by Scott Cook
Everyone was paying close attention now, even me. Her strong yet soft voice mixed with her melodic Middle Eastern accent was very engaging.
“This shelf,” She continued, “Is not part of Florida’s karst structure. In fact, it is more closely related to the sub-karst plate upon which the limestone rests. This is one thing that makes the Middle Grounds such a good fishing spot. There are many underwater granite formations that somewhat resemble a coral reef in physical structure. This provides a large and complex ecosystem for an entire food chain.”
“What’s this got to do with the wrecks?” Brody asked.
I shot him a look. Yet he didn’t seem impatient, only curious.
“At Scott’s indicated target point,” Ariel continued, “There are a series of stress fractures in the bottom topography. As you can see on this map, the detail is quite spartan, yet this area has enough information to support Scott’s calculations. There are a series of shallow canyons or defiles that run east and west in this area.”
“That’s what Schumer claimed,” Hank cut in, “that when Bausch bottomed the U-boat, he did it in one of these canyons. A side current or something pushed the ass end of the ship into the wall. Probably did as much damage as our fish.”
“Then both ships surfaced,” I added, “And maybe went another couple of miles to the east… but they should be in this general vicinity.”
“My own separate calculations support this,” Imani put in, “I took Scott’s coordinates and did an independent track, using a modern bathymetry study available to me. This study is far more in depth… no pun intended.”
That got another polite chuckle. Not from Audrey of course. Can’t expect miracles every day.
Imani retrieved another large print out from behind her. She unrolled it and I helped her hold it down with silverware.
“Now,” She said, pointing at what was obviously a much newer and much more precise bathymetry map, “You can clearly see the canyon formations, which somewhat resembles a human hand in structure. If we look at what might be the middle finger, we can see that several shallower crevices feed in, several of which lie between rock formations that rise as much as fifteen feet off the bottom. Based on these structures and the prevailing currents in the area, there should be a more or less steady north-south Coriolis gyre along the bottom here. Perhaps as strong as three knots at times.”
“Funneled down into a ten foot deep canyon,” Brody offered, “That’d kick up even higher… enough force to shift a fifteen hundred ton submarine.”
“Precisely,” Ariel said, “I think we have found our submarine graveyard.”
“Or at least a general area to survey,” I added.
“We’re well set up for that,” Al-Rajid said, “With our side scanning sonar, our towed sonar and video camera and the submersible, we can search quite a wide area in a short time.”
“How soon could we begin?” Hank asked with a gleam in his blue eyes.
“We’re all set to shove off any time,” McClay said, “Fuel, supplies and such all topped off. It’s around four now… a two hundred mile trip… we could be on station at first light without a problem. I’ve been keeping an eye on the weather and it looks good for a while, although there is supposed to be a cold front coming down in two days or so. Right now, seas are running about two to three feet out there. But with cold air and increased winds… we could be looking at eight to ten in a couple days. Nothing we can’t handle, of course but uncomfortable for diving.”
“Excellent!” Al-Rajid said, leaning back and clapping his hands together. He smiled broadly at the table in general, “Thanks to a bizarre set of circumstances, we can now see the finish line! I think that Mr. Jarvis and Miss Tariffa deserve our thanks and compliments on a fine piece of analysis.”
“Well,” I said, raising a hand, “We haven’t found anything yet, Jibreel. Even a slight error in calculation could put us fifty miles from the ships.”
Brody rubbed his chin thoughtfully, “That’s true… but I’ve got a good feeling about this. And maybe if the Master Chief here will regale those of us who haven’t heard his story tonight, I could triple check the results myself. But my gut tells me you two are on the money. I can feel it.”
“And his instincts for this kind of thing are legendary,” Al-Rajid confirmed, “Now, I think we should get underway. And I think that a celebratory dinner this evening at sea in honor of our two young geniuses wouldn’t raise an objection? No? I thought not!”
