Andy McDermott: The Tomb Of Hercules

“No, afraid not,” said Nina, shaking her head. “I spend most of my time at a desk or in meetings at the moment.” More so than ever following the loss in a storm of the rig exploring Atlantis; most of the IHA’s field projects were on hold pending the results of the ongoing investigation. “But on the other hand, there are compensations. Like this!” She indicated the opulence of the ship around them. “Thank you for hosting us.”

“I thought it was time the IHA’s profile was raised,” Corvus said, smiling.

Yuen gave her a smile as well, though his was rather more slippery. “Well, good luck with your tomb raiding!” He looked over one shoulder at another group of people nearby. “But anyway, gotta go circulate. René, thanks for the invite, and Vic, remember to invite me to the White House! Come on, Soph.”

“Nice to meet you,” Sophia said to Nina, before Yuen took her hand and drew her away.

“Little punk,” muttered Dalton after they had gone. “I don’t care how many billions he has, he’s still a jackass. But damn! He knows how to pick a wife.”

“He’s a very fortunate man to have found somebody so perfect,” agreed Corvus. He turned to Nina. “And you, Nina. Are you and Eddie planning to marry?”

Nina was caught off guard by the question, hurriedly gulping down another mouthful of champagne before answering. “Uh, well, I don’t know.” Although after Chase’s little display tonight, it certainly wasn’t on her immediate agenda.

She glanced around, wondering whether, now that Sophia had gone, he was on his way back. There was no sign of him. She decided to find him and express her annoyance at his behavior.

After she finished her drink.

Chase wandered aimlessly through the Ocean Emperor . Coming to the function had definitely been a bad move, what with Nina’s new high-and-mighty attitude-and then meeting Sophia , of all people…

He didn’t even want to think about her. She was a part of his past that he thought he’d successfully forgotten. Apparently not.

He emerged onto the aft deck, noting with relief that there were fewer guests here. The cold wind was an encouragement to stay inside. Heading to the railing by the ship’s retracted swimming platform to look out over Manhattan again, he was surprised when somebody called his name. He looked around. “Matt?”

“Hey, Eddie!” Matt Trulli padded over to him, the tubby, spike-haired Australian looking decidedly out of place among the other guests in his scruffy knee-length shorts and garish shirt. He pumped Chase’s hand with genuine enthusiasm. “Haven’t seen you for ages! How you doing, mate?”

“Fine, thanks. What’re you doing here?”

Trulli gestured up at the Ocean Emperor’s bridge. “I work for the boss now!”

“Corvus?”

Trulli nodded. “Normally work in the Bahamas, but I was in the States ‘cause I’m going up to MIT tomorrow for a seminar. I was kind of surprised to get an invite, but thought what the hell, free booze!” He held up his glass.

Chase realized that he didn’t have a drink of his own, and couldn’t see any waiters nearby to give him a glass. Whatever; he didn’t want any more. Unlike Nina… “So, you still in the submarine business?”

“Yeah. After Frost’s business went belly-up I started working for René, designing underwater hotels.”

Chase gave him a skeptical look. “Underwater hotels?”

“You laugh, mate, but they’re going to be the next big thing!” Trulli assured him. “They’re already big in Dubai, and the design I came up with? Modular, so you can bolt one together wherever you like. Wake up in the morning, look out the window and bam! Fish, right there. René’s actually been living in the prototype in the Bahamas. Pretty cool. Wouldn’t mind one myself, but it’s a bit more than I can afford for an apartment!”

“I know what that’s like,” said Chase ruefully, looking across at Manhattan.

“Anyway,” Trulli continued, “now I’ve got the hotel stuff all done and dusted, I’m working on something way cooler.” His face changed to a definite “oops” expression. “Only, well, I can’t really talk about it. Top secret, y’know?”

Chase gave him a half-smile. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Aw, cheers, mate. But I will say this much-it’s bloody awesome! You know how the subs I built for Frost were like bulldozers? This is more like a Ferrari. It’s going to be fantastic! When I get the bugger working properly, anyway.” He took another drink, then leaned back on the stern railing. “So, what about you, mate? How’d you swing an invite to this shindig?”

“I’m here with Nina. She got the invite, not me.”

Trulli reacted with curiosity at his cutting tone, but didn’t comment on it. Instead, he said, “So you and her are…?” Chase nodded. “Aw, great stuff!”

“Don’t get too excited; we’re not married or anything. Not sure exactly what we are at the moment, to be honest.”

“O-kay …So she works for the IHA, then?”

“Yeah. So do I.”

“Gotcha. What do you do?”

Chase puffed air from his cheeks before replying. “Well, most of the time I sit on my arse at a desk and do absolutely fuck all. My official job title’s ‘assistant to the director of operations,’ my actual job’s to look after Nina when she’s out in the field, but since she hasn’t been out in the field for over a year, there’s not really a fuck of a lot to do all day.” The words came out with rather more frustration in them than he’d intended.

“So Nina’s your boss, then? That must make things interesting.”

Chase shot him a dark, humorless smile. “You have no idea.”

Trulli looked slightly awkward. “Right… Is she around? Wouldn’t mind saying hello.”

“Speak of the devil,” said Chase at the sound of high heels clicking rapidly towards him. He turned to see Nina approaching with an irate expression, her dress fluttering in the wind.

“I’ve been looking all over for you,” she snapped, before seeing Trulli next to him. “Matt! Oh my God, how are you? What are you doing here?”

“Just telling Eddie that I work for René Corvus,” said Trulli. “Still building subs. I hear you’re big at the IHA now. Congrats!”

“Thanks. Look, Matt, I’m sorry to interrupt but I need to talk to Eddie. In private.”

Trulli gave Chase a concerned glance, then drained his glass. “Sure thing… I need to get a fill-up anyway. Maybe see you guys around later?”

“Maybe,” Chase said. Trulli clapped him on the arm, then kissed Nina on the cheek before heading inside.

Chase watched him go, then looked to find Nina glaring at him. He indicated her glass. “So, on red wine now? Is that your sixth or your seventh drink of the evening?”

“Don’t try to change the subject.”

“You haven’t told me the subject.”

“You know exactly what the subject is.” She stepped closer. “I’ve never felt so humiliated in my life! I don’t care what your problem was with Sophia, you could at least have pretended to be civil. There are ten-year-olds who act with more maturity! For God’s sake, René and Sophia’s husband are directors of the IHA!”

“Nonexecutive,” Chase noted sarcastically.

Nina’s face tightened angrily. “Do you have any idea how bad you made me look in front of all those people?”

“Oh, now we’re getting down to it,” said Chase, leaning back against the railing. “That’s what really pissed you off, isn’t it? You were there knocking back the champagne with the billionaires and the wannabe presidents and her fucking ladyship, and then suddenly you remember-oh, shit! My boyfriend’s just some thick ex-soldier, how embarrassing! Better put him in his place or my new friends might think I’m more like him than like them!”