Ghost Writer(76)

“I'll get dressed. I'll be ready in…” I considered what I had to do. “Fifteen minutes.”

“I will let all interested parties know and meet you in the gangway. Wait for me.”

“Merci, Chief Gravell.”

“Bienvenue, Madame Kirby.

I was starting to appreciate how political leaders must feel, constantly being followed around by armed guards. Gravell didn't wear the ubiquitous black suit, or the Ray Ban shades, but now he wore an earwig and an expression of stolid immovability. He was standing at parade rest when I left my cabin.

“What? You look like someone over-starched your shorts.”

The mere hint of a smile flickered on his face and was extinguished.

“The captains are waiting for you as well as the director.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“No, Madame Kirby.”

“Are you in trouble?”

No answer.

I folded my arms.

“Are you in trouble, Chief Gravell?”

“People are waiting for you.”

“They can wait.”

He shifted from parade rest to standing easy. I’d sat through enough cadet parades to know the difference.

“I am not in trouble, but I have been reminded of the extent of my duties.”

My eyes narrowed in anger. “Captain Campbell reminded you?”

“He is my superior officer.”

“I thought Franchot was officially your commander.”

His next words sounded like they were pushed through clenched teeth. “Not anymore. He thinks I should have assigned a same-gender guard for you. He mentioned Petty Officer Briseau in particular.”

I thumped the bulkhead with my fist. “Sophie’s a nurse, not a bodyguard.”

“The captain has a legitimate concern, given his knowledge of the case. My apparently single-minded attention to you doesn't follow protocol.”

I nodded. I hadn't told Campbell about the ghosts and I wasn't sure I ever would.

“We should go, Madame Kirby.”

Again, I nodded. I squared my shoulders and set off, pretending that I was the leader of a small, but important, nation state. Gravell followed two steps behind.



As summits go, this one was pretty tame. I took Dora aside and gave her copies of all video material, discretely suggesting that she not go over the material until she could do so in private.

Via video phone, Tinsdale made it clear that the United States Navy had not relinquished its claim to the station and let me gather what I would from that statement. Captain Campbell made a similar politically motivated declaration.

Franchot reminded everyone that it was his crew and AFFA that made this operation possible.

Zoe, back behind the camera, recorded all this then went off to confer with the émil Gagnan divers who would be acting as videographers on the station. Once the cameras were off, everyone relaxed.

“Excited?” Alex asked me.

“Nervous. Anxious. Maybe a little scared about the dive. Maybe a lot scared about going back on the station. And yeah, excited.”

“You won't be alone this time,” said Franchot.

“I wasn't completely alone last time. I had Captain Campbell and Chief Gravell.”

I looked from one man to the other. It was time to make my official statement.

“I don't think I can ever fully express how grateful I was for your company then, nor how much I appreciate your friendship since. I also want to thank you for facilitating my inclusion on this expedition.”

A short, embarrassed silence followed. Then Franchot outlined the goals of the expedition.

“We're splitting into three teams to cover as much ground in as short a time as possible. Each team will have one person in charge of forensic collection, one videographer, and two military observers. One American. One Canadian.

I did the math and said, “That leaves one extra.”

“That would be you and Petty Officer Welland,” said Captain Campbell.

The math still didn’t work, but that wasn’t my problem.

“Chief Gravell says that you will be able to point out places for the teams to concentrate their search, based on your research of the personal effects of the crew. So, instead of being tied to one team, you'll help each in turn.”

“Yes, sir.”

“That's ‘aye, sir,’” said Alex, giving me a wink.

“Aye-aye, Captain.”

“Actually,” Campbell said, giving Franchot a respectful nod, “there's only one captain on a ship and here that's Captain Franchot.”

I almost apologised for my unintended slight when I realized they were all laughing at me, even Gravell.



After a light lunch, we geared up. Franchot had two of his divers go over all the equipment and a guard was posted. Naire was also on guard. He drew my attention to an item added to my radio.

“A bug?” I whispered.

He shrugged. Technology had come a long way in thirty years, he probably wasn't sure.

“Do you know who?”

He nodded. He drifted over to hover behind Tim.

I stepped over to Gravell who was hugging a wall to stay out of the way. He confirmed my suspicion. He gave my radio a once over and, using his broad back to mask his activities, switched out my batteries. Batteries and bug went into a plastic baggy he just happened to have with him.