Iris Johansen - Shadow Zone

SHADOW
ZONE

SHADOW
ZONE

IRIS JOHANSEN
AND
ROY JOHANSEN

ST. MARTINS PRESS NEW YORK

Table of Contents

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously.

SHADOW ZONE. Copyright 2010 by Johansen Publishing
LLLP, and Roy Johansen. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America.

For information, address St. Martins Press,

175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

ISBN 978-0-312-61160-6

First Edition: July 2010

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Jerry

A faithful friend
who brought much love and laughter into the world

SHADOW
ZONE

PROLOGUE

Venice, Italy
10:35 P.M.

Marinth.

Samuel Debney piloted his motorboat up Venices Grand Canal, wishing he had never heard that word.

Marinth.

He had been only vaguely aware of it before, but in the past two weeks the name had come to mean many things to him. Awe. Wonder. Wealth. Fear. Ugliness. Death.

Marinth.

Had it only been two weeks since it had totally consumed him, wrenching him from his old life? It had been a good life, a comfortable life, but one that was now lost to him forever.

He shook his head. Cant look back. He would soon have plenty of time to wrestle with his regrets.

He hoped.

The lights of Sestiere di Castello shimmered on the water as he eased off the throttle and turned down Fondamenta San Lorenzo. Three turns later, he was facing the white-plaster back side of an art gallery. He heard music in the distance, but other than that there was only the sound of water lapping against the building foundation. It was deserted and only partially visible from the adjacent waterway.

He cut the engine. Why in the hell had he agreed to this?

He knew why. Because he was tired. Because he wanted it to be over. Because he just wanted

Thank you for coming, Mr. Debney.

He turned. Two men appeared from around the corner of the building. Debney tensed. He recognized them both. Gadaires men, whom hed seen when hed made the attempt to contact Gadaire. The red-haired man with the narrow face who had spoken was Tad Bekins. The smaller man with gray hair and muscles like a weight lifter was Ralph Johnson. Nasty bastards like all of Gadaires goons. This was not good.

Debney tried to smile, and only then did he realize that his lower lip was trembling. Hello, Bekins, I didnt expect you.

Why not? Bekins and Johnson jumped off the concrete walkway and landed on his boat. Bekins stepped closer to him. Mr. Gadaire was intrigued by the information you claim to have.

I do have it. His lips tightened. And if he was so intrigued, why didnt he come himself?

Mr. Gadaire is a very busy man.

So am I. I dont have time to waste with

Johnson slipped around and grabbed him from behind. As Debney struggled to break free, Bekins grabbed his arm and sliced his left wrist. Blood spurted onto the boat deck.

Debney reached for the revolver tucked into his waistband, but Johnson got there first. The man hefted it and struck him on the back of the head. In the next instant, he felt an icy cold shiver of pain on his right wrist. He looked down and saw that Bekins had cut him there, too, and his blood was now pooling at his feet.

What in the hell are you doing? Debney screamed.

Johnson pushed him down onto the weather-beaten seat. Youre losing blood fast. Youll be unconscious in seven minutes, and dead in twelve. Unless you tell us exactly what we need to know.

Youre out of your minds! I had a deal with Gadaire!

Deal canceled. This is the new deal, Bekins said. Talk. Tell us where we can find the sample.

He was going to die. Debney rocked back and forth. Mother of God...

The sample, Bekins repeated. Tell us where Bekins suddenly arched, his face drooping. He stumbled backwards toward the side of boat.

Debney stared in bewilderment as Bekins tried to speak. Blood. Blood pouring from his chest. Another step back, and Bekins tumbled into the canal.

What the Johnson spun around to face the walkway.

A man was standing there, a tall, powerful shadow in the dimness. He took aim with the automatic handgun and fired two muffled shots. Johnson collapsed onto the cushion next to Debney, almost as if dropping down to rest.

The man with the gun stepped down onto the boat.

Debney looked up. A fog was creeping up from the back of his head. Must fight it. Must stay awake. Fall unconscious, and he was a dead man. You... killed them...

Yes. Im sure neither of us is going to miss them. The man was powerfully built, a gleam of silver burnished the hair of his temples, and he spoke with a slight accent. Russian? Ill offier you the same deal those gentlemen did. Tell me what I need to know, and Ill save your life. The difference is, I will keep my word, which those two had no intention of doing.

Who... are you?

Kirov. He checked his watch. Your times running out. I suggest you begin talking now. If you talk fast enough, Ill have time to stop that blood before those wounds kill you. But I wont start until I have what I want. He added with lethal softness, Believe me. I dont bluff, Debney. Marinth. Lets start there, shall we? Before this is over, Im going to know everything that you know about Marinth.

CHAPTER

Marinth Underwater
Archaeological Site
Atlantic Ocean
Copernicus Research Vessel
7:10 A.M.

Hey, I didnt see you in the galley for breakfast, Hannah, Josh Carnaby said as he strolled down the deck toward her. You okay?

Fine. Hannah Bryson made a face as she gestured to the satellite phone in her hand. Im just trying to get through to my sister-in-law before we go down in the minisub. I want to talk to my nephew, and the time difference between here and Boston usually screws everything up. Her lips tightened determinedly. But I will get through, dammit.

An emergency?

She shook her head. Its my nephew Ronnies twelfth birthday. Her expression became shadowed. Its the first one since my brothers death. I want to touch base with him. Its going to be tough on Ronnie. Its going to be tough on all of them.

Josh nodded soberly. Its only been a couple months since Conner died. The wound has to be still raw. He was silent a moment. Damn, I miss him. The entire crew misses him. Every time I see you, I expect Conner to be right beside you.

As hed been beside her all through the years, she thought. Theyd not only been brother and sister, theyd worked together on hundreds of undersea projects, traveled the world together, and been best friends. She missed his sweetness, his humor, his gentle way of opening her eyes to the good things around her when all she could see was darkness. Dear God, how she missed him. Yeah, I know. She swallowed hard and quickly gazed out at the sun-dappled sea. Get control. She mustnt be all teary when she talked to Ronnie. Conner would have loved this job. He was always telling me that I spent too much time involved with machines and not enough enjoying the wonders the machines could uncover. She smiled with an effort. Here I dont have a choice. The wonders are all around me whenever I go down to that lost city that all the historians are trying to link with Atlantis.

That city would be damn hard to uncover if you hadnt been so brilliant and designed those minisubs. He was silent a moment. I just want you to know that I appreciate you letting me go down with you and having a part in this show. Its the chance of a lifetime, and youve always been the best boss a guy could have. Ill never be as good as Conner, and I know it probably hurts you to work with anyone else. But its been an experience Ill never forget.