Stranded (A Samantha Starr Thriller, Book 4)

by S. L. Menear

  “The good news is Sam disarmed both weapons—no idea how she did it. The bad news is Texas didn’t get the message in time and torpedoed the pyramid.”

  Ross swallowed hard. “Was Sam inside when it blew?”

  “I don’t know,” Max said. “The only communication we had was through her mother.”

  Mike picked up the SATCOM and handed it to Max. “Call my mother.”

  Max nodded. He punched in the number.

  Loren answered on the first ring. “Is Sam safe?”

  Max put the phone on SPEAKER. “We don’t know. We need you to contact her and ask where she is.”

  “Hold on.”

  The men waited several minutes in silence.

  Loren’s voice filled the speaker. “I can’t reach her. Maybe she’s unconscious or…”

  Mike grabbed the phone. “Mom, it’s Mike. Don’t even think that. Keep trying. Call us when you hear from her. In the meantime, we’ll start looking.”

  “Okay, please find her.”

  Mike tapped END and handed the phone to Max. “Step one will be lots of men with night-vision binoculars scanning the sea. Don’t forget the damn kraken is still out there. She can’t command it if she’s…unconscious.”

  The return trip didn’t take long. Max stopped the ship over the pyramid and ordered his crew to scan the water on all sides.

  The Krakens

  My suited arms were wrapped around the rhombus, and a tentacle from the baby squid was wrapped around me. It managed to zoom through the exit a nanosecond before the pyramid collapsed into a massive pile of obsidian rubble.

  The kid was headed straight for its mommy, and she’d be protective of her baby. I’d need all my mental focus to survive a commanded transfer from child to parent.

  My mother’s voice invaded my head at the worst possible moment. I had to block her and concentrate on the giant squid.

  The water was pitch black. I couldn’t see the monster, but I was pretty sure she could see me. The jewel was still glowing, but it was no longer filled with blinding light.

  The big kraken was my ticket to the ship. The crew would never find me at 2,000 feet in so many square miles of ocean.

  And they wouldn’t dare enter the depths to look for me with a dangerous sea monster cruising around.

  The youngster held me out to its mommy like it was offering her a gift.

  I took a deep breath and concentrated on the adult, illuminated by the big diamond and now my suit’s floodlight. Her head was about forty feet high. She reached out with one of her long feeder tentacles and reeled me in close to her smart-car-sized right eye. It was the scariest thing I’d ever seen, but I couldn’t afford to lose my nerve.

  My steadfast mental commands must’ve worked because she began swimming toward the surface—or maybe she was just eager to be rid of me and my pesky orders. I glanced at my Hardsuit’s digital depth gauge as the numbers grew smaller.

  We breached the surface beside Leviathan, and the kraken lifted me to the top deck over the open area where it had deposited the vaults. It gently set me down on my side and released me. Then it vanished into the dark ocean.

  In moments, I was surrounded by crewmembers. Commander Bern pulled me from the suit. I stood on shaky legs and yanked the diamond away from the Hardsuit.

  “Thank you, George. That’s the second time you’ve pulled me out of one of these metal prisons. I really hope there won’t be a third time.”

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “I need to sit down a minute.” I sat cross-legged, clutching the two-foot-long glowing gem. The energy in it was slowly fading away. “Did the teams make it back from those downed helicopters?”

  “Thanks to your kraken buddy, we all survived. Ross and Mike will be here any second. They were scanning the sea for you at the other end of the ship.”

  “Sam!” Ross yelled as he hurried toward me.

  Max, Mike, and Derek rushed up, smiling.

  “Lass, are you all right?” Ross kneeled beside me.

  “I’m fine, I think.” I tilted my head up as he leaned in and gave me a passionate kiss. It felt wonderful to have his strong arms around me.

  But when he tried to lift the rhombus from me, I turned defiant. I wasn’t sure what was driving me. Jewels had never been important to me, and I didn’t need money, but I felt a strong connection to the stone I held. Maybe all the trauma had finally caught up with me.

  I tightened my hold and said through clenched teeth, “I’m keeping the diamond!”

  Mike laughed. “It’s not like you can wear it, Sis.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m keeping it.”

