{"id":5621,"date":"2026-01-04T01:39:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T01:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/iris-johansen-fatal-tide-johansen-iris\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T01:39:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T01:39:06","slug":"iris-johansen-fatal-tide-johansen-iris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/iris-johansen-fatal-tide-johansen-iris\/","title":{"rendered":"Iris Johansen – Fatal Tide – Johansen, Iris"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Book Preview<\/h3>\n
\n

\n
\nChapter One <\/span>
\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

N<\/span>ORTHERN I<\/span>RAQ
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\nJanuary 6, 1991 <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\nCool water, smooth as glass as Kelby swam through it. Jesus, he was thirsty. He knew all he had to do was open his lips and the water would flow down his throat, but he wanted to see beyond the arched doorway first. It was huge and ornately carved, beckoning him forward. . . . <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Then he was through the arch and the city was spread before him.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\nGiant white columns built to stand forever. Streets laid out in perfect order. Glory and symmetry everywhere . . . <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cKelby.\u201d <\/p>\n

He was being shaken. Nicholas. He came instantly alert. \u201cTime?\u201d he whispered. <\/p>\n

Nicholas nodded. \u201cThey should be coming back for you again in five minutes. I just wanted to make sure we\u2019re on the same page. I\u2019ve decided we scratch the plan and I take them out by myself.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cScrew you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll blow it for both of us. You haven\u2019t had anything to eat or drink in three days, and you looked like a truck ran over you when they brought you back to the cell.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cShut up. It hurts my throat to argue.\u201d He leaned back against the stone wall and closed his eyes. \u201cWe go as we planned. I give the word. Just tell me when they start down the hall. I\u2019ll be ready.\u201d <\/p>\n

Go back to the sea. There\u2019s strength there. No thirst that couldn\u2019t be satisfied. He could move without pain through the buoyant water. <\/p>\n

\nWhite columns shimmering . . . <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re coming,\u201d Nicholas murmured. <\/p>\n

Kelby opened his eyes only a slit as the door was unlocked. The same two guards. Hassan had an Uzi cradled in his arm. Kelby was so hazy he couldn\u2019t remember the other guard\u2019s name. But he could remember the toe of his boot as he kicked in his rib. Yes, he could remember that. <\/p>\n

Ali, that was the bastard\u2019s name. <\/p>\n

\u201cGet up, Kelby.\u201d Hassan was standing over him. \u201cIs the American dog ready for his beating?\u201d <\/p>\n

Kelby groaned. <\/p>\n

\u201cGet him, Ali. He\u2019s too weak to stand up and face us again.\u201d <\/p>\n

Ali was smiling as he came to stand beside Hassan. \u201cHe\u2019ll break this time. We\u2019ll be able to drag him into Baghdad and show the whole world what cowards the Americans are.\u201d <\/p>\n

He reached down to grab Kelby\u2019s shirt. <\/p>\n

\u201cNow.\u201d<\/span> Kelby\u2019s foot lashed upward and connected with Ali\u2019s nuts. Then he rolled sideways, knocking the Arab\u2019s legs from beneath him. <\/p>\n

He heard Hassan mutter a curse as Kelby leapt to his feet. He got in back of Ali before he could get off his knees, and his arm snaked around Ali\u2019s neck. <\/p>\n

He broke it with one twist. <\/p>\n

He whirled to see Nicholas smashing the Uzi into Hassan\u2019s head. Blood spurted. Nicholas hit him again. <\/p>\n

\u201cOut.\u201d Kelby grabbed Ali\u2019s pistol and knife and ran to the door. \u201cDon\u2019t waste time on him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe wasted a lot of time on you. I wanted to make sure he\u2019d gone to Allah.\u201d But he was running after Kelby down the hall. <\/p>\n

In the front office another guard jumped to his feet and reached for his gun. Kelby cut his throat before he could lift it. <\/p>\n

Then they were outside the hut and running toward the hills. <\/p>\n

Shots behind them. <\/p>\n

Keep running. <\/p>\n

Nicholas looked over his shoulder. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cFine. Go on, dammit.\u201d <\/p>\n

