Top of The Edge - The Assault

"Why on God's green earth did you want to meet me here? You know this place gives me creeps." Maryanne said as she shivered and looked up at the old building with disgust.

"It gives everybody the creeps" Cherry responded with a forced half laugh.

"That's the point.'' Robyn said. We needed a secluded place that no one in their right mind would be after dark."

"Well, that about says it all", Maryanne responded. "We are without a doubt not in our right minds."

Robyn unfolded a nautical map and laid it out on the ground while Cherry illuminated it with her flashlight. Both Cherry and Robyn had taken detailed notes so they could bring Maryanne up to speed. First Cherry went over her notes, which mostly concerned the news they had just learned concerning the Loose Lips sink ships campaign. She also brought along a pair of binoculars and one of the flares so she could show and explain them to Maryanne." Then Robyn explained the logistics and the plan she and Cherry had devised for Maryanne to be a part of their coastal-watch rotation.

"It's really quite simple Robyn declared, "We'll be responsible to cover every other weekend. Friday and Saturday nights will be eleven-hour shifts, seven o'clock in the evening to six o'clock the following morning. Sundays we're only responsible to cover six hours, seven o'clock in the evening to twelve midnight. Cherry and I will ride together at the first and last hours. That way during the shift changes you can stay out of sight. The second hour will be you and me, the third - Cherry and you, and the rotation starts over again on the fourth hour with Cherry and me. We'll have a base camp where we'll pitch a small camping tent providing us a place to catch up on our studies and to get a little rest. Outside the tent, we'll need to rely on the moonlight only, so as to avoid being spotted by someone approaching." Maryanne's facial expression was anything but agreeable, and she just kept shaking her head. As Robyn concluded her explanation, she asked, "What's wrong? You seem to be more than just a little apprehensive."

"Number one" she stated, "My experience horseback riding is limited to the only half a dozen times I've ridden a horse on my uncle's farm in Adams Run, the last of which was over a year ago. Number two, how am I going to explain to my roommates my being out all night every other weekend? And number three and perhaps my most significant objection is that this could become really dangerous!

"Well to allay your first concern Cherry answered, "You'll be on either my horse, 'Ranger' or Robyn's horse, 'Blue'. They are both very well behaved and will answer to both of us. Our first night out we'll make sure that both Ranger and Blue become accustomed to you and your voice and will respond to the commands we teach you."

"As for your roommates", Robyn answered, "Didn't you tell us that you hardly know each other and that they frequently stay out all night themselves? Taking that into consideration, I highly doubt either of them will make any inquiry as to your whereabouts."

"And the thing that makes this whole thing any fun at all is the element of danger." Cherry said gleefully.

With a pensive look on her face, Maryanne was quiet for several seconds before responding, "Every other weekend... okay, I'll give it a try... with the understanding that if this coastal watch thing for some reason goes sideways... I'm out."

The wind picked up, bringing with it a fine mist and a chill that could be felt down to the bone. Robyn shined the light on her wristwatch and gasped when she saw the time. "It's after 1:00 A.M., We need to wrap things up. We're supposed to meet Smith for Breakfast at seven." Maryanne headed back to her apartment across the street, but not before stating once again, "I still think this is a bunch of craziness." As Cherry and Robyn mounted their bikes, Cherry smiled and replied, "Well that's never stopped us from doing anything before."

The Night Walk

Smith's night walk brought him down to the tip of the Charleston Peninsula, White Point Garden, most commonly referred to as "The Battery" by most of the locals. He stood there at the sea wall looking out over the Charleston Harbor toward Castle Pinkney and Fort Sumter. Feeling a little less restless now, he determined that the walk and night air was exactly what he had needed. However, within the past few minutes, the temperature had begun dropping at a steady rate, and a dense fog was beginning to roll in off the harbor, causing Smith to wipe the condensation from his glasses. "It's time to head back to the hotel", he thought to himself and started his trek back to the Francis Marion Hotel. As he reached the corner of King and Beaufain Streets, he once again stopped briefly to wipe his glasses, and just happened to look off to his left up Beaufain Street. To his astonishment, he saw two people walking, a man and a woman. The woman appeared to be drunk or something. The man was all but carrying her. He had one arm around her waist and the other holding her arm around the back of his neck and shoulders. When he saw Smith staring at them, he picked up his pace and quickly made a left turn up St. Phillip Street. Smith put his glasses back on and made a decision to surveil this situation. From time to time the man half carrying the woman would attempt to look around and over his shoulder hoping that the man he had just seen was someone that would mind his own business and not attempt to follow them. To his relief, he saw no one. Remaining surreptitious Smith followed the couple to one of the College of Charleston dormitories. He took note, "This is Cherry and Robyn's dormitory." The man didn't help her inside, instead, he sat her down in a rocking chair on the dormitory's front portico. Then he scurried away at a brisk pace that quickly turned into an all-out run.

"So... tell me something, Bart. Why are you paying me to keep an eye on this guy if you're going to do it yourself?"

Smith was embarrassed and even a little angry at himself for allowing Tuttle to sneak up on him this way. "I was out for a walk and... apparently stumbled onto something. So that was Professor Michaels?"

"You didn't know?"

"I've never met the man, and except for a C of C faculty photo, I've never even seen him. Besides, with his collar turned up and his hat nearly pulled down over his eyes coupled with this dense fog, I really couldn't get a good look at his face."

"Yeah, he thinks he's pretty sly. I followed him in his vehicle to where he parked it over on Calhoun Street near your hotel. Then I followed him on foot to the Mills House Hotel. When he exited the hotel about an hour later half carrying that young lady, we just saw him drop off, I almost didn't recognize him. He was wearing all different clothes. Even his hat was a different color, and just like you, I couldn't get a good look at his face either.""

"So... how do you know that was him?"

"His size, the way he carries himself, and with what we already know about his escapades with young college girls... I knew that was him."

"Oh, I don't doubt your deduction, but you know that would never stand up in a court of law."

As Smith and Tuttle were quietly conversing, they both heard something, and immediately silenced themselves and ducked deeper into the shadows of the shrubbery and cloak of darkness.

Tuttle was incredulous as he whispered to Smith, "Two girls riding bicycles... at this hour. What the heck is going on around here?"

Smith shook his head in disbelief and stepped out into the open as he motioned for Tuttle to join him, "Come on, I'll introduce you."

Cherry and Robyn were placing their bikes in the bike rack as Smith and Tuttle walked up behind them. The sudden presence of the two men caused both ladies to jump. Robyn having yet to place her bike securely in the rack pushed it toward the two men in an effort to obstruct just before making a mad dash up the dormitory steps. Cherry was right on her heels.

"Cherry, Robyn, it's me, Mr. Smith", Smith called after them attempting to allay their obvious startlement.

Cherry immediately spun on her heels toward Smith with a look of anger that caused Tuttle to step back and say, "Woe!"

Robyn, on the other hand, was now preoccupied with the girl in the rocking chair who appeared to be passed out.

"Cherry, it's Suzy Altman." She held the back of her hand up to Suzy's nose. "She's hardly breathing!"

Smith and Tuttle quickly bound up the steps as Cherry spun back around toward Robyn and Suzy. Smith pressed two fingers against the front of Suzy's neck around the throat area, "She's got a pulse but it's weak. She needs medical attention - Now!"