Blood Cruise: A Deep Sea Thriller (8 page)

16.

Beads of condensation rolled down the side of the glass and Nick rubbed at them with his finger while he leaned against the bar and watched as his guests chatted and laughed. The bar wasn’t the same one in the game room, but a different one a deck higher. It was the Irish pub bar, yet Manny was still the bartender, having moved as the party moved. Nick looked up from his glass and across the bar. Manny gave him a quick nod.

“They are working their way back up,” Manny informed Nick. “Ashley just said they cleared the lower deck and are on the main deck. They’ll be here on the upper deck in minutes.”

Nick checked his watch and shook his head.

“Doesn’t matter,” he said. Almost on cue there was the far-off sound of an engine revving and the distinct whump whump whump of helicopter rotors.

Nick could tell the others heard the helicopter as well. Some of them shifted uncomfortably as they glanced at Tony Giraldi while others shot looks in his direction. One of those looks was from Ben, but Nick gave him a quick smile to say things were in hand. Ben rolled his eyes in obvious disbelief.

“What’s gone wrong already?” Ben asked, when he was able to slip away from a conversation he was having with Jessica and Maggie. The two women seemed to hit it off, so they barely noticed as he made his way over to the bar. “You have that look you get when you eat too much dairy.”

“Yeah, I bet I do,” Nick said. “I feel like I’m going to shit my pants.”

“Spill it,” Ben said.

“Not now,” Nick said. “And not here. After dinner before the game starts.”

“Mr. Sheeran?” Manny said. “Dinner is ready in the main dining room.”

“Good,” Nick said. “Thanks, Manny.”

Nick clapped his hands.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, a huge smile on his face. “Dinner’s ready. If you’ll follow me, we’ll head up to the fly deck. Feel free to bring your drinks with, but I can assure you there is a fully stocked bar in the dining room. And Manny will be along shortly to fix new cocktails as needed.”

“Shortly?” Lane asked. “Shouldn’t he be there already? When I sit down, I better have a very dry martini waiting for me.”

“Once he cleans up in here, he’ll join us,” Nick says. “Not to worry though, I’ve had the chef open two bottles of 2006 Screaming Eagle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and three bottles of 2003 Jean-Louis Chave Cuvée Cathelin Hermitage.”

“Two reds?” Carlos asked. “No white?”

“I believe four bottles of Krug Private Cuvée champagne will do,” Nick said.

“Couldn’t splurge for the Moet, Mr. Sheeran?” Niya asked. “How unfortunate.”

“We’ll break out the Dom Perignon later,” Nick said. “If you will all follow me?”

“I would prefer to wait for my men,” Tony said. “No offense, but I don’t eat a stranger’s food without it being tasted first.”

“Jesus,” Ben said quietly. “Medici, much?”

“Excuse me?” Tony asked. “What do you mean by that?”

“The Medici family was a well known—” Ben began.

“I know who the damn Medicis are,” Tony growled. “But why did you say it? Because I’m Italian? Is that it? I’m just a stereotype that wears gold chains and tracksuits when I hang around my house waiting for my goomah to call while my wife makes pasta and gravy?”

“Uh, no, I said it because the Medicis were famous for losing food tasters due to attempted poisonings by their rivals,” Ben said. “But if you’d rather be a stereotype then who am I to stop you
,
Ton
y
?”

“Guys, come on, chill,” Nick said, getting between the two men. “We’re all friends here.”

“No, we are not,” Tony said, tapping Nick in the chest. “You, I know, but barely. I don’t consider you a friend on any level, Sheeran. An acquaintance, yes, but not a friend. The poker blogger? Please. He’s an amusement. A sideshow freak you trotted out to wow us while you try to unload this money pit.”

Maggie snickered. Everyone looked at her and the small smile on her face slipped away. Jessica took the drink from her hand and flipped the men off.

“We’re going to dinner,” Jessica said. “You guys need a ruler to measure your pencil dicks or will a cocktail toothpick be enough?” She glared at them all. “More than enough, is my guess.”

