There’s just nothing quite like “winter” in the Caymans. Perfect temperatures, the wind kicking up just enough so that every once in a while you get a chill that reminds you that you could be sitting in some God-forsaken place like Buffalo or Minot or Cleveland. Perish the thought.

Instead, Chad Merritt is sitting back on a lounge chair, one hand holding a paperback and the other entwined with Johanna’s. Hard to believe he had been here over a year now. He was quickly become accepted by the ‘natives’ who had either grown up on Grand Cayman or, like him, were once-tourists who settled down and made the island their home.

Johanna had fallen asleep curled up in her deck chair, a light blanket covering one shoulder and one knee. She shifted slightly as his phone started to buzz against the small table between them. He picked it up and pressed the button with his thumb, his other hand still wrapped around hers.

“Merritt.”

“Mr. Merritt, this is John Ebanks.”

“John, good to hear from you. How are things at the bank? I didn’t miss a meeting, did I?”

“No, Mr. Chad. I just thought you might be interested to know that Mr. Steve Day is here again. You inquired about him after his last visit during the summer. I believe you mentioned he was an old friend.”

“Absolutely, John. Is he still there?”

“Yes, he is. Young Mr. Bodden is just taking him back to safe deposit boxes at the moment. I expect him to be here for a while. He mentioned having some transactions to make following his visit to the valut.”

“I’m on my way, John. If you would, please don’t mention I’m on my way. I’d like it to be a surprise.”

“I completely understand, Mr. Chad. I’ll do my best to keep him here without ruining the surprise.”

“You’re wonderful as always, John. See you shortly.”

As he hangs up the phone, Johanna stirs.

“I have to head to the bank, angel. I shouldn’t be long.”

“Is there a problem?” she asks, sleepily.

“No, no problem. Remember that man I told you about, Steve Day? Apparently he’s in town again. I’d like to say hello.”

“Isn’t he the man from your old company?”

“That’s the one.”

“I thought you were putting all that behind you? Especially after what happened when you went there last time. You were so angry when you got back…”

“I know, angel. No reason to worry about that this time. He’s just an old friend. I’ll be back and we’ll have lunch at Trevia.”

As Chad walks out of the beachfront cottage and hops into his car, his mind starts to spin. The last time Steve Day showed up on Grand Cayman, the CSWA’s Parsons Cruise Liner had been hijacked by the so-called Hacker in the Caribbean. It couldn’t just be coincidence, could it?