  Ross took my chin in his hand and turned my face toward him. “Why do you want it, lass?”

  “Because diamonds are a girl’s best friend—especially this one. It saved me from being vaporized by a nuke.” I hugged the jewel and glared.

  Ross sighed and glanced up. “Well, Captain Rowlin, it’s up to you. What do you want to do about the diamond?”

  “What diamond?” Max grinned. “There are no diamonds on my ship.”

  A crewman handed Ross a blanket.

  “Right, I’ll wrap Sam and her rock in this blanket.” Ross helped me up.

  Mike hugged me. “We’re dying to know how you disarmed a nuke underwater.”

  Vicky Edwards, the marine engineer I’d saved in the Hall of Records, pushed through the men crowding around me. She held a chocolate bar in her outstretched hand. “This will make you feel better, Sam.”

  I shifted the full weight of the giant gem to my left arm and accepted her gift with my right hand.

  A Godiva morsel melted in my mouth, soothing my jangled nerves.

  “Thank you, Vicky.” I savored another bite of the divine chocolate.

  “I’d like to debrief you in the conference room if you’re feeling well enough, Sam,” Max said. “You can enjoy a glass of red wine from the bottle of Opus One I smuggled aboard in Jacksonville.”

  I kissed his cheek. “Anything for you, Captain.”

  Thirty

  Palm Beach, Florida, Two Weeks Later

  Mom and Duncan flew into town and threw a lavish party at her oceanfront mansion. They wanted to celebrate my safe return and thank the key people who had helped me.

  Master chef Niko Bujaj catered the party. He and his lovely wife Meliodora owned my favorite restaurant on Singer Island, The Islander Grill. I’d snuck into the ballroom earlier and admired his magnificent ice sculpture on the long buffet table. It was a pyramid with a kraken draped over it. It must’ve taken him hours to complete. Now it was nestled amidst an array of his gourmet delicacies, sure to please the most discerning palates.

  My twin brothers, Mike and Matt, attended the festivities along with my boyfriend, Ross, and his SAS sidekick, Derek.

  Since Banger and Oz had been on the Special Ops team sent to the mesa, they were invited, along with the passengers and crew who’d shared that adventure with me.

  My boss at LIA, Chief Pilot Jeff Rowlin, and his son, Leviathan’s captain, Commander Max Rowlin, also attended. Invited with Max were his Executive Officer, Lt. Commander Vance Lowes, SEAL Commander George Bern, Scorpion pilots Jane Hoebich and Fred Lichten, Scorpion weapons specialists Scooter McCoy and Bull Simmons, marine biologist Kip Peterson, and marine engineer Vicky Edwards.

  LIA flight attendants Tiesha Starkes, Barbi Leonard, Cindy Weeks, Sonia Díaz, Debbie Saari, and Patti Roth, all in their mid-twenties, were invited, and they balanced the ratio of men to women.

  Carlene gripped Lance’s arm and strode toward me as Ross and I strolled down the marble hall on a Persian carpet runner woven in vibrant blue hues. We entered the magnificent ballroom together as live performers at the other end of the basketball-court sized room filled the loudspeakers singing “Beyond the Sea,” an oldie by Bobby Darin.

  Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the ocean view, and a polished white-marble floor reflected sparkling crystal chandeliers hanging over what wa
s now party central.

  “Have you recovered from your brief trip inside the anaconda?” I asked Carlene.

  “My cracked ribs are still sore, but the bruises are gone,” Carlene said, smoothing her snug, low-cut, rose satin gown. “The doc said I’ll be back to ropin’ cowboys in a few weeks.”

  I laughed. “Looks like you already roped one.” I shifted my gaze to Lance. “I’m glad you both made it back safely from the mesa.”

  Lance, wearing a custom-fitted tux, nodded at Ross. “We survived thanks to your boyfriend and his team. After you left, Sweetwater’s mercenaries flew in and attacked the Chinese dissidents.”

  I nudged Ross, who always looked sexy in his dress uniform. “You never told me about that.”

  He shrugged. “We waited while they fought each other and then finished them off.”

  I sighed. “I don’t think Sweetwater will ever stop trying to kill me.”