“Yep,” Lane said. “Dinner sounds bloody great. Niya?”

“Thank you,” Niya said as she took Lane’s arm.

Carlos sat at the bar and tipped his glass. “I want to see how this plays out.”

“It plays out with some delicious lobster bisque,” Nick said. “Let’s eat.”

“Let’s,” Tony said, glaring at Ben. “Can’t wait to tear into some fresh meat.”

He stalked off and Carlos sighed then followed behind.

“The first course is bisque! That’s a soup!” Ben called after Tony. “What are you going to tear into? The spoon?”

“Dude,” Nick hissed, taking the glass of bourbon from Ben’s hand and setting it on the bar. “How many have you had?”

“I don’t know,” Ben said. “Three?”

“Six,” Manny said as he wiped down the bar and tossed the rag in the small sink underneath. “That I know of.”

“Shit,” Nick said. “Are you stress drinking? I’m bankrolling you, man. You can’t lose even if you lose. So relax.”

Ben gave Nick a crooked smile then the smile straightened out and Ben cleared his throat.

“I’ve been dumping them while no one was looking,” Ben said. “I’ve had maybe a shot’s worth all evening. Just sizing up the competition and giving them a little false confidence.”

“These aren’t marks, Ben,” Nick said. “I thought I was clear on that. I just need you to play a straight game. Tonight isn’t about the cards, it’s about selling this damn thing. And I won’t be able to sell it if you piss off my potential buyers.”

“Really?” Ben asked. “How about if I piss off your main potential buyer, start beating his ass at cards, then let him take me down so he celebrates by buying your boat? How does that sound? Or would you rather I play it straight?”

Nick started to answer, but only laughed.

“I’m heading to the dining room,” Manny said, a smirk on his face as he looked at Ben. “Would you care for me to fix you another bourbon, Mr. Clow? Perhaps of the apple juice variety?”

“The what variety?” Ben asked.

“Apple juice is the same color as bourbon,” Manny said. “If I add a dot of vegetable oil to it then the liquid will stick to the sides and look just like real bourbon. Since you plan on letting the man win at cards, keeping up the illusion that you are drinking wouldn’t exactly be conning him. Just makes the ruse more believable.”

“Uh…yeah, sure,” Ben said. “That would be great. But, um, how does apple juice with vegetable oil taste?”

“Like apple juice with vegetable oil,” Manny said. “That is the downside to the plan.”

“How about no plan? No ruse, no illusion, just cards,” Nick said. “I have enough bullshit to deal with considering…”

He trailed off, sighed, took a deep breath, grabbed his own drink, downed it, and slapped Ben on the shoulder.

“You know what? Screw it,” Nick said. “Take the asshole for everything he has.”

“You sure?” Ben asked. “He’s going to be pissed.”

“He’s also going to want to win at something,” Nick said. “So when the others start making offers on this yacht, Giraldi’s going to top them each time. I may actually get more than asking price if you piss him off enough.”

“But not so much that he kills you,” Manny said as he walked from the bar. “I’ll be mixing drinks in the dining room then move on to make sure all is set in the game room.” He glanced over his shoulder at Nick. “Don’t forget your timetable, Mr. Sheeran. The guests do have some place to be tomorrow.”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks, Manny,” Nick said. “Go fix some drinks, will ya? Let me handle the guests.”

“That was weird,” Ben said after Manny had gone.

“Huh, what?” Nick asked as he rubbed at his face and started to leave the barroom. “What was weird?”

“You not chewing him a new one,” Ben said. “The Nick I know would have made a bartender swim home for talking like that.”

“Like what?” Ben asked.

“Like he can tell you what to do,” Ben said. “Not that I’m taking your side.” He studied Nick for a moment. “Are you okay? How many drinks hav
e
yo
u
had?”

“Not enough,” Nick said and patted Ben on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s make nice at dinner then play some cards.”

“You’re playing?” Ben asked.

“I think I might,” Nick said. “It’ll help settle my mind.”