Sharp pain in his side. <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t stop. <\/p>\n

The adrenaline was draining away and weakness was dragging at every limb. <\/p>\n

Go away from it. Concentrate. You\u2019re swimming toward the archway. No pain there.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

He was running faster, stronger. The hills were just ahead. He could make it. <\/p>\n

He was through the archway. White columns gleamed in the distance.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\nMarinth . . . <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

L<\/span>ONTANA\u2019<\/span>S I<\/span>SLAND
L<\/span>ESSER A<\/span>NTILLES
Present Day<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Lacy golden fretwork.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Velvet drapery.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Drums.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Someone coming toward her.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

It was going to happen again.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Helpless. Helpless. Helpless.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

The scream that tore from Melis\u2019s throat jarred her awake. <\/p>\n

She jerked upright in bed. She was shaking, her T-shirt soaked with sweat. <\/p>\n

Kafas.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Or Marinth? <\/p>\n

Sometimes she wasn\u2019t sure. . . . It didn\u2019t matter. <\/p>\n

Only a dream. <\/p>\n

She wasn\u2019t helpless. She\u2019d never be helpless again. She was strong now. <\/p>\n

Except when she had the dreams. They robbed her of power and she was forced to remember. But she had the dreams less often now. It had been over a month since the last one. Still, she might feel better if she had someone to talk to. Maybe she should call Carolyn and\u2014 <\/p>\n

No, deal with it. She knew what to do after the dreams to rid herself of these trembling fits and get back to blessed normalcy. She tore off her nightshirt as she left the bedroom and headed toward the lanai. <\/p>\n

A moment later she was diving off the lanai into the sea. <\/p>\n

It was the middle of the night, but the water was only cool, not cold, and felt like liquid silk on her body. Clean and caressing and soothing . . . <\/p>\n

No threat. No submission. Nothing but the night and the sea. God, it was good to be alone. <\/p>\n

But she wasn\u2019t alone. <\/p>\n

Something sleek and cool brushed against her leg. <\/p>\n

\u201cSusie?\u201d It had to be Susie. The female dolphin was much more physically affectionate than Pete. The male touched her only rarely, and it was something special when he did. <\/p>\n

But Pete was beside her in the water. She saw him out of the corner of her eye as she stroked toward the nets that barricaded the inlet. \u201cHi, Pete. How are you doing?\u201d <\/p>\n

He gave a subdued series of clicks and then dove beneath the surface. A moment later Susie and Pete came to the surface together and swam ahead of her toward the nets. It was strange how they always knew when she was upset. Ordinarily their behavior was playful, almost giddily exuberant. It was only when they sensed she was disturbed that they became this docile. She was supposed to be the one teaching the dolphins, but she was learning from them every day she spent in their company. They enriched her life and she was grateful that\u2014 <\/p>\n

Something was wrong. <\/p>\n

Susie and Pete were both squeaking and clicking frantically as they approached the net. A shark on the other side? <\/p>\n

She tensed. <\/p>\n

The net was down. <\/p>\n

What the hell . . . No one could unfasten the net unless they knew where it was connected. \u201cI\u2019ll take care of it. Go back home, guys.\u201d <\/p>\n

The dolphins ignored her, swimming around her protectively while she examined the net. No cuts, no tears in the strong wire. It took her only a few minutes to fasten the net again. She set off back to the cottage, her strokes strong, purposeful\u2014and wary. <\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t have to be a problem. It could be Phil back from his latest journey. Her foster father had been gone for nearly seven months this time, with only an occasional phone call or postcard to tell her if he was alive or dead. <\/p>\n

But it could be trouble. Phil had been forced to go on the run almost two years ago and the threat was only partially eliminated. There could still be people out there who wanted to get their hands on him. Phil wasn\u2019t the most discreet person in the world, and his judgment wasn\u2019t as keen as his intellect. He was a dreamer who took more chances than\u2014 <\/p>\n

\u201cMelis!\u201d <\/p>\n

She became still, paddling in place, her gaze on the lanai a short distance away. She could see a man\u2019s silhouette outlined against the lights of the living room. It wasn\u2019t Phil\u2019s small, wiry frame. This man was big, muscular, and vaguely familiar. <\/p>\n

