by Matt Lincoln
I just about coughed at the sum. If I hadn't already liked the guy, I would have thought that he had more money than sense after seeing his offer. I didn’t want to offend, and I wasn’t about to turn down such a sizable amount, so I nodded at him. I reached over, took a pen from his bin, and initialed the slip of paper to show that I agreed to the payment. I handed the pen to Xavier next and let him do the same. Once that was done, Claude signed and dated it and stuck the paper into one of the upper desk drawers.
“Thank you very much, gentlemen.” He sighed again, and I could hear the mood of relief this time. “Declan’s remains are foremost my concern, but I would also like to have the inheritance items returned if you are able. They should be housed in common luggage, as that was our plan for transportation. And should you be able, I do wish to have the crew brought back up as well. I’m sure their families need that type of closure as much as I do.”
Claude then reached into another desk drawer and pulled forth a large, white folder full of papers. He placed it in front of him and opened it. “These are copies of everything I have relating to the voyage, the crew, the search, and well, all that I’ve found in my own search for Declan and the Hester. My lawyers advised me to keep the originals, but these copies are of the highest quality, I assure you.”
He closed it carefully, patted the folder once, and then handed it off to Xavier. He seemed to realize who was going to be doing most of the examination now. “There are maps, audio transcripts, dossiers, medical records, ship’s logs, inheritance rights forms, and, well, everything I could give you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Speirs.” Calling him Claude right now seemed awkward and disrespectful.
I stood up and reached out to shake his hand. He smiled at us, shook each of our hands courteously, and offered to show us out.
“That’s alright, sir,” I insisted. “We’ll contact you once we get set up to make the first exploratory run.”
I knew that it was going to take some studying of the maps and intelligence to get an informative read and feel for the data and mission.
Xavier and I were quiet until we got back to our vehicles, then I turned to ask him, “What do you think?”
“This is genuine,” he nodded. “I did a quick hunt online to verify this before I even contacted you. It all checks out.” Xavier looked over the house one last time before we left. “I’m good if you are.”
“Yeah, I’m sold on it,” I agreed. “He seems competent enough and willing to help, so yeah. I say, ‘full steam ahead.’” I opened my Mercedes door and started to climb in. “I’ll give you a few hours to look things over, and then I’ll have you and Rosa come over to my place to start making plans. Is that good with you?”
“Yes. See you soon.” Xavier disappeared inside of his vehicle, and soon we were both off and headed to our respective homes, him to his yacht housed at my marina, and me back to the condo. It was time to get the mission ready.
3
Jake
By the time Xavier had studied the basics for the new mission, it was nearing dinner time, so when I texted Rosa about it, she suggested that she stop and bring in something for us to eat. I wasn’t about to complain about food that I didn’t have to cook. I texted back to bring it on and order plenty of it. I knew that she’d pick out something delicious for the three of us.
The condo was clean enough for visitors and my team, as I liked to keep the place tidy. The kitchen area was freshly scrubbed, and I’d recently replaced the dining room with a more contemporary table and four-chair set. It was a black metal and burl table, with rolling metal and leather seats. The cabinet space behind it was a mahogany mix that housed my liquor cabinet and my gun cleaning kits, among other things.
The living room was pretty much the same as it had been when I’d moved back in, with a couch, a sofa, a lone armchair, and a coffee table, all positioned to catch the full window view of the Miami beach below. I didn’t use it as much as I should, usually only for company. This evening, I had taken the time to set up the dining table so that we could eat and plan at the same time.
We weren’t on a stringent timeline. It was just that I wanted to get started and bring Claude’s brother back to him as soon as possible. Knowing what I did about diving and searching in international waters, locating the precise wreckage of a ship was slow going at times, and we’d most likely have to take a trial-and-error approach. Once it was located, though, the salvage should be quick. At least, I hoped it would be.
I heard a knock on the front door and went to answer it to find Xavier standing there, talking on his cell. He nodded at me and let himself in while he continued to converse with whoever was on the other end. This didn’t bother me. If it was important, then he should handle it. We’d all been there with calls now and again.
Xavier walked directly to the table and set up his laptop with one hand. He placed the white folder from Claude next to it and typed in a few strokes on the keyboard. I didn’t bother him yet. Instead, I went to the fridge and grabbed some beers and bottled waters. I left them on the table as I heard another knock on the door. That had to be Rosa.
I opened it to see her juggling several containers of food.
“Hey, and hold on there, gorgeous,” I said as I reached out and grabbed a handful of containers from her.
She gave me a grateful look, and together, we got all of it to the dining room, and I proceeded to set them up.
Thanks, Rosa signed as she sat down in one of the new chairs as if exhausted. She looked tired, and I knew that she was having problems getting her new residence here in Miami set up to her standards. Her brown eyes hid the tiredness, though. They were still very bright and alert.
Today, she had her red curly hair pulled up in a bun of sorts that seemed to be coming loose. She reached up to try to fix it once I’d noticed it, but after struggling for a bit, she sighed and left it as it was.