“Really?” Ben asked. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” Nick replied quickly. “I just have to make this all work. It’s a lot of pressure. Can you do me a favor and take it easy? I like your thinking, but try not to be hard-case Benny tonight, alright?”

“Works for me,” Ben said.

17.

“We have one hatch closed, sir,” Nunez called over the com. “We had to do it manually since we’re locked out of the systems.”

“Good,” Wagner said as he inched closer to the vault. The passageway was almost clear of body parts after he and his men had thrown them inside, desperate to keep the creature occupied long enough so he could get a look at the thing and what he was up against.

He got a look. It did not make him happy. It made him decide that going in full bore was not the best strategy.

“Where’s my fire crew?” Wagner asked. “I need flames down here now so we can keep this thing inside the vault.”

“Fire crew is stuck one deck above you, sir,” Nunez replied. “All deck hatches have been locked down per security protocol. They can’t get through to you.”

“Then unlock the hatches!” Wagner barked. He quieted down and shook his head. “You can’t because we’re locked out of the systems. Sorry.”

“Have you gotten a look at the creature, sir?” Nunez asked.

“I have,” Wagner said, “and you’re right. The damn thing is growing. Did anyone get eyes on Dr. Glouster? Do we know where he is? I have a few questions about some obvious modifications he’s made to the project without anyone knowing.”

“No sign of the doctor, sir,” Nunez said. “But he has to still be in the vault. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead, though.”

“Time to find out,” Wagner said as he took a couple of deep breaths, got into a tight crouch, and crept around the vault door and inside the space itself, staying as small a target as possible.

The room dripped with blood. Offal littered the floor along with bones that looked picked clean. Clothing was piled up in one corner with weapons in another. The weapons looked like they’d been jammed into a blender, their metal barrels and grips warped and twisted into useless chunks of steel.

The creature was nowhere to be seen. Not a trace of the huge beast.

Wagner held up a hand and motioned forward with two fingers. He pointed left then right and two men crept in past him, each taking a different side of the vault. Wagner kept his eyes locked onto the tank that stood in the middle, its water a murky rust color. More than a couple of limbs floated in the saltwater, bobbing up and down with the motion of the ship.

Wagner brought his MP7 up and took aim, his eyes sighting down the snub-nosed barrel. His finger touched the trigger lightly and he prepared to squeeze.

“I wouldn’t,” Dr. Glouster said from the far corner of the vault, a tablet in his hands, a sneer on his face. “You of all people know how thick that glass is.”

“Armor piercing,” Wagner said, his aim switching instantly to the doctor. “I know what I’m up against, Doc.”

“I do not think you do,” Dr. Glouster said. “None of you do. Not NCDC, not Ms. Marion, not any of these men here. Not even OAS or McDowell. I have made sure of that.”

“How big is it now?” Wagner asked, his eyes darting from Dr. Glouster to the tank and back. “Is that shadow in there the creature? Hard to tell with all the blood.”

“All the blood,” Dr. Glouster whispered. He cleared his throat and spoke up. “Yes. The blood. That I hadn’t planned on. I knew the creature would have an increased appetite due to its enhancements, but I did not think it would have such a hunger for the sanguine fluid. Of course, the moment I realized it did, I took full advantage of the benefits of such a diet.”

“Benefits?” Wagner asked. There was a shifting of the shadow and Wagner brought his MP7 back to bear on the tank. “Benefits like rapid growth?”

“Amongst other attributes,” Dr. Glouster said. “You see, Mr. Wagner
,
Enteroctopus doflein
i
, is an amazing species. It’s genetic structure is incredible. Did you know that many species of octopuses can actually change their genetic structure within one generation? One generation! I was able to tap into this miracle of evolution and speed up the process, allowing my creature to adapt within its own lifetime.”

“Your creature?” Wagner asked.

“Yes, Mr. Wagner, my creature,” Dr. Glouster said. “Did you think I would create such a marvel and allow it to be sold to the highest bidder? Leaving me to begin all over again with some new project that is decided by the whims of shareholders and moronic CEOs? I think not, Mr. Wagner. I think not. I put plans in place long ago to make sure my work would be privately secured.”

