He walked down the pier, Scotty at his side, the others following. At Carrots' direction he climbed over the side of the trawler and went into the small cabin aft of the wheelhouse.
Red Kelso gestured toward a built-in bunk. "Sit down, both of you." He went to the single window and slid the curtains shut.
Carrots took up a position in the corner from which he could cover the two boys. Brad Marbek pushed into the cabin and closed the door behind him. For a dozen heartbeats there was silence.
Red Kelso broke it. "What now?" he asked heavily. "We've got 'em. What do we do with 'em?"
Rick spoke up with much more boldness than he felt. "Nothing. Half a dozen people know we came here."
Marbek and Kelso exchanged glances.
"We can't just let 'em go," Carrots said. His glance at Rick was vindictive. "This is the smart joker that dove at me in his airplane. I owe him somethin' for that."
"Be quiet, Jimmy," Red Kelso said. "We've got to think about this."
There was a hail from outside. Marbek started. "Red! Come outside. Jimmy, watch these two."
Carrots lifted the rifle a little. The two older men went out and closed the door. Rick, listening carefully, thought he could hear oars.