“Torch.”
To a man the mercs lit genuine, flickering torches; thick shafts of wood wrapped in flammable bandages. Alicia shook her head. “Bloody fruitloops really do believe they’re pirates.”
“They’re playing a part,” Crouch said. “Wouldn’t anyone that wants to get paid at the end of the week?”
“Depends on the part, boss. And the lead male.”
“Yeah.” Russo laughed. “If they’re not called Chris, Johnny or Matt she’s stone cold.”
“Well, I might be able to handle a Rob if you fancy it.”
“Woman, you ain’t never handling me.”
“We’ll see.” They watched the mercs in silence for a while as they followed their boss to the hole in the wall and tried to figure out a way to climb through. In the end Jensen threw a leg over the new gap and hauled himself over, unmindful of the risks. The flickering torches shed a smoky light and smelled of tar. The swathe of bright light admitted by the large entrance to the original sea cave dimmed and shimmered as it reached in vain for its new neighbor. Alicia breathed deep as she waited.
“Not liking this.”
“Not much choice,” Crouch said.
“Always a choice. We could take ’em all out right now.”
“Not in cold blood, Alicia. We’re the good guys, remember?”
Alicia said nothing, wondering how it was that an evident enemy always had to be given the benefit of the doubt. It seemed to her that they could end Jensen’s threat right here and now, maybe even make the last map and treasure hunt less of a stressful proposition.
“Wait,” Crouch said as the mercs made their way over the wall. “What the hell is that?”
Now Alicia saw it too, saw why Jensen risked his life, saw why the mercs all appeared so excited and up for it. In the second sea cave there lay a shipwreck, broken mast positioned at an odd angle, the curve of a timber hull just visible. Alicia saw the evidence and still barely believed her eyes.
“It’s been there all this time?”
“Rotting through the centuries,” Crouch said. “No telling what’s left now. But if Morgan took the time to sink an entire ship in that cave you can rest assured it’s an important find.”
“So now can we kill Jensen?”
“Let’s wait and let them do all the work.”
“Ah.” Alicia finally gave in. “Nice idea.”
The last merc jumped beyond the wall, leaving the way clear for the Gold Team to follow. Ahead, the centuries-old pirate ship lay in wait, ready at last to give up its final secrets.
CHAPTER TWENTY
A pirate galleon, of smaller size than the norm, lay on its side, broken and rotting and wallowing sadly in about three feet of water. The sea cave filled up several times a year but for now, during this season, the water sat stagnantly at its lowest level. The timbers were warped or shattered, sticking out like broken ribs. The masts drooped and what little tatters of sail were still affixed to the spars were barely recognizable. But the fact that Captain Morgan had actually left this ship here filled the mercenaries with excitement. Alicia watched them clambering excitedly and recklessly onto the ship, one at a time. Even from here she could hear the timbers groaning.
Crouch grated his teeth together. “Assholes. Don’t they know the ship itself is a bloody treasure? One of Morgan’s vessels, still here above water? Damn.”
“How can you tell it’s one of Morgan’s vessels?” Russo squinted. “The colors? Size? Memory?”
“I guess we’ll find out,” Crouch answered without even a hint of sarcasm.
Jensen walked the planks carefully, waving his men back before they did any more damage. It took a while and a fair amount of careful prizing apart of already damaged timbers, but the mercs managed to board the vessel and search its innards. Several items were brought out and deposited on the rocks, but nothing of any major import.
Alicia and Crouch kept careful watch, hidden by the jutting array of rocks and brighter light behind them. In the end over a dozen mercs worked the ship and Jensen wandered from point to point, always questioning, always searching. In one hand he held a new torch, in the other a tankard full of neat rum. Swilling it down liberally, he soon grew more vociferous, though appeared none the worse for wear.
Time stretched and Alicia became conscious that afternoon at least must be here. They still had their packs, so took the time to drink and eat. Not once did any of the mercs approach the wall, but stayed focused on the new shipwreck and Jensen’s orders.
Alicia beckoned Crouch aside. “Let Russo and Healey watch for a while.”
“I really need to watch Jensen.”
“They’ll call us if anything happens. And, Michael, you really need to come with me.”
She saw his eyes sharpen as he detected a note in her voice. Alicia led the way across the sea cave and toward the entrance. Careful at first, she found a rock to perch on where she could stare out the overhung entrance and across the startling blue seas.
“What is it?” Crouch asked quickly.
Alicia sighed softly. “I came here to help you, but that’s not the only reason I came.”
“I imagine it had to be a pretty compelling reason to leave Drake behind.”
“Oh, it was. The trouble is — I believe I know you, Michael. You are one of only a handful of people on this planet that I fully trust. And I find it hard to… put something dark between us out there.”
“Ah, well you’ve done it now. Might as well continue.”
Alicia met the man’s eyes and hers were bleak. “Beau said something before he died.” Her mind’s eye switched instantly back to that final struggle between them, when her old boyfriend had tried to kill the entire team. Crouch had initially recruited Beau for himself and helped ease his way into Alicia’s primary team, but the Frenchman had always been a treble agent, working for a crazy enemy. In his last moments he had suggested that Crouch either knew, or forced it to happen that way.
Alicia said as much, watching the man she had always happily called boss.
“Is that what Beau said? I’m surprised.”
“I mean, the man’s clearly a liar, but…”
“He wanted out,” Crouch said. “After he infiltrated the Pythian shadow organization and got close to the boss, then betrayed him, Beau wanted out. I forced him to stay with you guys, with team SPEAR, because I knew he would be useful.”
Alicia weighed his words. “You forced him? How’s that? Beau was nobody’s doormat.”
“Before he was an assassin, Beau was a mercenary. Before that a solider. Before that an interrogator. There are an awful lot of closets, entire dark rooms, in the head of a man who was once an interrogator. That job, that past, does not sit well.” Crouch looked downcast, pained even. “I was privy to some of his secrets. And I knew some of the men, now powerful, that once sat in his chair.”
Alicia blinked hard. “Jesus. You blackmailed him?”
“And eventually broke him,” Crouch said. “It’s my fault he turned back to the Pythian organization in the end and put you all at risk.”
“At risk?” Alicia yelled. “That’s some fucking understatement!”
Heads turned. Russo frowned over at her to stay quiet. Alicia gave him the finger.
Crouch nodded his head slowly. “We’re all a consequence of our actions, I guess. I am sorry, Alicia, but not every choice we make is the best one.”
She knew that, knew it better than most. What stung her was the new knowledge that Crouch had coerced Beau and he might have done the same thing to others. An unquestionable trust, when broken, was a fragile bond to mend, as delicate as a bird’s wing. One thing was certain though, it would take time.