But now ... now he sat, a virtual prisoner, answering questions about his role in the plot to smuggle narcotics into the United States. It was a nightmare he wished he could forget, but he knew he never could. The men around him were members of the U.S. Customs’ Special Racket Squad out of New York City, whose job it was to run down smugglers.
He heard the big, soft-voiced man sitting across the desk from him—the agent named Dave Cardoza—say, “Let’s go over the story again, Halvorsen. This time it’s for the official record. Tell it just as you did before—exactly what happened.”
Halvorsen swallowed once more and nodded. He didn’t need a translator to understand what Cardoza was saying because he spoke excellent English as well as German.
“Will you state your full name?”
The youth replied: “Truls Arild Halvorsen.” And the recording began.
Q—What is your position on the ship?
A—Ordinary seaman.
Q—What vessel are you on?
A—The name of the ship is the Fernhill.
Q—How long have you been employed aboard the Fernhill?