Dr. Glouster tapped at the tablet and the tank’s water churned and swirled as three huge tentacles broke the surface and slid over the glass. Two of the tentacles moved in opposite directions, each heading for one of Wagner’s men. The third hovered in the air, undulating slowly as Dr. Glouster began speaking again.

The doctor held up his tablet and smiled.

“This is the only modification that I have made to my creature that is not natural,” Dr. Glouster said. “While it means I do not have a specifically pure biological product, it does allow me an immense amount of control. See?”

Before Wagner’s men could react, the two tentacles grabbed them, lifting them up high and then bringing them down to the floor in the blink of an eye. The men didn’t even have time to scream before they were cracked open like walnuts hitting hard pavement. Fresh blood was added to the coagulating gore that slicked every inch of the vault.

Wagner aimed at Dr. Glouster, but before he could pull the trigger, his weapon was yanked from his hands and thrown against the wall, shattering on impact. Wagner’s men’s bodies were pulled into the tank and the water’s murk increased.

Wagner stared then regarded the doctor.

“I gave you the keys when I handed you that tablet, didn’t I?” he asked.

“No, Mr. Wagner, I already had the key,” Dr. Glouster replied as he reached into his pocket and produced a USB drive. “Your men were looking for weapons when they patted me down. They had no clue that eighteen gigabytes on a piece of plastic and metal was more dangerous than any gun could ever be.”

“Your mods are on that?” Wagner asked.

“Yes,” Dr. Glouster said as he held up his tablet.

Wagner narrowed his eyes, turning back to the tank.

“Why not have it kill me as well?” Wagner asked.

“I could, I could,” Dr. Glouster said. “But I need you. For now.”

“Need me?” Wagner asked. “Can’t see why.”

“Can’t you?” Dr. Glouster asked. “Mr. Wagner, I am a scientist, not a sailor. You are in charge of this ship which means you can give the orders to turn us in the direction I need to go.”

“Where you need to go?” Wagner asked. “Where in the hell do you need to go?”

Dr. Glouster tapped some more at his tablet. “I have sent the coordinates to the bridge,” he said. “Please get on your com and instruct the captain to set the ship’s course for those coordinates, if you will be so kind.”

“None of this makes sense, Doc,” Wagner said. “You obviously have some plan in mind, but there is no way in hell you could have known I was working for NCDC and was going to move the creature. How the hell is your plan still viable?”

“Because my plan involves me, my creature, and a ship,” Dr. Glouster said and shrugged. “The ship need not be an OAS ship, specifically. A NCDC ship will work just as well. In fact, it works even better since if anything is to go wrong, I can blame NCDC and come away looking like an unwilling captive. You, Mr. Wagner, have given me a cover, if I end up in need of one.”

“Doc, listen to me,” Wagner said. “I don’t know who you are working with, and before you try to deny it, I know you are working with someone, okay? It’s obvious. Like you said, you’re a scientist. You’re not a sailor and you are certainly not a weapons dealer. I’m guessing that whoever you are meeting at these coordinates, they are the weapons dealer. How much have you been offered, Doc?”

“I already said I am not selling my work to the highest bidder. But, you are close. Yet not quite there, Mr. Wagner,” Dr. Glouster said. “And that is all I am going to say on the subject. I’ve said what I want and do not intend to be the man that shares his plans in a revealing monologue. Please instruct the captain to turn this ship towards the coordinates I have sent him.”

“And if I don’t?” Wagner asked.

Two taps on the tablet and a tentacle gripped Wagner around the throat. The pressure was surprisingly light and Wagner was able to breathe easily without any restrictions. As he felt the wet skin of the creature pulse against his neck, he knew that all it would take was one squeeze and he’d find the light pressure gone and possibly his head as well.

“Do I need to ask again?” Dr. Glouster said.

Wagner pressed a finger to his ear. “Captain? This is Wagner. Did you just receive a set of coordinates?”

“Yes, Mr. Wagner,” a voice replied.

“Plug them in and head that way,” Wagner said. “We’re taking a detour.”

