be a challenge in the dark," Everhard said. "We’re all up to it, aren’t we guys?" she said. Magnum and Chapel rolled their eyes. "Okay, a Cliffside assault is how we’ll go, right after dark. Let’s pack our gear."

Scene 9

The Captain of The Captain of the Cheeky Tiger stopped the lightless vessel approximately two miles north of the of the small, uncharted island. Everhard and his companions, dressed in black combat fatigues and flack jackets, busied themselves lowering a large dinghy, loaded with their necessary equipment over the side of the yacht. "I will be back at this very spot in ten hours Mr. Everhard. Just before sunrise." The Captain told him. "If you are not here, what shall I do?" he asked. "Call my satellite phone Captain. If we don’t answer, call the Coast Guard." Everhard told him. "Tell them we were raiding a huge cocaine operation. That should bring the cavalry." "Very good sir, God speed!" the Captain snapped a salute. When the four island raiders were aboard the rubber craft, Magnum asked, "Why’d you tell him we were going after drugs?" If we have trouble and don’t make it back here in ten hours, I’d like the Coast Guard to hit the beach prepared for the worst." "Odds are that’s what that bastard Martin is doing on this lonely piece of real estate anyway," Chapel added. "It’s way too remote, and too well guarded just for some rich guy to be craving privacy." "Well, I just hope we don’t hit the beach blasting away at a Girl Scout Cookie factory or something." Magnum said. Everhard laughed quietly and punched Magnum’s shoulder. "You’re awfully quiet baby, "Magnum said to Donna. "You okay?" "Yeah, I’m fine. It is, however, the first time I’ve ever made an island assault holding an automatic rifle. It’s a little spooky!" Donna answered. "You’ll be fine love. Just keep your head down and don’t use that rifle unless you absolutely have to," Magnum told her. "I’ve never shot anyone. Not even a deer or an animal of any kind. I just hope I can do it. I just hope that I won’t let you guys down." She told her friends. "It may not even come to that," Chapel said around his stogie. "But if it does, remember that it will be them or you, never hesitate." Everhard told her." "I will, you can count on me guys." Donna said. Chapel started the big Mercury outboard and steered the dinghy through the calm water towards the island stronghold.

Scene 10

When last we saw our heroes:

The Captain of The Captain of the Cheeky Tiger stopped the lightless vessel approximately two miles north of the small, uncharted island. Everhard and his companions, dressed in black combat fatigues and flack jackets, busied themselves lowering a large dinghy, loaded with their necessary equipment over the side of the yacht. "I will be back at this very spot in ten hours Mr. Everhard. Just before sunrise." The Captain told him. "If you are not here, what shall I do?" he asked. "Call my satellite phone Captain. If we don’t answer, call the Coast Guard." Everhard told him. "Tell them we were raiding a huge cocaine operation. That should bring the cavalry." "Very good sir, God speed!" the Captain snapped a salute. When the four island raiders were aboard the rubber craft, Magnum asked, "Why’d you tell him we were going after drugs?" If we have trouble and don’t make it back here in ten hours, I’d like the Coast Guard to hit the beach prepared for the worst." "Odds are that’s what that bastard Martin is doing on this lonely piece of real estate anyway," Chapel added. "It’s way too remote, and too well guarded just for some rich guy to be craving privacy." "Well, I just hope we don’t hit the beach blasting away at a Girl Scout Cookie factory or something." Magnum said. Everhard laughed quietly and punched Magnum’s shoulder. "You’re awfully quiet baby, "Magnum said to Donna. "You okay?"  "Yeah, I’m fine. It is, however, the first time I’ve ever made an island assault holding an automatic rifle. It’s a little spooky!" Donna answered. "You’ll be fine love.  Just keep your head down and don’t use that rifle unless you absolutely have to," Magnum told her. "I’ve never shot anyone. Not even a deer or an animal of any kind. I just hope I can do it. I just hope that I won’t let you guys down." She told her friends. "It may not even come to that," Chapel said around his stogie. "But if it does, remember that it will be them or you, never hesitate." Everhard told her." "I will, you can count on me guys." Donna said. Chapel started the big Mercury outboard and steered the dinghy through the calm water towards the island stronghold.

Everhard cut the engine about a half mile from the islands shore and allowed the craft and its crew to drift with the current to the shore. There were no lights visible on this side of the island except those showing from the windows of the huge house high atop a vertical cliff. So far, there had been no sign of the heavily armed PT boat that reportedly patrolled the waters surrounding the billionaire’s island.

