Page 22 of The Sunken Truth

“What happened to the container?” Seren asked.

“I don’t know. It was in my hand and then it was gone. I was busy trying to get my octo, but that wasn’t working either, so I headed for Lily and we surfaced.”

“Octo?” Flynn asked, close to Lily’s ear.

“It’s a backup breathing device.”

“Thank god you’re all right,” Seren said, eyes round.

“That’s crazy,” the ginger-haired guy said, coming to stand beside Lily.

“Hi,” she said, extending her hand.

He introduced himself as Benji, and the taller guy, Kurt, came and said hello in a distinct Australian accent.

Initially, she’d thought them both very young, but up close she’d guess they were older than her – probably early thirties.

“I cannot believe he’d stoop this low,” Ryan muttered, eyes fixed on the other boat which was heading their way.

“Everything all right?” a middle-aged guy with thinning hair called out. “It got chaotic down there with all that sand stirring up.”

Ryan raised his regulator with the cut hose plain to see. “I know we’ve had our differences, but I can’t believe you’d sabotage my equipment.”

“What are you talking about?” the guy said as the womanat the helm cut the engine and left the boat to bob alongside theirs. “What the heck happened to your hose?”

“Someone cut it,” Ryan shouted. “And my octo, too.”

“Come on!” The guy pulled his chin in. “Why would I do that?”

“Because I found something down there. Someone cut my air supply and took it from me.”

The guy on the other boat looked perplexed. “For one thing, I wouldn’t do that. For another, I was nowhere near you.”

“He wasn’t,” the woman agreed, stepping beside the man. “He was with me.”

“Then did you, by any chance, see who cut my hose?”

She shook her head. “I turned around and the wreck had disappeared into a cloud of sand.”

“Let’s just take a breath,” Flynn said, stepping beside Ryan. “Sorry,” he added. “Bad choice of words. But is it possible your hose got snagged on something down there?”

“It’s cut almost clean through,” Ryan said, shoving it in front of Flynn’s face. “A knife did that.” He turned back to the guy on the other boat. “This is low even for you, Harry.”

“I wouldn’t do something like that,” Harry replied. “I’d like to find treasure the same as everyone, but I wouldn’t sabotage anyone over it.” He rolled his eyes. “Even you.”

“Anything found down there could be worth a fair bit,” Ryan said, tension tightening his jaw.

“Nothing’s worth killing someone over,” Harry responded. “Especially not when there’s no guarantee of a reward. We don’t even know if salvage rights will apply yet.”

“Maybe not, but don’t try to tell me Eustace Tremayne didn’t make you the same offer he made me.”

Harry laughed loudly. “You know as well as I do thatEustace Tremayne is as mad as a hatter. I told him where to go as soon as he made me an offer.”

“Who’s Eustace Tremayne?” Flynn asked. “And what’s he got to do with this?”

“He’s a crazy old guy who lives over on Bryher,” Seren said, eyebrows pulling together. “He’s about ninety years old and practically a recluse. Why would he have anything to do with the wreck?”

Ryan sighed. “Because he reckons he’s a descendant of the ship’s captain. He offered me cash if I bring him gold, or anything else I find. Offered my staff the same.”