“They like us, Imani,” I said, putting an arm around her slim waist and not giving a damn who noticed, “They really, really like us!”
Everybody laughed. Well, everybody except Audrey who only glared. She didn’t really like us.
Chapter 29
The Robert Ballard was even more impressive at sea. Once we’d passed out into the Gulf through Sarasota pass, McClay set a course of two-nine-five degrees and throttled both aqua-jet drives up to a modest fifteen knots. There was only a mild one foot swell running, so the vessel cruised like it was on a lake.
“I can deploy stabilizers fore and aft,” McClay said, “and a paravein on either beam. Even in six or seven foot seas you’d barely notice anything.”
“I’m in love,” I said from my place in the soft leather co-pilot’s chair, “Where can I get me one of these?”
The Irishman grinned at me. It was still a bit odd to me to know that his perfect American accent, one that sounded like it could be middle Atlantic or even southern New England, was a complete put on. That his real voice was that of a rakish London publican. I returned the grin and I think he knew what I was thinking because he tipped me a wink and then turned back to his console.
“Well, we’re on our way now,” McClay said as he activated the autopilot, “Feels like it might be time for a brew.”
“You Mick’s are all the same,” I ribbed, “All you can ever think about is drinking.”
McClay scoffed, “Says the Irish boy holding a Landshark.”
“Well,” I said, sipping my beer, “I’m half Italian, don’t forget. It’s all booze and pasketti… and broads.”
McClay roared with laughter, “Be a good lad and wrangle me up one of them, would ya?”
“I shall not tolerate this abuse, Mr. Bly!” I shouted and headed aft.
After handing the captain his bottle, I went down to the main deck and forward to the capacious foredeck. There were several chairs here as well as what seemed like an acre of sun pads. I went all the way forward and leaned against the railing just behind the anchor windlass. The sun was low on the horizon now, maybe half an hour from disappearing below the rim of the world. There were no clouds except a few fluffy nimbus overhead turning a cotton candy pink in the reddening evening light.
“I’m surprised to find you here alone.”
I turned away from the view just off the port bow and saw Audrey Lambert approaching, her hands tucked into the pockets of a light wind breaker. She stood a few paces back and half studied me and half studied the soon to set sun. There was no pleasure in her voice.
“Does it matter?” I asked.
“Not to me,” She said. Her voice seemed to foreshadow the oncoming night’s chill perfectly.
“Maybe we’d better clear the air right now, Audrey,” I said, leaning against the railing, “Because for reason’s I can’t fathom, it seems in need of a damned strong clearing.”
She scoffed, “Do you mean how you betrayed me? Or how you went and fucked another woman behind my back?”
I felt heat rising into my face. I did my best to keep my voice level, however. I had a niggling suspicion she was intentionally bating me, “you think one night grants you ownership? If you recall, you’re the one that chased me off last night.”
“So you don’t deny it,” She snapped.
“Why should I?” I asked, “You made it quite clear how you felt about me, about us and about this case. I’m little better than pond scum in your estimation. At least that’s how it sounded.�
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She only shrugged.
“Uh-huh.”
“Uh-huh,” She mocked, “you think you’re really something, don’t’ you, Jarvis? Well, don’t’ flatter yourself.”
I sighed, “What the hell is this, Audrey? What happened to that woman who came to my bed the other night and gently but firmly nudged me out of my self-imposed celibacy? The woman who seemed to think I was a good choice to help her? What have I done to incur this level of… hatred… from you.”
She locked eyes with me and they were on fire with fury, “I hired you to prevent this! Yet instead, you’re literally leading our enemies by the nose to the very thing my granddad and I are looking for! We asked you to keep them away and you’re practically handing them Ariovistus on a silver platter! And I can easily see why, too. It’s that sand nigger whore who let you get under her skirt. You had the balls to take my grandfather’s money and yet now I know what it really takes to buy you!”
