by Ali Vali
“Let’s start with something I hope someone can answer,” Mari said. “Where’s my granddaughter now?”
“The Salacia is currently off the Louisiana/Mississippi coastline,” one of the advisors said as the Salacia’s icon appeared on the map.
“The rig she’s supposed to be on is southwest of there,” Hadley said.
“That’s easily remedied,” Galen said as she placed her hand on the console where it would open a communication link with Kai. The video feed showed an empty room, but Kai’s voice came through.
“Is it urgent?” Kai asked softly.
“Just checking to make sure you’re all right. It can wait if you are.” Galen gazed at Hadley as she spoke, wondering if they were overreacting.
“I’m spending time with Vivien so it might be a few days. Can you wait that long?”
“Hope you’re having a great time, my love, and I can wait. Remember to call if you need anything.”
“Will do,” Kai said, and her voice made Hadley relax. “My love to you and Mom. We’ll talk soon.”
“Love you too,” Galen said and cut their link. “Get confirmation from our sisters in the US, British, and Australian military units that this isn’t coming from one of those governments.”
“We’ve already sent word, Highness, and have received word from Australia that it’s not. Great Britain and the US are doing extensive searches so it might take a few days,” Natal said.
“Have that report sent to the queen as soon as it’s available,” Hadley said, and Natal put a fist to her chest. “Give us the room for a moment.”
“You’ve never heard anything like this before?” Galen asked, looking from her to her mother.
“No, but we’ll figure it out,” Mari said and smiled as if to reassure her. “Your mate’s more persistent than I am, and that’s going some on the stubborn scale. And not to tell you your job, Hadley, but consider sending an elite unit out there until the tadpole’s done. Let them keep their distance, but I’d rather they be nearby on the remote chance this develops into something.”
“They’re gearing up now,” she said before taking a deep breath. “I’d rather be safe and redundant on security than not, but I’m sure Kai will not be happy with me.”
“Blame it on me if you want, but she’ll have to start accepting some of the concessions that come with Triton,” Mari said.
“Kai thinks she can take on the world, though, so that’ll take time,” she said and sighed again.
“She’ll learn, just like a young officer I knew once, that duty is sometimes being the one protected. That fact might be easier to accept if she finds a pretty a wife, as you did,” Mari said and winked. “The tadpole reminds me more and more of you, Hadley, and we had plenty of talks before you cooled that hot head and took your rightful place.”
“According to Queen Sibyl, it took me less time than you, so don’t call me a hothead.”
“Don’t make me separate you two,” Galen said as she walked into Hadley’s open arms. “And I trust both of you to handle this. I’m due to meet Mama at the archives to help with some research she’s doing for Kai.”
“Nothing official on the books?” Hadley asked.
“I’m free for the rest of the week.”
“Mari and I’ll pick you two up and treat you to dinner.”
Galen pressed on the back of her neck so she lowered her head and kissed her. “Just as long as you don’t try to talk me into anything.”
“No promise there,” she said and smiled. “Believe me, you’ll like most of my ideas.”
“It’s the ones I won’t that worry me.”
*
Kai lifted Vivien’s tank and helped her put it on, adjusting the straps to accommodate the helmet she was lending her. “Feel okay?”
“A little lower than usual but it’s comfortable.” Vivien turned and faced Kai on the dive platform Kai had lowered near the stern on the port side. Kai was wearing another long-sleeved T-shirt with a fish across the back and shorts, which made her wonder how many she owned.
The need for Kai’s touch had increased from the night before, but Kai had been a perfect hostess and hadn’t done anything to make her uncomfortable. It was damn frustrating. Her problem, though, was being ill-equipped to make the first move, especially with a woman. She’d never really questioned her sexuality, but Kai made her hyperaware of her presence.
No man or woman had ever made her this crazy for no apparent reason. Kai was playful but not overly flirtatious or aggressive in a pursuit kind of way. Nevertheless, somewhere in the last day or so she’d developed a crush, and it would be almost absurdly funny if it wasn’t true.
“Let’s try the medium collar first,” Kai said, breaking her out of her trance.
In Kai’s hand was what appeared to be a rubber ring. She’d seen one before but had never gone down with this type of gear. “Do you think we’ll really need these?”
“I happen to like the sound of your voice and can’t stand not hearing it for the next hour,” Kai said as she put it in place. “Trust me. You’re going to love the view.” The helmet Kai clipped on made her tense for a moment, but the supply of air prevented her from demanding Kai remove it. She watched as Kai geared up quickly and heard her voice clearly. “Let’s go, Boss,” Kai said as she stepped off the platform.
The water had two-foot swells, but the visibility was good as she followed Kai down. Kai had a swimming style she envied in that she glided through the water with smooth strokes that made it seem like she was barely exerting effort. The coordinates they were searching for were in the GPS unit on Kai’s wrist so she followed, studying her dive partner since she really didn’t have anything else to look at.