As they came ashore, the four island raiders hopped into the knee deep water and pulled the rubber raft onto the sand. "We’ll hide the raft in that brush," Everhard said quietly. Moments later the raft was completely concealed from view.

The four rescuers cinched their automatic rifles tightly against their backs, so that they wouldn’t dangle and be in the way as they scaled the cliff. They carried extra clips of ammunition in pouches strapped to their waists along with mountain climbers hooks and clips. All-in-all, each person, including the petite Ms. Vadelle, was carrying about 35-40 pounds of equipment up the sheer cliff. Magnum threw a grappling hook to the top of the cliff. It took five tries but at last, the hook went over the edge and caught on something solid. Magnum began his assent of the cliff, followed closely by Donna, then Chapel, and with Everhard bringing up the rear. The four climbed in virtual darkness and quiet for the better part of an hour, before Magnum reached the top and peered over the edge at the huge house and the surrounding grounds. "No sign of the dogs yet." Magnum told the others as they finished their climbs and also peered over the edge of the cliff. "Armed guards at 9 oclock." Chapel whispered. The others looked and saw the four guards with rifles approximately fifty yards away. The sentries were talking and laughing. Cigarettes glowed in the darkness. "Do you think there are any others?" Donna asked in a whisper. "Too early to tell," Everhard answered. As their night vision improved, the four realized that each of the four sentries had a dog on a leash, and as the men joked and laughed, the dogs slept and occasionally awoke to sniff around and mark their territory.

Halfway between the rescuers’ position at the edge of the cliff and the mansion was a stand of trees. "We need to advance to those trees," Everhard whispered. "We’ll go one at a time. If there is trouble, the rest of us will take out the guards and the dogs." Magnum went first. He crawled slowly over the edge of the cliff and low crawled the forty or so yards to the trees. During his crawl, one of the dogs whined and pulled at its leash. "Quiet Butch!" the sentry ordered and pulled on the leash. It became clear to the four that the sentries were not expecting any visitors. But the four still took no chances. Magnum had made it to the relative cover of the stand of trees and waved for Donna to make her way to the trees. Donna pulled herself over the cliffs edge and began the low crawl toward the trees. Halfway to the trees, an unseen fallen branch cracked under Donna’s boot. All four dogs jumped up, started barking savagely and started running, pulling their startled handlers behind them toward Donna’s position in the grass. Magnum, Chapel and Everhard switched off the safeties on their weapons and swung them into firing position. Donna struggled with her shoulder strap, trying to pull her M-16 around where she could fire. The dogs were now just feet way from her……

Scene 11

Last time: Magnum went first. He crawled slowly over the edge of the cliff and low crawled the forty or so yards to the trees. During his crawl, one of the dogs whined and pulled at its leash. "Quiet Butch!" the sentry ordered and pulled on the leash. It became clear to the four that the sentries were not expecting any visitors. But the four friends still took no chances. Magnum had made it to the relative cover of the stand of trees and waved for Donna to make her way to the trees. Donna pulled herself over the cliffs edge and began the low crawl toward the trees. Halfway to the trees, an unseen fallen branch cracked under Donna’s boot. All four dogs jumped up, started barking savagely and started running, pulling their startled handlers behind them toward Donna’s position in the grass. Magnum, Chapel and Everhard switched off the safeties on their weapons and swung them into firing position. Donna struggled with her shoulder strap, trying to pull her M-16 around where she could fire. The dogs were now just feet way from her……

Donna gave up on getting her M-16 untangled from behind her and pulled a Marine kabar combat knife from the sheath on her boot and brought the razor sharp weapon up just in time to plunge it deeply into the first Rhotwiler’s chest as its jaws snapped shut just inches short from her throat. The dog yelped sharply and died almost instantly. Donna, her hands now coated in the animal’s blood, struggled to get its heavy carcass off of her. She heard automatic weapons fire, and watched as the sentries and the other dogs fell to the ground around her. She scrambled to her feet and ran to the cover of the trees and the waiting arms of Bud Magnum. Their embrace was short lived as Everhard and Chapel ran into the trees right behind her. "We’ve lost the element of surprise," Everhard yelled. "We’ll hit the front. You two enter from around back." Everhard and Chapel ran toward the front door of the enormous house as Magnum and Donna ran to the back.

