He stopped so abruptly that she plowed into him. He reached out one hand to prevent her from falling.
No, we wont prove anything one way or another, not without additional evidence. But it will be interesting to find out if there is or isnt air in his tank and to take a look at the regulator.
You have a car? she asked him.
You dont?
I got into my room around midnight. I took a cab from the airport.
Im in the garage.
He started walking again. This time, she kept a certain distance.
Hed rented a Honda. When Kat climbed in, he indicated a folder thrust between the seats. Notes from my meeting with Amanda Channel and Jon Hunt at the Chicago Ancient History Preservation Centerand what Ive dug up from recent newspaper clippings.
Kat quickly leafed through the folder while he maneuvered the car out of the parking garage. The center sounded like a truly commendable enterprise. Nonprofit, it was dedicated to preservation. The staff was small and included three researchers, a receptionist and a general assistant. Grad students came and went. Of course, now with Brady Laurie gone, it was down to two researchers.
Landry Salvage and Simontons Sea Search, she murmured, skimming various articles written about the elusive Jerry McGuen. These cant be the only two parties interested in finding the ship.
Im assuming that over the last century, countless individuals and companies have tried. Think about discoveries in the past. Both the Titanic and the Atocha took years and years of fruitless searches before finally being discovered. He glanced over at her. Laurie must have been a brilliant historian and scientist.
But not as brilliant a diver, Kat said. He shouldnt have gone down alone.
Will shrugged. Maybe it wouldnt have mattered.
What do you mean?
Maybe the first person to come across the treasure was supposed to die, he said cryptically. Or maybe his coworkers werent supposed to be so close behind him, who knows? But I believe well find out.
You have a lot of confidence, Kat told him.
He flashed her a smile that was surprisingly charming. Thats what we dofind things out. So far, my team hasnt stopped until weve gotten the answers. Dont tell me your team gives up so easily.
We havent given up yet! Kat said indignantly.
His smile remained in place as he drove.
At the station, they were led first to one desk and then to another, and finally to the officer in charge of the accidental death investigation, Sergeant Riley. His supervisor had advised him to expect fed agents, and while he was pleasant and seemed to have no problem offering them assistance, he was confused about why they were there. Sad, but the way the papers tell it, Riley said, Laurie went down on his own and drowned. You wouldve thought hed know better. Every year, every damned year, theres a diver lost somewhere in the lake, some fool so convinced of his own ability that he just goes downand comes up dead. Riley was in his early thirties, tops. He was medium in height and size, and wore a white tailored shirt with the sleeves rolled up. At the moment, the personal effects found on the corpse are in the evidence room. Well go sign them out and you can study them all you want.
Were you there when Brady Laurie was brought up? Kat asked him.
They were on the lake. Our marine unit went out to the site. He was declared dead at the hospital, but thered been attempts at resuscitation before that. I took over the investigation when his wet suit and dive tanks were sent to us, and Ive been awaiting the medical examiners report, butI have to admit, I wasnt expecting anything to come of it, Riley said.
He walked them back to the evidence cage, where they were introduced to the officer in charge and signed in. Was the equipment tested for leaks? Will asked.
Immediately. No problems.
Fingerprints?
Um, no.
Ah, Chan said.
Riley frowned. Is that a problem? I doubt wed have gotten anything, anyway, since divers in the lake wear gloves. And then, of course, our technicians worked with the equipment to find out if it was faulty in any way.
But it wasnt?
No.
In the evidence area where the tank, regulator and buoyancy control belt had been stowed, along with Lauries weight belt, Will looked back at Kat. May I?
Go right ahead. Lauries equipment had not been disassembled; the octopus with the regulator, secondary system and computer console was still connected to the air tank.
Will examined the computer at the end of one of the hoses. He grimaced and beckoned to Kat. She came over and stood next to him, staring down at the dials. Brady Laurie had died with five minutes of air still available.
There was air in his tank, Will explained to Riley. After it was checked out for leaks.
