Skyler stood at the stern railing of the ship, his arm around Candice Stevens. She looked up at his rough and weathered face. He smiled down at her and held her tight.
“The German authorities must have been ecstatic when you told them about the gold,” she said.
“By today’s prices, it’s only worth a couple million dollars. However, its real value to collectors is tenfold, maybe a hundred-fold. If the Germans sell it, the proceeds will go a long way in the efforts to repay the Holocaust survivors.”
“And the skull? Who do you really think it is?”
“I have no idea. Could be the captain, a crewman…”
“Or Martin Bormann?”
Skyler shrugged. “We may never know, Candy.”
The stars glistened off the dark water as the research ship rolled on the gentle swells.
“Sky?”
He turned to see Gates coming across the deck toward them. “What’s up, Mick?”
“A fax from the Frankfurt justice officials. The courier delivered the skull yesterday afternoon. A forensic science professor from Munich University conducted preliminary tests. He had Bormann’s dental and medical records on file.”
“And?” Skyler asked.
“It’s not Bormann.”
“So who then?” Candice said.
“Well, the commander of U-396 was Hilmar Siemon, so he’s out. I checked the crew roster, there were 44 souls, none with the initials A.H.”
Then Candice said, “Do you suppose A.H. could stand for…?”
There was a long silence as Skyler and Gates stared at each other.
“Nah,” they finally said in unison with a chuckle.
Skyler glanced one last time over the rail at the buoy that marked the final resting-place of U-396. Then he turned around, “Sounds like we’re missing a good party.”
Arm-in-arm, the three headed across the deck in the direction of Calypso music and laughter.
About the Author
Joe Moore is co-president emeritus of the International Thriller Writers. He has written with Lynn Sholes THE DESTINY CODE, BRAIN TRUST, THE TOMB, THE SHIELD, THE BLADE (bestselling Kindle book), THOR BUNKER (a short story), THE PHOENIX APOSTLES (#1 bestselling Kindle book) along with the Cotten Stone Thriller series: THE GRAIL CONSPIRACY (#1 bestselling Kindle book), THE LAST SECRET, THE HADES PROJECT, and THE 731 LEGACY. My novels have appeared on numerous international bestseller lists and have been translated into over 24 languages.
To learn more about Joe Moore, visit http: www.sholesmoore.com