\u201cMelis, I didn\u2019t mean to scare you. It\u2019s me, Cal.\u201d <\/p>\n

She relaxed. Cal Dugan, Phil\u2019s first mate. No threat here. She had known and liked Cal since she was sixteen. He must have moored his boat at the pier on the other side of the house, where she couldn\u2019t see it. She swam toward the lanai. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you call me? And why the devil didn\u2019t you put the net back up? If a shark had gotten to Pete or Susie, I\u2019d have strangled you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to go back and do it,\u201d he said defensively. \u201cNah, I was going to persuade you to do it. I\u2019d have to know Braille to be able to hook it up in the dark.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not good enough. It only takes a minute to pose a threat to the dolphins. You\u2019re just lucky it didn\u2019t happen.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know a shark didn\u2019t get in?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cPete would have told me.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah. Pete.\u201d He dropped a bath towel on the lanai and turned his back. \u201cTell me when I can turn around. I guess you haven\u2019t taken to wearing a swimsuit?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy should I? There\u2019s no one to see me but Pete and Susie.\u201d She hoisted herself onto the tiles and wrapped the large towel around her. \u201cAnd uninvited guests.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be rude. Phil invited me.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cTurn around. When\u2019s he coming? Tomorrow?\u201d <\/p>\n

He turned around. \u201cNot likely.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not in Tobago?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was setting sail for Athens when he sent me here.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me to hop on a plane out of Genoa and come and give you this.\u201d He handed her a large manila envelope. \u201cAnd to wait here for him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWait for him? He\u2019ll need you there. He can\u2019t do without you, Cal.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I told him.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cHe told me to come to you.\u201d <\/p>\n

She glanced down at the envelope. \u201cI can\u2019t see out here. Let\u2019s go inside where there\u2019s light.\u201d She tightened the towel around her. \u201cMake yourself some coffee while I take a look at this.\u201d <\/p>\n

He flinched. \u201cWill you tell those dolphins I\u2019m not going to hurt you and to stop screeching?\u201d <\/p>\n

She\u2019d barely been aware they were still beside the lanai. \u201cGo away, guys. It\u2019s okay.\u201d <\/p>\n

Pete and Susie disappeared beneath the water. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be damned,\u201d Cal said. \u201cThey do understand you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d Her tone was abstracted as she went into the cottage. \u201cGenoa? What\u2019s Phil been up to?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSearch me. A few months ago he dropped me and the rest of the crew off in Las Palmas and told us we were on vacation for three months. He hired some temporary help to sail the Last Home<\/span> and took off.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere?\u201d <\/p>\n

He shrugged. \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t say. Big secret. It wasn\u2019t like Phil at all. It was like that time he went off with you. But this was different. He was on edge and he wouldn\u2019t say anything when he came back and picked us up.\u201d He grimaced. \u201cIt\u2019s not as if we haven\u2019t been with him for the last fifteen years. We have shared a hell of a lot together. I was there when he brought up the Spanish galleon, and Terry and Gary signed on a year later. It kind of . . . hurt.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know when he becomes focused on something he can\u2019t see anything else.\u201d But she had seldom known him to close out his crew. They were as close to family as Phil would permit near him. Closer than he would let her come. <\/p>\n

But that was probably her fault. She found it difficult to be openly affectionate with Phil. She had always been the protector in a relationship that had sometimes been both volatile and stormy. She was often impatient and frustrated with his almost childlike single-mindedness. But they were a team, they fulfilled each other\u2019s needs, and she did like him. <\/p>\n

\u201cMelis.\u201d <\/p>\n

She glanced at Cal to find him gazing awkwardly at her. \u201cWould you mind putting on some clothes? You\u2019re one gorgeous woman, and even though I may be old enough to be your father, it doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t have the usual responses.\u201d <\/p>\n

