Hell Ship

CHAPTER 15

John Lee Ray caught the gold piece in his right hand. There was something sly in his triumphant smile, but it was the gleeful look in Scalpel’s eyes that told Dane he’d been had.

He was a little surprised when Ray simply slid the medallion into a pocket and then addressed him in the same easy tone. “There, you see? Everybody wins. And once you’ve heard what I have to say, you might be sympathetic to my cause. I’m always hiring, and you’ve certainly proven yourself capable.”

“First, tell me this. You knew that the SECNAV sent us out here. How?”

Ray cocked his head, as if trying to think of the best way to answer. “I believe you’ve made the acquaintance of a certain Edward Lord Hancock, so I’m sure some of what I am about to tell you will no doubt be familiar. I will recount the story to you as I experienced it.

“One of my first clients…I would tell you his name, but discretion is a part of the service he paid me for…suffice it to say, he was a very wealthy and powerful man. One night, while he was in his cups, he told me a most fascinating story. The true history of the world; a history of Templar domination. At the time, I took his account for the ravings of a drunkard, but as the years passed, I began to see patterns…a design as distinctive as the Templar cross.

“They control everything. Elections, wars, economic and social upheavals…nothing happens that does not serve this design. I can see that you are skeptical. I was too, at first. You asked how I knew about your mission? I knew because I have been watching. When Don Riddell made a request for information about the sinking of the Nagata Maru, it threatened to expose their grand scheme. It was a Templar assassin, not my associate here, that killed your employer Miss Vaccaro.”

“I saw him,” protested Alex, pointing at Scalpel.

“He was there, investigating at my behest, but too late to save Mr. Riddell.” Ray paused a moment, as if curious about whether she would accept his explanation. “It was always their intention to recover the key, but this development forced them to accelerate their plans. A full scale search and recovery effort was out of the question, so they sent you. What were your orders? Try to find the ship, but do not attempt a recovery?”

“So, the SECNAV is a Templar?”

“The echelons of power are rife with Templars and their lackeys. This is a conspiracy six hundred years in the making. Our government is nothing but a tool with which the Templars will execute their design. If the Secretary is not himself a Templar, then he dances to their tune.”

“Let me guess,” interjected Bones. “You’re actually the good guys.”

Ray smiled patiently. “As it happens, yes. This is a war, a war against a shadow empire that has controlled our nation from its very inception. We all took the same oath; to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; the Templars are our greatest enemy, subverting the very principles of freedom that we — and all those who went before — pledged to defend with our blood. I will see them brought down. And I will use their own treasure to do it.”

Dane looked at Bones, saw the slight head shake; the unspoken warning had not changed: Don’t trust him. He turned back to Ray. “Yeah. Well, good luck with that.”

“You made it possible, Maddock. You did what even they could not do; you found Hancock, found the key. What do you say? Will you join me in the fight against America’s true enemies?”

“Sorry. I’ve got a job.”

“Told you,” muttered Scalpel.

Ray seemed neither surprised nor disappointed. He checked his watch again. “So be it. Our transaction is complete. I have what I came for, and you have your answers.” He turned away, waving his hand in a circular motion to signal the helicopter pilot to prepare for takeoff.

“That’s it?” said Alex. “You’re just going to leave us here?”

Ray ignored the question. He trekked toward the Huey and did not look back. Scalpel however lingered, his gaze fixed on Dane. “Time to settle up, Maddock.”

“So much for guarantees,” muttered Bones.

“Oh, I’m not going to kill you. I just wanted to savor this moment. You left me for dead, so the least I can do is return the favor.” Scalpel stopped, as if suddenly struck by inspiration. “You know, actually there is one other thing.”

He raised his arm high overhead, wincing as the motion taxed his damaged shoulder, and then brought it down in a chopping motion. “Don’t say I never did anything for you.”

The meaning of his parting gesture became clear a moment later as one of the hovering helicopters tilted forward and began moving toward them. Alex drew close to Dane, pressing herself against his back as if he might shelter her from what was coming, but the helicopter passed overhead without slowing and continued out over the breakers.

Bones’ eyes went wide in horror. “Gabby!”

The Jacinta vanished in a flash of light beneath a rising pillar of black smoke.

The thunderclap of the explosion and a hot shockwave driving splinters and spray buffeted Dane and the others. He wheeled on Scalpel, but the mercenary was already aboard the Huey, and lifting off. He hadn’t believed Ray’s assertion that Scalpel was innocent of Don Riddell’s murder, and here was proof that Alex had been right about them not leaving loose ends.

Now, they were the only loose ends remaining.

Dane looked around, desperate to find cover, but the expected hailstorm of bullets did not materialize. Instead, the three helicopters banked away from the island, and headed for the eastern horizon.

Bones continued to stare in horror at the shattered smoking remains of the Jacinta. The blast, probably from a satchel charge, had obliterated the superstructure and nearly broken the boat in half. It took less than a minute for water to inundate the broken vessel and pull it under the surface.

Alex was also staring in disbelief. “I don’t get it. Why kill her and leave us alive?”

“We’re stranded here now,” Dane answered. “He didn’t spare us; he left us to die, stuck on this rock, just like Trevor Hancock. If we’re lucky, that is.”

“Lucky?”

“You may have noticed that Ray was in a hurry to get out of here. These islands are disputed territory. China, Vietnam, and Malaysia, among others, have claimed them, and while they aren’t exactly ready to go to war over them, they all keep a close eye on what goes on here. They might not bother with a visit from an idle fishing vessel, but an intrusion by three helicopters would definitely get their attention. And chances are very good that they noticed that.” He pointed to the dissipating black cloud that marked the place where Jacinta had broken up. “So, there’s a better than even chance that a Chinese or Vietnamese patrol boat is already on its way here.”

“To rescue us?”

Dane shook his head. “To arrest us.”

“Surely if we explain—”

“Right,” snarled Bones. “We’ll just tell them that a crazy mercenary tricked us into finding a lost treasure so that he can destroy a bunch of secret modern Templars. Hey, we might as well let them know that we’re SEALs while we’re at it. Worst case scenario…they actually believe it.”

“Oh.” Alex sagged in defeat.

Dane took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. Because we’re not going to be here.”

Alex did not seem heartened by Dane’s declaration, but Bones perked up. “You got a plan?”

“It’s more of a mission statement right now,” replied Dane, with a dangerous gleam in his eye. “It goes something like this. We get off this island. We go find what Ray wants before he does. And if we get another chance, we don’t make the mistake of leaving anyone for dead.”

“Amen, brother.”

“Even if we get off this island,” said Alex, “we don’t have the medallion anymore. How are we going to find the Templar treasure without the key?”

“We have this.” Dane held up his hand, palm facing her. There, stamped deep into his skin, etched in blood, was a perfect outline of Trevor Hancock’s medallion.