It was a common site around Washington at this time of the morning.The small man with bright red hair and carefully trimmed matching van dyke beard jogging along the sidewalk.Every day for the last twenty years James Sandecker jogged the five miles from his apartment to his office.
Situated on a hill overlooking the Potomac River the thirty story glass edifice that was NUMA had been his creation from the first.He had been hand picked by then President Gerald Ford to start the organization and had started in a rented wharehouse with just a handful of people.Today it was considered the finest Oceanographic institution on the planet boasting over ten thousand employees with an annual budget in the billions.What NASA did for space NUMA did for the oceans.He was fiercely proud of his creation and his employees.

Sandecker was just toweling off after a shower in his private bathroom when he heard a knock on his outer door."What the heck" he muttered glancing at his watch."It's not even 6am".
He pulled on a robe and strode into his outer office ready for his first fight of the day."Come in"
He relaxed when he saw his second-in-command Rudi Gunn close the door behind him.His good mood evaporated when he saw Gunn's rumpled appearance and sleep deprived eyes.
"Rudi? What's wrong?"
"Have you read the paper today sir"? Gunn said in a weary voice
Sandecker shook his head "Haven't got the far yet.Haven't even had my orange juice yet. Why?"
Rudi threw a copy of the Washington Post on his desk."Page five" was all he said as he slumped onto the Admiral's couch.
Sandecker sat behind his desk and flipped open the paper to page five.The color drained from his face as he read the headline.

Senator's son feared dead in ferry disaster
Prince Rupert,British Columbia. AP
The son of Senator George Pitt is presumed dead in a ferry disaster last night.The Queen of the North a British Columbia passenger ferry collided with Gill Island just before 1am and sank in over an hour.
Dirk Pitt and his new wife,former Colorado Congressman,Loren Smith were on their honeymoon to Khunghit Island to visit an old friend and were returning to Port Hardy for the plane ride home to Washington.
The survivors were rescued by the Canadian Coast Guard and taken to the small town of Prince Rupert to be checked out by the doctors of the local hospital.
Some of the survivors remember Mr.Pitt helping them into the life boats before heading back into the ship to save others.
"He was a hero last night" Mrs.Joseph said to reporters this morning.

He looked at Rudi."Dirk?" he whispered in shock
Rudi nodded."I've got Al flying up there now with Dirk and Summer.I've also got the Eos Adventurer heading that way from Hawaii where she was testing a new submersible.She should be on site by tomorrow afternoon.Al should be there this evening and will co-ordinate everything".
"How are they taking it?"
Rudi smiled for the first time."You know Al Admiral.He won't believe it till he see's the body and I think the kids are just in shock".
Sandecker nodded slowly"Do we know how it happened?"
"Nothing yet.It's still to early.Speculation is that it was human error,there are too many backup saftey systems for it to be mechanical.But for a ship that size to go down that fast after hitting a rock,it must have ripped the bottom right out of her.I've got a call into the BC Ferry Corporation asking for the latest news and to offer our services".
"Get Yeager to pull up any charts of the area,anything that can help Al and the kid's.The better prepared they are the faster we can get that submersible into the water".
"On my way sir".Rudi hauled himself off the couch.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! yike: Rob, I have a feeling im REALLY gonna like this one!
FANTASTIC beginning! th: Keep em coming...

