Free Phantom Prospect by Alex Archer Page B

now? What’s our next play?”
    Cole kept eating. “I need to get out there.”
    “In the water?”
    “That’s generally where the sharks are, yeah.”
    Annja sighed. “It’s not safe. Something tells me you shouldn’t be in the water. No one should be.”
    Cole smiled. “Annja, in case you haven’t noticed, this is a huge investment we’re undertaking. And, for Hunter, it’s something of a personal quest.”
    Annja nodded. “Yeah, he mentioned that to me last night before the shark showed up.”
    “I can’t imagine what the poor guy’s been feeling ever since Brazil. God knows I’ve tried to give him his space. But this dive is important to him. The Fantome wreck is a legend in treasure-hunting circles. A lot of people—most of them, in fact—tend to think it’s a wild-goose chase. That there’s nothing much of value on the ship itself.”
    “But not Hunter.”
    “No. And I don’t believe it, either. I think she might just be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And that would mean vindication. Hell, it would rejuvenate the guy and tell him that all his dreams weren’t just some silly notion.”
    “Vindication’s important.”
    “It’s vital,” Cole said. “When he came to me and had to ask for help, it must have broken his spirit. We’d always had a fair relationship, but you know—”
    “It was him coming to you, hat in hand. I get it.”
    “No one wants to do that.”
    Annja finished her eggs. “Have you told Hunter you’re going into the water today?”
    “Not yet.”
    “What do you think his reaction will be?”
    “He’ll freak.”
    “Rightly so.”
    “And then I’ll explain that, by not going into the water, we’re putting this whole dive at risk. As soon as I do that, he’ll encourage me to go for a swim.”
    Annja smiled. “It’s really going to be that easy?”
    Cole nodded. “Sure. It’s the stuff that happens above the waves that I can control. Down there, though, it’s a different story. Those fish are unpredictable and they’re intelligent. Anything can happen.”
    “You ought to have a cage.”
    Cole nodded. “I will. It should arrive today.”
    “You’re certain about that?”
    “Hunter got a radio call from the shore. They’ll be transporting it out in an hour or so. Once we get it on board, we’ll assemble it and go over the side. I’ll do some reconnaissance and check what’s happening below us. See what the scene looks like. If it’s all good, then we’ll bring some divers down and keep the search on for the Fantome .”
    “And if it’s not good? If the shark shows up?”
    Cole smiled. “Well, then, obviously I’ll be very happy indeed.”
    “And what if the shark happens to have an appetite for shark cages?”
    Cole shook his head. “Not going to happen. And besides, this is the strongest shark cage designed. Even a giant megalodon would have a hard time dealing with it.”
    “You’re still on that?”
    “The meg? Sure. Why not?”
    Annja took a sip of her orange juice. “Because we haven’t seen anything to suggest this is some prehistoric shark yet, that’s why.”
    “Hope springs eternal,” Cole said with another grin. “I’m an optimist, anyway, so I’ll just keep my wishes coming.”
    “You really want this thing to be a meg?”
    “Can’t you see how amazing that would be? A giant prehistoric shark swimming off the Nova Scotia coast would mean headlines around the world. The world’s scientists would have to revisit the notion that the species died out. And if the meg has survived, then surely it might mean that other species have, as well.”
    Annja looked at him. “Something tells me that Hunter’s not the only one on a quest for the Holy Grail here.”
    “Well…”
    Annja nodded. “Just so long as you remember that people’s lives are on the line.”
    “I know,” Cole said. “I saw how badly Hunter got treated in those lawsuits. I’ve made certain, ever since I came on to help with the hunts, that