Orbital Disruption Read online

  Dennis was about to ask Tabitha what her plan was when they reached a short metal ramp. The ramp led down to a floating dock. A small inflatable zodiac raft was tied to the dock. Dennis hesitated as he stepped off the ramp and onto the dock. He felt it move under his feet, shifting perceptibly with his movements and the swift currents.

  “Um, Tab, is this a good idea?” Dennis whispered.

  “Do you have a better one?” Tabitha whispered back.

  Dennis looked back toward the dark warehouses and factories of the old Navy Yard. The sirens had gone silent but he could still see red and blue lights strobing off of the taller structures.

  “Alright, let’s do this,” Dennis sighed. “Do you know how to drive one of these?”

  Tabitha didn’t respond but just motioned to the zodiac. Molly climbed in and lifted a rusty metal toolbox and two cans of paint out to Dennis who placed them on the dock. Seeing that the boat was clear of equipment, Dennis climbed in. Tabitha climbed in last at the rear of the small inflatable boat and turned to examine the outboard motor. After a brief inspection she pulled hard on a handle protruding from the top of the outboard. It made a sputtering noise and then fell silent. She allowed the cord attached to the handle to retract, adjusted something on the side of the motor and pulled again. The small engine roared to life. Tabitha adjusted something again and the motor quieted to a purr that was still loud compared to the preceding silence.

  “Dennis, untie that line, please,” Tabitha directed, pointing at the rope that tied the bow of the inflatable to a metal cleat on the floating dock.

  Dennis leaned out from the front of the boat and after some fumbling got the rope untied. He pulled the excess back into the boat and then pushed off.

  The zodiac drifted slowly into the main current. Dennis noted that Tabitha was keeping the motor idle and allowing the river to carry them downstream toward the harbor. Once they were a hundred meters or so south of the dock, however, she put it in gear and increased the throttle. The small inflatable accelerated gently at first and then faster.

  Dennis looked back to see the buildings of the Navy Yard fading in the distance. The night air was hazy with humidity and the familiar structures from around the Jovian office were soon gone. He felt a pang of guilt at having left Mike and wondered if he’d reached the hospital yet. Dennis reached into his pocket to send a message but his phone buzzed just as he grabbed it. He took it from his pocket and saw a text message from Tony:

  Mike’s going to be ok. At hospital now. Stay safe.

  Dennis started to type a reply when Tabitha interrupted.

  “Dennis, Molly - I need you to switch off your phones now. Power them off completely. Same for any other electronics you have with you.”

  Dennis stopped typing and Tabitha continued.

  “We need to get off the radar,” Tabitha insisted. “No communications and nothing that can be tracked. I mean it. I switched mine off when we left Jovian.”

  Dennis shrugged and held down the power button on his smartphone until it powered down. Molly did the same with hers.

  “Where are we going, Tabitha?” Molly asked after her phone had finished its shutdown sequence and she’d slipped it back into her pocket. They passed under the Manhattan Bridge. A subway train clattered overhead.

  “I know a guy, a friend. I think we can crash with him for a bit. Beyond that… I’m not sure yet.”

  Molly nodded and asked no further questions.

  After passing beneath the regal arches of the Brooklyn Bridge the East River widened and the surface of the water grew choppy. Tabitha steered the zodiac in a gentle arc as the river curved around the tip of Lower Manhattan. The towers of the Financial District passed on their right, Governor’s Island was low to the left and the dark expanse of New York Harbor spread out ahead of them. Dennis could just make out the copper green Statue of Liberty lit up in the distance, her torch held high.

  A deep horn bellowed and Dennis jumped.

  “Damn,” Tabitha muttered and slewed their small boat toward the south. The horn sounded again and Dennis realized that it was coming from a massive orange and black Staten Island ferry pulling away from its dock. At four stories in height, the ferry was imposing and the water churned violently beneath it.

  “There’s no way they’d hit us, right Tab?” Dennis asked.

  “No, we can easily outrun them. I’m not worried about that - I’m worried they’ll see us and report us to the harbor patrol.”

