Severed Threads (24 page)

"Yeah, right. Now, if you don't mind…" She waved him away, alluding to her need for privacy. After slipping inside her room, she fell back against the closed door and blew out a shaky breath. She waited until the only sound was the ocean slapping against the side of the ship – until she felt safe. Then she released her firm grip on the towel. If her calculations were correct, the goody bag she’d kept hidden beneath held at least twenty gold coins. At this rate, in four days she'd have plenty to bargain with. There would be no need to recover the heart of the dragon, if it even existed. But then there was Professor Ying's dilemma to consider. According to Eleanor, only five days now remained before his deadly prophecy came true. If Rachel ignored her promise, there would be no escaping the guilt or regret she’d most surely endure.

It was time to make calls. To deliver updated news where it was needed. Rachel glanced at the business card she’d been given before dialing the number on the ship’s satellite phone. “We found the
Wanli II
and have been bringing up her load on a steady basis. As far as Mai Le’s treasure goes – ”

Eleanor cut her off before she could finish. “The gold dragon! Oh, Lao. She found the treasure just like she promised.”

“
I don’t think you understand, Eleanor. We found the
ship
.”

“
I know…I know,” she persisted. “Dr. Ying opened his eyes this morning. It’s a miracle, isn’t it? He’s still quite tired, mind you. But his color is back and as far as I’m concerned, he’s never looked better. Oh, Miss Lyons, I don’t know how we’ll
ever
be able to thank you.”

There was no point in correcting the woman – in crushing their delusional dreams. As long as Dr. Ying’s health was improving, she’d let him believe whatever he chose and maybe even remind him of his obligation.

“
Just tell the professor to get well soon. He’ll need his strength to help fill the museum wing he’s naming after my father.”

“
Yes, dear,” Eleanor assured her.

With Rachel’s call completed, she dialed another number – seven digits that were now ingrained in her memory. Gabe Pollero’s phone rang repeatedly before his coarse voice came on the recorder. “You know the routine,” he said.

“
It’s me, Rachel. I still haven’t found Mai Le’s treasure. But I do have something substantial to bargain with, provided my brother is still alive. When I call back the same time tomorrow, I want to hear Devon’s voice. If I don’t, our deal’s off, Pollero. I’ll bring in the F.B.I. or whoever I have to if anything happens to him.” With that, she hung up the phone and headed back to her room, more anxious than ever.

* * *

Chase stripped out of his clothes and climbed onto his bed, innately aware of the short distance to Rachel’s room. There was something unnerving about having her so close and so far-removed at the same time. It was easier to battle his feelings with his mind occupied – with Rachel hundreds of miles away. But here, on this ship, he could smell her in his sleep, visualize her tantalizing expressions, the color of her eyes, the warmth of her touch. It was a miracle to find sleep at all and only possible after exhausting his mind and body. Yet even in his dreams, she was a vivid reminder of what he had lost. His craving for her had become an obsession, an unfulfilled sense of longing slowly wearing him down. He could relieve himself sexually as he’d done on other nights or drop onto the floor and pump fifty pushups to battle his frustrations. Tonight neither appealed to him.

“
Shit,” he growled and raked his fingers through his hair. Before shoving off, Rachel had made a point of reminding him not to smoke in closed compartments or rooms. For the past three days he had complied – keeping his vice limited to the open upper decks. But tonight his foul mood urged his defiance.

As the sea gently rocked the ship, he stared at the ceiling, finishing off his cigar. He reached toward the end table to crush the smoldering stub in a glass ashtray he’d stolen from the galley. The hands of the alarm clock were now pointed straight up. In six hours, his routine would begin: breakfast in the galley, updates from A.J. and Ian, supply and equipment checks. The dives would commence promptly at 7 A.M., just as they had every morning.

“
Damn it! I’ve gotta get some rest.” He lay flat on his back with one arm thrown over his eyes, digging his head further into the pillow. After tossing and turning, struggling to still his thoughts for endless minutes, Chase’s body finally relaxed. But no sooner had he fallen asleep than an urgent knock came at his door, bringing him upright in his bed.

Mika’s soft voice pierced the sealed doorway. “Mr. Cohen…Sir, are you awake?” Her knocks came in rapid succession, followed by his name.

What the hell?
He stepped to the doorway and cracked an opening. Mika stood outside in the hallway’s muted light, a pink robe cinched around her waist. Her large brown eyes and messy hair reminded him of a shaken doll. Mindful of the hour, he kept his voice low. “Yeah, what is it?”

“
Didn’t you hear her? Rachel’s been crying out in her sleep. Maybe
you
should check on her this time.”

“
She’s at it again?”

Mika’s hands found her hips. She pursed her lips, obviously irritated. “Well, aren’t you going to do something?”

Chase glanced down. Sleeping in the nude had its disadvantages. “I’ll take care of it,” he grumbled out of the corner of his mouth. “Go back to bed.”

He stepped away from the door long enough to pull on some jeans. Then he treaded down the passageway in his bare feet, stopping outside Rachel’s room. A pressed ear against the door panel revealed nothing. He waited a few more seconds, debating on what to do next. He wrapped lightly on her door. No answer. If he saw that she was resting comfortably, he might be able to return to his cabin and do the same.

