“Then we shouldn’t need a lot of bottom time. Just a fun, recreational dive.”
“Near the wreck, of course.”
“Seems like the natural place, doesn’t it?”
“What about being spotted?”
“We’ll dive on a trajectory that’ll place the Bermudez’s hull above us as much as possible,” Sam explained. “Besides, if I’m right, they won’t be looking up. You know how it is when you’re wreck-diving. Tunnel vision.”
Remi nodded agreement. “Good plan.”
They eased the heavy stainless steel ladder from the platform into the water and, instead of dropping into the sea, carefully lowered themselves until they were fully immersed. Sam gave Remi the okay and she reciprocated, signaling that she was ready.
They gradually descended to sixty feet, moving as they had discussed on a rough course for the wreck. At forty yards away, Sam signaled to Remi to stay put and then swam away, farther into the darkening depths. Ten minutes went by, and just as she was beginning to worry, Sam reappeared, checking his dive timer. He pointed toward the surface.
When they made it to the surface, he spat his regulator out, the big white yacht only fifty feet away.
“Busted. Two of the divers were inside the hull, and the other two were outside. I could see their work lights,” he reported. “And then five more came out of the wreck. Hauling statuary. So the four we saw were only a small part of the gang. Could be ten or more inside.”
“How? How could they have known?”
“Obviously, they came prepared . . .”
“Which raises the questions, who are they and who leaked the info?”
“Anyone who knows about the wreck could have given them the coordinates. That’s a pretty long list of Spanish officials.”
“I suppose so. And as to who these pirates are . . . ?” Remi asked.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
She shook her head. “You’re not thinking—”
“The best defense is a good offense.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to notify the authorities?”
“You mean the same ones that might have tipped these guys off? What do you want to bet that goes nowhere?”
Remi sighed. “I suppose this has been way too calm for your tastes so far. I should have known better.”
“Come on. Let’s go take a look at how the other half lives.”
“We are the other half.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, Sam. I’m all too afraid I do.”
They approached the interlopers’ yacht at fifteen feet of depth, and Sam punched in a waypoint on his dive GPS when they were directly below it. With another glance back at the shipwreck’s position, he pointed up at the stern, and Remi signaled that she was ready. Together, they ascended to the dive ladder that hung below the swim step and Sam hauled himself up, followed closely by Remi.
“Let’s leave our gear here. We’ll look just like any of the other divers. If we’re spotted, just wave.”
“I don’t know, Sam. I might be a little curvier than the average technical diver.”
“Which is only one of the many reasons I love you.”
“At least I can cross off the worry about you running away with another diver.”