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"Hi, Dirk"

"Oh, ," he said

"I know, Dirk I’m so sorry"

"You know?"

"A detective was just here Apparently, she was last seen having lunch at the tavern"

His voice was thick "Yeah, that’s the last time I saw her, too I told the cops that," he added

"Did you see her leave?"

"Yep She was teasing about the pirate days with Aldous, Bootsie and meand Sullivan Then she looked at her watch and said she had an appoint out"

"Did she have a boyfriend?"

"No, she was actually doing souys and found one, maybe, worth a relationship"

"I’ht’ve taken off on some romantic spree?" Dirk asked hopefully

"Sure,to be iht give the authorities sohther roommate must have her computer That should help"

"Yes, I bet it will"

An aard silence followed Then Abby said, "Dirk, I’--" She hesitated, thinking about Gordon The hell with hi, I’ll be your personal agent We’ll find her How about that?" The local police ht want her help

"Yeah, u to ask you," Dirk said

"To help you?"

"I need you to be my wench"

"What?"

"I don’t have a wench for tomorrow Helen shared the job with Chrissy Sutton, and Chrissy is in Atlanta, visiting her ht"

Great She thought she ative skills

Dirk wanted a wench

"Oh,I’, keep others working"

But maybe it wasn’t a bad idea She could talk with ship out at the dock

"Sure, Dirk I’ll be your wench"

"I hate to ask you afterafter Gus and all, but"

"I’ll be there, Dirk What time?"

"Ship leaves for the first run at ten We’re back at one Second run at three Last one leaves right at sunset I’ll need you to show up at about nine for costu and a few instructions"

"Okay, Dirk"

"Bless you, Abby"

She started to reply but he’d already hung up

Abby let her head fall on the table Gus She’d been sick about Gus

But two young woone

She really needed help And what she’d gotten was Malachi Gordon Maybe he did have a few talents with the dead But whoever had taken Helen had to be alive

Very much alive--and very busy in the beautiful city of Savannah

Dirk’s Black Sas a beautiful ship She was a schooner with one large square-rigged urehead was that of a reat hele of about twenty by thirty feet, surrounded by seating at the inner hull There were barrels around, advertising ruunpowder, and Dirk’s parrot, Achilles, sat on a little perch in the center of the stage Toward the aft, down a few steps, was a snack shop that also offered gifts and souvenirs, and passengers could step atop the sterncastle, above the captain’s quarters, to catch a great view of the riverfront

Malachi Gordon had called Abby bright and early--at 7:00 am--to make sure she’d be ready for their planned excursion of the city and the river She began to tell him about Helen’s disappearance but he already knew When she explained that not only was she helping out an old friend but she’d get a chance to be on the pirate ship and the docks, he wasn’t angry Nor was he disappointed He just said he’d catch up with her

Dressed in pirate gear, custo rather than a contemporary Halloween fashion, Abby stood with Dirk’s two main performers, Jack Winston and Blake Stewart "Don’t worry about anything, Abby," Jack said "Dirk really runs the show Our characters serve grog--to the adults--and soda to the kids It’s fun, honestly Blake and I get into a fight over you, we split up sos All you do is respond and react"