At the front door another sentry fired a handgun at the two advancing men. The small caliber round struck Chapel in the chest but was stopped by his Kevlar vest. Everhard brought the sentry down with a short burst from his M-16. The pair ran to the front entrance of the house stepping over the body of the fallen sentry, and ran down a long hallway toward an ornate staircase. At the back, Magnum and Vadelle were exchanging gunfire with two more guards. Magnum lobbed a grenade onto the porch. The resulting explosion killed the two defenders and blew the door off its hinges. Magnum and Vadelle ran into the smoke filled hallway at the rear of the house and made their way forward. "Be careful not to shoot Everhard and Chapel in all this smoke," Magnum told Donna. Donna nodded as the pair advanced towards the front of the house. The four friends met no more resistance and gathered together at the foot of the grand staircase at the front of the house. They looked up, and at the top of the staircase, there Martin stood holding Kim, bound and gagged. He had a .45 automatic pressed to her temple. "Is this who you are looking for?" Martin asked. "Throw down your weapons, or she will be the first of us to die." The four friends reluctantly tossed their rifles into a pile at the foot of the stairs.

Scene 12

"It's hard for me to believe Martin, that you 'd blow her brains out after going to such extremes to get her back!" Everhard said. "That shows that you don't know anything about me, or her for that matter, Everhard!" Martin told him, "Kim was just an ill advised investment that I made, nothing more.  I was fooled by her early bedroom performance into thinking that she would be a peak performer, however, she turned out to be a high maintenance and unfulfilling commodity. You win some, you lose some." "She probably lacked the proper motivation and stimulis." Everhard quipped. Suddenly, Martin pointed the .45 at Everhard and calmly shot him. "Something else you don't know about me," Martin said,"I hate a smartass."

Everhard was hit squarely in the chest and knocked back against the wall, dislodging a large painting and sending it crashing to the floor, shattering its glass and frame. The three adventurers hit the floor when Martin fired the big handgun, scrambling for cover. Chapel spun around on the floor, retreiving his .38 detective's special from his ankle holster and came up firing. Martin was hit and fell, dropping the .45. Donna Vadelle grabbed the automatic as it spun towards her on the floor and trained it on the bleeding Martin. Then a very strange thing happened. Someone's cell phone began ringing. A hollow, electronic ring that continued to ring, 5 then 6 times. Finally it stopped and the three, seemingly frozen by the ringing phone, ran to check on James Everhard. "Kevlar vest stopped the slug. It must have felt like a mule kick, he's probably got some broken ribs," Magnum said after a quick assessment. "Knocked him cold though." Suddenly. Everhard jolted awake and grabbed Magnum by the throat before he realized where he was and what was happening. "Sorry Bud," Everhard coughed. "Sok, pal, you just have to quit getting shot. It seems to put you in a surley mood."

Chapel busied himself getting Kim untied."James, are you alright?" Everhard merely smiled and kissed Kim deeply."This asshole's got two rounds in his shoulder," Magnum said after an assessment of Martin. "He fainted when he saw the blood." Everhard pulled out his cell phone to call the Coast Guard, then he smiled after reading his text message. "Cavalry's on the way." Everhard said.

Scene 13

A Coast Guard Assault Team hit the beach and reached the house where they found the four adventurers, their rescued kidnap victim, the wounded island owner, and a pile of bodies. The Coast Guard troops searched the island and inside the large storage facility behind the house, they found no drugs of any kind. What they did find, however, were crates and crates of Russian weaponery. Everything from AK-47 assault rifles all the way to nuclear tipped missles. Also discovered were records of an auction type operation where all of these items were offered worldwide to the highest bidder. Sort of a Terrorist's Ebay. The four adventurers were credited with putting the worst kind of arms dealer out of business.

END

Epilogue: Lying nude on a private beach on St. Bart's Island. Kim studied the soundly sleeping James Everhard's well maintained, hard body. A huge, purple bruise covered half of his hairless chest, where the .45 slug had hit him."He was lucky", Kim thought, "Only a cracked rib. How much longer will he stay lucky?" "Shot twice this time. Perhaps it was time he retired, settle down. But would he even consider slowing down?" Kim decided at that very moment that she would spend every minute of their time together on this, the most romantic spot in the world, to slow down and that retirement can be very exciting indeed.....