Of course he did. It didn\u2019t matter that he\u2019d known her from the time she was a teenager. Men were men. Even the best of them were dominated by sex. It had taken her a long time to accept that truth without anger. \u201cI\u2019ll be right back.\u201d She headed for the bedroom. \u201cMake that coffee.\u201d <\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t bother to shower before she put on her usual shorts and T-shirt. Then she sat down on the bed and reached for the envelope. It might be nothing, totally impersonal, but she didn\u2019t want to open it in front of Cal. <\/p>\n

The envelope contained two documents. She took out the first one and opened it. <\/p>\n

She stiffened. \u201cWhat the hell . . .\u201d <\/p>\n

H<\/span>YATT H<\/span>OTEL
A<\/span>THENS, G<\/span>REECE
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStop arguing. I\u2019m coming to get you.\u201d Melis\u2019s hand tightened on the phone. \u201cWhere are you, Phil?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAt a tavern on the waterfront. The Delphi Hotel,\u201d Philip Lontana said. \u201cBut I\u2019m not going to involve you in this, Melis. Go home.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI will. We\u2019re both going to go home. And I\u2019m already involved. Did you think I was just going to sit around doing nothing after I got that notification that you\u2019d deeded the island and the Last Home<\/span> over to me? That\u2019s the closest to a last will and testament I\u2019ve ever seen. What the hell\u2019s happening?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI had to turn responsible sometime.\u201d <\/p>\n

Not Phil. He was as close to Peter Pan as a man in his sixties could be. \u201cWhat are you afraid of?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not afraid. I just wanted to take care of you. I know we\u2019ve had our ups and downs, but you\u2019ve always stood by me when I needed you. You\u2019ve pulled me out of scrapes and kept those bloodsuckers from\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll pull you out of this scrape, too, if you\u2019ll tell me what\u2019s happening.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing\u2019s happening. The ocean is unforgiving. You can never tell when I\u2019ll make a mistake and never\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cPhil.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve written it all down. It\u2019s on the Last Home<\/span>.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Then you can read it to me when we\u2019re on our way back to the island.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat may not be possible.\u201d He paused. \u201cI\u2019ve been trying to get in touch with Jed Kelby. He\u2019s not been answering my calls.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cBastard.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe. But a brilliant bastard. I\u2019ve heard he\u2019s a genius.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd where did you hear it? His publicity agent?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be bitter. You\u2019ve got to give the devil his due.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t. I don\u2019t like rich men who think they can make toys of everything in the whole damn world.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t like rich men. Period,\u201d Phil said. \u201cBut I need you to contact him. I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll be able to reach him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you will. Though I don\u2019t know why you think you have to do it. You\u2019ve never called in help before.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI need him. He\u2019s got the same passion I have and the drive to make it happen.\u201d He paused. \u201cPromise me you\u2019ll get him for me, Melis. It\u2019s the most important thing I\u2019ve ever asked of you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cPromise me.\u201d <\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t going to give up. \u201cI promise. Satisfied?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I hated to ask you. And I hate being in this spot. If I hadn\u2019t been so stubborn, I wouldn\u2019t have had to\u2014\u201d He drew a deep breath. \u201cBut that\u2019s water under the bridge. I can\u2019t look back now. There\u2019s too much to look forward to.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThen why make out your last will and testament, dammit?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they didn\u2019t get a chance to do it.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe should learn from their mistakes.\u201d He paused. \u201cGo home. Who\u2019s taking care of Pete and Susie?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cCal.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised you\u2019re letting him do it. You care more about those dolphins than anyone on two legs.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cEvidently I don\u2019t, if I\u2019m here. Cal will take good care of Pete and Susie. I put the fear of God in him before I left.\u201d <\/p>\n

He chuckled. \u201cOr the fear of Melis. But you know how important they are. Go back to them. If you don\u2019t hear from me in two weeks, go get Kelby. Good-bye, Melis.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you dare hang up. What do you want Kelby to do? Is this about that damn sonic device?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know it\u2019s never really been about that.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThen what is it about?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it would upset you. Ever since you were a child, you\u2019ve always had a thing about the Last Home<\/span>.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYour ship?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, the other Last Home<\/span>. Marinth.\u201d He hung up. <\/p>\n

