The Devil's Trinity

Chapter 20

Marsh looked across the table at Francesini. The man seemed content with life, as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The gardens of the Caravel Club in Freeport were a perfect setting for the occasion. A warm sun shone down on them while a gentle breeze blew in from the Gulf to caress the islands. It instilled a warm tranquillity in him that Marsh found most rewarding.

With Marsh and Francesini were Helen, Admiral Starling, the Island Police Commissioner and Inspector Bain, lauding it over his guests. They were all wearing casual clothes; no suits or uniforms. It added to the calming effect and made the storming of the rig seem like a bad dream.

They had come close to failure. So close it was almost unbelievable. Even with Khan lying dead on the floor of the control room, no-one had thought to power down the computer because of the chaos that reigned. It was only the lightning reaction of one of the Seals that had saved them. One of the engineers with Khan had made a lunge for the Castell key only to be killed with a fast, clean shot. The speed of the kill numbed Helen for a moment, and then she suddenly stepped forward, spun the combination on the lock, and fainted.

The recollection of it all made Marsh smile inwardly. There had been bedlam after that. Lieutenant Santos came staggering into the control room nursing a broken shoulder and screaming instructions to contact the helicopter and get the attack called off. Within seconds it seemed, three F-16’s roared over the top of the rig and had them all diving for the dubious cover of the control room floor.

Now they were here enjoying a cool, refreshing drink in the Bahamian sunshine. Enjoying the free world, he mused ruefully. If it could ever be free after the colossal events they had been through. He was certain that all they had achieved was a lull in the never ending conflict between fanatical terrorists and the free world.

“I was convinced you knew what Walsh was involved in,” Francesini was saying. “I even had you as a member of the opposition at one time,” he told him.

The irony was not lost on Marsh. “Well, you could say I was, after all I did end up working for them, didn’t I?”

They all laughed.

“Better stick to fishing trips in future,” Francesini joked.

Helen glanced at Marsh. “I expect that’s all he’ll want to do after this.”

Admiral Starling cleared his throat and pulled a couple of envelopes from his pocket. He gave one each to Marsh and Helen.

“No fishing trips yet, I’m afraid. These are commissions to retrieve the bombs. We’ll need your submersible, of course, and your expertise.”

Marsh opened his envelope and read through the contents. He whistled softly through his teeth; the remuneration was extremely generous. More than enough to get the yard back on its feet again and back into business.

“Is this by way of saying thank you?”

The admiral nodded. “If something had gone wrong, thousands upon thousands would be dead by now. Who knows how many would have suffered the long term effects of Khan’s deadly fanaticism? You two became unwitting pawns in a dirty and very dangerous game. Even now we cannot admit officially that it happened.” He shrugged. “We can always explain terrorist behaviour when they ply their deadly trade publicly. But there are times when we have to keep the lid very tight on some of their tricks. Can you imagine the outcry and panic if it got out into the public domain that there were three nuclear bombs sitting out there? So, yes, we are saying thank you and asking for your commitment and your silence.”

“Asking?”

Starling grimaced. “Well, insisting actually. I’m afraid it has to be that way.”

Marsh folded the envelope and pushed it into his pocket.

“Well, our business needs the work and it won’t hurt to get a healthy bank balance again. All we’ll need now is an experienced diver, but what about his silence?”

Francesini leaned forward. “We have an experienced diver and I am sure we can count on his silence.”

“Who is it?” Marsh asked. “Do we know him?”

Francesini grinned. “Batista.”

Marsh and Helen sat bolt upright in their seats immediately. “Batista?” they echoed together.

“That’s right. He’s a professional and worth his weight in gold in such an endeavour. After all, who could be better? He put the bombs there; he can get the damn things out again. And remember, the fewer the people who know about this, the better. Batista has every reason to keep silent; his life wouldn’t be worth squat if his involvement in this got into the public domain.”

“I thought he would be going to prison,” Helen protested.

It was the inspector who answered. “Why? He hasn’t really committed a crime. Oh sure, he is responsible for a certain complicity, but all this was in international waters. What would a judge give him? Couple of years?”

“So it’s bargaining time, right?” asked Marsh.

“Quite,” answered Bain. “But you could always drown him when it’s over”

Helen stood up. The others got up out of courtesy. “Well I’m sure you’ll all work out the details,” she said. “But for now I think I would like some time with Marsh. We have a great deal to talk about.”

They all shook hands and Helen took her leave with Marsh. Out of sight of the others she squeezed his hand.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet and more private.”

She led him through the flowered walkway to the car. Marsh followed contentedly, the past events forgotten, and only the future with Helen on his mind.

The Devil’s Trinity was a thing of the past. Now they could start living again.