You're going to have a drink with Mullet?'
He smiled as he stood. `Yes. Just one, I promise. You want to come or stay up here and enjoy the scenery?'
Ruth punched him in the leg as her blush returned. `I'm fine, thanks. Just make sure you only have one drink otherwise I might get bored.' Her eyes flicked across the deck to the girl. Mason shook his head at her and turned to leave.
`Beat you to it, Boxhead,' Mullet rasped at him, standing with two drinks in his hand. `Heard you was back. Morning, Ruthie.'
Mason grinned at the tanned, weathered old man wearing only shorts and a blue singlet. Years of fishing and being a deckhand showed in every crease on Mullet's face as he nodded politely to Ruth.
`Still alive, I see,' Mason said, taking the can from him.
`And you're still ugly as ever, Mason. Rum and cola still your poison?'
`Pot calling the kettle black there, you old bastard,' Mason grinned as they shook hands. He cracked the can open in sync with Mullet.
`Huh,' Mullet grunted, sipping his drink and ignoring the stares around them. `So you're really back then? Had enough of Pommyland and warm beer?'
`Okay. We'll go with that,' Mason said, enjoying the harsh flavour of the rum. `So now you're shouting me drinks, or is it a bribe to get you out of trouble again?'
`Very funny,' Mullet grinned back as he leaned against the railing. `You're going over to the island for a break. Like before?'
`Uh-huh,' Mason grunted, knowing Mullet was itching for gossip. `Wilson is with us as well. For a family holiday.'
`I've seen him about, down below just now. He's a big lad. Better looking than his old man. Lucky he's got his mother's looks.' Mullet winked at Ruth as he took a swig from the can. `We goin' fishing now you're back? Got some new spots out wide we can hit, if the famous Mason Douglas still mixes with us ordinary folk?'
`Smartarse. We'll go once I get a chance, after the holiday,' Mason said, falling into their usual banter. It was like he'd not been gone for more than a year.
Another familiar face appeared at the top of the steps, eyeing Mullet off — his skipper. `You supposed to be doing something?' Mason asked, looking past Mullet.
`Yeah, yeah,' he muttered, glancing back as the skipper vanished back down the steps. Mullet finished his drink in a single gulp. `No rest for the wicked, apparently. More like he's nervous you're on board.'
`Nervous?' Mason frowned.
`Yeah.' Mullet wetted cracked lips and looked straight at Mason. `What happened, you know, over there. We all saw it on the telly. Serious shit, Mason. Trouble seems to find you.'
`Not today.' Mason finished his drink, irritated at the thought of people feeling uncomfortable around him. `Besides, you're a bigger shit magnet than me, remember.'
`Yeah, yeah,' Mullet muttered with a half-smile. `You're never going to let me forget that, are you?'
`No, and you still smile about it. You nearly got yourself killed that night.' Mason crushed the can in his hand, remembering the fight. He hadn't held back.
`Yeah, well.' Mullet looked at his feet. `I didn't know she was married to a bloody psycho druggie with his own gang, did I? Lucky you was there. I'd do the same for you, mate.'
`I know you would. But those days are gone, old mate.' Mason winked, remembering that wild night. `You still seeing her?'
`Christ, no!' Mullet took Mason's empty can. `She wanted to have kids and settle down. Crazy.'
`Yeah, can't have the Mullet saddled now, can we?'
`Still think you're funny, I see,' Mullet said with a wink. `Have a good one, Ruth. Make sure he stays out of trouble.'
`Will do,' she said from beside Mason. He could hear the humour in her tone.
`Catch you on the trip back, Boxhead.' Mullet disappeared down the steps to the lower deck without a backward glance.
Behind Mason a mobile phone rang. His.
Ruth passed it to him, face tight. `It's Max.'
Mason found a clear spot on the deck as Ruth sat back down, eyes on him. `Max?'
`It's important.'
Mason heard the anger in Max's voice. Something was very wrong. `Go on.' He turned to Ruth and smiled, trying to smooth her frown away.
`There's been movement in the US. That jet we lost track of here popped up on our satellites an hour ago.'
`And you rang me here to tell me this?'
`Sir, it's heading for Australia.'
Mason turned away from Ruth, anger clouding his mind. Not now.
`Sir, it will be there later tonight. Sir Robert has sanctioned the Fund to mobilise and I'm already airborne and have resources on the ground in the area. Mason, you needed to know but the Fund can handle this. Sir Robert's orders.'
Mason paused, agreeing with Sir Robert. The Fund was there to protect them and he needed time with his family. Butcher was not welcome here. `Agreed, Max, do whatever it takes. I don't want to be disturbed, you understand?'
`Yes, sir.'
`Good. You're in charge, Max. Talk to you in two weeks.' Mason snapped the phone shut and dropped it over the side of the ferry. His anger vanished as the mobile disappeared into the bubbling wake.
`That's a good sign,' Ruth said, joining him and taking his hand. `What did Max want?'
`Just checking up on me,' Mason sighed and hugged her. `I made it clear we're not to be disturbed. The Fund can survive without me.'
`Uh-huh.' Ruth's tone and body language said she didn't believe him. Mason leaned over and kissed her. She kissed him back and Mason picked her up in their hug, making her squeal and wriggle.
`Will you two behave?' Wilson said, joining them. Mason held Ruth against him as she pulled her bikini top back into place. Wilson rolled his eyes at them. `If this is what you're going to be like on the island I'm going to have to warn Sally about turning up unannounced at the villa.'
Ruth patted him on the face. `She's not as shy as you think, Wilson. We spent a lot time together when you were in hospital.'
`And?' Wilson asked, eyes narrowing at his mother. Mason chuckled quietly.
`Well, her mother doesn't talk to her about sex that much.'
Mason had to bite his lip at the look of horror on Wilson's face.
`Jeez, Mum. You talked about sex with her?'
`Of course. She asked me.' Ruth touched his arm. `Sally needed someone to talk to, Wilson, and I wasn't going to let her down.'
`Oh,' Wilson mumbled, looking out towards the approaching island. Mason could see him thinking about what his mother had said.
`Wil, Sally cares about you a lot and she isn't like other girls. She wants it to mean something when she decides to be with you. Besides, I was flattered she came to me for advice.'
`It's weird talking about this with you two, but thanks, Mum.' Wilson smiled and fidgeted as he leaned against the railing, scanning the beach as the ferry slowed its approach.
`So. You and Sally,' Mason asked quietly. `Are her parents okay with her being here?'
`Sal's dad not around and her mum is with her on the island,' Wilson said, taking his shirt off. `And she's cool with us. We get along great and she doesn't ask questions. I want you to meet her once you and Mum have settled on the island.'
`Done,' Mason said, taking Wilson's shirt as it was thrust at him. `What are you doing?'
`Going to Sally.' Wilson winked, and ran downstairs. Mason looked over the side just as Wilson dived in.
`He's a good swimmer now,' Ruth said holding onto him as