With his temper at a boiling point, David gripped the sides of the laptop and was almost ready to throw it across the room when he remembered his friend telling him that the local time needed to be synched properly for the software to work.
David hovered his cursor close to the lower right-hand corner of the screen and cursed when he saw that he still had it set to Greenwich Mean Time. No wonder.
After changing it to the proper date and time, the icon of the chat app suddenly switched to a positive shade of green, indicating he now had an encrypted connection. About bloody time!
Within seconds, his laptop’s tiny speakers began beeping as an incoming call tried to get through. Reaching down beside his chair, David quickly pulled the headset and microphone out of his backpack before sticking the end into the analog interface port on the side of the laptop.
Accepting the call, he quickly made sure the microphone worked. “Hello, hello?”
A familiar voice was on the other line. “Quentin, you there?”
“Yes, I’m here, mate,” David said. “Finally got this blasted thing working again.”
Franklin Alexander was one of his assistants, doing extra research for him back in Kochi City. “I was calling you all morning.”
“I know, I know. Better late than never. I had a devil of a time trying to make sure the line was encrypted so nobody could listen in. It’s fine now, so go ahead.”
“Good on you. I was able to interview a few hotel workers and you’re right. Dr. Lauren Reeves did stay in one of the posh hotels here in Kochi City under an assumed name for a few days before disappearing again.”
David grinned from ear to ear. “I knew it! First real lead we’ve had.”
“I’ve forwarded this tidbit over to Rebecca, and she wants to publish an article right away.”
He almost leapt up from the chair. “No, no, no! Not yet. Tell her if she does that then my cover will be totally blown and I’ll be thrown out of this place.”
“Alright, mate. I’ll tell her. But she’s going to want a good reason why we don’t put a little tidbit out at least. She’s been complaining about the cost and having little to show for it.”
“You tell our esteemed editor that once I get a picture of Lady Frankenstein in the flesh, I’ll send it out right away.”
“Have you spotted her at all?”
“I don’t think she’s at the resort,” David said. “If she’s here on the island—and I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that she is—then she would no doubt be holing up at the Morgenstern estate on the other end.”
“You really think this story about a secret laboratory hidden in the island’s private area is true?”
“I’m quite positive,” David said. “I spoke with an Indian architect about it briefly, and he told me he helped to build it while they were still dredging up the part where the resort is. I gave you his details, remember?”
“I tried to follow up on that lead, but when I went to his house he was gone, along with his entire family,” Franklin said. “The neighbors said a big truck came during the night and hauled off all the furniture, and the family left in a hurry. No forwarding address or number, I’m afraid.”
David cursed. “Morgenstern or his Indian partner must have sent them away. They’re covering their tracks.”
“What are you going to do then?”
“I’m waiting for an email from an Indian guy who is part of the Lakshadweep protest group. I heard his people will attempt to disrupt the opening ceremonies here, so I’ll need to cover it.”
“That sounds good, but Rebecca is going to want the Lady Frankenstein story too.”
“Oh, she’ll get that, once I figure out a way to get to the other side of this blasted island.”
“Is something happening out there, Q?”
“Yes,” David said. “I tried talking to the hotel staff here, but they didn’t want to say anything. But I can feel it, mate. It’s in the air all around me, I can even read it in their faces.”
“What is?”
“Fear, mate. They’re scared of something, and I believe it’s coming from the private part of the island.”
“It can be walked over to, right?”
David shook his head. “Easier said than done. I checked out the perimeter of the resort right after I got here, and they have a checkpoint and fences set up on the land bridge between the public and private areas. Armed guards with guns strapped to their hips. When I got close, they politely told me off.”
“So there’s no chance you’ll make it to the other side.”
“Never say die,” David said. “I’ll just need to wait until an opportunity presents itself.”
23
DESPITE HIS REPEATED tumbles into the water, Nick Dirkse was all smiles as he gripped the handholds of the inflatable banana he was riding. Glancing over his shoulder, he flashed a mad grin towards the others. “You ready?”
Scott sat just behind him. Unlike his dad, he had kept his glasses on underneath the rented diving mask strapped to his face. “Ready, Pop.”
Cathy sat at the rear in order to balance the inflatable’s overall weight. They all wore life vests, and she had chosen one in bright pink. “Oh my god, we’re going to crash again.”
Beads of saltwater ran down his forehead as Nick gave the okay signal to the speedboat towing their line. “Not this time, just follow my lead. When I say right, lean to the right. When I say left, lean to the left, okay?”
Kim waved back at them from where she sat in the rear section of the speedboat. After her first spill into the water, she’d decided to spend the rest of the excursion in relative comfort. She turned and leaned forward while tapping Oliver Marriot’s shoulder. “They’re all set, Ollie. Give ’em hell!”
Nick hunched forward for better balance. He could tell his daughter was already hanging out with the young scuba instructor. Looks like she’s gotten over her lousy ex-boyfriend and is working on a new one. That’s good. “Okay, here we go.”
“Oh my god,” Cathy said nervously.
Scott gave a wicked laugh. “Best. Vacation. Ever.”
The inflatable banana began to slice through the calm waters as the speedboat towing it increased its acceleration. Cathy continued to shriek in anticipation, while Nick kept watch up ahead, ready to bark out a command to make sure they leaned the correct way. Without his glasses he couldn’t see a lot of details at long distance, but he could easily tell when the boat sped up or changed direction.
He saw Oliver glance quickly towards him while keeping his hand on the throttle. The banana boat started to bob up and down as the speed picked up. When he was asked how fast they wanted to go, Nick had simply told the young dive instructor to go as fast as possible, as long as nobody got hurt. They had all crashed into the water half a dozen times already, and were eager for more.
Kim cupped her hands so they could hear her voice over the shrill whining of the outboard motor. “Here it comes!”
The speedboat made a sharp turn to starboard, the trailing froth creating miniature waves as it buffeted the bouncing inflatable banana towed behind it.
“Lean right,” Nick hollered as he shifted his weight.
Both his son and Cathy did as ordered, and the giant banana remained somewhat stable as all three continued to hold on. The waters around them were crystal clear, and it seemed like they were skimming along a plain of flattened blue and turquoise mirrors. With the afternoon sun still high up in the cloudless sky, it seemed nothing could top this perfect day.