Summer spent most of the flight staring out the window of the NUMA jet as it flew North into Canada.Dirk on the other hand busied himself with his laptop,checking news reports and corresponding with Yeager back in Washington.
Giordino spent the flight in the cockpit buried in his own thoughts.The autopilot did all the work so he too stared out the window and reminised.
30 years of freindship,countless dangers overcome,death cheated more times than he cared to count."He can't be dead" he said to himself."I'd know it.I'd feel something"
He felt rather than saw Dirk squeeze into the co-pilots seat."Where are we landing?"
"Victoria International on Vancouver Island.Then we hop a float plane and head North to Shearwater on the coast.You got any new news?"
"Nothing yet.I did manage to find the passenger manifest and both Dad and Loren are on it.Also has their cabin number.I have Hiram emailing me the deck plans"
Al nodded."That should make it easier".
Both men went silent.Each wrapped in their own thoughts.
Dirk was the first to break the silence"How much longer?"
"About an hour"
Summer poked her head through the door."You boy's want anything to eat or drink?"
"No thanks" came two replies.
The rest of the flight was uneventful and they landed at Victoria right on time.Whisked through customs thanks to Sandeckers influence they headed for the rental counter and rented a blue Hummer.
With Summer driving and Dirk acting as navigator Al stretched out in the back seat and promptly fell asleep.The ride into Victoria took only half an hour and they were soon at the float plane counter talking to Josh Tamar,the owner of the small company.
"Yeah I know Shearwater well.We're going to have to stop en route to refill the tanks but we can be there in four hours".He looked around."You bring any luggage?"
"Everything we need is on the Eos Adventurer.She's meeting us there tomorrow"Summer explained.
"Cool.When do you want to leave?"
"I hate to rush you Josh" Giordino said. "But the faster we can get there the better"
"Of course" Josh nodded."Just let me do my pre-trip and we'll get in the air.If you want something to eat there's a little cafe at the top of the parking lot.Give me fifteen minutes"
"Thanks" Al said.He fished in his pocket for some money."Go get us some sandwiches and a couple of coffee's will you Dirk?"
Suddenly Al's Globalstar cell phone started ringing.Without looking at the call display he answered it.His face went white and his breath became ragged when he heard the voice on the other end.
"Dirk?"he barely whispered."Where are you?"

I'm liking this, Rob!! Excellent use of current events and tying them into previous books!

Great start, Rob!!! Very intriguing!!! Can't wait for more!!! w:

Bring it on! th:

HA! I knew he was alive........never doubted..... :unsure: ...not once... :wacko:
:lol: :P

It wasn't the crash that woke Pitt it was the fact that his new wife was now laying on top of his head making it increasingly hard to breathe.
Then the alarms starting ringing and loud voices could be heard giving orders.He could feel rather than hear the engines running at full speed still driving the ship further onto whatever it had hit and tearing out it's bottom.
He struggled out of bed and into his jeans and a sweatshirt.
"Dirk? What's going on?" A groggy Loren Smith asked as he was tying up his hiking boots.
"We've hit something and by the feel of it we're sinking.Put some warm clothes on and pack a watertight bag if you can.I'm going to take a look around".He noticed the concern in her eyes so he bent down and gave her a quick kiss of reassurance."Don't worry I won't play hero and I'll be back before you know it.Just get dressed and wait for me here".
"No.I want to go with you.I don't want to get seperated". Loren said as she climbed into jeans and a sweater."It's our honeymoon after all".
Pitt nodded knowing it was almost impossible to turn Loren away from doing what she wanted when she had made up her mind.
He gave her hand a squeeze and grabbed his cell phone before opening the cabin door and moving into the hallway.The ship had started to list as water rushed into the smashed hull making it difficult to keep their footing.Pitt followed the other passengers,some wearing only pajamas or robes,some even barefoot.
They struggled upward against the slope of the deck.Dirk caught the lady in front of him when she fell and helped her up the stairs.They finally made it onto the deck and got their first look at the situation.He remembered the Leonid Andreyev and caught himself looking around for Lee Tong.He had saved Loren from a sinking liner that day as well."Let's hope this one turns out better" He mumbled to himself.
There were only a hundred people on board including the crew but the evacuation seemed to be progressing in an orderly fashion.No signs of panic yet but that could change at any second as the ship slid deeper and deeper under the waves.
The deck continued to slant and the footing was getting precarious as Dirk climbed to the bridge.
"Mr.Pitt.You should be in a lifeboat". Captain John Norrison said as he directed some of the crew with a portable radio.
"I will.I just wanted to know if you needed a hand?"
"No I think we have everything under control.Thank-you anyway.Now get yourself to a lifeboat,I don't think she'll stay up much longer.When the cars start to shift she's going to go down fast." He turned back to the radio barking more directions.
Pitt stayed for a few seconds more but the ship gave a huge lurch and a rumbling sound from deep in the hull told him to get his ass in gear.
He turned back to the door and bumped into Loren."Come on,we've got to leave.The cars just shifted so she doesn't have much time left" To reinforce his statement there was another rumble and she listed sharply making the two of them grab for a railing to stop from falling overboard.
They made their way to the nearest lifeboat but suddenly Dirk stopped.He'd seen something out the corner of his eye.

