Crazy people can latch onto anything, butat this point, I dont know what I think or feel, Kat told him. Except that its been a really, really long day!
And itll be an early morning, he said.
She was glad hed said that; his stamina seemed to be on a par with the Energizer Bunnys. She hoped he was taking her back to her hotel. Im at a place called the Edwardian off Michigan Avenue.
Yep.
You know that, of course, she said.
Of course.
He didnt just drop her off; he brought the car in front to the valet. She sighed as she saw him get out and walk around to her. Youre staying here, too.
Government dollar. He shrugged. We go where they get their deals, he said. Ill meet you in the lobby at eight.
Were diving at 8:00 a.m.?
He hesitated. Youre not required to go down.
I wouldnt miss it. Remember? Were excited about this.
Would you like to get some dinner?
I think Ill just go upstairs and order in, she said.
Good night, then.
There was a small restaurant in the hotel. He walked toward it, a folder and an iPad in his hands. He was going to keep working, she realized.
And she was starving.
He stopped suddenly, a curious frown tightening his brow. She was startled to notice again what a striking and unusual man he was.
He walked back to her. All day I forgot to ask Well, I suppose you wouldve said, butdid you get anything from the corpse?
Kat studied his eyes. She was surprised, after the day theyd spent together, to feel strangely close to him. But then, when you were one of the lucky or the cursed whod always assumed they were ever so slightly crazy, there was an instant bond with others who shared that luck or that curse. She shook her head. No, and I was hopeful. Were always hopeful, she said quietly. You?
Nothing at all. And I just think that in this situation, with the money involved in salvage, what seems to stink does stink. I really believe he was murdered. I grew up in the islands. Ive been diving since I was a kid. No, he should never have gone down alone, but from what Ive learned and seen, there was nothing that should have caused him to lose control. His equipment was in perfect working order. Even after being tested for leaks, his tank had air. He paused. Its strange. We still cant explain why some souls stay around, and some dont.
Maybe some people who die by violence arent compelled to stay on earth to see that justice is done, she said. Some may find peacewho knows? Theres an incredible amount that we havent begun to understand.
Aint that the truth, he said. Well, get some rest.
He started to walk again. He was a workaholic, she thought. Usually so was she. But she really was tired.
Still, they were supposed to be working this case together. She sighed.
A mummy. Great. It just had to be a mummy. The mummy of Amun Mopat.
Wait, she called. Ill join you. We can discuss what direction well take after the dive.
Yes, she was going to dive. And the idea gave her the creeps.
She suddenly wished the Jerry McGuen had remained lost to the world forever.
4
Will passed his iPad over to Kat as soon as theyd ordered. Just click Go. Youll see the footage that was taken when they found Brady Laurie, Will told her.
Startled, Kat looked at him. You had this all along?
Yes. But the cops who were on duty when Brady was brought up, not to mention the salvage companies, are easier to visit by daynot at night.
She didnt respond, thinking he might have told her he had the film footage. Sure, he said he was giving her the lead in their investigation, since her Krewe had been called in. Somehow, he was taking the lead, anyway. She felt like getting up and going to her room, but reminded herself that she was the one whod said they werent in a pissing contest.
Kat touched the icon, and the footage leaped onto the screen. She lowered the volume, not wanting anyone nearby to hear, but there really wasnt any sound, other than the videographers breathing, and then, of course, the muted screams when Amanda and Jon came upon the body of Brady Laurie.
As shed heard, Brady could be seen floating in the hold. Jon had come upon him first; hed tried to get the regulator back in Bradys mouth. Amanda had been at his side soon after. For a few minutes, there was nothing but shots of the inside of the hull and the flooring, covered with plankton and other growth, and strewn with holes. The videographer had momentarily forgotten his task in the horror of their discovery. When he regained control, Kat was glad to see that once theyd found Brady, they had left behind all curiosity and interest in treasure; they started back to the surface immediately. In the course of doing that, they had to make a few safety stops. At the surface, the footage ended.
I met with Alan King, Bernie Firestone and Earl Candy last evening, as soon as Jackson reached me, Will explained, studying her across the table. Earl wanted to destroy his filmhe doesnt want gawkers watching the discovery of a mans death. I promised him that when the investigations over, Ill destroy this copy.
Of course, Kat murmured. She pushed the iPad toward him, frowning. I just dont see how anyone could have gotten to Brady between the time he went down and when his coworkers and the film crew arrived.
Easy enough, I suppose. Down in Lake Michigan, its damned dark. If someone was already down there, knew the lake and was a good diver, heor shecould have found Bradys coordinates just before Brady didand waited for him. Remember, Brady had made a big thing of his belief that he could find the Jerry McGuen. If someone hacked into his computer or even read his blogs, they could follow his reasoning and figure out where the ship might have ended up. Thats one idea. Or, perhaps, someone couldve been surprised by Brady. If you know the area, you keep to the depth, follow your compass and then come up at a distant point.