Well, so there is, Riley said. Then he must have panicked and spit the thing out.
Experienced divers dont panic when they have a regulator and air. He had a secondary system, too, Kat said thoughtfully. Properly attached to his BCV. Riley was looking at her blankly. This, she said, indicating the buoyancy control vest. He could easily have reached for it if hed had difficulty with his main regulator, she said, pointing to the mouthpiece. It allows for the flow of air.
Riley shook his head. We really think it was just a tragic accident.
Kat stepped in front of Will. Im sorry, Sergeant Riley. We dont.
Youre taking over the investigation? he asked. To Kats astonishment, he sounded hopeful.
He must have read her mind. Hey, big city here, folks. I have my hands full, sothe chief already sent down orders to set you up in one of the conference rooms.
Good, Will said. Thank you. He pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. Can you see that we have access to this equipment, and a technical officer if need be?
Whatever you want that weve got, Riley assured them.
Can you also connect us with the officer in charge of the marine patrol unit?
Riley was happy to do so. He was happy, perhaps, to do anything that would make them someone elses responsibility.
Outside the station, Kat took out her phone. Ive got to tell Logan I cant say for sure that Laurie died by accident, she explained to Will. Do you need to call in, as well? Now might be a good time.
He shrugged. I dont have anything to report yet. Jackson Crow knew Id be staying on for a while.
Oh?
Hey, I happen to love Egyptian history, he told her.
You seem delighted that there might have been a murder, she said sarcastically.
Death never delights me. His voice had grown serious. You came into this expecting an accidental drowningwhich is also what the police believed. But whenever theres big money involved and a massive black market, I expect trouble. We need to put a stop to it or its going to continue. He studied her for a moment. Hey, this is what we do, he said. You shouldnt be in this if you cant hack it.
I can hack it just fine, she snapped. You forget Im a doctora certified medical examiner and forensic pathologist. Ive studied all manner of deaths.
No, I didnt forget, he said. I couldnt possiblyyou constantly remind me.
He walked away so she could make her call.
Kat looked after him, frustrated, her temper soaring again. Then she flushed and turned away. Was she afraid she didnt have control of the situation? Mental note: quit reminding people that Im an M.E.
Wincing, she made her call.
She told Logan that yes, it appeared that they should investigate, although she had nothing solid as yet. He promised that more team members would be there within twenty-four hours. Im assuming that youve met Agent Chan? Logan asked.
Oh, yes.
And hes capable and professional?
All that, Kat said drily.
And what else?
Hes an ass, Kat said. He stomped all over the Chicago M.E. I try to speak first now to protect us from the wrath of local authorities.
Logan chuckled softly. I know Chan. I met him at our special units base in Arlington. Hes, shall we say, irreverent, but apparently excellent at what he does. Hes familiar with film, video and computer alteration, so hell be great with the film crew. And he dives, which is a major asset on this case. Are you going to see the Jerry McGuen soon?
If I know Chan, very soon, Kat said, glancing over at her new colleague.
Keep me posted on any developments, Logan told her. I should be there by midafternoon tomorrow. Then he rang off and Kat returned the phone to her purse, signaling that the call was finished.
Chan approached her seconds later. Ready? he asked.
She nodded.
Their next stop was the harbor, where the police search and rescue boat that had brought in the body was docked.
The harbor and the lake were beautiful that day. Summer was still with them but would begin to fade in the next few weeks. Today, though, the water glistened under a benign sun.
They were able to see all four officers whod been on the search and rescue boat. Officer Aldo Reynald had been in charge, and he seemed sincerely interested in their queries.
When we got there, the woman was crying her eyes outAmanda. Yeah, Amanda Channel. She was kneeling over the dead man. She said shed done CPR, but she didnt think it helped. She said we had to save her friend. The other guy, Jon Hunt, was walking around the dock, rubbing his chin, scratching his head. I tried CPR as we got him to shore. No luck. We have a state-of-the-art truck to deal with emergencies like this. You get a lot of divers who think they know their stuff and dont, or divers who are used to the tropics and get into trouble in the lake. And naturally we have boating accidents, sowere prepared. We used every possible method of resuscitation on the way to the hospital, butthen we got there and they called it. He shook his head glumly. Im assuming were going to have to be vigilant as this whole thing proceeds because diving a wreck is inherently dangerous, and a newly discovered one even more so.
