She knew that giving Bruno information was impossible. But he could be helpful to her later, so she didn't want to shut him out completely. She pulled out a pencil from her purse, scribbled the name Stanley Kirby on a beer coaster and handed it to Bruno.
"This guy has been in the country for a little over a month," she said. "I don't trust the guy. He might know something."
"Another brilliant hunch, Toni?"
She shrugged her shoulders and finished the last of her wine. "I've got to run, Bruno. Thanks for the wine and conversation." She rose to leave.
Bruno stood and kissed her on both cheeks again. "It was my pleasure, as always. Ciao."
"Ciao." She turned and made her way through the crowded room.
CHAPTER 31
Jake steadied himself as the officer's liberty launch rocked with a swell from a boat heading to shore. The island of Capri glistened to the south, and Mount Vesuvius loomed to the east. He gazed with amazement as his launch got closer to the huge carrier. Aircraft lined the deck with their tails hanging over the edge nearly seventy feet above the water. The island towered even higher above the flight deck with radar circling, keeping vigilance even in the harbor.
The young boatswain's mate cranked the wheel, cut the power, and then cranked it into full reverse for a few seconds before switching to idle. The launch swelled high and parallel to the gray wall that was the starboard hull about midship. A metal ladder with a platform at the bottom awaited the passengers once the swells settled. The boatswain had to quickly shift forward and reverse and crank the wheel violently just to keep the launch close to the platform and ladder.
Jake watched closely as a few officers made graceful jumps from the launch to the platform. He wanted to ask why the launch couldn't be tied to the platform. But after watching the swells for a few minutes, he realized that the small craft would be battered to pieces in a matter of minutes without a skilled boatswain.
Jake moved to the edge of the launch. He looked down at his cowboy boots and knew that if it weren't for his cover he should have worn tennis shoes. As the launch reached the height of a swell, he leapt to the platform and landed with a slight slip.
At the top of the ladder, Jake was greeted by a lieutenant commander with a dark black mustache and bushy eyebrows. His khaki uniform was finely tailored and pressed. Probably the public affairs officer, Jake thought.
"Senator Blake?" the officer asked.
Jake nodded and noticed a petty officer standing to the edge of the quarter deck. "Thanks for having me aboard," Jake said, reaching out to shake the commander's hand.
The commander shook Jake's hand and then turned to his left and looked at the young petty officer. "Sir, this is Petty Officer Third Class Leo Birdsong from Denver." The commander turned and winked at Jake, knowing that the Senator had requested Leo by name since he was from Colorado.
"Glad to meet you, Leo," Jake said reaching his hand out to shake as if campaigning. "I hear you can get lost on one of these big bird farms, so I asked for a guide-sorry if it's an inconvenience to you."
"No problem, sir," Leo said, attempting to smile.
"Well, I'll leave you two to wander the ship," the commander said. "You can go just about anywhere. You won't have access to the secure areas, but they're not very interesting anyway. Petty Officer Birdsong knows the flight deck area-that's what most people like to see."
Jake looked sternly at the commander for his condescending expressions. "I'm sure we'll do just fine."
Leo started out at a fairly slow pace winding his way through passageways, over knee knockers, and up ladders. Then he picked up the pace to what must have been his normal stride. Jake kept up with difficulty as his hard cowboy boots echoed through the empty corridors.
"Leo," Jake finally said.
Leo stopped and turned to look at Jake. "Yes, sir?"
"I'm not on a short schedule. We can take our time…if that's all right with you?" Jake grinned. Leo didn't seem overly amused. Kurt had told Jake that Leo was one to be trusted, but who would take some time to trust others. Jake had to break through to Leo quickly. Gain his confidence.
"I'm sorry, sir. But I was supposed to have liberty today. I could give a shit about Naples, but I really need a beer," Leo said, with apparent relief.
Jake moved closer to Leo. "Is there a place we can talk freely?"
"About what?" Leo asked skeptically, obviously searching his mind for a motive.
"I'll tell you in a minute."
Leo turned and went through a few more compartments, opened a hatch with a Z on it, and directioned Jake to enter. Once inside, Leo battened the hatch and dogged it tight with a metal tube. It was a small compartment with two work benches, a gray metal desk, a file cabinet, and a book shelf with Navy Regulations in black binders. A few aircraft black boxes sat on the benches among an array of test equipment and tools.
Jake sat down on an old pilot's ready room chair that had probably been replaced by something much better. The blue vinyl cover had cracked and been repaired with wide green duct tape. Leo remained standing with his arms crossed.
"Tell me about your friend, Kurt Lamar," Jake said, looking up at the tall, black sailor.
Leo was caught off guard. That had to be the last name he expected to come out of the Senator's mouth.
"Sir, what the hell does Kurt have to do with Denver or Colorado? Shit, he's from Wisconsin. In fact, he's probably back there right now freezing his ass off." Leo laughed at the thought.
Jake laughed too. "No…no he's not in Wisconsin," Jake said shaking his head. "Not that he probably doesn't wish he were there from time to time."
Leo looked more seriously at Jake now. "Do you know Kurt?"
"Yeah, and I know you. At least I've had a thorough background check done on you."
Leo looked more concerned. "What the hell do you want from me?"
"Information. Just information. Without it, your friend Kurt could be in a lot of trouble. In fact, he could be charged with four counts of murder."
"Murder? What in the hell are you talking about? Kurt got hit by a fuckin' car in Naples while we were in port in Genoa."
"Why did he go all the way to Naples if he wasn't trying to set up an alibi? A bit convenient wouldn't you say?" Jake asked, stretching his legs out and crossing his boots.
"Convenient? Even Kurt isn't crazy enough to let himself get hit by a car. I mean, we might not like living aboard this floating city working twelve-hour shifts 'till we drop, but I sure as hell ain't going to let some car fuck up my body just to get out of it. And I know Kurt wouldn't either. Who the fuck are you anyway? You ain't no Goddamn senator."
Jake didn't want to push any farther, but knew he had to. He had to be sure that Leo was a safe risk. "Your buddy didn't get hit by a car. I saw him in Rome this morning."
"You're fulla shit," Leo shouted. "I saw the message saying he went home on convalescent leave." He was becoming visibly angry now.
"He must have had it sent," Jake said, fighting to keep a straight face. "The Italians have questioned him more than once about the Genoa bombing. They think he did it, and won't allow him to leave Italy until someone proves otherwise." Jake paused for a minute to think of which direction to move next. The entire conversation was extemporaneous. He had planned the concept, but not the details. "What can you tell me to prove that your buddy is innocent?"
"Out at sea, it doesn't take long to get to know people. You have to trust your shipmates. You choose those who you feel you can count on. Kurt is that kind of guy."
Kurt was right. Leo could be trusted. Judging character was the most important aspect of human intelligence. Schools can only partially prepare someone for this work, Jake thought. But experience is what really counted. Time to come clean.