The Emperor's Revenge (Oregon Files 11)

Juan clamped his teeth over the mouthpiece and submerged, making sure that his hose, which was now fully pressurized, didn’t get fouled in the massive doors in the Oregon’s keel. Once he was in the open, he could see the white double hull of the Achilles.

He checked with Eric, MacD, and Gretchen and they all gave him the OK sign. He oriented himself into a horizontal position, throttled up his jetpack, and shot toward the massive yacht.

—

Golov was pleased to see that the Oregon had eased to a stop next to the Achilles on her starboard side. Still, he made sure that the yacht kept yawing in place to maintain a railgun lock on the cruise ship, which was still ten miles away. The Oregon matched his turn so that it remained parallel.

The faux cargo ship’s deck was deserted and no weapons were visible. The Ka-226 helicopter hovered above them with its missiles trained on the Oregon.

Golov called Marie Marceau’s phone again.

“Very good seamanship, Captain Cabrillo. Now we will discuss your method of surrendering your ship to me.”

“This isn’t Cabrillo,” another voice said. “My name is Max Hanley.”

“Where is Cabrillo?”

“He’s on his way up to the deck, just like you asked. But first, we want assurances that no one will be harmed.”

“I only want your ship. Once we have attached a towline, you will abandon ship in your lifeboats.”

“How do we know you won’t kill us, once we’re in the water?”

“Remember, Mr. Hanley, I know the specifications on those lifeboats. They’re armed, armored, and fast. You’ll be out of range of the Achilles in minutes, once you find the shelter of the islands.”

Of course, he was lying. He had no intention of letting them get that far. The helicopter would track them and take out both lifeboats before they reached the islands.

Hanley sighed. “I suppose we don’t have any choice.”

“You don’t.”

“We’ll move the Oregon close enough for you to shoot over a towline.”

“Slowly, Mr. Hanley.”

Golov ordered some men onto the Achilles deck with a towline as the Oregon nudged into range to receive it.

“Now show me Mr. Cabrillo,” he said.

“Actually, Mr. Cabrillo just received a phone call. He said it relates to you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look at your phone.”

Look at my phone? What kind of message was that?

His phone rang. It was Ivana’s number.

“Better get that,” Hanley said.

Confused, Golov switched over to her call.

“Ivana? Where are you, my dear? On your way to Rotterdam, I hope.”

He was stunned to hear a man reply and it wasn’t Sirkal.

“Captain Golov, this is Eddie Seng. I’m a crew member on the Oregon, and Juan Cabrillo asked me to give a message to you. Your daughter is dead.”