Amazing th: Keep it up and update soon pretty please with sugar on top! :) :lol:

The man was huddled against the steel staircase,shaking with fear,eyes scared with a face as white as a ghost.
Pitt walked carefully over to him"Sir?.Are you alright?.Do you need a hand?"
He looked up at Dirk with fear in his eyes.His lips moved and Pitt had to bend close to the mans mouth to hear him.
"My wife" He whispered "She's trapped in our cabin.I came up here to try and get some help and froze in fear.I feel so worthless".
"It'll be alright" Pitt reassured him "Where's your cabin?"
"A 13.Down the hall on the right".
Dirk took him by the shoulders and led him over to where Loren was waiting by the lifeboat. "Stay by him and both of you get in a lifeboat.His wife is stuck in their cabin".
Loren started to protest but Pitt cut her off."I'll be fine sweetie I promise."
With that he ran back to the stairway and headed down into the dark and cold.Just as he reached the bottom the lights started to flicker."Great" he thought.He ignored them and ran along the hallway his feet making no sound in the plush carpet.He stopped at a cross hallway to catch his breath and take his bearings.Suddenly he stiffened.Cocking his head he thought he heard crying but couldn't be sure.
"Hello" he yelled
"In here" came the weak reply "Hurry"

''I'm coming" Pitt yelled as he moved along the hallway finally reaching A-13.Pushing open the door he scanned the room with a bewildered look finding it empty.
"Hello? Anyone there?"
"In here" the voice came from the tiny bathroom."Thank God Dennis found someone.I've been wondering if anyone was ever coming.My names Rita"
Pitt peeked around the door frame and saw a woman who seemed to be jammed between the toilet and shower stall.At least she was dressed he noticed with relief.
"Are you alright Rita?" He asked for the second time in ten minutes.
"I'm ok but my arm is stuck"
Dirk shook his head and held back the laugh that was forming."This may sound like a stupid question but how did you get your arm stuck?"
"I was taking off my earrings,the ones that Dennis bought me for our anniversary,when the ship hit something and I lost it down here.Stupid I know but they were sentimental"
The ship gave another lurch and started to list even more.Rita screamed and Dirk had to grab at the towel railing to stop from falling.
"Oh God please hurry" Rita sobbed. "I don't want to die like this"
"Rita calm down,you're not going to die.We have at least half an hour"
Dirk lied more to calm her down than anything else.What he didn't need was Rita fighting him while he tried to free her arm.
He quickly scrounged through the cabinets and found nothing useful.Getting down on his knees he tried to see where her arm was stuck but the maze of pipes and her body were in the way.
"Can you move your arm in any way?"
"No.And I've lost all sensation in my fingers if that helps.Did you know we've been married for thirty-eight years in May"
Pitt let her talk since he knew it was her way of dealing with the stress.He soon tuned her out while his mind discarded plan after plan.
"I'll be right back Rita"
That shut her up. "Please don't leave me.I don't want to die"
"You're not going to die.I promise" Second time in the last ten minutes for that one as well he said to himself."I better make good on these promises" He muttered as he left the cabin.

Pitt crossed to the cabin opposite and kicked the door in knowing that it's occupants were already in a lifeboat.Quickly moving to the bathroom he rifled through the medicine cabinet and found what he was looking for.
Returning to A-13 he shoved his way into the bathroom and stopped dead in his tracks.
Rita was gone.
Suddenly the hairs on the back of his neck stood up,his inate sixth sense again,causing him to duck just as a fire axe imbedded itself in the door frame.Dropping to his knees he lashed out with his feet and caught his attacker in the stomach sending her back through the open door.Dirk spun around and slammed it shut before she could recover..
At that moment the lights went out and the room was plunged into darkness.
"Oh this just keeps getting better and better"He said to the dark.
He pressed his ear to the door and could hear Rita gasping for air on the other side.He heard a grunt and again dropped to his knees as the sharp end of the axe was thrust through the door just missing his head.Rita had aimed low expecting him to duck and had nearly succeded.Pitt groped around for a weapon and unceremoniously ripped the towel rack from the wall.He hefted it in his right hand as his left closed on the doorknob."Beggars can't be choosers"
He tried to picture what the room was like and where Rita would be.She also had the dissadvantage of being in the dark and didn't know he'd armed himself,although she had probably heard the noise as he'd ripped the rack down.He would just have to trust that she wasn't paying that close attention.
Taking two deep breaths he yanked the door against it's stops and flung himself through launching himself high knowing that Rita would expect him to go low.He swung the rack as hard as he could in an arc and was rewarded with hearing a resounding crack as metal hit skull.

