Phantom Prospect. Alex Archer

always did like his gray wet suit.”

      Cole shrugged. “It could have been a case of mistaken identity, I suppose.” His voice trailed off.

      “But you don’t think so,” Annja said.

      Cole shook his head. “I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel like it. I could be completely wrong, of course. I’ve been wrong before. But a shark that big as what showed up on sonar, well, I don’t know.”

      “A rogue shark hunting these waters would be unbelievable unusual,” Hunter said. “Like I said, it’s not like there’s a lot of people up here to sustain it.”

      Cole nodded. “I know. I know.” He sighed. “Well, I suppose we’ll see when we get out there, won’t we?”

      Annja felt the bump in the road as Hunter directed the van down on to the town dock. Small fishing charter boats bobbed in subtle tidal surge. The waters looked a deeper blue than the blue green of warmer climates.

      Annja cast her glance farther out beyond the harbor. The sea stretched before them: mighty, massive, and unknown.

      Just like the thing that killed Jock.

      5

      They boarded a smaller dinghy and sped out toward the main salvage ship, which from a distance looked nothing like it was equipped for any type of recovery operation. Annja pointed at it as they approached. “That doesn’t much look like a salvage ship, Hunter.”

      “That’s the point.” Hunter smiled. “We’ve learned some hard lessons since we got started a number of years ago. The number one lesson is to not let your competition know what you’re up to.”

      “There’s a lot?”

      “Of rival treasure hunters? Oh yeah.” Surf spray washed over them all and Hunter wiped his face. “It’s mostly minor league stuff. No one’s taking out contracts on another company or anything. But if people know what you’re planning to do, they can get a head start on jumping the claim ahead of you.”

      Annja could see some activity on the deck. “Can’t you just claim the site as belonging to you?”

      “Not really. You have to jump through loopholes with the nation whose territorial waters you’re in. Then there’s the question of who might own the contents, and all that stuff. If enough time has passed, it’s not really an issue, but there are plenty of ways to get hung up in paperwork.”

      “Which is why we have lawyers,” Cole said.

      Hunter nodded. “Amen to the lawyers. At least this time.”

      Annja grinned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

      “It means his ex-wife ran him through the cleaners,” Cole said. “And she was merciless.”

      Hunter shook his head. “I won’t ever make that kind of mistake again. Mark my words.”

      Hunter eased the throttle down on the dinghy motor and the little boat bobbed on the waves, closing the final distance down between them and the salvage ship. Annja noted that it was about a hundred feet long and had more of the appearance of a luxury yacht than anything else.

      A ladder came over the side and Cole motioned for Annja to lead the way. She found the grips and went right up, finally stepping aboard the ship. Cole came up behind her, followed by Tom, and then at last Hunter stepped aboard.

      “We would have come up from the stern, but I think we might have some work going on right now so I wanted to leave it clear. If people are in the water and that shark comes back, I want them able to exit quickly.”

      Annja nodded. “Fair plan.”

      Hunter spread his arms. “Allow me to welcome you to The Seeker. As grand a ship as there ever was what sailed the seas.”

      “Got a parrot to go along with that accent?” Cole asked. “You never could resist the urge to showboat.”

      Hunter stepped back. “I am slain by your tainted barbs, dear brother.”

      “I’ll bet.”

      Hunter winked at Annja. “Right, well, let’s get you settled down below and then see if we can make some sense out of this whole situation.”

      They entered the cabin and Hunter led them down a flight of steep stairs to the sleeping quarters. He turned as he walked. “We’re a little short of space, but I managed to find some room. I hope the accommodations are acceptable.”

      He opened a wooden door and Annja saw that the cabin was more luxurious than she’d expected. A double bed stood near the porthole and a small bureau would hold her gear, the little she’d brought with her. There was a small television as well. She glanced at Hunter. “Very comfortable.”

      Cole rolled his eyes. “This is probably the only worthwhile investment he’s ever made.”

      Hunter sighed. “Are we going to get into this all over again? I’d rather focus on the actual reason you’re here, rather than how to make me feel like crap for some of my past decisions.”

      “All right, all right.” Cole held up his hands. “Show me where I’m staying and then we’ll get to work.”

      Hunter looked uncomfortable. “Uh…”

      “What?”

      Hunter leaned against the doorjamb. “Well, it’s just that, when I called and you mentioned you were bringing Annja along…I just sort of assumed that it was because you two were…you know…”

      “Together?” Annja asked.

      “Yeah.”

      Cole sighed. “I don’t get my own room?”

      “I don’t have any to spare. Your pal Tom is being stuffed into an old storage closet that we managed to fit a mattress into, but even that’s a stretch. And not in a good way.”

      Cole took a deep breath and looked at Annja. “I apologize for this. If you want to leave, I don’t blame you in the slightest.”

      Annja smirked. “Do I look like some little innocent miss you’ve got to save from the perils of man? I’ve been in awkward situations before. I’ll manage with this one.” She looked at Hunter. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.”

      “You sure?”

      “Yeah. Let’s not lose sight of why we’re here. If I can help out somehow, then that’s all that matters.”

      Cole shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

      He started forward, but Annja lobbed her bag onto the bed first. “I sleep on that side. You get the porthole.”

      Cole looked at the bed and then back at Annja. “I don’t do well on the porthole side.”

      “Why not?”

      “I don’t know. I just never have.”

      Hunter chuckled. “That’s true. One of the first boats our dad bought, Cole there slept funny and woke up heaving halfway through the night. He blew chunks all over dad’s teakwood finish. Hoo boy, the old man was furious about that one.”

      “Thanks for bringing that up,” Cole said.

      “Anytime.”

      Annja sighed. “All right, take the door side. But if any trouble comes through that door, I’ll expect you to be up and defending the room. If you can’t do that, I’ll take over. Just hold them off long enough for me to wake up.”

      Hunter and Cole looked at her.

      “What?” Annja asked.

      “That sort of thing happen to you before?” Hunter asked.

      “You’d be surprised,” Annja said. “A lot of things have come through my