Chapter 7

The island and weather were beautiful but 8:00 AM came early, one of the boys (girls) sent the Helo for breakfast sandwiches, bagels, donuts, and all the fixings and was back by 8:00. What a team (OMG’s). We asked all to take notes but try not to break in so we could hit all of the main topics and get to Caracas by 12:00 AM. We opened up a lot of eyes and got some very smart people thinking and getting new ideas and some answers to the questions asked! When we started to break up all was told when we return we would be on a one to one basis to talk and make plans. All seemed happy we loaded the people to go and left. In Caracas, we were taken to a hotel and the broker was there. We finally got the broker’s name which was Artamus. We secured the area and sat down. We handed him a piece of paper with the number and total on it. I asked him how he wanted it and he said half in a couple of days. We told him fine and asked about transport as we just leased 2 Helo’s and one was for weight. I asked him about a problem with customs and he said no he was on vacation on the other end of the country and would be for at least 2 weeks and smiled! He asked where to transfer funds and Linda gave him Banks and Account numbers, He said he had 2 in Caracas and 1 in Venezuela which she added to her list also both in town already had the funds just needed account numbers.

On our way back, the helicopter was buzzed by a plane and told to land on the island with the boat or be blown out of the sky. Arron said something and headed down (no fight) boy was I wrong. A large drone with 2 Rockets came out of nowhere and the plane exploded and 50 cal. Machine guns around the boat but didn’t hit it. Arron landed and when the fire stopped the people bailed. Upon looking close the boat was a Fury II in good shape. The men were rounded up and questioned! They thought they would ransom us. Clearing all from the boat, drugs, and cash was aboard. They found out who’s drugs it was but not the cash, $630,000 was found. Tom called the drug dealer and he returned the call. I told him to come and get these asses and his drugs also asked who owned the boat. He said he held the title but didn’t want it. Offered him 1.1million and he took it. I told him I will give him $630,000 now and to deliver the title to Artamus and get the balance. He said he would be there later today to pick up packages. The Helo took us home Marty stayed to drive the boat and Ron and Andrea went back to help. The boat was in good condition above and below the waterline. It was strong and had 2 Cats instead of a Cummings also a small black Helo but not put together.

They showed up and started with an attitude until the drone came around and their ways changed, they took their drugs and money and said goodbye! We fired up the Fury IV and got into deep water just before dark. The fury was 92ft and faster due to the twin Caterpillars, this boat seemed to have more hiding places so come sun up we will have to inspect the walls and floors well. Don’t want anyone to find something later. The boys took turns driving because Marty was to go Early to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow. The girls wanted to go also and I decided to fly out of Caracas into Lauderdale or Miami whichever one is open first. The night was good, in the AM we went to Caracas and a flight to Ft. Lauderdale was loading in 45 minutes. A quick coffee, 2 phone calls and we were airborne. Once we landed the girls left us and Mark with them, Arron’s 2^nd as well. We headed to the water. The manufacturing plant was huge. We met with a salesman and one of the owners, we told him we were looking for used 74ft-92ft steel hull 3 story Catamarans. At first, he thought we were not serious until he found out we owned 4 of them. He started to tell us where used ones were only to find out they were the 4 we have. The salesman got on the parts computer to see if there were more. He found 2 on the West coast and 1 in Alaska.

Tom asked Arron about which was the best way to meet up with the boats. Commercial to Puerto Rico, private, helicopter or another. He said the Helicopter would work well along the Bahamas to the location of the boat. We can pick up parts and make that the reason! Leave at dawn. Are the boats there? Marty said he thought so, both boats.

Aaron said, “Good! I’ll fly the bird down and have someone return it. We won’t be on the flight. Are we diving? Yes, then I need to bring my wet suit I don’t fit in yours! Okay, see you in the morning at 5:00 AM okay, good.”

Marty and I were up and moving early. Arron was by the helicopter prepped and ready to go with a few extra people. Arron figured 3 ½ to 4 hours in the copter. The 2 boats were a few miles away from each other so no one noticed the flags. We left Tom and 2 people at Fury IV and Marty over to Fury I. The boats were already over the GPS locations so no one would see the dives. Marty had to wait one-hour decompression and Tom and Arron 2 hours due to flying in. Marty found 3 chests, 1 box, and no GPS, Tom found 2 chests, 1Box and, a steamer trunk and 1 new GPS. For now all was left in the boat storage until we were underway again The GPS was in the Bahamas. So after lunch, they headed to the Turks, it would take about 16 hours. So food, rest, then check packages. They were told to do it at different times just in case, both won’t be out together.

