The small boat rocked back and forth on Lake Michigan like it was dancing to disco music. The billowy waves crashed against the side of the boat getting both of their feet wet. Vinny's friend Peter had assured Vinny that although the boat itself was junk, the motor had tremendous speed.
The boat was hot merchandise that Vinny had bought from Peter for fifteen hundred dollars. Too bad he ended up chopping up Peter to smithereens with a chain saw. The Jeep and trailer was parked in a secluded area at a park adjacent to the lake 3 miles away from their hotel. When Tina and Vinny first boarded the skiff, Vinny had first taken the boat along shore of the back of the Eagles Nest. Tina didn't know why, but Vinny was tossing plastic floating devices into the lake every 100 yards as they moved further and further out into the lake.
They were now at least a mile away from the Eagles Nest wearing ponchos and posing as fishermen. It was 11:55 pm and there were other late night fishermen as well enduring the billowy waves. The other boats had soft lights glowing from them but Vinny insisted not casting any light. He didn't want to be seen and risk having other boaters pull along side of him and make small talk and taking up his precious time. Vinny looked through the binoculars scrutinizing the back of the Eagles Nest trying to find the bloody tank top belonging to the desk clerk that he had hung out the hotel room window.
After scrutinizing each and every window he finally caught a glimpse of the tank top dangling from a window three stories up. Tina held the fishing pole in her hand but didn't bother reeling or casting her line. The Gadget Man held a barometer up in the wind and entered calculations into the lap top which sat on his lap. A soft humming sound drew closer and closer and Tina turned around to see what was coming. To Vinny's dismay, he saw flashing lights and suddenly realized the coast guard was approaching. Vinny folded shut the lap top then nudged Tina in the shoulder. “Put your hood on and make it look like you're fishing." He said in a low tone.
Vinny picked up his own fishing pole and cast it into the lake. A bright spot light was shining on them making the hairs on the back of Vinny's neck rise." Keep your head down and don't look into the light." Commanded Vinny. Tina kept her head down and did as she was told. A man dressed in white wearing a sailor hat looked at them with concern. " Hey, are you guys alright?" Asked the sailor.
Tina desperately wanted to push Vinny off the boat and take refuge with the handsome sailor. Vinny swallowed hard before he spoke." Yeah, we're doing fine. Just doing a little late night fishing." He said gritting his teeth.
"That boat looks a little small for a lake this size. The waves are rough because of the storm we had earlier. Are you sure you're gonna be alright?"
Vinny squeezed his fishing pole noticing that it was shaking a little bit." We've been through storms worse than this. I think we'll be alright."
The sailor lit a cigarette and pushed the spot light down away from Vinny's eyes and towards the bottom of the boat. After a brief moment, the sailor finally shut off the spot light but had one last question.
"Did you catch anything?"
Vinny reeled his line in a little bit and glanced at Tina. She still had her head down as he had instructed." No, not yet. But we will soon."
The sailor tossed his cigarette into the water." Well, be careful and good luck." He said as the boat's motor grew louder.
When the coast guard finally left Vinny pushed the indiglo button on his wrist watch. It was 11:57 pm. Just about time to call the judge. Vinny dug around in his back pack for his voice synthesizer. When he finally found it he rested it on his lap and handed the stolen cell phone to Tina. " Here, call your daddy's cell phone and then hand me back the phone." He looked at his wrist watch,11:59 pm.
Tina punched in the numbers then handed Vinny the cell phone. The Gadget Man clipped on the voice synthesizer then looked up at the dark sky. A helicopter was circling the sky.