by David Wood
“There are underwater tunnels and caverns everywhere down there,” Bones said. “It’s like Swiss cheese. Seismic activity isn’t that unusual.”
Maddock cocked his head. “How did you know that?”
“I know stuff.”
Rae climbed out of the water dripping from head to toe. Her sodden cutoffs had slid partway down her hips. Maddock caught a glimpse of string bikini, then forced himself to look away before she caught him ogling her.
“Tell me you guys hooked up,” Bones said quietly. “I won’t believe you but I still want to hear it.”
“I don’t have a towel so you’ll have to do.” Rae wrapped her arms around Maddock and squeezed him tight, soaking the front of his shirt.
“It’s worth it,” Maddock said, giving her a quick hug before he turned his attention to Kyle. “You said you set a world record?”
“That’s right. Free immersion, ninety-seven meters.” He nodded vigorously, his wet brown curls slapping his forehead.
“Didn’t the Aussie just make it to ninety-nine?” Bones asked.
“I broke the women’s world record,” Kyle said.
Rae covered her mouth to stifle her laugh. Pity welled in her eyes.
“I’m not saying I’m a world record holder. Just that I broke a world record.”
Maddock forced a smile. “That’s a good way of looking at it.”
A commotion out in the middle of the blue hole drew their attention. People were shouting. Contestants and support staff were abandoning the platform and swimming for shore for all they were worth.
“Everyone get out of the water!” Val shouted through her megaphone.
“What the hell is going on?” Bones asked.
The surface of the blue hole roiled as bubbles surged up from somewhere in the depths.
“There must have been a collapse, just like you said.”
Only Val remained on the platform. She moved to the edge, looked down in the water, and let out a scream. Moments later something struck the platform from down below with such force that Val was sent flying through the air. The platform flipped, instruments and equipment flew in every direction. Val landed flat on her back in the middle of the blue hole. She surfaced a few seconds later but submerged again.
Maddock and Bones were already in the water, swimming to her aid. They were halfway there before anyone else realized what had happened.
Val’s head bobbed above the surface again. Her lips moved, but she made no sound. She seemed to be struggling for breath. They were halfway there when her eyes went wide and she was yanked beneath the surface so suddenly and with such force that Maddock wondered for a moment if she’d ever been there.
Maddock dove and plunged deep beneath the surface. Far below, he saw a dark shape, inky black against the shadowy depths of the blue hole. It moved impossibly fast, seeming to grow smaller by the second. And then it was gone.
A few others caught up to them and they made a quick search, but they didn’t find Val. Maddock had known their efforts would be fruitless. Whatever had smashed into the platform had carried her away. He was certain of it.
“I hate to say it, but we’re not going to find her,” he said to the others. “I think we should get back to shore before that thing comes back.”
“What do you think it was?” Koharu, the diver from Japan, asked.
“I didn’t get a good look at it,” Maddock admitted.
“Maybe it was the Lusca,” Bones said as they all began to swim back to shore. “It’s a cryptid. A local legend.”
“I know. The guy at the pirate museum told us about it. It’s a giant octopus with the head of a shark.”
“You mean, like the amulet?”
“I think so.”
Rae was waiting on shore with Kyle, tears streaming down her face.
“You didn’t find her?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
She fell into Maddock’s arms and sobbed against his chest. Maddock squeezed her tight and stared out at the blue hole. The water was calm again, it surface strewn with remnants of the shattered platform. He had no idea what to make of the attack.
Silence descended upon the assembled participants. Everyone seemed to be in shock. Finally, the remaining organizers took charge. One of their number left to contact the authorities while the others made sure no one was injured. Finally, they announced that the competition would be suspended until further notice.
“Suspended? This thing is over,” Bones said quietly. He stopped suddenly. “Holy crap.”
“What is it?”
“The paper I was going to show you. It’s a copy of a newspaper clipping from the disappearance I was telling you about. It was in my pocket.” He extracted the sheet and carefully unfolded it. It was wet, but the ink had not smeared. “The thing is,” Bones continued, “the girl in this picture doesn’t just look like Thel. It could be her identical twin.”
Maddock took the sheet from him and stared at the picture. The young woman was every bit as beautiful as Bones had said. But there was something familiar about her. And then he remembered. He stopped in his tracks.
“I’ve seen this girl before.”
“You have? Where?”
Maddock turned and pointed into the blue hole.
“Down there.”
19
Echard checked his watch. It was almost one o’clock. The dive competition ought to be well underway by now, which meant he should have more than enough time to search Alexei’s motel room. He’d watched the place for an hour and there had been no sign of the Russian. The coast ought to be clear.
He left the coffee shop, crossed the street, and made his way to the door. It was a cheap-looking place, a one story cinder block building, much like any roadside motel in America. But the paint was fresh, the building in good repair, and the landscaping inviting. Not a bad place for someone living on a budget. He rapped sharply on the door.
“Housekeeping!”
He waited, but no sound came from inside. There was no telltale rumble of the air conditioning unit, a must in this climate. After one more knock just to be sure, he picked the lock and entered.
There wasn’t much to see. Alexei kept the place neat and clean. No dirty clothes lying about, not even a stray coffee mug or food wrapper.