She stood there, frozen, for a long moment before she slowly closed her phone. <\/p>\n

Marinth. <\/p>\n

My God. <\/p>\n

T<\/span>HE Trina<\/span><\/span>
V<\/span>ENICE, I<\/span>TALY
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell is Marinth?\u201d <\/p>\n

Jed Kelby stiffened in his chair. \u201cWhat?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cMarinth.\u201d John Wilson looked up from the pile of letters he\u2019d been scanning for Kelby. \u201cThat\u2019s all that\u2019s written in this letter. Just the one word. Must be some kind of prank or advertising gimmick.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cGive it to me.\u201d Kelby slowly reached across the desk and took the letter and envelope. <\/p>\n

\u201cSomething wrong, Jed?\u201d Wilson stopped sorting the letters he\u2019d just brought on board. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe.\u201d Kelby glanced at the name on the return address of the envelope. Philip Lontana, and the date stamp was over two weeks old. \u201cWhy the hell didn\u2019t I get this sooner?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou might have, if you\u2019d stay in one place more than a day or two,\u201d Wilson said dryly. \u201cI haven\u2019t even heard from you in two weeks. I can\u2019t be held responsible for keeping you current if you don\u2019t cooperate. I do my best, but you\u2019re not the easiest man to\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, okay.\u201d He leaned back and stared down at the letter. \u201cPhilip Lontana. I haven\u2019t heard anything about him for a few years. I thought maybe he\u2019d quit the business.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never heard of him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy should you? He\u2019s not a stockbroker or banker, so he wouldn\u2019t be of interest to you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. I\u2019m only interested in keeping you filthy rich and out of the clutches of the IRS.\u201d Wilson set several documents in front of Kelby. \u201cSign these in triplicate.\u201d He watched disapprovingly as Kelby signed the contracts. \u201cYou should have read those. How do you know I didn\u2019t screw you?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re morally incapable of it. If you were going to do it, you\u2019d have taken me to the cleaners ten years ago when you were tottering on the verge of bankruptcy.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cTrue. But you pulled me out of that hole. So that\u2019s not really a test.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI let you flounder for a while to see what you\u2019d do before I stepped in.\u201d <\/p>\n

Wilson tilted his head. \u201cI never realized that I was on trial.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSorry.\u201d His gaze was still on the letter. \u201cIt\u2019s the nature of the beast. I\u2019ve not been able to trust many people in my life, Wilson.\u201d <\/p>\n

God knows that was the truth, Wilson thought. Heir to one of America\u2019s largest fortunes, Kelby and his trust fund had been fought over by his mother and grandmother from the time his father died. Court case had followed court case until he\u2019d reached his twenty-first birthday. Then he\u2019d taken control with a cool ruthlessness and intelligence, jettisoned all contact with his mother and grandmother, and set up experts to manage his finances. He\u2019d finished his education and then taken off to become the wanderer he was today. He\u2019d been a SEAL during the Gulf War, later purchased the yacht Trina<\/span> and started a series of underwater explorations that had brought him a fame he didn\u2019t appreciate and money he didn\u2019t need. Still, he seemed to thrive on the life. For the past eight years he\u2019d lived hard and fast and dealt with some pretty unsavory characters. No, Wilson couldn\u2019t blame him for being both wary and cynical. It didn\u2019t bother him. He was cynical himself, and over the years he\u2019d learned to genuinely like the bastard. <\/p>\n

\u201cHas Lontana tried to contact me before?\u201d Kelby asked. <\/p>\n

Wilson sorted through the rest of the mail. \u201cThat\u2019s the only letter.\u201d He flipped open his daybook. \u201cOne call on the twenty-third of June. Wanted you to return his call. Another on June twenty-fifth. Same message. My secretary asked what his business pertained to but he wouldn\u2019t tell her. It didn\u2019t seem urgent enough to try to track you down. Is it?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cPossibly.\u201d He stood up and walked across the cabin to the window. \u201cHe certainly knew how to get my attention.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWho is he?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cA Brazilian oceanographer. He got a lot of press when he discovered that Spanish galleon fifteen years or so ago. His mother was American and his father Brazilian, and he\u2019s something of a throwback to another age. I heard he thought he was some kind of grand adventurer and sailed around looking for lost cities and sunken galleons. He discovered only one galleon, but there\u2019s no doubt he\u2019s very sharp.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve never met him?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I wasn\u2019t really interested. We wouldn\u2019t have much in common. I\u2019m definitely a product of this age. We\u2019re not on the same wavelength.\u201d <\/p>\n