  “Report us?” Molly asked.

  “We’re on the water at night without lights and without life vests,” Tabitha explained. “That’s dangerous and illegal. The NYPD would probably just give us scolding but they might ask awkward questions. Like whose boat this is, and why we’re out on the water in the first place. I’d rather avoid that.”

  “Got it,” Dennis agreed. “So what do we do?”

  “Move fast and hope for the best,” Tabitha replied. “Not much else we can do.”

  Dennis shrugged his shoulders and turned back toward the front of the boat. Out here in the middle of the harbor the waves were higher and Tabitha had increased the throttle further. The little boat was bouncing pretty hard as it hit each swell and Dennis found that he needed to hold on to avoid sliding around.

  In the distance Dennis recognized a large, neon-lit clock face at ground level next to a row of tall buildings. It was the historic Colgate clock in Jersey City. Dennis had seen it several times from lower Manhattan but had never been there.

  “We’re going to New Jersey,” Dennis stated rather than asked.

  “Yup,” Tabitha replied. She didn’t elaborate further and Dennis didn’t press for details.

  Tabitha throttled the outboard motor back to a gentle putter as the zodiac passed a red navigation buoy and entered a broad channel flanked on the right by the clock and on the left by docks used for sightseeing cruises, now silent. The clock’s brightly lit hands showed that it was nearly eleven o’clock at night. As they slowly motored further into the sheltered water, Dennis noted parkland on both sides and a walkway which followed the water. He saw a few people out walking dogs but it seemed like the neighborhood was quiet and residential. There were no other boats on the water.

  As the channel grew narrower Dennis realized they were entering a marina. Piers lined with sailboats and motor yachts of varying sizes extended from the shore on both sides. Tabitha slowed the outboard further as they passed a white and orange buoy marked “NO WAKE”.

  Tabitha continued to steer the zodiac through the middle of the quiet marina. As they travelled Dennis noticed that there were fewer yachts and sailboats and more commercial boats. Tugboats, sightseeing ferries and even a small barge with a crane on it. Finally, just before a low footbridge blocked the main channel, Tabitha slowed again and turned to the left. She guided the zodiac up to a dock on the south side of the channel with a large “Marina Services” sign over it.

  As their boat gently touched the rubber bumper strip that ran along the dock, Dennis stepped out, rope in hand. He managed to tie the rope to a metal cleat on the dock with a bit more grace than before. He suspected his knots would not impress a sailor but it seemed good enough to hold the little zodiac. Tabitha switched off the motor and climbed out. Molly followed.

  “This way,” Tabitha said softly and walked down the dock toward where it met the land. Dennis and Molly followed wordlessly.

  At the end of the dock Tabitha led them up a metal ramp, around a large hoist that was clearly designed for lifting boats out of the water and through an unlocked gate. They found themselves in what appeared to be a large gravel parking lot except that instead of cars, the lot was filled with boats. They were of varying sizes and shapes but all were propped up on wooden blocks or metal scaffolding and most were in some state of disrepair. This was apparently the marina service yard.

  Despite the darkness (there were only a few streetlights on the perimeter of the yard) Tabitha was confidently walking toward the west. Dennis
and Molly hurried to keep up.

  After leaving the yard, the three followed an asphalt-paved bicycle path. The path curved north to the low pedestrian bridge that they’d seen before docking. This bridge formed the western terminus of the marina and as they crossed it, Dennis noticed that the main channel of the marina shrank to a narrow stream overgrown with reeds and rushes. An elevated highway was visible in the distance above the marshland. The night air was cooler here and they could hear frogs croaking and crickets chirping. There were no other people.

  On the far side of the bridge they continued to follow the bicycle path until it merged into a poorly maintained gravel road. This road eventually become paved. Like the repair yard, bridge and bicycle path, this road was deserted. A few derelict warehouses were the only structures for several blocks. Eventually, though, they crossed over railroad tracks, turned to the east and entered a different neighborhood. This one was newly developed, with freshly planted hedges and flower beds in front of modern apartment buildings and townhouses. An old woman was walking a dog and a young couple were strolling hand in hand.

