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“Respect,” he stated. “Now, what’s the plan for today? Did you and the ladies want to throw in a line? Is this more of a cruise up the coast?”

Another pause.

“A cruise up the coast sounds perfect. We’re particularly interested in the area around Port Renfrew.”

Charlie frowned. “Okey dokey, we can do that. Any reason for Renfrew? Area isn’t that interesting. A couple of logging camps and lousy fishing. Gotta watch out for waterlogged timber out that way.”

Mike shot Rick another look and raised his brow. His SEAL mate gave him a slight nod.

“Charlie, I don’t want to alarm you, but we’re not out here for a cruise. We’re running a mission to rescue a future teammate.”

The submariner turned to him with a truly confused look. “A future teammate? You guys ain’t some kinda time traveling weirdos, are ya?”

Mike laughed. “No, but the actual story might seem just as far-fetched.” He spent the next ten minutes briefing the skipper on the situation that had brought them to Victoria.

“You’re kidding me,” Charlie snapped. “This bastard stole puppies straight from their mother. That’s one hell of a low-ball act.”

“Yeah, and we think he’s based out of a logging camp near Renfrew.”

“Well, let’s get up there and have a look.” Charlie pulled back on the throttles, and the forty-five-year-old boat surged forward.

At a cruising speed of twelve knots, it took a little over five hours for the Okanagan to reach Renfrew. Charlie sailed them past the bay that housed the logging camp and weighed anchor around a low headland. Mike and Rick threw out fishing lines and enjoyed the calm seas and warm spring conditions as Maria laid out a late lunch inside. Ali and Jenny joined Charlie at the bow of the boat, where he was checking the anchor.

“This sun is bliss,” said Ali.

“This coastline is so rugged and wild,” said Jenny.

“Wild is right, Missy,” said Charlie. “During the winter, it gets blasted by storms. Waves pound the coast like a hammer. Any boats out here get smashed to bits. Not a good place to be.”

“Lunch is ready!” called Maria from the stern.

They headed aft and found the saloon table laden with food.

“Charlie, join us for chow,” said Rick.

“I don’t want to be an inconvenience,” replied the former sailor.

He gestured to the table laden with food. “Skipper, if you don’t help us out, we’re going to have to carry it back off the boat. Maria always packs to feed an army, no matter the occasion.”

“Well, it does smell pretty damn good.”

“The lady can cook.”

During the meal, Mike and Rick continued their surveillance of the approaches to the bay. In the hour or so they’d been at anchor, the only other vessel they’d spotted was a fishing charter that had given them a wave as it cruised further north.

After lunch, Rick unzipped one of the packs they’d brought aboard and unfolded a small commercial quadcopter drone. Then he ran checks on the aircraft and flew it around the boat.

Simultaneously, Mike placed a tablet on the now-cleared saloon table and connected it to the aircraft. Then, as Rick circled the boat, the team watched inside the saloon. Even Saber and Axe joined them as all eyes were fixed on the screen.

Rick sent the drone high into the sky before flying toward the logging camp. After a few minutes, the camp came into view as the drone crested a thickly forested ridge.

The layout hadn’t changed since Google had updated its imagery. There was a heavy wooden pier stretching into the water, and behind that a wide sorting yard laden with piles of timber. Rick turned the drone slowly, revealing what appeared to be a portable office with several pickups parked in front.

“Nothing suspicious here,” said Mike. “Let’s have a look at the sheds further inland.”

Rick followed a muddy track away from the dock and the sorting yard. There was a clearing in the trees a little further inland, with a cluster of iron-roofed structures and a fuel point.

“Not much going on here either,” said Rick.