Reynald was lean and fit; he was obviously experienced, practicaland compassionate.
But you believe he was dead when you arrived? Kat asked.
He nodded grimly. Dead as a cold mackerel, Im afraid.
How long? Will asked next.
He couldnt have been dead more than half an hour or so, Reynald told them. Im not sure what Im basing that on, other than that Ive pulled more than a few bodies out of the lake. Like I said, he was declared DOA at the hospital.
Were there other boats near the dive spot? Will asked.
Boating on a good day on Lake Michigan? You bet.
Close to the dive site? Kat continued for Will.
Reynald drew in a deep breath. Yeah, near enough, I think. The other Preservation Center boat was thereas well as the one the dead man had been on. Oh, and the film crew has a snazzy research boat, too. There was a sailboat maybe two hundred feet away and others farther out.
One of his fellow officers chimed in. There were two motorboats nearby. One was a Cigarettenice speedboat. I noticed that because I always wanted one. The othera little cabin cruiser. Looked like the people aboard were fishing.
Fishing, Kat echoed dubiously.
The officer grinned. Not that long ago, Lake Michigan was so polluted you could die from eating fish you caught out there. But its cleaned up. Youll find lots of people fishing in the lake now.
Did you notice anything else about the boat? she asked.
He shook his head. Im afraid I didnt.
Either have a dive flag up? Will asked.
Neither, the second officer replied.
We were called in on an accident, and rescue was our main objective, Reynald told them. I feel like a fool because were also law enforcement officers. Do you suspect it was more than an accident?
Kat answered carefully. Were not sure yet. Were just investigating at this point.
Well, were here anytime you need us, Reynald said.
They thanked him. As they headed back to the car, Will seemed thoughtful. He glanced over at her. You tired? You want to call it quits for the day?
She scowled back at him. If shed been falling off her feet, shed never have admitted it to this man. Im fine. What do you have in mind?
Two quick stopsLandry Salvage and Simontons Sea Search. Neither may really help. Salvage companies dont usually drive around in Cigarette speedboats, but
And if someone else is searching for treasure, that person may not be involved with a salvage company at all, Kat added.
He paused at the car door, looking over it. True. But you have to know something about diving to get down there. Youd have to follow the research to find the shipand youd have to follow Brady Laurie out to the siteand gone after him right away.
Maybe its someone who works for a salvage company, Kat suggested. Not the company itself.
That would be my bet. Will grinned as she joined him in the front seat. Your choiceLandry or Simontons Sea Search first?
Simontons. I like the alliteration, she said.
Simontons was just north of the pier. There was a massive vessel with all kinds of cranes and netting at the dock. The office itself was small and looked more like a sea shanty than a professional building. Inside, Kat was surprised to see that it was nicely outfitted with modern office furniture and file cabinets that occupied most of the wall space. The walls were decorated with old anchors, flags and other boating paraphernalia. A receptionist who introduced herself as Gina led them to a back room, where the walls were decorated with sea charts and maps, and the rear wall held the figurehead of a beautiful siren.
The man standing behind the desk was in a windbreaker, deck shoes and jeans. His desk was strewn with papers, despite the computer that took up at least half of it. Hi. Im Andy Simonton, he greeted them. What can I do for you?
He was young, maybe thirty, with slightly shaggy blond hair and bright blue eyes. He swept out a hand to indicate the chairs in front of his messy desk. They sat.
Youre with the FBI? he asked curiously. He didnt seem afraid or threatened in any way, but rather intrigued.
Were looking into the death of Brady Laurie, Will said.
Sad affair, that drowning, Simonton murmured.