Wilson wasn\u2019t so sure. Kelby was no dreamer, but he possessed the aggressive, bold recklessness that typified the buccaneers of this or any other century. \u201cSo what does Lontana want with you?\u201d His gaze narrowed on Kelby. \u201cAnd what do you want with Lontana?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure what he wants from me.\u201d He stood looking out at the sea, thinking. \u201cBut I know what I want from him. The question is, can he give it to me?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s cryptic.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIs it?\u201d He suddenly turned to face Wilson. \u201cThen, by God, we\u2019d better get everything clear and aboveboard, hadn\u2019t we?\u201d <\/p>\n

Shock rippled through Wilson as he saw the recklessness and excitement in Kelby\u2019s expression. The aggressive energy he was emitting was almost tangible. \u201cThen I take it you want me to contact Lontana.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes. In fact, we\u2019re going to go see him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re?<\/span> I have to get back to New York.\u201d <\/p>\n

Kelby shook his head. \u201cI may need you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I don\u2019t know anything about all this oceanography stuff, Jed. And, dammit, I don\u2019t want to know. I have degrees in law and accounting. I wouldn\u2019t be of any use to you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou never can tell. I may need all the help I can get. A little more sea air will do you good.\u201d He glanced down at the envelope again, and Wilson was once more aware of the undercurrent of excitement that was electrifying Kelby. \u201cBut maybe we should give Lontana a little advance warning that he shouldn\u2019t dangle a carrot unless he expects me to gobble it with one swallow. Give me his telephone number.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\u00a0<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

She was being followed. <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t paranoia, dammit. She could feel<\/span> it. <\/p>\n

Melis glanced over her shoulder. It was an exercise in futility. She wouldn\u2019t have known whom she was looking for on the crowded dock behind her. It could be anyone. A thief, a sailor eager for a lay . . . or someone who was hoping she\u2019d lead him to Phil. Anything was possible. <\/p>\n

Now that Marinth was involved. <\/p>\n

Lose him. <\/p>\n

She darted down the next street, ran one short block, ducked into an alcove, and waited. Making sure you weren\u2019t being paranoid was always the first rule. The second was to know your enemy. <\/p>\n

A gray-haired man in khakis and a short-sleeved plaid shirt came around the corner and stopped. He looked like any casual tourist who frequented Athens this time of year. Except that his annoyed attitude didn\u2019t match his appearance. He was definitely irritated as his gaze searched the people streaming down the street. <\/p>\n

She was not paranoid. And now she would remember this man, whoever he was. <\/p>\n

She darted out of the alcove and took off running. She turned left, cut into an alley, and then turned right at the next street. <\/p>\n

She glanced behind her in time to see a glimpse of a plaid shirt. He was no longer trying to blend in with the crowd. He was moving fast and with purpose. <\/p>\n

Five minutes later she stopped, breathing hard. <\/p>\n

She had lost him. Maybe. <\/p>\n

Christ, Phil, what have you gotten us into? <\/p>\n

She waited another ten minutes to make sure and then reversed her path and cut back toward the dock. According to her street map, the Delphi Hotel should be on the next block. <\/p>\n

There it was. A narrow, three-story building whose facade was old, paint-chipped, stained by smog, and yet breathing atmosphere as everything did in this town. It wasn\u2019t a hotel Phil would have ordinarily tolerated. He liked old and atmospheric, but decay wasn\u2019t his forte. He enjoyed his comforts too much. Another mystery that\u2014 <\/p>\n