It’s a losing battle today, she signed at us with a smile on her face. She’d lost the use of her vocal cords on a mission some time ago, and now she and the team communicated via ASL. The reading lips part had come in handy more times than I could count, too, let me tell you.
I went to grab some dishes and silverware from the kitchen while the other two made themselves at home. Once the table was set and ready to go, we dug into the food.
“This looks great.” I spoke softly, as we could all see that Xavier was on the phone, and I didn’t want to interfere with anything that was going on with him, in case it was mission-related.
“When do you have the time to get all of this, Rosa?” It was a rhetorical question, and I didn't even care if she answered it. “Smells fantastic. Thank you.”
Xavier had finally finished his phone call but didn’t mention anything else about it. I considered it to be a private matter, so I didn’t ask. Instead, I focused on the food.
Xavier quickly put his phone away and reached for a plate. “Sorry about that. Hello, and thank you for the food, Rosa.” Xavier was quick to express his appreciation.
Rosa had brought in a selection of egg rolls. I was particularly fond of the shrimp and avocado ones, which, luckily, she’d gotten half a dozen of. There was dipping sauce, salsa, and a creamed butter dressing that tasted better than it should have for being so simple. We all spent the first fifteen minutes sampling and eating before turning to the real business we needed to be dealing with.
Not wanting to eat in total silence, I asked, “So, Rosa, how’s the apartment coming along?”
She dropped her fork, and her eyes flashed. She started to sign rapidly and with a lot of emotion. The water main in the building broke on the second day I moved in. They got it fixed, but all they minimized the water pressure until they can replace all the junction brackets or something like that. I didn’t understand all of it. All I know is that a shower takes twice as long as it should.
“You’re always welcome to crash here until they get it running properly,” I offered. “The spare room is comfy enough, and you’d have
your own bathroom.”
Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind, she replied.
“And there’s room on the yacht, too,” Xavier chimed in. We all knew that he had more than enough room for guests. His floating home slept four and was nicer than a lot of places we’d had to stay in the past.
You two are wonderful. Thank you. Rosa bit into another eggroll to keep from having to say more.
“Then back to the mission,” I suggested. We did have work to do, after all.
Xavier started off. “Mr. Speirs hired some top-notch ocean cartography people, and they were able to give him a couple of very substantial leads. All of them are well outside of US jurisdiction, though, so we’re pretty much on our own there.”
This meant I couldn’t call in any old military friends to help us out with sonar or anything like that. “Did anything he gave you tell us about what the cargo was? That might help in locating it.” I quickly filled in the relevant information to Rosa so that she was up to speed with everything that we already knew.
“Rare stone artifacts, some gemstones, not much metal to help us out there,” Xavier responded. “I guess it is valuable in some circles, but without knowing more about the items, I can’t judge how best to locate them with modern tech.” He sounded disappointed by that, and I couldn’t blame him in the slightest.
This was going to be an old-fashioned dive and hunt, and his gadgets wouldn’t be as much help as they usually were.
I looked around at my team. “I was thinking we could take Wraith out tomorrow and get a feel for the area, do some basic scouting, see what we’ll be dealing with. Any objections to that?”
Rosa shook her head, and Xavier agreed to it as well.
“Good,” I replied. “Nine in the morning good for everyone?” But before anyone could answer, all three of our cells went off with a notification. Instinctively, we all reached for our phones and checked them. I got a surprise when I saw that it was from Doc, the fourth member of my team that had been taking care of some personal business for a while now. I looked up at Rosa and Xavier to verify something.
“Doc?” I questioned, pertaining to their own emails.
“Yes,” Xavier answered, and Rosa just nodded in the affirmative.
I read through the rather lengthy memo, as I knew they were too.
Sorry for not being in touch as of late. I didn’t know how long any of the things I had to deal with were going to take, and I didn’t want the team waiting for my return until I knew for sure when I was coming back. And yes, I am coming back.
This story of why I am in India is a rather eccentric one, but you need to know that it was unavoidable. Some time ago, a woman that I’d shared a romantic past with contacted me. When I was much younger, I had spent some time in Pune, helping to set up a few local clinics. I met a young woman named Aditi, and, well, nature took its course. When I left India, I wanted to take her with me, but her parents stopped me from marrying her. I found out later on that they’d arranged a union for her and that our child, who Aditi had named Ekta, was being raised by her new husband and his family.
I tried for years to get custody of the little girl, but I simply didn’t have the pull or backing to do this. So, I resigned myself to providing for the girl’s future and needs and was content with what small role they allowed me. But a few months ago, she was diagnosed with leukemia. I came here to India to be with her and offer whatever support I could, but her health was too diminished.
So, instead, I stayed here with her and spent what little time we had together. In this process, I have also taken on a new and harrowing responsibility. Ekta had a young son, my grandson, named Zaid. She asked that I adopt him and raise him in America as his father left them before he was born. I wasn’t sure that I could manage this, but I didn’t want to let her down any longer, so I have spent the rest of my time here with the legal matters of international adoption.
As we are blood family, the process has been quicker in some instances, and sadly, now that Ekta has passed away, the legal aspects of her will have made it move even faster. That said, I will be returning to the US and will be settling in Miami to rejoin the team and raise Zaid from there.
