Free Byzantine Gold by Chris Karlsen Page A

It’s roasty-toasty.”
    “You are joking, right?” she asked, looking askance.
    Derek draped a hand over her shoulder. “Clearly luv, you never swam in the Northern Irish Sea. This water is balmy. Right lads?” he said to his countrymen.”
    They agreed and made a few more comments on the waters surrounding Britain and Scotland. Derek removed his hand, smiled and told Atakan they’d see him later. The three left to wait for the shuttle to the Suraya.
    “Crazy Brits.”
    “Come on, I’ll walk you to the dock,” Atakan said.
    Charlotte joined the waiting group. This was the first shuttle of the day to the research ship. She didn’t see Nassor who should’ve been among them.
    “Have you seen Nassor?” Everyone shook their heads no.
    “I’ll see if he’s still in the men’s dorm,” Atakan said and went to check.
    He returned a minute later with Nassor in tow.
    “Sorry, I didn’t realize the time,” Nassor said as he moved next to Charlotte.
    “Don’t do it again. If you miss the shuttle and your dive, Refik will blow his stack,” Charlotte warned.
    Nassor gave her a quizzical look. It took a second for her to realize his confusion. “In other words, he’ll lose his temper. Trust me, that’s best avoided.”
    “I understand.”
    Atakan tugged Charlotte’s elbow and made a small jerking motion with his head, indicating he wanted to speak to her in private.
    They moved a few yards away, out of earshot.
    “What? The shuttle’s almost here.”
    “This guy’s an odd fish. Keep safe. Have a care down there.”
    “Odd duck, you mean.”
    “Pardon?”
    “Never mind. I won’t take any unnecessary risks, especially with someone I never dived with before.” What had Atakan seen Nassor doing in the dorm for him to warn her? “Why do you say he’s an odd fish?”
    “He acted strange. His nose was buried in a notebook when I entered. He looked startled to see me and snapped the book shut fast and shoved it into a duffle bag he keeps locked.”
    She didn’t see that as excessively strange. A bit maybe, but who knew what personal papers he was reading and sensitive to anyone else glimpsing.
    “They might’ve been letters from a girlfriend or something and he didn’t want you to see.”
    “In a notebook? No. He wasn’t reading love letters.”
    “Atakan, no offense, but a lot of people are uncomfortable when government agents are around.”
    “Just use extra caution.”
    “You watch yourself. I’m not the one who has someone trying to kill them.
    “I’ll remain diligent. Are you staying on the Suraya until you’re done with your second dive?”
    “No way. I’m coming straight back. I want to be here for Miz Valko’s arrival.”
    “You worry for nothing. I told you I hold no special feelings for her.”
    “Doesn’t mean she doesn’t hold them for you.” Probably wants to hold a lot more than feelings, Charlotte thought.
    Behind them a diesel engine chugged near and then sputtered to a stop. 
    Atakan kissed her on the cheek and said, “Shuttles here.”
    Charlotte grabbed her small backpack with sun block and other personal items and stepped next to Nassor.
    “Excited?” she asked.
    “Yes,” he replied. He appeared anything but. Arms folded, he leaned against a support for the dock’s overhang, smoking.
    Charlotte eyed him, curious as to why not. She was excited. So was Rachel. The Brits and the other Europeans going on this initial dive were fired up. This was the first in person view they had of the ship and cargo. The survey photos were passed around that morning over breakfast. What the team knew and speculation on what they’d find was all they talked about. Refik and Talat had dived numerous wrecks. They were old hands at this. Even they were anxious to get started and raced through their morning meal. Atakan might be on to something with his instinctive suspicion of Nassor.
    “I’ll show you where everything is onboard the Suraya,” she said. “Unless, you have