“Mr. Wagner, I am under strict instructions not to deviate from our rendezvous with the NCDC facility,” the captain replied.

“You have new instructions,” Wagner said. “We’re giving the doctor and his creature a ride, it looks like. Our rendezvous will have to wait until another time, are we clear as a bell, Captain?”

“I understand the code you just gave me, Mr. Wagner, and I’m sorry to say our long range and satellite communications systems have been disabled,” the captain said. “NCDC has no idea what has happened on this ship. They won’t come looking for us until we miss our arrival window. By then we’ll have reached the new coordinates and whatever waits for us there will already have happened.”

Wagner glared at Dr. Glouster.

“Is he informing you that the cavalry is not coming, Mr. Wagner?” Dr. Glouster asked. “By the look on your face, I would say that he is.”

Wagner glanced around the vault. He calculated the lives lost, the men murdered, and realized that his life was going to be added to the list of casualties the moment Dr. Glouster got what he wanted.

“You win, Doc,” Wagner said. “I can’t fight you. Not with that thing in your corner. So, how about we make a deal?”

“I have no desire to make a deal, Mr. Wagner,” Dr. Glouster said. “I’m sorry, but I don’t.”

“You sure?” Wagner asked. “This other player, or is it players? Doesn’t matter. This other player on the board. Do you trust him or her?”

“Of course not,” Dr. Glouster said. “I’d be a fool if I did.”

“Then what is to stop this person from just killing you and taking your creature?” Wagner asked.

“Are you really so dense?” Dr. Glouster laughed and swept out a hand. “Look around you. I made this happen. These men were highly trained professionals. I have more than proven that I can handle myself.”

“No, you have proven you understand the element of surprise,” Wagner said. “Which you will not have when you arrive at your destination. They know you are coming, they know you have the creature, they know you can control the creature. They are counting on it. That makes you a serious liability and risk. The sooner they dispose of you, the better. You are a dangerous variable, Doc. You aren’t getting out of this alive.”

“I beg to differ,” Dr. Glouster replied, but the tone in his voice revealed a different feeling.

Wagner heard that tone and locked onto it.

“You need someone that can navigate the world you are about to step into,” Wagner said. “Trust me, Doc. What you’ve done here is pretty cold blooded, but I can guarantee that whoever you are working with is a million times more cold blooded. You’re already dead and you don’t know it.” Wagner smiled. “Unless you have me watching your back and making sure the trap they have set isn’t sprung.”

“There is no trap,” Dr. Glouster said, but his voice sounded even less convinced than before.

“Oh, there is, Doc. Probably more than one,” Wagner said. “How much will you get paid to be whatever it is you think you’re going to be?”

“A good amount,” Dr. Glouster said. “High eight figures. But, that money will allow me to work more, create more. I do not care about riches, I care about greatness.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of, Doc,” Wagner said. “Because for this other player of yours, it is about the money. It’s always about the money.” Wagner pointed at the tablet in Dr. Glouster’s hand. The tentacle tightened just a hair and Wagner froze. He waited, but when his head wasn’t popped off, he continued. “All they need is that tablet and some smart techs and they have your project. And those techs cost a lot less than high eight figures.”

“This tablet is not the only reason my creature obeys my commands,” Dr. Glouster said. “I raised it from birth. I have been there every single day of its life. It knows me, Mr. Wagner. And I know it. Techs may be able to work out the software from the tablet, but they will not be able to work my creature.”

“All the more reason to stay alive, Doc,” Wagner said. “Because if they can’t control the creature then they’ll just kill it.”

“Easier said than done, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Wagner?” Dr. Glouster chuckled.

“Yes, I would,” Wagner agreed. “But once again, you had surprise on your side. All it would take is a couple torpedoes, or some well-placed explosives, to blow this ship to fragments. End of your creature, Doc. Your mystery friend has wasted some time, and maybe some resources, but in the end it’s just another deal that didn’t pan out. Trust me when I say that if this person is a true professional, they are used to deals not panning out. They are also used to forgetting about them and moving on to the next thing.”