It was a couple of hours later when the burbling engine of the tin boat heralded the billionaire’s return. He was beside himself with the news, running from screen to screen, coming up with ever wilder speculations on what they may have found and how exciting that was. Aston could almost see the dollar signs spinning in Holloway’s eyes.
“Joaquin,” Holloway said, “To the galley with you! I think we really have cause to celebrate.” As the big man went below decks, Holloway turned to face the others. “I bought lobster, crab, oysters, all kinds of fruit and delicacies and even a few bottles of damn fine wine. I know I said this was to be a dry ship, and I stand by that, but for tonight we’ll make an exception.” He grinned at them, like an indulgent father awaiting the adulation of his brood.
“Sounds good,” Aston said. His hangover from the night before was still a fresh memory, but he was happy to trigger another one at this stage.
“Did you see Dave anywhere?” Carly asked, breaking the professional silence of the camera operator. She ignored the annoyed look that Slater flicked her way.
Holloway shook his head. “Another deserter. No matter, we’re more than equipped to manage as we are. Now, keep collecting all the data you can. I’m going to help Joaquin. Celebratory feast in one hour!”
Without waiting for a reply, he strode out. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Aston and the others returned to their work.
It was a fine feed, Aston had to admit. Holloway had spared no expense and managed to find quite a spread in shops of the remote community. They made sure there would be no wine left over and by around ten pm everyone was lounging in their chairs, full to bursting and pleasantly drunk. Aston tried a few times to catch Slater’s eye, but she was plainly ignoring him. He had hoped a little alcohol might grease the wheels of a reenactment of the previous night’s fun, but he was getting the message.
Holloway couldn’t stop talking about the possibilities before them. In his mind, the creature had been captured and carted back to civilization to be shown off for a fortune and they were all famous and richer than ever. Aston wanted to tell the crazy bastard the story of King Kong and the warning it offered against this kind of folly, but he knew it would fall on deaf ears. And honestly, who in the world didn’t already know that tale and its message? That was trouble with people like Holloway — they were convinced they were somehow better than all those who went before them. Convinced that whatever befell others was the result of some weakness on the part of those unfortunate fools and would be avoided with enough faith, enough enthusiasm, enough money. But the truth was that no matter how much wealth and belief someone had, a monster’s teeth would puncture a rich man’s heart as swiftly as it would a poor man’s.
Aston blew out a breath. The booze and Slater’s indifference was making him bitter and pessimistic. Also honest, he bitterly reminded himself.
Slater pulled herself up and headed for the door. “I’m off to bed. I’ll see you all in the morning.”
“Me too,” Carly said. She stood and threw a look at Aston.
“I remember,” he assured her.
The young woman hurried away and Slater followed.
“I guess that’s a good cue for me too,” Aston said. “Goodnight all.”
Makkonen, Laine and Joaquin offered him nods, Holloway raised a hand and waved. “Until tomorrow!”
Aston left the four men and hurried to catch up with Slater. He needn’t have rushed, as she stood alone on the deck staring out over the lake. Carly was nowhere to be seen, presumably already off to her bunk.
Slater glanced back over her shoulder and sighed. “Not happening,” she said tiredly. “I thought you were okay with the concept of a one night stand.”
Aston let the annoyance and disappointment slip by him. “I’m cool with that,” he said, though it was a slight lie. “Not why I came.”
“What is it then?”
“I’m worried that Holloway is getting a little carried away here.”
Slater turned away from the lake to face him. “And you’re also worried that maybe we really are on the trail of something dangerous, rather than a myth?”
“That too.”
Her face softened. “Yeah. I feel the same. But what do we do? I can’t help feeling Holloway is so locked into this thing that he’s going to do something stupid or reckless. How do we remove ourselves from that?”
“I don’t doubt it. He’ll do anything to succeed. And that’s the question. Are we still going to help him?” Aston was nervous she might suggest abandoning the entire venture. He certainly felt it would be the best option for safety, but he needed Holloway’s money. And the marine biologist in him simply had to know more about what was happening in this huge lake. There was the potential for great scientific discovery. And recognition, if he was honest. But at what cost?
Slater looked away. “I hate myself for it, but I’m still kind of invested.” She looked back, her eyes narrowed. “Are you curious at all? Don’t you want to see this through?”
Aston took a deep breath and sighed, nodded slowly. “Yeah, I have to admit that I am. If there really is something like we’re thinking down there, it would rock biology and history to its core. I want to be a part of that if I can.” Slater opened her mouth to speak, but Aston held up a hand. “But not if it’s going to get us killed. Or anyone else killed.”
“Is it really possible it’s already gotten two of us killed?” Slater’s voice was soft, her eyes wide.
“Gaszi and Dave, you mean?”
She nodded.
Aston looked at his feet. “I guess it is possible.” He met her eyes again. “So we’re back to square one. Do we push on or not?”
“It’s probably all academic anyway,” Slater said. “You promised Carly you’d go to Rinne in the morning and you have to do that, report Dave missing. It’s the right thing to do. After that, everything may well come crashing down around us when that weird bastard gets involved.”
“Think he’ll shut us down?” Aston wondered how Holloway would handle such an eventuality. Would he still pay Aston what he had coming to him? He immediately kicked himself for such a selfish thought. Two men were missing, perhaps even dead. Of course, Aston would soon be joining them if Chang didn’t get what he was owed.
“It wouldn’t surprise me one bit.”
“Bit pessimistic, no? He might not.”
She let out a long, slow breath, turned, and walked away, heading for her bunk. “Good night, Aston.”
He watched her leave, enjoying the view. “Night, Slater,” he said, but she was already out of earshot.
Chapter 20
Senior Constable Pieter Lehtonen rowed as slowly and carefully as he could up to the dive platform of the Merenneito, careful to make no sound. The overcast skies blanketed him in darkness, with scant light by which to navigate, but he was thankful for the covering darkness. He wanted to get this over with, preferably without meeting any of those he was investigating. Something splashed in the water behind him and he whipped his head around, but saw only ripples. A fish, he supposed.
The three am cold bit deep into his bones, chilling the sweat on his brow, and he cursed Superintendent Rinne again. Sending him out like a common cat burglar was ridiculous and he had told Rinne so. But his boss insisted, citing the possibility of the small town being sued for wrongful arrest or harassment if they went in and found nothing.
Lehtonen thought perhaps there was some other agenda at work. Rinne’s methods had always been… unconventional, and this expedition seemed to have struck an odd chord with the veteran policeman. Rinne had been unusually tense since the arrival of the American and his research team, curt with his underlings, barking orders, and quick to anger. Lehtonen wished he understood, but as a salaryman he did as he was told. Sneak onto the boat, is what he had been told. Find something that gives us a good reason to get a search warrant and find out exactly what those weirdos are up to.