The Ghost Ships of Arizona

CHAPTER FOUR

“Stories of the ghost ships began around the time of the American Civil War. We have the great Colorado River flood of 1862. The Los Angeles Daily News reported a sighting in 1870. The Gulf of California was once connected to what is now called the Salton Sea, once the enormous Lake Cahuilla, most of which dried up. Half-buried hulks, they saw. Some near Dos Palmas, California. Others near Yuma, Arizona. Easily viewed, they said, but when expeditions were sent out to salvage the vessels they had once again sunk beneath the drifting sands. It is believed that any ships out there might now be buried under the Salton Sea, but such beliefs, long held, are often proved wrong, especially in the modern age. Nicholas Bell, at least, believes this.”

“Any idea which ships they might be?” Dahl asked.

“A good question and the answer is yes. But, alas, as fascinating as they may be, the ships are but a diversion in this room today. Webb is using them as a distraction for his fellow Pythians for two reasons. One, because he knows Bell will have to be dealt with and will thus divide his enemy’s forces. And two, because he is nose-diving, crashing at an alarming rate and doesn’t want them to see where he’s headed. His justification for allowing Bell to search for the ships is the new fortune their treasures will bring.”

Drake cleared his throat. “You mentioned that this is a two-pronged plan? And hey, what the hell happened to your French accent?”

Beauregard raised a brow but didn’t look like he wanted to over-explain himself. After a moment he carried on. “I did. Bell’s plan is to salvage the ghost ships at the same time as using the Z-boxes to take down the US.”

“Take down the US?” Hayden repeated. “That is a bold statement, Beauregard.”

“It is. And it will only be a warning shot across the bows. A statement of intent. It will take the form of an attack upon the United States’ electrical grid and will bring the deepest fear to millions. An uprising? No. Anarchy? No. But the government will have the struggles of a nation on its hands and will be hard pressed. Remember the New York blackout? The only people who enjoyed that night were very drunk.”

“Or criminals,” Kinimaka said.

Beauregard spread his hands wide. “You said it. Since your last escapade and the demise of Webb’s lieutenant, Dudley, he has changed tactics, instead preferring to flood his ranks with dumb, violent mercenaries. This — and everything else they have going on — will put a strain on even the Pythians’ finances, hence the other major reason for the ghost ship hunt. There are new Pythians now, too.” Beauregard shook his head in disbelief. “A man named Julian Marsh from the UK. A woman named Zoe Sheers. And one more I do not yet know. They too have big plans and are almost as dangerous as Webb. But that man—” Beauregard paused.

“The bugger’s as cracked as crazy paving?” Drake offered. “Barmy enough to bite ‘is own arm off?”

Dahl waved away Beauregard’s confused expression. “He’s from Yorkshire.”

“Well, if you mean dangerously mad then that is a poor description for Webb. I would say clinically insane enough to organize Armageddon for fun. He is trying to prove his…” The Frenchman struggled for words. “His godship. Do you understand?”

“Aye, lad.” Drake nodded. “Some of us may look daft and Swedish but we’re not all stupid.”

“I still believe Nicholas Bell has bitten off more than he can chew,” Lauren said again. “He was nice to me. He could be an ally.”

Smyth made a noise like an approaching thunderstorm. Beauregard cut in. “As I mentioned, they have boosted their forces already. They will hit hard and bluntly, not caring about casualties on either side. They have two Z-boxes left and intend to use them. I’m thinking multiple, simultaneous attacks. I do not know the exact way Bell or Webb will try using the Z-boxes to attack the electrical grid but I assure you, unless stopped, they will do so.”

“We have one Z-box,” Hayden said. “And we’re trying to decode it even now.”

“It will not be in time, Miss Jaye. All I know is they need access to three US substations and the game — as they say — is already on.”

Drake absorbed that. He was no expert on any kind of electrical grid but he knew country-wide substations had to number in the thousands.

“And I’m guessing you know which ones?”

“No.” Beauregard looked glum. “I only know the first because that’s where they’re headed now, why I quickly broke cover, and why we have little to no time. It’s Almaden, in San Jose, in California.”

“When will they hit?” Hayden was already reaching for the phone.

“Tonight.”

“But what’s their goal?” Karin broke her deep silence with an intelligent question. “I would imagine that the Almaden substation is a big facility. What exactly are they looking for inside there?”

Beauregard again spread his hands. “I don’t know.”

“Crap.” Smyth clucked. “What fuckin’ good are ya?”

“I have my uses,” Beauregard returned. “As others have discovered. Perhaps this will endear me to you too.”

“I’d have to fight you first,” Dahl said seriously. “In proper light. Just to see what kind of style you actually employ.”

“What the toff’s trying to say is you’re a bloody tricky twat,” Drake said amiably. “And we don’t take loss or defeat lightly.”

“Understood. I will look forward to the day. In the meantime…” Beauregard rose to his feet. “Oh, and remember one thing,” he added. “Tyler Webb is utterly desperate for one thing and only thing only. He calls it the Saint Germain factor and it is the only reason he invented the Pythians. To achieve this goal he will literally burn the world down, not caring that he might die in the process. Often I have heard him talking to himself and he says this over and over: I don’t care if I am the last man on earth. The way he talks — he is not just waffling. He truly believes that the prospect is real.”

“Which begs the question — what about the Saint Germain factor could help achieve that state?” Karin said.

Then Hayden cut in quickly. “Wheels up in ten, guys. We’re headed west. Get your butts and your guns into gear. You coming with us, Beauregard?”

“If I did so I would lose everything that I have worked for.”

Hayden nodded in understanding, then glanced around the rest of the team who were still staring suspiciously at the Frenchman.

“C’mon, guys. Move it!”