Summary

In "The Muggers," Lucas Davenport is on the beach in Fort Lauderdale when two men approach him. He rightly assumes that they are planning to mug him. He scares them by revealing his gun. One of the muggers says they really just want something to eat. Lucas gives them money for food and promises to kill them if he sees them trying to mug someone else. They take the money and run. Lucas senses that it is not going to be a good day.

In Chapter 1, the narrative goes back in time. An off-duty Coast Guard officer named Barney Hall is on his boat with his wife and son when he sees a Mako boat making suspicious maneuvers. Barney calls the Coast Guard watch officer in Fort Lauderdale and explains the situation. The watch officer sends three Coast Guard officers to...