Both of them were studying Thorn as if he were an exotic creature who’d wandered out of the mist.
“If that saying holds true,” Wally said, “‘like father, like son,’ then we just doubled our pussy population.”
“Take a hike, Wally,” Thorn said. “I want to talk to the kid.”
Thorn held Wally’s gaze, his body poised, ready to go the full fifteen rounds if that’s how Wally wanted it.
The smile on Wally’s lips fast-twitched like a loose connection. He looked at Flynn and said, “I’m getting Prince. Doesn’t matter if he’s your old man or not, he can’t be here.”
Wally gave Thorn a weapons-grade glare that was meant to make his knees knock. It didn’t work.
Wally turned and walked to the chinning bar and retrieved a camouflage T-shirt that hung across it. Without a backward glance, he trudged off toward a tan barracks tent that was riffling in the sea breeze.
When Wally was out of earshot, Thorn stepped over to his son. “Are you okay?”
“Why the hell are you here?”
“Long story.”
“You need to get out of here right now. I’m serious. This is a major fuckup, Thorn. Prince is going to freak.”
“Why?”
“Just go, goddamn it. Leave the way you came. Do it now.”
Thorn glanced across the field, watched Wally pull back the flap and step inside the tent. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
“Jesus, I don’t believe this. You just walked right in.”
“And I’m not walking out till I find out what’s what.”
Flynn brushed a rough hand against Thorn’s arm as if to confirm his reality. Then cursed to himself and stepped away, his face flushed. He glanced around the open field and motioned for Thorn to follow.
He led Thorn to the shade of a mahogany that towered over the mangroves on the eastern shore of the key. There was a single rough-hewn bench long enough for three. Flynn settled on one end.
Thorn took the other and kicked off his soggy shoes and faced them toward the sun. “Look, I’m sorry you’re upset. I came to see Prince. I had no idea you were here.”
“You know Cameron?”
“Met him once.”
“What do you want with him?”
“Another long story.” Thorn was looking back across the field, past the obstacle course, beyond the solar panel, to the entrance flap of the barracks tent maybe a hundred yards away. A man stood there, holding the flap open. A big guy, thick-chested, tall with pale-yellow hair. Cameron Prince stared in their direction for several moments, then drew back inside. “Talk to me, Son.”
“Don’t fucking call me that.” Flynn stared off at the morning sky. Then he looked at Thorn, shook his head, and looked off again. “Okay, stick with that story. You came to see Prince and had no idea I was here.”
“It’s not a story.”
“Christ, Thorn. Are you dense? This is a dangerous situation. You’ve walked into something, it’s way over your head.”
“Over mine, but not over yours?”
“Jesus H. Christ. I can’t believe this.”
“What’s so dangerous?”
Flynn turned his head slowly and glanced over his shoulder, checking to his left, then right. Behind him there was only the blue blaze of the Atlantic visible through the snarl of mangrove branches and roots. No one was in the field, no one anywhere around. “You came in your boat, right?”
“I did.”
“Where is it?”
“In the cove.” Thorn nodded toward the hidden beach.
“Good. You need to get on it right now and leave. I’m serious. Right now before they can stop you.” Flynn’s eyes were searching the field.
“The boat’s disabled. The prop is fouled.”
Flynn closed his eyes for a second, then opened them, frowning. “You ran into the net? You didn’t see it?”
“I didn’t see it.”
“How bad?”
“Engine’s damaged. It won’t start.”
“Shit. A guy like you, you didn’t notice the net?”
“A guy like me?”
“Experienced boater.”
“I should have noticed, yeah.”
“Damn right you should have.”
“I saw some kayaks. I could paddle home, get some tools, come back, and fix the engine.”
“The kayaks are locked up. No one leaves without Prince’s say-so.”
“What? You’re a captive?”
“Oh, I’m here by choice.” But Flynn’s tone wasn’t as certain as the words. He stared at the sandy soil, shaking his head with an air of futility.
“Look, Flynn. I called your phone yesterday, heard the message on your machine. You said you’re doing something you’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Is this it? Being here? With these guys, Prince and Wally?”