  Duncan and Mom walked up just as I’d made the comment about my arch enemy. Duncan wore a formal kilt ensemble, and Mom sported a dazzling gown in champagne silk.

  “We got so caught up in the party preparations we forgot to tell you about what happened to Lord Sweetwater last night,” Mom said.

  “What did he do now?”

  She turned to Duncan. “Tell her, dear.”

  “Sweetwater was flying alone in his helicopter when he met with an unfortunate accident,” Duncan said in his upper-crust Scottish baritone. “He crashed into the North Sea and is presumed drowned.”

  “I won’t believe he’s dead until they find his short, chubby cadaver.” I leaned into Ross. “Remember when he vanished into the water in that underground submarine port and escaped through a secret tunnel? How do we know he didn’t stage his death again?”

  “We’ll know soon enough.” Ross tightened his arm around me. “MI6 won’t be fooled twice.”

  Mom said, “We have a nice surprise for you. We were able to book your favorite performers from the Islander Grill, Angela Buzzeo and Mario Rodriguez, for tonight’s festivities.”

  “They were a big hit at Mar-a-Lago last night,” Duncan said.

  I grinned. “Thank you! They’re a big hit everywhere they perform. Seems like they know about a thousand songs.”

  Mario began singing “Only the Good Die Young” by Billy Joel.

  Mike and Matt strolled up with Barbi and Cindy at their sides, all of them smiling.

  “The four of you with your blond hair, blue eyes, and awesome good looks should be models for a Scandinavian tourist poster.” I raised my glass to them.

  My brothers looked handsome in their Navy dress uniforms, Barbi wore a sexy black formal with black stilettos, and Cindy shimmered in an ice-blue gown and silver spikes.

  “Mike’s taking me scuba diving tomorrow on that reef three miles out from The Breakers in Palm Beach,” Barbi said, beaming.

  “Great! I’m pretty sure there aren’t any krakens out there.” I laughed. “Have fun.”

  “Krakens?” Barbi asked.

  “An inside joke.” Mike raised a brow. “Not funny, Sam.”

  Cindy broke in, “Matt’s taking me horseback riding.”

  “Better watch out for anacondas,” Barbi said and winked at Mike.

  “Now that’s funny,” Mike said when Matt and Cindy looked confused.

  Angela and Mario must’ve noticed all the Navy uniforms because their next song was Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” from the movie Top Gun.

  Changing the subject, I asked Cindy, “Did Matt tell you his fighter-pilot call sign is Rodeo?”

  She looked up at him. “How’d you get that name?”

  “I used to compete in rodeos—mostly in Texas, riding wild broncos.” Matt nodded at me. “Sam was a barrel racer, and Mike was a bull rider.”

  “So, what you’re saying is, crazy runs in the family.” Cindy laughed.

  “Yep, that about covers it.” Matt winked at Mom. “Our mother has her moments too, especially when she’s in Scotland.”

  Banger, decked out in a perfectly fitted tuxedo, sauntered up with Tiesha on his arm. “Isn’t my queen looking lovely this evening?”

  I admired her sleek, pearl satin gown with matching stilettos. “She certainly is, even without her emerald crown. Thanks again for saving us from that giant anaconda, Tiesha.”

  “It was worth it to meet my king.” Tiesha gave Banger a soft kiss. “I just hope his family likes me. We’re going up to Alabama tomorrow.”

  “They always worry women are only after me for the family fortune.” He squeezed her. “But I know they’ll see that her feelings are real.”

  “Especially since her rare emerald crown just sold for thirty million dollars at the Christie’s auction in New York.” I gave her a high five.

  His jaw dropped. “Wow…I hope I’m not too poor for you. My share of the family trust is only worth about ten million.”

  She squeezed his muscular arm. “You’re worth the world to me, darling.”

  I glanced around the spacious ballroom, staged with a few large round tables along the sides covered in white linen and flanked by blue-damask dining chairs.

  Derek and Lisa were alone in a dark corner, rekindling their relationship over a bottle of fine wine.

  SEAL George Bern strode in with a gorgeous redhead on his arm. “Hello, Sam, Ross. I’d like you to meet my wife, Dolores.”

  Ross smiled and kissed her hand.

  “Thank you for coming, Dolores,” I said. “I appreciate everything your husband has done for me in some scary situations.”