With apprehension, Chase lowered the door handle and leaned into the room. “Rachel…” he called softly. Still no answer. He stepped fully inside and noticed that the bedcover had been tossed to one side, exposing the rumpled white sheets beneath. The contents of an open file were strewed across the desk and a low wattage lamp had been left on. But Rachel was nowhere in sight.

“
What are you doing here?” her voice came from behind, startling him.

“
Geez! Don’t sneak up on someone like that.” His gaze slid from her face to her snug blue t-shirt and matching plaid boxers – sleepwear capable of making any man come to attention.

God, she could look sexy in anything.

Rachel eyed him suspiciously. “You still haven’t answered me. You get lost or something?”

His defense was immediate. “Mika heard you…I was just checking to make sure you were all right.”

“
Oh, sorry if I disturbed anyone.”

“
Don’t worry about it.”

“
I went to the galley to get some hot milk.” She held out a steaming glass to validate her claim.

“
Great. That should help you relax.”
Dumb.
Chase looked away, feeling like a kid with a crush.

“
Was there anything else?”

Chase smiled and shook his head.

“
In that case…” She took a step aside, leaving a clear path to the open door. “I think we all could use some sleep, don’t you?”

“
Sure. Good night, Rachel.” More than anything he wanted to throw her down on the bed and make love to her, but her dispassionate expression held him back. He swept past her, inhaling the scent of her lilac body lotion, and forced himself to keep moving. With only five hours till daybreak, this night would remain one of the longest in Chase’s sex-deprived life.

Nineteen

Even though the sun had been beating down hotter than ever, recovery operations were going incredibly smooth. Spears, swords, a bronze crane, dozens of trinkets, four chests filled with gold coins, and six crates of porcelain in miraculous condition had been safely recovered and stored below. Two more chests were still partially buried in the
Wanli’s
tangled remains. But aside from the strange silver lock Dr. Ying had provided and the lacquer ware lid her father had found, there was no evidence to prove Mai Le’s treasure was on board.

Following the scheduled dive rotations, Wade and Ian rolled over the side while A.J. and

Chase remained at the helm. Rachel wandered into the galley and spotted Blaine bent over the table, sound asleep in the booth. She opened the refrigerator and stood there for a moment, bathing her legs in the cool down draft. She took out a tray of ice cubes and dumped the contents into the metal sink, creating a resounding clatter.

Blaine jerked his head up, dropping his book on the floor. He casted her a disparaging glare while leaning down to retrieve his crumpled pages. “Jeez, Rachel.”

“
Jeez what?” She picked up a cube and began rubbing it against the back of her neck.

“
Was hoping to have some peace and quiet while I was reading.”

She smiled wryly. “Must be reading through your eyelids then.” She dropped into the booth beside him. “Won't be disturbing you for long. Got plenty to keep me busy.” She added a pained expression for good measure. “How hot is it out there, anyway?”

“
Over ninety last I checked. Looking forward to my dive this afternoon.” He fanned himself with the paperback.

She caught his hand and glanced at the cover.
Treachery at Sea.
How befitting.

As she released his hand, he said, “Just finished a novel about a hundred million dollar gold recovery from the HMS Edinburg in the Arctic Ocean.”

“
No kidding? At least it was colder there.”

“
Oh…so, you didn’t hear?”

“
Hear what?”

“
There’s a fifty percent chance of thundershowers tonight.”

Great.
More nightmares on the way. At the age of eight, Rachel sat on the top of the stairs hugging her brother, witnessing a screaming match between her parents that rivaled the explosive drumfire outside. When the storm passed and the house was quiet again, she stood beside the living room window with the curtain drawn back, watching her mother board a cab and disappear from their lives. For years, with the sound of thunder, memories of that night would come rushing back.

“
Was there something you needed?” Blaine asked, pulling her attention back.

“
I just finished checking the cleaning tank and couldn’t help noticing the coins are gone. Do know happen to know where they are?”

“
Yep. Chase secured them down below after I did some research and discovered they’re worth about four thousand dollars each.”

“
No kidding.” A fresh bead of sweat slid down her back. By her best estimate, that would mean she now had close to eighty thousand snaked away in her room. The thought was unnerving.

“
Got a question for you too,” he said. “With your dad being in the business for so many years, any chance he knew a guy by the name of Mitch Harper?”

“
No, not that I recall. Why?”

“
Turns out he discovered a sunken ship in the South China Sea and ended up with an amazing haul. Planned on keeping all the auction money it brought at Christies then officials from the Chinese government caught on.” He flipped through pages until he found what he was looking for.

“
They took Harper to court convinced they had all the preferential rights but since the ship was built in the Netherlands, Laws of the Sea rules didn’t apply and the officials weren’t able to claim their assets. They had to buy them outright, just like anyone else. Problem was the Chinese archaeologists couldn’t afford to buy them at the time and as a result, Harper became one of the richest salvagers of all time. Put a real bad taste in the Chinese government’s mouth too. But if that wasn’t bad enough, he ended up finding a seventeenth century junk two years later and brought up about a million pieces of porcelain. Knowing full well the rarer the item the more it brings, he had half of it smashed and still pocketed over thirty million. Unreal, huh?”