Arron put up 1 short drone and 1 long-range for safety, neither was needed but that was okay. Marty found the normal except the coins were Pieces of Eight. All the rest was like the others.

Tom, on the other hand, was nowhere near the same, all of the pieces seemed light, also the GPS was in warehouse storage on Crooked Island. Arron sent someone to keep watch until they got there. The chest showed no other major differences. Tom and Arron moved to Marty’s boat via the skiff and tried to make any sense of the new occurrences. The next 24 hours would tell them something.

They started on the chests on Fury I, separating and counting them for Linda. Not knowing the coins made counting easy. After they were done they moved to Fury IV and started again. and would finish in the AM. The seas were good and they were making great time. Coming past Mahayana they pulled into Crooked Island. Tom, Marty, and Arron left the boat and headed to the warehouse only to find out Marty owned it and was given the keys and the man left. Our man said no one came around. We opened the storage to find paintings, furniture, stacks of steamer chests, all dry antiques and treasures. A call to Linda and she said have Arron pick her up in Nassau and she would bring someone with her.

Linda flew into Nassau with Jill and the museum director of Ft. Lauderdale. They walked in an Arron picked them up. Once back they entered the warehouse and I thought the man was going to pass out. Some of these items have been missing for three hundred years and all were original items. All Linda could say was “OH MY” Marty thought it was funny watching the man unable to stand up to keep looking. He was asked the worth and was told they were priceless. We asked him if he would start a museum in New York which he asked if we were kidding and our answer was NO! Linda just shook her head. We told her to hire him and get his assistant so they could start logging the works and authenticity of the pieces. The assistant was 3 hours behind but didn’t know why yet. The man signed all the papers and was given $25,000 to hold him over. He was amazed! We removed any jewelry we found or odd coins, he was looking at the big things. Arron came in with the woman and then carried her over to a couch, after she passed out we think from shock. When she woke up she asked if it was real and was told that her boss said Yes. We got and “OMG”. Mr. Lester said he knew of an art museum that just closed but was still set to show. Linda called and leased the building with everything even alarms. Tom asked if 2 C-17 or C130’s could hold all of this and was told Yes. He called next. Got 2 of the C-130s.

Mr. Lester was told to start logging items cause he wanted this gone before someone found out. We would get him help and don’t worry about crating just send it all before we lose it to locals. Thirty-three hours later the warehouse was empty and 1 load already gone, before the second left we were asked about it and told them it was U.S. military stuff and we were storing it for two days and with that, the second plane left. They were not happy but they left. We packed up and checked to make sure all was gone and left the building. We loaded Fury I and IV and headed to Ft. Lauderdale. Arron was in the plane with the cargo, so was Linda and Jill. The trip to Lauderdale was going to take 20 hours, so we just relaxed, swapping drivers, eating, and sleeping. The next day we pulled into Ft. Lauderdale. We kept in touch with the plane and knew all went well. They delivered the containers to the new building and set up security. Arron said no one would touch anything! Some of the things Mr. Lester found was unbelievable. Now how do we get by the government for taxes, values, etc.? Hope Linda has some answers.

We no sooner parked the boats when the 3 musketeers attacked us with plans, designs figures, layouts and I don’t know who was more excited, Carl, Ron or Steve. These plans were different for each area and usage. I don’t know where their info came from but Steve said they were right as rain, which I believed.

Andrea is on his way back and the new boat is on its way to the Panama Canal. Two guys are driving it that either Arron or Mark had before the ink was dry on the Title. San Diego Naval base (no brainer). When Andrea gets back he will be as bad as the other 3! I put a call to Nick to find out about another dock for the new boats. First, he wanted to know what new boats, then how many, size and were they are all Fury’s? I gave him what information I had and said start looking and was told I already had one. Beside his, just nothing to put there up until now. His cousin has the same problem, almost the same size dock as his and is only 6 miles away. I said good and I told him about building new ones also going after the oil business. I was told we were too late we picked them up this week and glad to see the new boats soon. I asked if Carl knew about that and he said no, not yet. I need to go we will talk later! Are you to get mad when rushed off the phone because the person was too busy to just chat, guess not. I asked to let us finish up and get moving north. The boys can handle it We said goodbye to all and booked flights for New York. I asked Marty if he ever thought we would fly 1st class and he ever thought we would be worth a billion. Looking at each other we just laughed. The phone rang and Arron said to stay at the airport he would come for us He told us where to wait, 45 minutes later we were flying over the city to meet Linda and Jill, boy things have changed.