  “That’s George. He thrives in times like that,” she said, obviously proud of her man.

  Scorpion pilot Fred Lichten glided around the dance floor with his wife, an exotic brunette beauty, and Scorpion pilot Jane Hoebich danced with a handsome SEAL she’d met while the platoon from Virginia had been assigned to Leviathan.

  Debbie, a stunning new flight attendant with long brown hair and big brown eyes, eased up beside me wearing a simmering red-satin gown with a plunging neckline and matching red stilettos. “Hey, Sam, how about introducing me to the Nordic god? Is he single?”

  “Uh, there are a lot of guys here who fit the “Nordic god” description.” I glanced from Jeff to Max to Kip to my brothers. “Which one are you interested in?”

  “The one in the James Bond tux.”

  Jeff and Kip were the only Norsemen wearing tuxedoes, and Kip seemed entranced by marine engineer Vicky Edwards, who wore a sleek aquamarine silk gown with cut-outs in the short sleeves, matching aqua stilettos, and her kraken pendant.

  I raised my brow. “Are you referring to that guy?” I gestured in Jeff’s direction.

  Debbie nodded.

  “I realize you’re new to our airline, but I’m surprised you didn’t recognize our chief pilot. That’s Captain Jeff Rowlin.”

  “I finished new-hire class right before your flight vanished in South America. He’s been busy dealing with that and then moving all our jets to Indianapolis and back. I never got a chance to meet him.” Debbie elbowed me. “So, is he single?”

  I hooked my arm in hers. “Yep, come on, I’ll introduce you.”

  After introducing Debbie to Jeff, I slipped away and greeted Max. “I’m glad you and some of your crew were able to come. I wasn’t sure you’d ever get a break from your ship.”

  “Leviathan is docked in Norfolk where her battle wounds are being repaired. That freed us up for some R and R,” Max said. “This is my lovely wife and better half, Jill.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jill. I hope your husband will get a less stressful mission next time.” I smiled and raised my glass to them.

  “Thank you for helping him,” she said. “I don’t know the details, but I know your help was crucial to his mission, so thank you.”

  “It was my honor,” I said, “and God knows he helped me too.”

  Max said, “I can pretty much write my own ticket now that we’ve saved the world, averted World War Three, and recovered en
ough gold to all but eliminate the national debt. I hear Naples has a nice, relaxing Navy base, and Italy has delicious food.”

  Lance, who had slipped in beside me, laughed. “It sure wasn’t relaxing when Jeff and I were there last fall.”

  “Didn’t that have something to do with Sam?” Max asked.

  “Doesn’t it always?” Lance joked.

  “Not funny.” I punched his rock-hard abs.

  “Italy, huh? Does that mean you’re done with Atlantis?” Lance asked.

  “No reason to go back there. We accomplished everything we were ordered to do.” Max glanced at me. “Of course, the eggheads in Washington could keep Sam busy for years translating the scientific data stored in the Atlantean vaults.”

  “Or I could create a modern-day Rosetta Stone and let the techno-geeks translate all those ancient scrolls themselves. I have better things to do.” I took a sip of Opus One.

  Lance grinned. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe sitting alone every day with a bunch of old documents might be just the thing to keep you out of trouble.”

  “I could develop a mold allergy. Better to get back in the cockpit where I belong.”

  As if on cue, Ross moved in behind me, placing his hands on my waist. “Better to be back in my arms where you belong.”

  I spun around and whispered into his ear, “Always.”

  The high-pitched clinks of a silver knife tapping a crystal glass reverberated across the ballroom.

  Duncan’s voice filled the speakers. “Everyone, gather ’round. We have an announcement.”

  Ross and I joined all the partygoers in a semicircle in front of my mother and Duncan.

  “I am pleased to announce my engagement to the most wonderful woman in the world.” Duncan kissed Mom’s left hand, which now sported a dazzling diamond ring. “She has agreed to become Lady Loren MacLeod on August 15th of this year.”

  Mom held out her left hand to show off her ring. “The wedding will be at MacLeod Castle, and you’re all invited.”

  Mike raised his glass. “A toast to the happy couple.”

  Everyone raised their glasses and cheered.