Clive Cussler - Wrath of Poseidon

“It might be tight,” Nikos said. “But no need to hire anyone. I’m sure Dimitris won’t mind taking you.” He glanced over at Remi, smiling. “Better he picks you up in Kampi by your cottage. With all those suitcases of yours, it’ll be easier to carry it to the dock, instead of up all those stairs.”

Sam started to laugh, until he glanced over at Remi. He held up his hands, giving her a mock look of innocence. “I didn’t say a thing.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

The next morning, Sam and Remi were waiting at the dock. Sam with his backpack and small carry-on, Remi with her two large suitcases and the biggest carry-on Sam had ever seen. It might be fine in the overhead on an international flight, but he wasn’t sure where it was going to fit on the much smaller plane from Samos to Athens. He was about to ask her if she had to pay extra to place it in the hold when he noticed the Asteri slowly entering the quiet bay.

It wasn’t Dimitris at the helm. It was Nikos. “The Star Catcher is missing,” he said with a heavy sigh as he and Sam loaded Remi’s luggage on board. “Dimitris didn’t come home last night.”

“ Star Catcher ?” Sam asked.

“The RIB boat that belongs to the underwater archeological society. He sometimes takes it out when he’s upset. I know he’d want to say goodbye. Perhaps we’ll see him before too long.”

“You’re sure he’s okay?” Remi asked.

“I’m sure. He seems to have settled down a bit these last two days. I think he and Zoe realized that it was better to leave the investigating to the police.”

“I had the same feeling, too,” Sam agreed.

“Don’t worry,” Nikos said as he piloted the boat out of the bay. “We’ll get you to Samos in plenty of time to make your flight.”

Once they arrived at the port in Pythagorio, Nikos received a radio call from Manos. He looked over at them, his brow knit with concern. “Perhaps we’re wrong. Maybe Dimitris is taking Tassos’s death far harder than we realized. And maybe taking things into his own hands. The Star Catcher was seen cruising along the south side of the Kyrils’ island between here and Patmos. And Dimitris is not answering his phone or the radio.”

“Kyrils’ island? Why would he go there?” Sam asked.

“The majority of the Kyril olives are grown on that island.” The radio crackled as another transmission came in. This time, he stepped in the cabin and shut the door.

Remi watched him through the window, then turned to Sam. “You need to do something,” she said, her green eyes filled with worry. “It’s clear Dimitris has gone there to look for evidence on the man he thinks killed Zoe’s grandfather. Obviously, he got the idea from you. Which means he’s following in your footsteps. That makes it your fault.”

It took a moment for Sam to realize she wasn’t joking. “My fault? How did you come to that conclusion?”

“Because you’re the one who flew all the way out here,” Remi said, getting flustered. “Being a knight in shining armor and all.”

“Hold up here, Longstreet. Last night you were happy I followed you.”

“That’s not the point,” she said, her cheeks turning red.

Sam couldn’t help but smile. “You do realize, that defies all logic?”

“Well, Fargo, why did you come?”

“The North Star. I was worried about you.”

“See? Logic has everything to do with this.” She took a deep breath and gave him a satisfied smile. While her explanation made no sense to him, what she said next was perfectly clear. “Nikos helped you rescue me. The least we can do is help him find Dimitris.”

She was right, of course. He opened the email Selma had sent, found the link to the booking site, and canceled their flight. Remi’s return smile softened the sting over the change fee they were likely to be charged. “I’ll call Selma and let her know.”

She picked up on the first ring. “Mr. Fargo. You canceled your flight. Did your investor meeting get changed?”

As efficient as she was turning out to be, he supposed he shouldn’t have been too surprised that she already knew. “Something came up,” he said.

“Did you want me to rebook?”

“Not yet. Hard to say when this . . . issue will resolve.”

“I see. I assume you’ll call or email when you’re ready?”

“I will,” Sam said. “There is something you can do in the meantime.” He turned slightly, lowering his voice. “If I text you the phone number, can you call my friend Blake and let him know I won’t be able to make that meeting after all?”

“Would you like me to give a reason?”

“Just offer my apologies. I have a feeling that the truth might be a little hard to believe.”

The moment he disconnected, Remi looked at him, her eyes wide with another kind of guilt. “Oh, Sam . . . Why didn’t you say something? How selfish of me.”

“Remi, stop. It’s not that important. You’re important.”

“Your investor meeting is important. It’s your future. You need to go. This is all my fault.”

Nikos walked out, overhearing them. “What’s your fault?”

There was a moment of awkward silence, then Remi said, “I forgot about Sam’s investor meeting.”

“Investor meeting?” He looked at Sam for an explanation.

“It’s nothing,” Sam said. “The good news is, we’ve decided to stay and help you find Dimitris.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

A look of relief swept over the older man’s face after hearing Sam’s offer to help. “What about your plane tickets?” Nikos asked.

“If we’re lucky,” Sam said, “we get a refund. Your son is more important. So, where is this island?”

“Just this side of Patmos. It may be very difficult to find him, though.”

“Isn’t it harvest season?” Remi asked. “I’d think that’d make it easier. There’s got to be enough people on the island who will have seen him.”

“Not on this particular island,” Nikos replied. “Some areas are very rugged. The only way in or out is by foot or pack animal.” In fact, their only option at that point was to head out to the island, find his boat, and hope they could track him from there.

They arrived early afternoon. There was only one port, on the east side of the island. Nikos was certain Dimitris would not have entered from that direction. They cruised around the south, finding the Star Catcher anchored behind an outcropping of rock in a narrow cliff-edged inlet, the key sitting in the ignition. Had they approached from the east, they might not have seen it at all.

Nikos moored the boat as close as he dared, suggesting that he and Sam search the island from that point.

Remi, however, objected. “And leave me on the boat alone?”

“She’s right,” Sam said to Nikos. “If anything comes up, you need to be here, ready. If anything goes awry, you’re better able to deal with the authorities. Remi can stay here on the boat with you.”

“What if something happens and you need help?” Remi said. “I’m going with you. Don’t forget. I have the only sat phone, and by the looks of them there hills, I’d say there’s no cell service.”

“You’re not exactly dressed for the occasion.”

She tapped one of her suitcases with her foot. “Lucky for me, I’ve got a full wardrobe to draw from.”

Had he felt he had any say in the matter, he’d insist she stay on board with Nikos. But in the short time he’d known Remi, he’d learned several things about her. Not only was she the most stubborn woman he’d ever met, she was also a capable and worthy partner. Reluctantly, he nodded. “As long as you promise to do what I say and not go rogue.”