\u201cMelis?\u201d <\/p>\n

She turned to see a small, graying man in jeans and T-shirt sitting at a caf\u00e9 table. \u201cGary? Where\u2019s Phil?\u201d <\/p>\n

He nodded at the water. \u201cOn the Last Home<\/span>.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWithout you? I don\u2019t believe it.\u201d First Cal and now Gary St. George? <\/p>\n

\u201cNeither did I.\u201d He took a sip of his ouzo. \u201cI figure I\u2019ll stick around for a few days and he\u2019ll come back and get me. What can he do without me? He\u2019d have real trouble sailing the Last Home<\/span> by himself.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Terry?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cFired him in Rome right after he sent Cal away. Told him to go to you and you\u2019d find him work. Told me the same thing.\u201d He grinned. \u201cYou ready to become a headhunter for us, Melis?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHow long has he been gone?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAn hour maybe. Took off right after he talked to you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere was he going?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSoutheast, toward the Greek Islands.\u201d <\/p>\n

She moved toward the dock. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go.\u201d <\/p>\n

He jumped to his feet. \u201cWhere?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to rent a speedboat and go after the idiot. I may need someone to run it while I look out for the Last Home<\/span>.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still daylight.\u201d He tried to catch up with her. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a chance.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNo chance about it. We\u2019re going to find him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\u00a0<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

They caught up with the Last Home<\/span> just before darkness fell. The two-masted schooner looked like a ship from another age in the soft light. Melis had always told Phil that the ship reminded her of pictures of the Flying Dutchman,<\/span> and in the hazy golden twilight it appeared even more mystical. <\/p>\n

And, like the Dutchman,<\/span> deserted. <\/p>\n

She felt a ripple of fear. No, it couldn\u2019t be deserted. Phil had to be belowdeck. <\/p>\n

\u201cSpooky, huh?\u201d Gary said as he gunned the motorboat toward the ship. \u201cHe\u2019s turned the engines off. What the hell is he doing?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he\u2019s having trouble. He deserves it. Getting rid of his crew and taking off like\u2014\u201d She broke off to steady her voice. \u201cGet as close as you can. I\u2019m going to board her.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s going to roll out the welcome mat.\u201d Gary squinted at the ship. \u201cHe didn\u2019t want you here, Melis. He didn\u2019t want any of us on this trip.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cToo bad. I can\u2019t help what he wants. You know Phil sometimes doesn\u2019t make the best choices. He sees what he wants to see and then goes full speed ahead. I can\u2019t let\u2014There he is!\u201d <\/p>\n

Phil had appeared from below and was frowning as he gazed at them over the expanse of water. <\/p>\n

\u201cPhil, dammit, what are you doing?\u201d she shouted. \u201cI\u2019m coming aboard.\u201d <\/p>\n

Phil shook his head. \u201cSomething\u2019s wrong with the ship. The engine just stopped. I can\u2019t be sure\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI should have known. I should have been more careful.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re talking crazy.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I don\u2019t have time to talk anymore. I have to go and see if I can find where he\u2014 Go home, Melis. Take care of the dolphins. It\u2019s important that you do your job.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to talk. I\u2019m not going to\u2014\u201d She was talking to air. Phil had turned and gone back down below. <\/p>\n

\u201cGet me closer.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe won\u2019t let you board her, Melis.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he will. Even if I have to hang on to the anchor all the way to\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n

The<\/span> Last Home exploded into a thousand fiery pieces.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Phil!<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d She didn\u2019t realize she\u2019d screamed the word in an agony of rejection. The ship was burning, half of it gone. \u201cGet closer! We have to\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n

Another explosion. <\/p>\n

Pain. <\/p>\n

Her head was splintering, exploding like the ship. <\/p>\n

Darkness.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Read the full book by downloading it below.<\/p>\n

DOWNLOAD EPUB<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Book Preview Chapter One NORTHERN IRAQ January 6, 1991 Cool water, smooth as glass as Kelby swam through it. Jesus, he was thirsty. He knew all he had to do was open his lips and the water would flow down his throat, but he wanted to see beyond the arched doorway first. It was huge … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5620,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[383],"class_list":["post-5621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-iris-johansen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5621\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}