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by Mike Schwarcz, text and art

Cece thought Aisha seemed absent minded during their otherwise heartfelt and tearful reunion with Rachel. But she was merely being cautious, her legal mind working overtime. She needed to act fast, Hayden was in New York, and the longer Rachel remained in town the greater the chance of an encounter between them.
The late hour precluded any real celebration. Cece went to bed feeling better knowing Rachel was okay. Rachel felt lonely, already missing Vanessa.
"I'll be back in the morning. Get some rest, we have lots to do in the next few days. And whatever you do, once Cece leaves, don't open the door for anyone, I'll call when I arrive."

Aisha got to her office at eight a.m. Playing it close to the vest she issued individual instructions, briefing her staff on a strict need to know basis. First things first; acquiring Freeport space, create shell companies in the Caymans and Panama.
By ten, she stood outside Cece's and texted Rachel that she had arrived.
Once inside they settled down with coffees and notepads to make plans.
"Did you tell him he should get the painting off the yacht?" Aisha began.
"It's in a climate-controlled space, I did tell him it should be in a Freeport."
"The climate isn't the big issue. The biggest risk is a customs agent somewhere understanding the painting's actual value and deciding to slap a duty on it, or worse, trying to seize it." Aisha explained.
"That's a valid point. I didn't bring it up directly, but I will. I told him I'd arrange a Freeport space for him so to get it off the boat as soon as possible."
"Okay, where is Ifty from?"
"His nationality is Pakistani, but he has British citizenship; he lives in London," said Rachel.
"A Brit, heavy taxes there for sure, eighteen to twenty-four percent depending," Aisha knew.
"Delaware. Fits the bill, the yacht can dock in Baltimore, no problems with transport, insurance, and customs declarations. We will need a bonded Customs broker for transport from the yacht to the Freeport.
"But Ifty, the yacht, and the painting are all in Nantucket at present," Rachel pointed out.
Aisha got up and walked over to the row of windows facing the street, looking down on the little people on the sidewalk as she pondered this.
"Is he in a hurry? Or is it you who is in a hurry?" Aisha suggested pacing the length of the front windows slowly. An ambulance siren raced by, erasing her thoughts. She returns to the kitchen. We shouldn't sell now, not in the middle of summer, absolutely not. We wait for the fall season. Allowing time to relocate the painting and line up the top bidders for peak season.
"The sooner I get Hayden off my back, the better. I can't hide out forever," Rachel countered.
"What do you think happens if Hayden finds out where you are?" Aisha asked.
"If he gets wind of the deal he will freeze you out, he does have a claim after all," Aisha pointed out.
"Of course," said Rachel. "But I live in LA, I have a life, a house, a cat to feed, I can't just disappear." Rachel was getting agitated by her own limited options.
"You didn't have much problem disappearing from the Hamptons," Aisha went there.
"C'mon, that's different," Rachel said, raising her hands, signaling enough.
"Okay, how about this: You and your cat are staying in Miami with Vanessa for a few months. She's unknown to Hayden," Aisha suggested.
"That might work, if it's okay with her. I never mentioned the cat to her," Rachel said.
"Call her. I can chime in if it will help. We need to impress upon her the importance of avoiding Hayden at all costs," Aisha urged.
"Let's see if she answers," Rachel dialed Vanessa's phone.
"Hello?" Vanessa answered.
"Hi, Babe, it's me. Can I put you on speaker with my associate, Aisha?"
"Sure, what's going on?" Vanessa asked.
Rachel got right to the point. "How would you feel if I came and stayed with you in Miami for a few months, along with my cat?"
"Why is something wrong?" Vanessa sounded alarmed.
"Remember that guy I told you about? Aisha and I have decided it's vital he doesn't find out about the painting, and frankly, I don't want him to find me either. He's too much of a wild card, especially with so much money at stake."
"I have to think, I'm still on the ship and I don't know what Ifty has planned next," Vanessa said. "Maybe he'll just return to London.
"Well, relay the following to him: Avoid traveling with the painting lest some customs agent who is art savvy decides to put a duty on it, or even seize it, which is possible if he doesn't have proof of ownership onboard. We are arranging a space in Delaware to store the painting in the name of a shell company. Peak auction season is 5 months away. The sooner he can get the painting to Delaware, the better. The ship can deliver it; Baltimore is right next door." Rachel paused for breath. "To be one hundred percent safe, the painting and I need to stay out of sight until the auction."
"Ifty's on the lower deck with David, I'll tell him what you said, and I'll call you back." Rachel hung up.
"I'm calling in for Chinese. Do you want anything?" Aisha asked.
"Sure, whatever you get is fine with me, thank you, Aisha."
They ate while waiting for the return call from Vanessa. Trying to paint a picture of Ifty in her mind, Aisha asked Rachel about his background, the source of his wallet cologne, and, of course, his marital status. They were putting the leftovers away when the phone rang. Looking at the number on the screen first, Rachel answered on speaker.
"Hi, what did he say?"
"I told him everything you said. He's decided to leave the ship in New York or Delaware for the hurricane season. He agrees about the Delaware Freeport as soon as the paperwork is ready. He suggested that if you want to disappear, you and the cat are welcome to take advantage of a vacant yacht for the rest of the summer. I'm also invited. The ship will be empty, and we can have the master suite. He says he'd rather keep the crew busy than lay half of them off for the season. What do you think?" Vanessa asked.
"If you're there, I want to be there," said Rachel.
"Brilliant, this is perfect," Aisha chimed in.
"Except the cat is in LA," said Rachel.
"Yeah, that's a problem, and your place is probably being watched," Vanessa added.
"Risking six million dollars for a cat? You can't find a cat sitter?" Aisha was running out of patience. "Look, find a cat sitter and I'll cover it!" This silliness needed to go away right now.
"All right, sheesh, I'll do something, just give me a little time to think," Rachel said.
"So the boat will stay in Nantucket or New York?" Aisha asked next.
"Most likely, it's going to depend on the weather. I'll find out what the skipper thinks," said Vanessa.

