Sam dug his cell phone from his pocket, called their house, and placed it on speaker function. “How goes it, Selma?”
“Mr. Fargo,” she replied. “I take it the operation failed.”
It wasn’t a question, and Remi looked at Sam, who in turn looked at Archer. “Why would you say that?” Sam asked.
“Because—well, I’m afraid I have bad news.”
Twenty-one
At Sam’s request, Selma called back using Skype. He wanted to see her and the others to judge for himself just how bad this news was. Archer seconded this idea and stood off to one side, out of view of the lens, so that he could observe without being seen. A moment later, Remi’s tablet lit up. But instead of Selma, they saw Bree standing in front of the camera, her gaze moving downward, undoubtedly sighting Sam and Remi on the screen. A look of relief seemed to cross her features and she reached for the desktop, leaning forward slightly as she said, “Thank goodness. I was worried.”
“Worried?” Sam said, his tone cautious. How could he not be after hearing that Selma already knew about their failed operation? He eyed Selma and Lazlo, both standing behind Bree, their expressions neutral. Turning his attention back to Bree, he asked, “About what?”
“That something happened to you.”
“Bree,” Remi said. “What would make you think something happened?”
“Because of what occurred on your first dive. I think it was because of me.”
That wasn’t the response Sam had been expecting. Denial, yes. But this? “Please explain.”
“I—I think my cousin may have been passing on information.”
Remi shifted next to him. “Larayne?”
“Yes. I didn’t realize what was happening, at first. They’d threatened us both. They tied us up. She was a victim just like I was. At least that’s what I thought. So when she asked about you, it never occurred to me that I would be putting you in danger by saying anything. I—” She tried to compose herself, brushing the tears from her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I never would have said anything had I known.”
Sam studied her face. She seemed genuine, but he wasn’t about to throw out caution and forgive her right away. “What made you think something was going on?” he asked.
“It was after I found out what—what had happened on your first dive. And then Larayne asking me afterward if I’d heard from you. It was . . .” She reached for something offscreen. A tissue apparently. “I—I started to get suspicious. So when Selma and Lazlo told me you were going to try to find this other piece of the cipher wheel, I lied to Larayne. I told her I didn’t know where you were or what you were doing. I was worried.” Her smile faltered. “If anything had happened to you . . .”
She broke down completely, and Selma picked up the tablet, then moved across the room. In the background they saw Lazlo taking Bree into his arms as she sobbed against his shoulder.
“There you have it,” Selma said.
Sam turned toward Remi. “Thoughts?”
“I believe her.”
“Selma?” he asked.
“I suppose it’s possible that she’s the best actress in the world. But like Mrs. Fargo, I believe her. It makes sense. And you weren’t there when she came to us. She was near inconsolable. It took this long just to get her calm enough to talk to you.”
“Great,” Sam said. “The one time we need her to pass on the information, she suddenly grows a conscience—”
“Or,” Remi said, giving him a dark look, “as Bree mentioned, she realized the danger she was putting us in.”
“Well, at least we know the source of the leak.”
“Unfortunately,” Selma said, “it doesn’t net you Charles Avery or his men.”
“All in good time.”
Selma lowered her voice. “Assuming she is telling the truth, then we have to assume that Avery and his crew are trying to discover the identity of that ship. And now they have a good couple of days head start.”
“Where does that leave us?”
“Playing catch-up.”