It was around eight pm on the fourteenth day since Arflin left Cartagena when he was on deck that night and saw the flicker of a lighthouse. He had been sailing in an easterly direction as best he could. He was hoping it was Aruba, but he had no way of knowing for sure.
He had made landfall near Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. The next morning he would investigate further. He was almost out of water and food. He carefully rationed the food and what little water he had these past two weeks. He had cut down to two meals a day. It had paid off, because he could get more food and water and buy a new compass.
Arflin slept better that night knowing he was near civilization again. If he only knew who he was to meet the next day he might have taken a chance on starving to death on the open sea and left the area immediately.
Scotland Yard Inspector Lance Witherspoon had diligently been searching for William Arflin, as leads would surface from around the world. Someone would report seeing a man who closely resembled William Arflin in Paris or Berlin. Inspector Witherspoon would check out the story, but always found himself on a wild goose chase.
Growing weary of running down false leads, he decided it was time to take a small vacation and just relax. A friend told him about Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
"Very few people outside of Puerto Rico know about Cabo Rojo, a picturesque town located in the Southwest corner of the island. Puerto Ricans consider Cabo Rojo to be the "Capital of Tourism". Cabo Rojo is very popular for family destinations, beach lovers and seafood lovers. It is the perfect destination for those that would like a little more relaxation, less crowded beaches and local flavor. It is secluded with many miles of white sandy beaches. The fishing is great, or you can just lie around and do nothing if you like. You must visit there when you get a chance. I promise you will not be disappointed," the friend added.
Arflin had no idea who Lance Witherspoon was. He didn't even know what he looked like. He didn't know Inspector Duval was even on his case.
The next morning Arflin sailed into Cabo Rojo. His first stop was at a restaurant near the marina. He had just ordered Ham and eggs with toast and coffee when Inspector Witherspoon walked into the restaurant to have breakfast.
At first Inspector Witherspoon did not notice Arflin sitting just two tables away from him? He caught a glimpse of Arflin out of the corner of his eye and knew immediately it was the man he had been searching for these past several months. He had the advantage this time. He could approach Arflin as though he were a tourist and was seeking information about the town. He didn't know if Arflin was armed so he would need to wait until Arflin was outside the restaurant before he tried to apprehend him.