The Girl Beneath the Sea (Underwater Investigation Unit #1)(58)

“We restrict it to waterways,” says Irene. “Remember how the EPA asserted jurisdiction of everything from swimming pools to aqueducts? You can create a special task force solely for crimes relating to water.”

The governor thinks it over. “Okay . . . but I’m not sure if the legislature will pass this in the long run.”

“They don’t have to,” says Irene. “Not as long as it’s self-funded.”

“You have all the angles worked out, don’t you?”

She smirks at George. “Of course.”

The governor picks up a pen. “Fine. It’s only my career in politics if this goes south.”

“Small loss,” says George.

The governor lowers his pen and looks at me. “Can you teach him when to keep his mouth shut?” He slides the paper back to Irene. “Here you go.”

“One more thing,” says George with a nod at me. “We need to make her legal.”

“Oh right,” replies the governor. “Sloan McPherson, raise your right hand. Do you swear to uphold the laws of the state of Florida and the United States Constitution?”

What’s going on here? “Um, yes?”

“Close enough. Then as governor of the state of Florida, I deputize you to enforce said laws and have whatever responsibilities are, um, set forth in that document. Irene? Make it legal.”

“Will do,” she replies.

“Okay. Don’t come back unless you have a lot of money,” says the governor.

George quickly ushers me into the hallway. I don’t say anything until we’re in the parking lot.

“What the hell was that about?”

“You’re a cop again. Basically, an untouchable cop. The only person who can fire you is the governor.”

“An unpaid cop,” I say.

“Not if we find Bonaventure’s money. You still have your severance from Lauderdale Shores, and I’m sure Irene will figure something else out.”

“You trust her?”

“She was the district attorney I worked with back when I was arrested. We have history.”

I climb into the passenger seat, still thinking things over. A realization hits me. “So, the governor just gave us a charter to seize assets in Florida waters?”

“Criminal ones,” replies George. “That’s kind of an important detail.”

“Right. Right. But do you know what this makes us?”

“Cops?”

“Not quite. That document he signed is basically a letter of marque.”

“What’s that?”

“It makes us privateers—we’re state-licensed pirates.”

“Pirates, huh? I hadn’t thought about it that way. Maybe we use some other name for our unit?”

“Fair point. Um, how about Underwater Investigation Unit?”

“UIU? That works.”

This is still the worst day of my life, but strangely, I feel somewhat better now. I don’t have to be Sloan McPherson, victim. I get to be Sloan McPherson, pirate cop.





CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

SALVAGE

Dad has an anxious look on his face as I suit up in my dive gear. I wrestled with whether we should ask for his help. Despite his outburst at me and distaste for Solar, there’s nobody I could rely on more in a situation like this. Sure, Dad might have put me in harm’s way in the past by choosing risky dive locations, but once there, he was a master at understanding difficult conditions and handling emergencies. Also, Fortune’s Fool is the best-equipped boat in our little fleet for this kind of venture.

When I suggested it to Solar, he saw the logic and took my word that Dad would keep his mouth shut about what we were up to. As long as the two aren’t perpetually at each other’s throats, I think we’ll be fine.

The diving part doesn’t have me concerned this time. I’ll be using air and a set of bolt cutters to get inside the grate. It should be pretty straightforward. I’ve bagged dozens of bodies underwater. It’s old hat for me.

What has me worried is the idea of getting apprehended again. Technically I won’t be going onto the property of ambassador what’s his face, but it doesn’t matter. DIA Jane could nab me in a shopping mall. If she let me go because she didn’t think I was a threat, I’m not stupid enough to believe she’ll make that mistake again.

I blast air out of my regulator and make sure the body pouch is sealed tight inside the dive bag. Solar is watching Turtle Isle with night-vision goggles.

“You sure we don’t look too conspicuous?” I ask.

“We’re officers of the law doing our job. Stop acting like you’re sneaking into the neighbor’s pool on spring break.”

“Yeah . . . it’s just that DIA Jane doesn’t seem to have too much respect for laws or the Constitution.”

He senses I’m more scared than I’ve been letting on. “Irene’s keeping an eye on things. If either one of us disappears, there’ll be hell to pay.”

I’m worried that George and Irene are underestimating what we’re up against. Jane’s people are used to operating in countries where the rules don’t apply to them.

I step onto the dive platform. “Okay.” There’s no point in arguing with him. Either I do what I set out to do or I run away. I’m tired of being the one running from things.