A mound of sand was right under Kai when she stopped, and it was larger than Vivien thought it would be. She couldn’t see the shoreline, but this spot wasn’t remote, so to find anything here would be the biggest surprise of her life, considering some of the locations she’d explored. She’d dismissed the Gulf a long time ago, since the only treasure she figured it held was crude oil.
“Are you going to say something or daydream all day?” Kai asked as she pointed down. “This is the spot—what do you think?”
“We never finished our talk as to what you hope to find, aside from the Valhalla Sun. I know you want to prove its existence, but there has to be more to it than that.”
“It’s a long story and we’ve got one more spot to cover, so can I tell you later?”
“Sure, and that might be something or it could be a tide anomaly. I’m not a expert on currents, but I have seen spots like that when the water runs a certain way consistently.” She moved closer and touched the top, moving only soft sand. “They change when storms come through here and stir up the bottom.”
“True, but let’s see if we get lucky.” Kai took something she had strapped to her leg and pressed a button, extending the black metal piece to about four feet. She started stabbing into the mound easily, meaning nothing was there. “If it’s anything, it’s deeper than this, so let’s try the next spot.”
The next place was larger but they got the same result. She was sorry for Kai, hoping they would’ve found something if only to stay another day. “What do you think?”
“Well,” Kai said as she tried to drive her pole into the bottom of the mound at an angle. “I hate to jinx myself, but this is interesting, or more interesting than anything I’ve found so far. We don’t have the kind of time it’ll take to knock these down, but let’s try the next best thing.”
“If it’s dynamite, you’re on your own,” she said and laughed.
“What about something a little less destructive to the fish?” Kai retracted her tool, re-strapped it to her leg, and pointed to the boat. “Fido’s good at more than pictures.”
They swam back, and as Kai helped her take her equipment off, she smiled instead of feeling insulted, since she usually did all this herself. “What’s the plan?” she asked, grateful that Kai’s helme
t had kept her hair dry when the wind picked up.
“How about dinner somewhere onshore? I don’t want to bore you by keeping you trapped out here.”
“I don’t mind staying put and cooking for you.” Kai was in no way boring. “You can let Fido do whatever Fido does, and if we find something we can map out the next step. Unless I’m boring you.”
“Nope, and I was only worried about that,” Kai said and pointed southeast. The bank of dark clouds promised rain and chop, but it wasn’t enough to drive her in.
“We might not do any swimming tonight, but a little rocking never bothered me.”
“Then your ideas are much better than mine. No wonder you’re my boss.”
Chapter Fourteen
Steve’s phone rang, waking him out of a sound sleep, and he rubbed his face roughly before reaching over to get it. It had been a long couple of days, and he was trying his best to get back in Winston’s good graces after his misstep complaining about Kai Merlin and Winston’s decision to hire her.
“Who the hell is calling at this hour?” Tanice said as he sat up and turned on the light.
“Not now.” He stood and walked out. The double doors that led to the balcony of his condo were sheeted with water from the deluge coming down outside. “Yes,” he said when he answered the call.
“You haven’t reported in for a few months and we’re getting worried.”
He tapped his finger against the glass and curbed the urge to put his fist through it. What’d been asked of him and what he’d had to do to get it were beyond what he should’ve been subjected to, considering his position. “When I have something I’ll report, so you’re going to have to trust me. Besides, we’re getting close so I don’t want to take any type of chance that can put us behind.”
“Remember to go slowly, since we can’t step in to help you right away.”
“I remember everything that’s expected of me, so don’t call me again unless you have something that’ll make this easier. I’m tired of the process, but don’t worry. I’ll deliver.”
He ended the call and stood naked in front of the door, not worried that he’d shock any of the neighbors because of the storm. Tanice stepped behind him and kissed his shoulder. “Problems?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.” He took a deep breath and opened and closed his hands, trying to stop the restlessness that was making his blood feel like it was swarming with ants.
“We’re in this together, don’t forget that.” Tanice moved to stand before him, and he had to admire the perfection of her body. “Don’t lie. We have plenty to worry about since you told me today that Winston’s wife turned against you. I thought you had that situation under control?”
“I do, and I’m in charge because I don’t panic at the first sign of a problem. We don’t need her. I just need for Winston to continue to include me in the big decisions and, more importantly, keep giving me access to the board. If anything along those lines changes, I have a contingency plan.”
“Not going to share?”
“No, but I am willing to share something else with you,” he said as he picked Tanice up and carried her back to the bedroom. Maybe being disturbed at this hour wasn’t so bad after all.
*
Vivien had admitted she wasn’t a great cook, but whatever she was doing in the kitchen smelled good as Kai sat in the common area of her vessel waiting for Vivien to finish. The weather had turned nasty a few hours after she’d stored their gear, and after a glance at the weather report she doubted it would clear anytime soon. It was a strong front coming from the Atlantic, drenching Florida and the southern coastline all the way to Texas.
Kai had decided to wait to release the rover until the weather cleared some, even though Fido was capable in any situation. She didn’t want to make Vivien suspicious by showing off the capability of what was on board. The weather service said blue skies and calm water would return by morning, so she’d use the ground-penetrating radar then.
“What’s the word?” Vivien asked as she leaned against the counter wiping her hands.
