Sam picked up a Glock 17 and held it in his hand looking through the end of its sighting mechanism. It was obviously plastic and looked light and flimsy, more like a toy gun than a deadly weapon to Alexis. “This will do perfectly.”
Alexis smiled. “Well, it’s nice to see one of you doesn't carry a weapon like it’s an endorsement of your male appendage. That looks like a nice civilized weapon.”
Sam checked the safety was on and then handed it to her. “I’m glad you think so, because I picked it out for you. Have you fired a handgun before?”
“No. Never,” Alexis lied.
“Okay, I’ll show you —” Sam started but never got to finish.
Alexis removed the magazine and then stripped the weapon, checking that each component was intact and functioning smoothly. She then reassembled the weapon and attached the magazine. She withheld the tiniest of coy smiles. “I was raised on a farm in Oregon — and you thought I’d never used a handgun before?”
“Well that’s good.” Sam stood there in front of her grinning like the fool she’d made of him. He shook his head in wonder and picked up an Uzi and a M40A5 Sniper Rifle with bipod and suppressor. “All right, let’s get back to work.”
Alexis walked out the armory door — unsure if she felt safer or more concerned by the weapons her rescuers armed themselves with.
Matthew locked the massive armory door. Then looked at the outside wall where a Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun and a SMAW II Serpent Rocket launcher sat on two boxes of military ordinance he’d brought outside the armory. “Are we forgetting something?”
Tom looked at the heavy weapons. “Good point, we don’t know who’s after Alexis, but we know they mean business and operate like professionals. No doubt about it, they’ll be armed and they’ll return for her on the Antarctic Solace. This time, we’ll be ready.”
“I don’t mean to sound self-centered,” Alexis said. “But if they’re after me, shouldn’t we forget the Antarctic Solace. I mean, wouldn’t it be easier to defend the Maria Helena?”
Matthew grinned. “I wouldn’t worry ma’am; the Maria Helena is armed better than most battleships and with some uniquely advanced weaponry systems. We’ll be very lucky if they come after you while you’re aboard.”
Chapter Twenty Two
Alexis wanted to laugh at the sight of Tom and Genevieve carrying the 128 pound heavy machinegun and tripod while Elise carried the rocket launcher, resting it casually over her lithe and muscular shoulder as she stepped down towards the runabout as though it were the most natural of all things for a computer nerd to be carrying. Trailing behind, Matthew whistled as he wheeled a cart of Serpent Rockets.
Who are these people?
“Elise.” Sam stopped her from descending the ladder onto the runabout. “I need you to do something for me before you go.”
“Sure, what do you need?” Elise replied.
Sam’s eyes turned to avoid Alexis’s gaze. “I’ll tell you inside.”
“Okay, I’ll just be a second.”
Matthew stopped pushing his cart and reached for Elise’s rocket launcher. “Here, give me that. Go sort Sam’s IT stuff out and I’ll finish loading the runabout. I don’t want to waste any more time than we have to.”
“Thanks Matthew.”
Alexis caught Elise’s eye as she followed Sam inside the Maria Helena’s bridge. She looked like she was going to say something to her, and then turned and entered the ship’s structure. Alexis couldn’t tell if she was simply in a rush or trying to hide something. Alexis thought of following her. No one had told her that some places of the Maria Helena were out of bounds. Even so, the thought made her feel like she was interfering.
Instead, she waited outside feeling oddly conscious of the fact she had nothing of any use to contribute. Matthew completed his trip to the runabout, along with Tom and Genevieve, and then stopped to rest several feet from her. She watched as Tom and Genevieve remained on the runabout, chatting like old friends.
Then she noticed something. There was something about the way they interacted which made them look like more than just colleagues. Nothing obvious — a hand offered for assistance climbing onto the Zodiac held for a millisecond longer than it should have been; a glance at each other’s eyes that seemed slightly too attentive for a coworker.
Genevieve caught her eyes, stared at her for a second, and then looked away — as though Genevieve knew precisely what she was thinking.
Does anyone like me on this boat?
Her heart raced as she reconsidered the cook’s gaze, and thought about a second explanation — what if they simply don’t trust me?
Alexis moved down the decking towards Matthew and leaned on the balustrade next to him, staring out at the icy waters. “What’s your story, Matthew?”
“I don’t have much of a story ma’am.” He smiled kindly at her. “I come to work pretty much every day of the year and give my best to the project and the team.”
“You don’t ever go home?”
“This is my home, work, and entire life.” Matthew smiled warmly as he spoke.
He seemed happy enough to her, but not driven in the same way as the others who were part of Sam Reilly’s team. Unlike Elise, Tom, Veyron and even Genevieve who all looked like they were constantly on the adventure of a lifetime, Matthew simply looked like he was working a nine to five career. He appeared neither pleased nor displeased by his earlier choices of vocation, and simply continued on his original way of life. Perhaps he’s been around so much longer he’s merely more competent than the rest of them?
“How did you end up working aboard the Maria Helena and involved with Deep Sea Projects?” she asked.
“I’ve been on this ship the longest, actually.” He looked pleased that she’d taken an interest and then paused to see if she was really interested in his story. When she didn’t say anything to stop him, he continued. “The Maria Helena was the first ship I commanded after completing my internship with Global Shipping.”
“I thought this was Sam’s brainchild?”
“No. His father, James Reilly owned this ship. He used it primarily for deep sea salvage operations. When Sam’s old man was trying to entice Sam to return to the family business he told Sam he could choose the type of work he wanted to use the ship for — just so long as it paid for itself. James was quite clear he didn’t want to give Sam a ship out of charity. He had to make it work. What that work was, was entirely up to Sam.”
“So, Sam is connected to THAT Reilly?”
“You mean the shipping tycoon?”
Alexis nodded, “Yeah.”
“That’s him. He’s probably one of the richest men in the history of shipping.”
“Am I right that it was Sam’s grandfather who started Global Shipping?”
“Yes, but it was Sam’s father who made it the success it is today. I think James had hoped Sam would continue with his legacy.”
“Sam doesn’t want to be CEO one day?” she asked.
“Not even slightly.” The question made Matthew laugh. “Can you imagine Sam sitting behind a desk?”
“No. I suppose not.”
“Sam’s father loves the sea, but he loves money even more. We’re all good at something and James Reilly knows how to make money multiply. Sam of course, is the polar opposite.”
“Really?” Alexis was surprised. “Sam doesn’t like money?”
“Nothing quite so sinister,” Matthew reassured her with placating hands. “Sam’s just different on the subject of money. James wants to take billions and turn them into trillions. Sam was born into money. He’s never had want of anything in his life, but instead of turning out greedy like so many other rich kids, he’s dedicated his life to helping others. He joined the military, like so many others, after Nine Eleven because he wanted to do his part to serve his country. Since he got out, he’s used this ship on countless missions to help people from around the world in areas he’s passionate about, such as environmental conservation, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief.”