“What exactly are you expecting me to change, Sidney?” his voice goes dark. “I can’t take back what Harrington has done. Or fix the lives he’s ruined.” His expression is pure venom.
She doesn’t break her stare.
“The tape,” Scott says. “You need to give us the tape, and we’ll destroy it.”
“No—”
“Dad…”
Completely flustered, he relents. “Ah, very well. I have conditions. Conditions I’ll go over with Harrington himself. In private.”
“I want to talk to him first,” Scott says.
“Fine,” Garrett says. Turning his angry eyes away from Sid, he stares at the wall.
“He’s going to be so thrilled to see you.” Mads, Scott, and I are back at the Inn in the dining room. Scott has his laptop on the table getting it ready for the Zoom call. Crystal told me about Wes and our shared adventures in Belize. Apparently, we became close friends during our time exploring the Great Blue Hole. Last year, after he learned about Crystal and Natalie, he stepped up and maintained contact with Crystal to help her with bills and to be someone she could rely on.
For that alone, I owe him more than I can repay. Not to mention what he did for Mads.
I’ve seen a few of his videos since I’ve been back, and as with everything else in my life. Nothing. No recollection of the relationship he and I had.
Scott starts the call and squeezes in beside Mads, who stares at the screen, beaming. The image of a blonde man with intensegreen-gray eyes flashes on the screen. I’m standing off to the side, out of the camera’s range.
“Harrington.” Scott gives him a stern look.
“Rickter.” He tilts his head, looking past Scott’s shoulder. “Hi there, Maddie. Always a pleasure to see you, rookie.”
“Apprentice, remember?” She laughs.
“That’s right. Where’s the little guy?”
“He’s at the house with Ms. Connor. You’ll meet him when you get here.”
“When hell freezes over or when Garrett finds a soul, right?”
“All right, you two, enough of the banter.” Scott tries to hide his smile and look serious. “Harrington, not sure if anyone’s told you yet, but Maverick Key’s in a situation.”
“Surprising.”
“There’s something in the Drop that’s heating the rocks, and it’s created an environmental nightmare. Coral and marine life are dying. People exposed are getting sick, and worst of all, we’ve got DARPA and the Navy down here calling the shots.”
“How hot are the rocks?”
“Changes every day, but some have been measured at over four hundred plus.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah. We need every skilled cave diver familiar with the Drop down here, and we’ve finally convinced Garrett to use some common sense. He’s agreed to drop the blackmail.”
“Well, I didn’t expect it would take an environmental crisis to get me out of hiding, but I guess I’ll take it. When do you need me?”
“As soon as you can get here. Where are you anyway?”
“I could tell you, but I’d have to…” He uses the gun hand gesture. “I should be able to get there in four days.”
“Try to get here sooner if you can,” Scott says. Mads pulls on his shoulder and raises her brows. “Oh yeah. As you’d expect,Garrett has terms and conditions before he hands over the tape. Says he wants to speak to you about it privately.”
Wes’s face freezes for a moment. He knows exactly what Garrett’s conditions are. “I’ll call him. And I’ll see you guys in a few days. Can’t wait.”