During this exchange, she had stepped closer. She reared back and swung a vicious slap. I saw it coming. Hell, I’d seen it coming since the previous evening, frankly.
I caught her wrist in my left hand and checked the swing that probably would’ve left a clear hand print and a few deep scratches on my face. I pressed her wrist toward her chest and shoved her back, just hard enough to create a little distance between us.
I don’t think she expected me to be so prepared. She half stumbled three steps backward and grimaced, her face a mask of intense rage.
“Jesus Christ…” I breathed, “What the hell’s the matter with you?”
“Fuck you,” she said in a low shaking tone, “You… bastard!”
“You know something,” I said, my own anger rising now, “you’re a goddamned lunatic. You make me very sorry for what happened the other night. How dare you attack my character and integrity? I’m doing exactly what I was asked to do in the best way possible. You don’t like how I work? Then you should’ve hired somebody else. So why don’t you, Miss Lambert, go fuck yourself.”
I turned my back on her.
“you son of a—“ Her enraged screech was cut short by a loud cracking sound, stumbling steps and then something thumping against the railing not far from me.
I spun around to see Ariel standing splay-legged with her fists balled on her hips. Her hazel eyes were alight with animal fury, her hair wild in the evening wind and she was staring down at Audrey, who was crumpled on her haunches on the starboard side of the deck. The blonde held a hand to her cheek and her glacier blue eyes were wide with shock.
“Sand nigger?” Ariel asked in a low deadly voice, “You are a sick, twisted and deranged bitch, Lambert.”
“And you’re a whore, Imani,” Audrey said as she got to her feet.
She didn’t advance on the slightly smaller woman, though. That punch must have knocked most of the fight out of her.
“You may not think much of me,” Ariel said heatedly, “Or Jack or Mr. Al-Rajid. That’s fine, because we don’t think much of you either. It seems impossible to me that you could have come from the same family as that charming old man. But I will not tolerate you abusing this man! He has been nothing but helpful, respectful and careful. I haven’t known him long but I’ve known him long enough to see integrity when it’s right in front of my eyes. No one can buy him. Not with money or with pussy. Or is that why you’re so angry? Because you offered him what you thought was priceless and he wouldn’t agree to be your mindless servant?”
That one went home. Audrey’s face reddened with renewed rage, but she still didn’t attack. There was something in Ariel’s bearing that clearly signaled danger. I could sense it and I think Audrey, angry as she was, could also.
“To hell with both of you!” Audrey said with almost admirable hauteur. She straightened herself and strode aft. Just as she neared the portside door to the main deck’s interior, she turned and looked back at Ariel, “This isn’t over, bitch.”
“I look forward to the resolution,” Ariel said sweetly.
Once Audrey was gone, she turned to me and smiled sheepishly, “perhaps I owe you an apology?”
“For what?”
“For acting so… uncivilized. For presuming to defend you. Perhaps that was emasculating?”
I chuckled, “Oh no, thanks. Thanks for saving me from the big bad lady.”
Ariel smiled and came to stand next to me. She took my hand, “Still… I’m sorry for that display.”
“She started it,” I reassured her, “and I’m not such a misogynist that I’m going to feel like less of a man because a woman stuck up for me. On the contrary, I appreciate the sentiment. Besides… I can’t deck her, but I can live vicariously through you.”
She looked up at me and her smile grew even more brilliant. Her light brown skin was turned to a dusky gold in the setting sunlight, “I don’t think anything could make you less of a man in my eyes. In fact… I’m quite convinced of your manliness. Perhaps I can make you feel more so? After we dine?”
I grinned at her, “You already do.”
“I’m being too forward again,” She said without much conviction.
I sighed and wrapped an arm around her, drawing her close up against my side, “No, pretty lady. Not at all. I don’t think I have what it would take to resist you… no, it’s just that her behavior is… disturbing. She’s so enraged… I don’t’ know, it’s just more than a little odd.”
