At noon Jerry and Scotty slipped out for a sandwich. When they returned, Rick and Duke went to eat. According to Barby, all was quiet.
Around one o'clock Cap'n Mike returned to Spindrift and reported a friendly conversation with the houseboaters. They had anchored in North Cove because someone down the coast had told them fishing was good around there, which was a true statement.
The retired skipper had only one additional comment, which Barby relayed. The folks had been friendly, but he thought they were a little nervous, and anxious to get rid of him. He had no other information of value.
At midafternoon Jerry went on a brief sortie, came back, and reported business was slow in the barbershop, which was not unusual for a Tuesday. The barber was reading a magazine.
Rick and Scotty were restless. The chairs in the newspaper office were hard, and they had exhausted the reference materials on the bookshelf.
Duke Barrows looked up from a story he was editing and grinned. "Espionage isn't as adventurous as some folks would like you to believe. It's generally nothing but sitting. And waiting. Just as you're doing now."
Rick grinned back. Duke was telling him nothing he didn't know. He had waited like this before.
Barby called urgently, "Rick! The pram is leaving. One man in it, and he's just starting the outboard motor!"
"All right," he said swiftly. "Let us know which way he goes."
In a moment Barby answered. "He's going to the pier!"
The plan of action had been set in advance. Scotty hurried out, while Rick settled down to wait. Scotty, using Jerry's car, would locate the houseboater at the pier. Rick would stand by, ready to take over as necessary.
A short time later Scotty called on the Megabuck network. "I'm in the pier parking lot. He's tying the pram up."
"Not unless he comes over and inspects the cars."
After a few minutes, Scotty reported again. "He's hiking in the direction of Whiteside. Thumb out. He wants a ride."
"Don't give him one," Barby interjected urgently. "He might recognize you."
"He's hitchhiking," Scotty explained. "He doesn't even know I exist."
"Good. There's a fair amount of traffic."
Rick waited, alert for Scotty's next report. It came almost immediately. "I'm moving. A truck picked him up. Stand by."