He made a quick search of the room and came away with nothing. That couldn’t be right. Everywhere Echard went, the museum, the library, even the local storytellers, Alexei had been there, too. They had to be on the same trail. What was more, the man had already become friendly with Maddock and Bonebrake.
“School teacher, my ass,” Echard murmured. “Who are you, really?”
He supposed it was possible that Alexei was merely an amateur archaeologist, or maybe a cryptid hunter, but instinct told him otherwise. There was something here. He just needed to find it.
He moved to one corner of the room, closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them again, tried to see the room with fresh eyes. What stood out?
And then he spotted it.
Specks of dust lay on the center of the bedspread. He moved closer and saw it was plaster. His eyes drifted up to the air conditioning vent that hung directly above the center of the bed. He smiled.
“Gotcha!”
He climbed up onto the bed and quickly unscrewed the vent. It came free easily. Echard peered inside and saw a small bundle inside a Ziploc bag. Smiling, he retrieved it, then replaced the vent.
Inside were a notebook, a folder containing copies of newspaper articles, and an old book of local legends. He riffled through the magazine articles and quickly set them aside. Nothing there he didn’t already know. Next was the book of legends. Scanning the table of contents, he again saw nothing that was new to him.
Echard decided to keep it anyway. Even if he had no use for it, taking it might hinder Alexei’s efforts. It would mean letting the Russian know that someone else was on the trail, but that could possibly be a good thing. Let him start looking over h
is shoulder and see how he liked it. Also, the book might make a good bargaining chip if need be.
The notebook was written in Russian. Echard was just closing it when he heard the sound of a key in the lock. He hastily clicked off the bedside lamp, then drew his knife. Maybe it was housekeeping, but there’d been no warning knock. It had to be Alexei home early.
The door opened slowly. Too slowly. And then he saw the reason. Alexei’s right calf was heavily bandaged and he was limping badly. In the semi darkness, he didn’t notice Echard hunched down on the other side of the bed, only a few feet away. When he turned to lock the door behind him, Echard sprang.
He wasn’t fast enough. Alexei caught a glimpse of him, and despite his injured leg, he dodged to the side. Echard’s stab, which had been aimed for the Russian’s kidney, sliced him across the stomach instead.
Alexei was unfazed. He lashed out with a right cross that rattled Echard’s fillings as it caught him on the jaw. He staggered, and Alexei followed with a roundhouse kick aimed for the head. But his defensive reflex proved to be his undoing. The kick transferred his full weight to his injured right leg, and he fell heavily to the floor. He hit his head hard and his eyes went glassy.
Echard pounced, mounting Alexei’s chest and pressing his knife to the Russian’s throat. Alexei looked at him through misted eyes. His fingers twitched, as if he wanted to go for Echard’s throat. But he thought the better of it and relaxed.
“Wise decision. Now, tell me who you work for.”
“Boca Ciega College,” he said in a hoarse voice.
“Killing you would be inconvenient, but not that big of a deal. I know who to bribe around here.” Echard made the words as icy as he could manage. “So don’t piss up my leg.”
“I do not know this American idiom, but I think I understand. I work for myself on this.”
“So you’re a professor by day and an archaeologist while on vacation? What are you? The Russian Indiana Jones?”
Alexei actually smiled. “That is what my girlfriend calls me. I think I am more handsome.”
“You’re working for the Russian government. Admit it.”
“I would never give the Water of Life to any man.” Alexei sounded scandalized. “Think of all the evil that could be done. What if Hitler had it, or Stalin?”
“Or the Clintons,” Echard added.
Alexei frowned but then made a tiny nod. “That would be bad, too.”
“Tell me what you know. And make it fast. My hand could slip at any moment.”
“I believe the Water of Life is somewhere in the islands but I do not know where it is. No clue.”
“You’re lying.”
“Everyone I talk to tells me the same things I find in old newspaper clippings. Some say it is legend, others say monster guards it, still others say a pirate guards it. But no one knows how to find it.”
“What happened to your leg?”
“Sand shark bite. I was dangling my legs into the water like a fool.” Alexei winced. “Please. We can work together. No reason to compete. I only want the satisfaction of finding it.”
“You expect me to believe that if you find the Fountain of Youth, you’ll just walk away.”
“Not fountain. Water of Life.”
“Fine. Whatever you want to call it.” Echard considered the proposal. Could he trust Alexei? The man seemed sincere enough. “If you’re not in competition with anyone else, why all the cloak and dagger?” Seeing the Russian’s forehead crinkle, he went on. “I’m talking about secrets. Why did you hide your notes in the ceiling?” Instinctively, he glanced up at the vent.
Alexei chose that moment to fight. He grabbed Echard’s wrist in one hand and his throat with the other.
Echard was ready for it. He sliced the Russian’s jugular, then covered his mouth as his life’s blood flowed freely.
It was over quickly and soon the big Russian lay dead on the threadbare carpet.
Echard had to move fast. He washed his hands and cleaned his knife under the bathtub faucet, making sure to wash all the blood down the drain. Next, he gathered Alexei’s research, intending to take it all. And then he had an idea.