I know that this is a huge amount for all of you to understand and process, but I hope that you all will help me through this as I honestly have no concept of how to handle such a monumental change. I will be in touch the closer our arrival gets, but I don’t wish to leave here until I know for sure that all the legalities are finished and accounted for.
Until such time, Yours most sincerely…
I couldn’t even think of what to say to any of that. My brain was coming to terms as I had to read it all again just to make sure that I’d gotten everything there.
“Wow.” That one word was all I managed to blurt out.
“Yeah. Wow,” Xavier echoed. “I never knew Doc had ever, well, a lot of things, but a daughter, and now a grandson? That’s wildly… unexpected.”
I feel like we know so little about him now, Rosa added. But it always felt wrong to pry. I mean, if he wanted us to know, then…
“It’s been my thinking that if it didn’t hinder the team or any mission, then your past was your past.” I flatly refused to change that now, especially now. “So, well, that’s going to change some things, but he’s still a member of this team, and that’s what truly matters. It’s not the end of the world, right?” I looked over at Xavier, who nodded his head, and then I glanced at Rosa. She seemed to concur by silent consent.
“Alright, then,” I shrugged. “We’ll help him out, do what we can along the way, and just take all of this as it comes. Nothing we can do until then, right?” I was hoping they’d pick up on the optimistic tone I was trying to project.
Xavier went for another eggroll to mull over his next comment. “Am I going to have to babysit on occasion?”
Rosa and I burst out laughing.
“I’m not going to say yes, but I’m not going with no, either. Look, let’s be honest,” I started my mini-lecture, “this is all going to be new for him, too. He knows that, so do we. There are some very basic things that we can do. Rosa? Didn’t you mention before that Doc was looking for some places to live near a school? Well, now we know why, and we can help him out with that.”
Rosa nodded in confirmation. I already sent him a bunch of information about area schools and such. But mostly, won’t he need stable, reliable childcare for when we’re off for weeks at a time? How is that going to work into what we do? Rosa had a point. That was a bridge I didn’t even want to think about crossing yet.
“I guess that we’re all going to be on this learning curve for a while, guys. For better or worse.” I shook my head, not knowing what else I could say about it. “Let’s just focus on this mission for the time being and worry about Doc and Zaid when they get here. Deal?”
“Deal,” Xavier decided, nodding rather carefully.
Deal, Rosa signed. We spent the rest of the meal planning for the next day’s quick trip out. But I didn’t think anyone’s mind was fully there. I knew that mine wasn’t.
4
Jake
I was waiting at Wraith’s home at the marina that I had just recently purchased when Rosa and Xavier both showed up for the nine o’clock voyage. I waved over at my on-site handyman, Lael, who had luckily stayed on with me after I bought the place. He was a good guy, if not very talkative. I felt that I’d be lost here at the marina without him, though. I truly valued just how much he cared about the place. And how much he knew about the area and work.
I had gotten my boat ready, fueled, and warmed up for the outing with time to spare. I was looking forward to just a plain trip out into the empty waters with my team. Nothing fancy, no one chasing or shooting at us, just a quick, easy ride.
They boarded, taking their spots, with Rosa at the co-captain’s seat and Xavier in the back at his custom tech and comm station. He’d recently been adding and updating some tech on Wraith to make it more invisible to the ever
-improving scanning abilities all around us. There was an interesting bit about a wandering transponder that he was doing more research on before deciding whether to add it.
The boat house known as the barn was now an unassuming black and gray building, instead of the red and white paint job that had given it its nickname. We still called it the barn, though. I didn’t know why, but we did. Between Xavier, Lael, and myself, we had been able to remodel the outside and inside to better suit my team’s needs and the requirements of Wraith. As always, the main priority was keeping her safely hidden from prying eyes. Lael had handled all the outside work, and while I liked the guy, I just wasn’t ready yet to let him in on what the barn kept so closely guarded.
Once we had everything and everyone loaded up into Wraith, I helmed us out into the water. “Now that we’ve had a night to sleep on Doc’s info, anyone have anything new to add or discuss?”
Xavier jumped right into it. “Once I got back home, I started to do some research, and there are some very reputable long-term childcare facilities in and around Miami. I also remembered that Rosa had mentioned something about boarding schools, and depending on the kid’s, I mean, Zaid’s, age, it might be a better idea to enroll him into one of them.”
“That’s if Doc wants to do that,” I reminded him. “I know he seemed a little overwhelmed in the email, but by the time he gets back here to Miami, he and Zaid might have… bonded or gotten close. Doc may decide that raising Zaid himself is a better fit.” I sighed, realizing that we had no clue about most of this still. “Or it could be the complete opposite. There are just too many unknowns to make solid plans right now, agreed?”
Rosa signed her response to both of us. We also have to remember that Zaid has just lost his mother and is moving to a whole new country and way of life. That’s not going to be an easy transition for anyone, child or adult. Doc may need a lot of time to make the adjustments work for both of them. Just keep that in mind, okay?
