He looped the rope securely, stuffed the hook beneath the seat, and tightened his coat. His hands shook, not only from nerves but from the cold creeping in with the rain. The engine coughed, sputtered, then roared to life. Elias pushed the skiff free, jumping aboard just as it rocked loose from the stones. Rain blurred his vision, forcing him to squint against the drops.
The police were still gathered near the main docks, their reflective jackets like beacons through the haze. He cut his engine to half power, steering wide of the patrol boats. His heart pounded as he slipped past unnoticed, the rain now working in his favor as it muffled the sound of his motor. The closer he drew to the drifting freighter, the larger it loomed.