He placed the folder on the bedside table. Then he tore a single sheet of paper from the notebook. In block letters, he wrote MEET MADDOCK AND BONEBRAKE. Grinning, he tucked the note inside the folder, right on top where the police would be sure to find it.
“Chew on that,” he said, as he left and closed the door behind him.
Whistling a cheery tune, he headed down the street. Things were beginning to look up. Now he just needed to get his hands on the ouroboros.
20
When Maddock and the others arrived at Alexei’s hotel room, a police car was parked outside, lights flashing. The door to one of the rooms stood open, the area in front of it cordoned off with crime scene tape. A uniformed officer stood guard, while another was conducting interviews.
“I’ve had enough of cops for one day,” Bones said. After the incident at Blue Descent, they’d been among the last to be questioned by the police.
“Whoa, dude! That’s Alexei’s room they’ve got taped off.” Kyle pressed a hand to his forehead. “You don’t think he’s... aw, dammit!”
Rae gave her brother a squeeze. “I’m sorry. I know you really liked him.”
“I’ll see if I can find out what happened.” Maddock approached the crime scene, where a few bystanders were milling about a short distance from the taped-off area.
“Found him with his throat cut,” a woman whispered to the man standing next to her.
“He’s a Russian. Probably something to do with the mob, or maybe the commies are making a comeback,” the fellow replied. “Maybe he’s got Cuban connections.”
Maddock’s heart sank. He’d been holding on to a scant hope that maybe it wasn’t a murder, or that if it was, Alexei wasn’t the victim.
“Excuse me,” he said quietly to the pair. “Can you tell me anything about what happened? I’m sort of a friend. I knew him from the dive competition.”
The pair, Henry and Cherie, conveyed their sympathies. They owned the motel, and said that Alexei had been an ideal tenant during his short stay.
“Always polite, didn’t make any noise, and most important, he paid in cash,” Henry said.
“How long was he here?”
“A little over a week,” Cherie said.
“The dive competition just started. I guess he was doing some sightseeing?”
Henry shook his head. “Research. Was asking about local legends, wanted to visit the old storytellers. He was a teacher of some sort so I guess he was writing a book.”
Maddock’s heart skipped a beat. “What was he studying? Any idea?”
“Sea monsters.” Henry threw back his head and laughed. “Can you believe that? A grown man believing in monsters.”
Maddock forced a smile. “He’s not the only one. My friend over there wants to marry Bigfoot.” He inclined his head toward Bones.
“That is one big Indian,” Cherie said.
“Put your eyeballs back in your head, woman,” Hank chided. “He’s too young for you.”
“I’m sixty, but I’m not dead yet. As you well know.” Cherie gave her husband a peck on the cheek.
“You know, he mentioned something about his research,” Maddock said, inventing on the fly. “There was somewhere he was going to go after Blue Descent ended, but I don’t recall where.”
“He talked about going to Cat Island,” Cherie said. “I tried to warn him against it.”
“Why is that?” Maddock asked.
Cherie simply shook her head and made the sign of the cross.
“My wife’s not religious, but she is superstitious. Cat Island has a dark history. I’ll say no more than that,” Hank added.
“I hate to ask, but can you tell me anything about the crime?”
“Oh, yes. You lost your friend and here we are acting the fool.” Cherie sighed. “He went out late last night. Hank saw h
im when he was taking out the garbage. We don’t know what time he returned, but housekeeping found him on the floor. His leg was bandaged, so something must have happened to him while he was out. Anyhow, he had been murdered.”
Hank dragged his index finger across his own throat.
“Any clues as to why he was killed?”
Hank pursed his lips. “Housekeeper found a folder with some of his monster research and there was a note about meeting somebody.”
“What was the name?” It had to be Echard.
“One of them was Bonebrake. I remember it because it was so unusual. The other was Murdock or Maddox, something like that.” Hank’s eyes flitted to Bones then back to Maddock and his brow furrowed. “I didn’t get your name.”
“I’m Abbot, that’s Winslow,” he said, providing aliases he and Bones had used in the past. “Thanks for your time.”
He made his way back to the others and told them what had happened.
“Alexei was researching sea monsters?” Rae said.
“Apparently.”
“So, how did our names get dragged into it?” Bones asked.
“I don’t know, but the police already have our names and contact information thanks to what happened at the dive contest. It’s not a good look for us to be in two places where people were killed on the same day.”
“Yeah, but there’s no point in running. They’ll just put out warrants for us and have us arrested when we get back home,” Bones said. “Might as well face the music.” His eyes lit up. “Hey, that’s Gomez, the officer who helped me today. The cryptid investigator.” He pointed to a skinny young man in uniform who had just finished taking a statement and was now headed in their direction.
Gomez stalked up to them, looking agitated.
“I assume you’re Maddock?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “You two come with me right now.”
He led them away from the crowd and out of sight of the hotel.
“So, you did plan to meet Alexei.”
“No,” Maddock said. “We came to check on him since he was a no-show at Blue Descent.”
“Blue Descent? You mean he was supposed to be part of the competition that turned into a disaster? That’s quite the coincidence.”