“Hell hath no fury,” Ariel quoted.
I chuffed, “yeah… but she’s the one doing the scorning. Well, whatever, I’m not going to let it ruin this evening. A beautiful sunset with a beautiful woman at sea. What could be better?”
Her cries of passion and pleasure rose to a fever pitch as another orgasm rocked her. I held tight to her hips as an explosion of warmth washed over my groin and thighs. Her intense reaction triggered my own and as she spasmed and clenched I roared in a final release with her.
We collapsed forward onto the bed the sweat from my chest mingling with the sheen on her well-muscled back. Our heavy panting rising and falling in tune with each other. I rested some of my weight on my forearms so as not to crush her.
“No…” She gasped, “Push me down…”
For several minutes, her body periodically spasmed in spontaneous orgasm, her pelvic muscles clamping down on me as we were still connected.
“Oh… you fucking animal…” Ariel said with a giggle, “What have you done to me!”
“Are you all right?” I asked.
She laughed, “Very much so, you beautiful man…”
“I guess you found something better than a sunset,” I joked and rolled off her, rolling us both onto our sides and holding her close to my chest, “I think I’m seeing double…”
“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like that…” She breathed.
“Like what, exactly?” I asked.
She rolled over and kissed me gently. She seemed suddenly shy. It was an endearing trait after her wild and sweary abandon, “Uhm… well, for one thing, my last… you know… last orgasm. But afterward, it was like you turned on a switch. They just kept coming, although a little less intense each time.”
I laughed, “What happened to the foul mouthed wildcat of a few moments before?”
She giggled again, “I can’t help myself… but now that we’re shall I say, back to normal… well, I do fancy myself something of a lady.”
We fell silent for a long moment. Finally, Ariel leaned up on one elbow and began absently stroking my chest, “Perhaps I should ask if you are all right?”
I grinned at her, “Hard to say. I’m not sure if you just took years off or added years to my life!”
She smiled, “Added, I assure you. No… I mean all of this… me, Audrey Lambert… I know much about you, Scott. I know about… well, about your recent loss.”
I sighed, “I guess I owe Audrey something on that account. Grudging though it may be.”
Ariel’s hazel eyes studied mine. They w
ere very pretty and they held a great deal of understanding, “You haven’t been with a woman since Lisa left. Audrey… she forced the issue a bit, as it were?”
“You’re perceptive,” I said.
She half shrugged, “I’ve overheard bits and pieces. And a woman can guess. Yet she turned out to be…”
“Yes,” I said, “Very shocking.”
“And me?” Ariel asked, “How do you feel about me? I’m not asking about any romantic feelings, not yet. I mean how does our making love make you feel? Are you upset by it?”
I smiled at her, “It’d be pretty hard to be upset by it, Ariel.”
She grinned, “So you aren’t worried that I’ll turn on you? You still trust me?”
“Where is this going?” I asked, “Is there some reason for these questions? I’ve already decided I trust you. I’ve even sworn to stand by you if push comes to shove.”
She stroked my face, “I suppose I’m reassuring myself. I’ve also learned something that you should know.”
I perked up at this. I suddenly remembered that I was in bed with an Israeli intelligence agent and not just an exotic beauty with an admirable ability to abandon herself. I waited.
“I’ve been in contact with my people,” She said.
“How?” I asked, “Isn’t that extremely dangerous? There could and very well might be listening devices all over this ship.”
She smiled, “There are in fact. At the very least, the intercom system. However, I employ a variety of electronic counter-measures here in my cabin and in my labs. We’re safe to talk here now. And I have a special satellite phone that allows for encrypted data transmission.”
“Christ…” I muttered, “And here I thought I was James Bond.”
She kissed me, “He’s not nearly as handsome. At any rate, we’ve learned something about Audrey Lambert.”
“Oh?”
“She’s no longer with the CIA. She was terminated almost three months ago.”