The Einstein Papers

CHAPTER 21

Taft tossed an empty bag that had contained two ham-and-cheese biscuits and a hash brown patty at the trash can in the hotel room, then finished his large cola and tossed that in the can as well.

"What is the H.L. Hunley," Taft shouted aloud at the television game in reply to the question. "It was the first submarine to sink a ship in battle."

"Yes," he said to his correct answer, "what is the H.M.S…." he began to say when his secure phone rang, jarring his thoughts.

"Yeah," Taft said, still watching the television. "It's me. The satellites traced the Deep Search to Boston Harbor. She's currently docked at Pier 53," Martinez said. "There's a small airport at Westhampton, on Long Island. I've arranged for a commercial helicopter charter service to fly you to Boston. The chopper's waiting for you now."

"It'll take me about twenty minutes to drive there," Taft said, staring at a map. "What do you want me to do with the rental car?"

"Leave it there. I'll have it picked up later." "Fair enough," Taft said.

"I'm coming in on a Navy jet. I should be there shortly after you."

"You're doing field work?" Taft asked. "Will wonders never cease."

"I think this operation will take both of us," Martinez noted.

"What's the plan?" Taft asked, still watching the television.

"We're going to seize the ship and recover whatever they found."

"Are you bringing along the weapons?" Taft asked.

"Yeah. You want the usual package?"

"Sounds about right," Taft said easily. "You know, I always like it when you get out of the office, Larry."

"I know you do, old buddy," Martinez said, "because I'm a better shot than you."

"My doctor told me it's healthy to embrace reality," Taft noted. "You might want to give some thought to that."

Taft hung up the phone before Martinez could answer.

Throwing his clothes into a black duffel bag, Taft placed the keys to the fishing boat into an envelope and left it with the frontdesk clerk. He piloted the rental car to the small airport and left it locked with the keys on the drivers side front tire. Thirty minutes later he was glancing out the side window of the chartered helicopter as it raced across Block Island Sound.

Less than an hour later, a white baseball cap devoid of markings shielding his eyes, Taft steered his second rental car of the day along Boston Harbor. He watched carefully for the signs marking the different piers. Finding Pier 52, he located an empty parking spot nearby and parked.

Slouching low and assuming the casual gait of a vacationing tourist, he walked east toward Pier 53. His blue eyes scanned the water toward the Deep Search, tied fast to the pier.

No crewmen were visible and the vessel was quiet.

He walked back to the rental car and placed a call to Martinez over the secure phone.

"I'm looking at the Deep Search. Where are you?"

"I'll be there in ten minutes or so. I pulled a blueprint of the Deep Search from the Lloyds insurance computer. The ship was built in Norway in 1985 and has an internal bay that can be used to launch and retrieve mini-subs for exploration work. With that inside bay the crew could easily recover an entire ship up to sixty feet in length if that was their plan."

"We'll talk about that when you get here. Hurry up," Taft said.

"I'm doing seventy miles an hour through traffic," Martinez said as the phone went dead.

Fifteen minutes later Martinez parked next to Taft, climbed from his car, and slipped into Taft's passenger seat. All that remained was to send out for some food and wait until five p.m. when the dock would be clear of any dock workers or tourists who might get in the way of gunfire.

Captain Holtz and First Officer Dietz of the Deep Search waited in suite 312 of the Royal Regent Hotel for a phone call giving them further instructions. If they had been looking to the south of the hotel, they would have seen the sun dancing off the blue water in Boston Harbor. But their eyes were not looking out at the panoramic view. They were instead focused on a European soccer game on the television set. Holtz answered the phone on the side table on the second ring.

"I am in the lobby and will be up directly," a cold voice said. "What is your room number?"

The courier hung up as soon as Holtz replied.

Holtz looked at Dietz. "The courier is on his way up." Several minutes later a soft rap on the door was heard and Holtz rose from the couch to answer. The man at the door stood almost six feet tall; his black hair was cut close to the sides of his head, and his eyes were almond shaped and dark brown. He moved furtively, his motions concealing a certain danger. He did not bother to attempt any small talk.

After an uneasy pause Holtz introduced himself.

"My name's Chou Tsing," he said coldly. "Now where are the documents?" Holtz walked to the wet bar and retrieved a briefcase that was stored underneath. Returning to the sitting room, he opened the case. The bundle recovered from the Windforce was still wrapped in oilskin, covered in black rubber, and sealed in tape. Dietz handed Tsing another small packet. "These are instant photos we took. They show where we found the papers in the sailboat," he said as he handed over the packet.

"Good," Tsing replied. "You and your crew are to meet at Logan Airport this afternoon at five. You are being flown to Nova Scotia."

Dietz looked surprised. "Who will crew the Deep Search if we leave?"

"We have another crew flying in to take care of the ship," Tsing said quietly. "You and your crew are needed in Canada. We have another assignment for you."

"The sailboat is still inside the recovery bay," Holtz said.

"The other crew will handle the removal of the sailboat," Tsing said easily. Holtz looked at Dietz before speaking. "Will the same wages be paid for this assignment?"

"Yes, the same wages and bonus will be in effect," Tsing said coldly. Holtz glanced away. For a moment he saw the home on the Outer Banks he had dreamed of so often. This next job would give him the down payment.

"That's fine," Holtz said. "If you have another job for us, my crew will be at the airport at five."

Tsing closed the briefcase, then left the room without a goodbye. Holtz and Dietz quietly resumed watching the game. They still had a couple of hours to wait before leaving for the airport.

A few hours left to live.

"What do you think we'll be looking for next?" Dietz asked Holtz.

"I don't know, but all this secrecy is a bit unnerving," said Holtz. Bigger forces were at work, but they had no way of knowing that. They would take their secrets to the grave.