The Web

He had on a short-sleeved sky-blue shirt and razor-creased blue pants over military lace-ups. A silver badge was pi

"This is terrible," she said.

The big man clasped Ben's hand. "Hey," he said in a deep voice.

Ben said, "Hey, De

Laurent shook both our hands, noticed Spike and suppressed a smile. His gaze was intense.

"Anyone know how many people were in the plane?" he said.

"Just Lyman Picker," I said. "His wife started to go but changed her mind. She's in the house."

He shook his head. "Can't remember anything like this."

"Never happened," said Ben. "Because no one goes up in Harry's heaps. You figure it crashed on Stanton?"

"Either there or right near the eastern border. I called Ewing, got put on hold. Finally his aide says he's busy, will get back to me."

"Busy," said Ben with scorn.

Laurent said, "The wife's probably going to want details." He put on mirrored sunglasses and looked around some more. "Guess she's in no shape now."

"She's in shock," said Robin.

"Yeah," said Laurent. "Let me know if she wants to talk to me or if there's anything I can do for her. Weren't they supposed to be leaving soon?"

"In a week or so," said Pam. "She's just about finished her work."

Laurent nodded. "Weather research. She came into the station a couple of weeks ago with this little laptop computer, wanting to know if we kept storm records. I told her we really never got the big ones so we didn't. Any idea why her husband went up in the first place?"

"To take pictures of the jungle," said Ben. "Prove to his colleagues he'd been here."

"He was a scientist, too, right?"

"Botanist."

"So what was he looking at, the banyans?"

"He wasn't really working," said Pam. "Told us he was bored. Tagging along after her probably made him feel like a third foot. Maybe he just wanted to do some flying."

Laurent digested that. "Well, too bad he picked this time and place… Harry probably should have been closed down, but like you said, no one used him. I hope the wife doesn't think we're going to be able to do any big FAA-type investigation. If he went down in the jungle, we'll be lucky to get the body."

He shook his head again. Pam had been standing close to him and she moved nearer. A downward flick of a hazel eye acknowledged her presence. Laurent put his hands in his pockets and stretched the fabric with his fists.

Then he looked at the Jeep, the diving gear still piled on the back seat. "Someone snorkeling?"

"We were on our way when it happened," said Robin.

"We were vacationing."

"How'd the kids at the clinic react?" I said.

"They don't know exactly what happened yet," she said. "Some of them looked up when they heard the noise, but their minds were on their shots. We just kept the line going for a while and then broke for a snack."

"How many shots did you get through?" said Ben.

"About half. We were going to finish this afternoon, but I guess not."

"Pla

"Yes," said Robin.

"It's beautiful there," he said. "Give it another go when you're ready. Life generally goes smoothly here."

Pam walked him back to his car and stayed to talk after he got behind the wheel.

Ben called out KiKo's name, and the monkey and Spike followed us into the house. Cheryl was washing the front room's big windows and didn't turn to acknowledge us. Except for the hiss of the glass-cleaner spray, the interior was silent.

Robin said, "I think I'll go up and see how Jo's doing."

She hurried up the stairs.

"Something to drink?" Ben asked me.

"No, thanks. We had a couple of beers in town. A guy named Creedman was buying."

"Oh?" He stared straight ahead. "Where'd he snag you, front of the Palace?"

"Does he make a habit of snagging people there?"

"That's his spot. I figured he'd go for you, being outsiders and all that. He used to live here for a while."

"He mentioned that."

"Did he also mention he was asked to leave?"

"No. He said it was too intense an environment for him."

"Intense? I guess you could say that."

He turned and looked me in the eye. "The thing you need to understand is that Dr. Bill is the most hospitable person you'll ever meet. Anyone visits the island, they get an invite. That's how the Pickers ended up here, and after meeting them you can see what a patient man Dr. Bill is. Creedman was also extended hospitality. He was up here for only three days when we found him snooping around."

"Snooping where?"

"Dr. Bill's office. I caught him red-handed. Not that there's anything to hide, but patient info's confidential. Except, of course, for something scientific like you and Dr. Bill are doing. Some thanks for hospitality, huh?"

"Did he have an excuse?"

"Nope." His jaw bunched the way it had when Picker had asked him to serve drinks, and he pushed his aviators up his nose. "He tried to laugh it off. Said he was taking a walk and had just wandered in looking for something to read. Except the books were in the back room and he was in the front, so give me a break. I called him on it and he told me to screw myself. Then he complained to Dr. Bill that I'd harassed him. Dr. Bill might have tolerated the snooping, but he didn't appreciate Creedman badmouthing me. Did he badmouth us some more?"

"Not really," I said. "But he did say the reason the southern road was blockaded was because of a murder half a year ago. A local girl killed on the beach, and passions toward the Navy got high."

"The guy makes like he's an ace reporter- probably told you he was a media hotshot, right? Truth is he was strictly small-time. And keep him away from Ms. Castagna. He thinks he's God's gift to women."

"So I noticed. But she can handle herself."

"My wife can, too, but he still a

He shoved his glasses harder. "Did you meet the owner of the Palace, a tall woman named Jacqui?"

I nodded.

"He came on to her, too, till he found out she was Chief Laurent's mother."

"She looks way too young."

"She's in her forties, had De

"He told us he was working on a book."

"Maybe a book on beer." His laugh was merciless.

"Speaking of unwanted attention," I said, "the guy who was working on the shark with Skip Amalfi seemed to notice Robin too. Any potential problems there?"

"That's Anders Haygood. He's a bit of a lowlife, but no problems with him so far. Came over a year ago, mostly keeps to himself. Lives in back of Harry's place."

"Working for Harry?"

"Odd jobs now and then. Once in a while someone brings them an appliance to fix or a car to tune. Basically, he and Skip are beach bums and Harry's an old bum."

He laughed. "I'm some chamber of commerce, huh? By now you probably think Aruk's nothing but lowlife. But between Skip and Harry and Haygood and Creedman, you've just about exhausted the list. Everyone else is great. You'll end up having a great time."