  As Tabitha led them down another street and another right turn, Dennis realized that they’d essentially walked around the perimeter of the marina and were now on the north side. Unlike the gritty repair yard on the south side, the north side of the marina abutted a gentrified residential neighborhood.

  Tabitha led them to a metal gate with an electronic keypad. She typed a quick sequence of numbers into the keypad and the gate unlocked with an audible click. Tabitha held the gate open for Molly and Dennis and then let it close behind them. They found themselves on a small platform overlooking the north end of the marina. The platform was fixed well above the high tide level and a long metal ramp led down to the floating dock below. Tabitha walked down the ramp and then stopped.

  The rigging of sailboats made occasional clanking sounds as they swayed in the light breeze. A radio was playing classic rock on one of the nearby boats and a few lights shone from portals but the marina was otherwise very quiet.

  “Wait here,” Tabitha said softly to Dennis and Molly after all three had descended the ramp and were standing on the dock. “Let me check and see if my friend is here first. He probably wasn’t expecting visitors.”

  “Sure, Tab.” Dennis nodded.

  “And keep your phones off.” Tabitha repeated.

  “Yep, got it.” Molly replied. Dennis just nodded.

  Tabitha walked down the dock to a side pier where a large sailboat was swaying gently. Dennis and Molly saw Tabitha knock on the hull and then step up onto the deck of the sailboat. She leaned down toward an open hatch and spoke but they couldn’t hear what she said. A moment later she turned and waved to Molly and Dennis to join her.

  Dennis noticed the name of the sailboat, the Blue Orchid, as he stepped onto the deck. Tabitha had already disappeared down the hatch through which she’d been speaking earlier. Dennis looked down and saw a narrow set of polished wooden stairs - almost a ladder, really. He turned to offer his hand to Molly but she’d already climbed onto the deck next to him so Dennis turned around and carefully descended through the hatch and down the stairs into the Blue Orchid.

  The first thing Dennis noticed as his feet reached the floor at the bottom of the stairs was that the ceiling was low - he’d need to duck except when he was in the center of the cabin where the gentle arch of the deck above him was highest. The second thing he noticed was a man standing next to a small table that was attached to the wall. Tabitha was standing next to the man and waved Dennis over.

  “Dennis, this is my friend Esteban,” Tabitha said by way of introduction. “And Esteban,” Tabitha said turning back, “this is Dennis Li.”

  “I am pleased to meet you, Dennis,” Esteban said, extending his hand. “And welcome aboard the Blue Orchid.”

  Dennis shook Esteban’s hand as he replied, “Pleased to meet you, Esteban, and thank you for helping us on short notice.”

  “Oh, no worries, no worries,” Esteban said and smiled. “I was just sitting here wondering what I would do for fun tonight and ta-da, we have a party!”

  Dennis chuckled along with Esteban as Molly climbed down the ladder. Tabitha made further introductions and Esteban and Molly shook hands.

  “This is usually when I would offer you all drinks and turn on some music,” Esteban said, the smile fading from his face, “but I understand you’re in a bit of trouble.”

  “Well, it’s complicated…” Dennis started but Tabitha interrupted him.

  “We can trust him, Dennis. I already told him about Anna breaking in to Jovian and trying to kill us. I haven’t filled him in on the other details yet, but he knows we need to stay out of sight for a while.”

  “Ok, yes - we’re in trouble, Esteban.” Dennis admitted. “Serious trouble.”

  “In that case, I suggest we should leave now. Tabitha doesn’t think anyone followed you here but we can’t be sure. So we leave immediately.”

  “Ok,” Dennis agreed. “What can we do to help?”

  “It’s probably best if you three stay down here and out of sight, at least until we’re away from the land.” Esteban explained. “The Blue Orchid is quite easy for me to sail by myself - I do it all the time.”

  Esteban crossed the small room to the stairs and started climbing to the deck. Two steps up he paused and said, “Make yourselves at home. Tabitha can show you where everything is.” He paused before adding, “And I know Tabitha probably already told you this but please be sure your phones are off and stay off.”