Outside, the rain was coming down heavily and at an angle. The wind was gusting so much the waves had picked up considerably, but she’d put out the stabilizers once they’d gone in, so the rocking wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. “Should clear up by four in the morning, so tomorrow we can see what’s under those mounds.”
“Ready to tell me a story?”
“If you tell me what you’re making with your non-cooking skills, sure.” The smile Vivien gave her made Kai’s fingers twitch.
Beautiful women weren’t a foreign concept to her, though her mother Hadley had warned her about too many liaisons. In Hadley’s opinion, Oba was bad enough, but sleeping with every woman who showed interest demonstrated a certain disrespect for the citizens she’d one day rule. She wasn’t a piece of driftwood, though, so she’d given in to some of the women who’d been persistent.
“Shrimp étouffée with jasmine rice, but I can’t take credit. Frankie orders from my favorite places around town and has them freeze stuff for me. I can’t cook, but I’m an excellent re-heater.”
“That counts in my book, so let me help you plate it and I’ll tell you my tale.”
The Valhalla Sun was one in a string of ships she’d searched for since her early teen years so her mother Galen and her grandmother Sibyl could add their histories to the archives. Granted, the main library in Atlantis’s capital held a thousand times more books than the Library of Congress, but the people of Atlantis didn’t know all man’s secrets. They had more accurate accounts of the world’s historical timetable, but groups like the Templars held their inner beliefs and secrets in their heads, so many of the true facts had been lost through time.
By finding them one by one, Kai figured she could show both of her mothers the part of themselves they’d given her. Hadley the adventurer loved the search, and Galen the historian loved the find. The adventure of the search and then archiving it would be Kai’s life’s work, along with her future responsibilities on the throne. That would be years from now, since her mother Galen wasn’t close to retiring.
She opened a bottle of wine and, as they sat, poured a glass for Vivien first, enjoying the hum of approval when Vivien took a sip. “For a roughneck you’ve got superb taste in wine,” Vivien said.
“Thank you.” She got her plate. “It’s nice to share a bottle with someone who can tell the difference between this and Boone’s Farm. Not to knock the Boone makers, but their stuff’s a little too sweet for me.”
“To good food, drink, and most importantly, good company,” Vivien said and held up her glass. “Now talk.” She laughed.
“Let me start by saying I’m one of those people who believes the Templars left a treasure that hasn’t been found. I don’t like to guess what it might be, but in their quest to hide it, they advanced navigation and travel by more than we give them credit for.” She stopped to eat, and Vivien appeared almost disappointed.
“Don’t stop now.” Vivien sounded whiny.
“Remind me not to start these things when I’m hungry.” She took another bite and smiled as she chewed. “I’ve followed the crumbs they’ve left, and if I find something valuable it’ll be great, but I’m more interested in the historical aspect. Imagine what they had if they took the chance of crossing the sea to hide it.”
“Do you think this means anything?” Vivien showed her the shell around her neck without taking it off. “That’s what I’ve been looking for—the alphabet that will unlock this.”
“Why do you think you’ll find the answers under the water?” she asked, interested in Vivien’s answer. Most people might’ve been interested, but their searches would’ve started and ended topside.
“Something that I don’t like talking about happened the day before we got them, since Frankie got one too, so it’s led me to the water.” Vivien leaned back and shrugged. “Even if I never find it, this has been my lucky charm for finding plenty of
other things.”
“To finding things then.” She held her glass up again, trying to cheer Vivien up. “Maybe if we put our heads together for a while we can come up with something.”
“Do you mean under the water?” Vivien asked with an attractive pinking on her cheeks.
“And above—you just never know.”
*
“Still nothing?” Sibyl Merlin asked her daughter Galen as they looked over the real-time information the Salacia’s onboard systems were sending.
“This is something, I guess, but if you’re talking about the mystery signal, then no.” Galen clenched her hands in an effort to not run out of the room and swim to where Kai was, even though, judging from Kai’s messages, she was in no real danger. “It seems odd that we’d find this now while she’s out there essentially alone.”
“Kai’s a lot like you, even if you only see Hadley when you look at her. Your mother, sister, and I worried about you while you ran around Rome for more than a year.” Sibyl took Galen’s hand and walked her to the tea service one of the archive employees had brought in. “The Vatican Library was a good learning experience, I thought, not only for the sheer amount of ancient texts, but for the freedom it gave you.”
“Kai isn’t safely hidden in the stacks surrounded by only molding paper and geeks, Mama.” She hated whining and clicked her teeth together to stop talking. “The water and her secrets hold her interest.”
“You make it sound like I don’t know Kai at all. From Hadley she inherited the need to explore, to stand up for the defenseless, and those looks you instantly couldn’t get enough of.” Sibyl poured but handed her a cookie first. “From you, though, came that incessant curiosity that’s only satisfied by finding the why of everything. This search for a boat that might or might not have sailed will probably take a lifetime to answer for anyone else but Kai. You gave her the most important genetic trait anyone could inherit, and that’s the pursuit of everything.”