Rachel walked to the windows, looking down on the deserted street below.
"I packed for a five-day trip. Now, it's becoming a five-month trip. I feel like Ginger on Gilligan's Island?" Rachel smirked.
"I'm sorry, dear, I don't understand. Gilligan's Island?" Aisha said.
"It's a three-hour tour that turns into being marooned on a deserted island with only a cocktail dress to wear," Rachel tried to explain while parading as if modeling an evening gown.
"Sounds rather like a cock up," Aisha offered.
Rachel pirouetted, and they both giggled.
"We'll get you a wardrobe, don't worry, it's not like you're entering ‘Witness Protection," Aisha said.
"It's not far off," Rachel retorted.
"For God's sake you'll be on a yacht, quit your moaning. I have a private shopper I'm going to lend you, along with my credit card. All advanced against your commission. But the time and effort to get the cat here, then on the boat, and then through customs? No," Aisha said firmly.
"When does Cece get home?" Rachel asked.
"Soon, the gallery closed a few minutes ago, it's a short walk. I'll have my shopper here tomorrow to take measurements and discuss your needs at ten sharp," Aisha said, pulling out her phone and sending a text.
Rachel's phone rang again.
"Vanessa, hi, what's the latest?"
"The skipper plans to sit tight in Nantucket for now. Ifty and the guests will fly home from New York. What are you thinking?" Vanessa asked.
"Let me put you on speaker. Aisha's here to help with logistics."
"Hi Vanessa, if you two stay on the boat, you can escort the painting to Freeport; it works out perfectly. However, we are still working on a solution to the cat problem, and I have to scurry up some new garms for Rachel's ‘Gilligan's Island'," Aisha said
"Huh?"
"She means I need clothes and a cat sitter," Rachel translated.
"We can drop Rachel in Nantucket at the same customs dock, the ship's tender can then pick her up where he dropped her," Aisha said
"Well, all the guests and Ifty are leaving tomorrow. The crew will stay on. Let me know what the plan is when you figure it out." Vanessa sounded stressed, but said she was happy Rachel was joining her again.
Off the phone, Rachel and Aisha hugged each other.
"I can hear in your voices that you two truly care about each other. Get to work on that cat sitter so you can get back on the ship. Don't go anywhere, not even for food, order in." Aisha slid two hundred dollars in twenties into Rachel's hand.
"I'll bring coffee tomorrow. And don't spill the beans to Cece about any of this, you're in love and can't live without Vanessa, that's all."
"No worries, I'm on it, and I'll keep it simple with Cece," Rachel promised.
"Good, I'll be back tomorrow at about the same time. Ta-ta."
On her walk home, Aisha reflected on Rachel and the bond she shared with Vanessa; it was apparent even when listening to them on the phone. She wanted someone who cared about her like that, like her dad did before he passed away. Had she wasted a good part of her adult life seeking Hayden's approval? Was she beginning to regret it? She was now sure that what she needed, and wanted, went way beyond anything that Hayden could offer her.

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To be continued

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