by R. J. McMillen
The mystery involves retired police officer, Dan Connor, who is sailing the islands off of Vancouver Island trying to overcome his grief at the murder of his wife. He is surprised to get a radio call from an indian man he had imprisoned years before. The man, Walker, tells him that a young researcher, Clare is missing, and her boat has been sunk. He asks Walker for help finding her.
Clare is safe, but in hiding. She had returned to her boat one day, travelling in a kayak to hear men talking about tracking her down. She runs to the far side of the island and hides out without food or warm clothing.
Walker and Dan find her and take her to safety but not before they see a sleek black yacht that seems to have something illegal going on. The boat has brought crews of men in and sent them out in dinghy's to search for Clare. The boat has large tubes of materials that they initially hide in the water and later bring onto the wharf to load onto other vessels.
Dan tries to get his former police colleagues interested but they have a big international event in Vancouver occupying their attention. the story develops another loaner living in the area is enlisted to keep Clare safe. She contacts Dan to tell him that a local hermit has shown up at her boat mumbling about a dead man with red hair. Clare fears this is her boss.
As Dan doesn't think he can get the police attention that is needed he and Walker discuss how to investigate or stop the black ship. Walker enlists some fellow native men. They disable the ship and the plans of the terrorists start to unravel. It is Dan who figures out that these terrorists will actually be a diversion so that a sniper can carry out an assasination.
This was an interesting mystery. The setting is an interesting part of the story. You feel the environment as much as the action of the story. I enjoyed it.
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