  “Got it,” Dennis replied and looked at Molly. Molly nodded.

  Esteban continued up the steps, closing the hatch behind him.

  Molly and Tabitha sat down on padded benches on either side of the small table. The benches and the table were both attached to the wall and looked like they could be folded up when not in use. That made sense, Dennis thought, given how small the cabin of the sailboat was. He started to pace but realized it was pointless. There was barely room to walk between the table on one side and a small sink and stove on the other. He sat down next to Molly.

  “How well do you know Esteban?” Molly asked Tabitha after a few moments of awkward silence.

  “We worked together for several years,” Tabitha replied and then added, “and we dated for a few months.”

  “I see,” Molly said. “This was when you were at the, uh, place you can’t talk about.”

  Tabitha smiled a bit and answered, “Yeah. Esteban is a linguist. We worked on some, um, projects together. And yeah, I can’t really talk about it.”

  “You’ve been on his boat before?” Dennis asked.

  “Yeah,” Tabitha confirmed. “Esteban’s had the Orchid forever. I actually moved in with him and lived here for a while. It didn’t work out. We stayed friends, though.”

  “Well, it sure was nice of him to take us in,” Molly opined. “I don’t think any of my exes would do that.”

  “Yeah, Esteban’s a good guy.” Tabitha concurred.

  A low thrumming sound reverberated through the hull. Dennis felt it through the seat and floor as well as heard it.

  “That’s just Esteban starting the engine,” Tabitha explained. “He’ll use the engine here in the harbor and probably switch to sails when we get out onto open water.”

  Dennis and Molly nodded. Dennis looked out one of the small portholes set high on the wall and saw that they were already moving away from the dock. It didn’t take long before they’d left the marina and were back out in New York harbor.

  Dennis stared into the darkness. A few lights glimmered from a distant shore. He felt himself relax under the hypnosis of the gentle rocking motion of the sailboat. Some time later, Dennis realized they were passing under the Brooklyn Bridge and heading up the East River.

  “We’re going to pass the office again,” Dennis informed Molly and Tabitha. “Is that a good idea?”

  “I doubt anyone there is looking for us on a sailboat.” Tabitha replied. �
��I suspect Esteban’s heading for Long Island Sound and this way is a lot easier than going up and around Manhattan via the Harlem River.”

  “I guess that makes sense,” Dennis replied dubiously. “Not much for us to do but sit and wait.”

  “Nope,” Tabitha agreed. “Not much else to do.”

  Molly yawned.

  “If you want to rest, Molly, there’s a bunk that folds down from the wall in the next room. Do you want me to show you?”

  Molly yawned again and nodded. Tabitha and Molly got up from the table and went forward through a doorway with a raised sill. A few moments later Tabitha returned to the main cabin and sat down again.

  Dennis yawned.

  “You know, Dennis, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to get some sleep now, too.”

  Dennis yawned again but shook his head. “Naw, I think I better stay awake.”

  “Suit yourself,” Tabitha replied. She slouched lower on the bench and closed her eyes.

  Dennis turned and looked out the porthole again. It took a few minutes to orient himself but then he recognized an apartment building in Williamsburg that a friend used to live in. A few minutes later the Blue Orchid passed under the Williamsburg Bridge. Dennis’s eyelids grew heavy as he watched the industrial waterfront of Greenpoint slide gently by. He recognized the FDR memorial at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island but was asleep before the Blue Orchid passed under the Queensboro Bridge.

  Nineteen

  “Your friend lost a lot of blood but he’s going to be ok.”

  “Oh, thank god!” Tony exclaimed, jumping up from his chair.

  Ricky made the sign of the cross on his chest and mumbled a quiet prayer.

  Jessica looked up from her phone. She hadn’t seen the doctor walk into the room where she, Tony and Ricky were waiting. “Patel” was embroidered onto the white coat he was wearing under the “Kings County Hospital” insignia.

  “Thank you, Doctor Patel,” Jessica said and stood up.

  “Can we see him?” Tony interjected.