Phantom Prospect - Alex Archer [44]
“How are they going to narrow it down?”
Sheila shrugged. “You left them to handle things while you came after me.”
“Yeah, but I thought you were the traitor.”
Sheila nodded. “And you told them to carry on because you felt certain there was someone else working on the ship, right?”
“How’d you know that?”
Sheila smiled. “Garin taught me very well. I’ve had this entire boat wired for sound for days now. I heard everything you said after I left. It’s how I was able to be ready for your sudden appearance.”
“Wonderful.”
“The truth of the matter is: there is someone working on the boat to disrupt the operation. But it’s not me. So in a way, you were absolutely correct when you told them there was another party on board.”
“That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”
“Well, the important thing is they’ll be fine without our help. You and I need to figure out the shark. Once we get that taken care of, Hunter and Cole will have found the traitor and then we can get down to the business of securing the crucifix.”
Annja sighed. “And just who are we keeping the crucifix away from? Because you never told me that.”
Sheila looked at her. “Do you just pretend to not notice things as a way of ferreting out information?”
“Depends on who I’m talking to.”
“I see.”
“And you still haven’t answered the question.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
Annja frowned. “I thought you knew everything there was to know about these people.”
“I do. To some extent, anyway. But it’s not a lack of information I’m worried about.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s about whether Garin wants you to know who they are.”
Annja shook her head. “Why on earth wouldn’t he want me to know about them?”
“I’m not sure. He didn’t specifically tell me to share the information with you. ‘Need to know’ and all that.”
Annja stood. “Let me make myself clear. If you expect me to go into the water and face down some huge shark that wants nothing more than to chew me into little bits and pieces, then I expect some quid pro quo here. You can get right on the horn to Garin and tell him I said that. If he wants my help, he’d better start sharing the goods on who is after this thing. And if he doesn’t, he can come on out here and take on the shark himself, because I’ll be gone.”
Sheila held up her hands. “Okay, okay, just calm down.”
“I am calm,” Annja said. “I just want there to be no mistake. I am not going ahead with any plan to help Garin until I know the full extent of what’s involved here. I tend to take a very long view of things when my own mortality is involved.”
“I’ll get Garin on the phone and talk to him. In the meantime, will you promise to keep this quiet?”
Annja frowned. “Who am I going to tell?”
“Hunter and Cole.”
“You don’t want them knowing you’re in the clear?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“It will probably help flush out the real culprit if I’m still suspected of being the traitor.”
“I can’t keep it from them for very long.”
“Just let them think that you’ve got me buttoned up and I’ll get clearance from Garin. Then we can go see them.”
Annja nodded. “Fine. I’m going to lie down. But move fast. I want more information than what I’ve got so far.”
ANNJA GOT BACK to her quarters and stretched out on the bed, sinking into the mattress with relief. She felt butterflies in her stomach and did some deep breathing to relieve the nervousness she was feeling.
The idea of jumping into the ocean to do battle with the shark stalking the boat did nothing to make her pleased she’d agreed to come along with Cole on this trip. If anything, Annja only wanted to run home and lock the door.
At least in Brooklyn, she only had to worry about muggers, murderers and a variety of other scum. Sharks hadn’t yet figured out how to settle down in any of the five boroughs.
Garin.
His face swam into her mind and Annja frowned. So Sheila worked for him. That was a surprise. More surprising was the fact that she knew plenty about Annja and was a decent match in terms of her combat skills. Annja hadn’t met many who could go toe to toe with her.
Why was Garin recruiting his own