Rita didn't know who she was messin with.....or DID she???
GAAAA!!!!!!! :unsure: :lol:

Dirk appears to come across a lot of women who call themselves Rita that want him dead. :blink: Trojan Odyssey's Rita (aka Fildais- did I spell that right?) :lol:

I know Dirk has to defend himself but that skull crunching business sounds awfully mortal to me. Hope she's not dead. Just what is her game, Rob? Or do we find out at the end of the story? This is turning interesting. Hope you also finish your two other stories. The one about the young male driver being forced to drive a couple of whacked young women and the young Dirk and Al story too. w:

Pitt lay on the floor of the cabin for a minute to catch his breath.In the silence he could hear the groan of stressed metal as the ship sank lower.
He had to move.Had to reach the lifeboats before they left without him.
He knew the crew had already checked the cabins so he was on his own.
Now he also had a body to contend with,dead or alive,it was going to be a struggle to get both of them to an open deck.
He reached out for the body and grabbed an arm.Dragging her slowly up the hallway in the dark made him sweat despite the cold temperature.It was like carrying two fifty pound bags of cement up a thirty degree slope.His breath came in ragged gasps as they emerged onto the outer deck.
"Thank-you Mr.Pitt,I"ll take it from here if you don't mind" The voice was accompanied by the unmistakable feel of a gun barrel pressed against his neck.
Pitt slowley turned around and found himself staring into the cold eyes of Rita barely visible in the dim light.
His eyes widened in shock and surprise.

yike: Oh, my!!! yike:

PLEASE MORE!!!!!!!!! :lol: Waiting anxiously for the next installment. Fabulous so far. th:

Nope no more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kaput!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:P :P :P

You're an evil man Mr. Sansom, did you know that?.....EEEEVIL!!!!
BEWARE OF YOUR READERS WRATH!!!
:ph43r: I shall hide in the British Columbian forests near the highway and wait to throw a branch in front of your truck! Or maybe I will go for something more personal....
stomping on your new tulips, perhaps. MUAHAHAHA!!!!! :o :lol: ;)

There's no more?! No, no, no, that can't be right...

I'll put spikes on the road j:

HAHAHA!!!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Giordino stood in the parking lot and stared at the dead phone in his hand."They're alive" he said barely loud enough for Summer to hear.She looked up from the brochure for the Butchart Gardens she was scanning and noticed the strange look on her *uncles* face.
"What did you say?"
Al looked at her with a big smile "Your dad and Loren are alive"
Summer dropped the brochure and leaped into Al's arms in excitement drawing disapproving looks from some passersby.
Dirk,although halfway up the parking lot,turned at the sound of the cell phone and watched in amazement as his sister jumped into Giordinos arms.He quickly realized what it meant and forgetting all about the coffees rushed back to the dock.
"Well,where are they?" he asked breathlessly.
Giordino's face grew somber."I don't know.Dirk's cell phone kept crapping out.He said something about an island and having to swim after the lifeboats left but it was so faint I can't be sure"
"We need a detailed map of the area then" Summer said .
"I'll see what I can find and get Yeager to fax me one" Dirk sat down on a nearby bench and pulled out his laptop and opening his email account.Soon he was immersed in his task and didn't see Al and Summer wander away.
Summer wandered over and watched Josh do his pre-flight routine as Al called Sandecker to update him on the situation.
"Alright Al do whatever it takes and use whatever NUMA resources you have at your command.Rudi is here with me and I've given him the authorization to also do what it takes to get Dirk and Loren back home safely"
"Thanks Admiral"Giordino said."I think I'll use the Eos Adventurer as a base when we get up there.It has everything we need.Who's the Captain?"
He heard Rudi's voice "Roy McNeil.Remember we worked with him when we searched for that missing Chinese airliner off the coast of Japan back in 97".
"He's a good man" Al said quietly "If I remember correctly he was born in Victoria and has sailed these waters all his life.Nice to know we'll have some local knowledge.I want to try and contact Mason Broadmore.Rudi do you think you could arrange for him to meet us in Shearwater?"
"I'll get right on it Al"
Through the phone he could hear the door to Sandeckers office close."I'll call you when we get to the Eos Adventurer Admiral"
"Good luck and keep me updated"
"Yes sir" he said as the line went silent.He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigar.
Dirk wandered over and recognized it as one of Sandeckers private stock."I've got everything we need from Yeager.You think the pilots ready?"He nodded at the cigar "Has the Admiral ever figured out how you get his cigars"
Giordino just smiled and gave him a wink.
Josh called from the dock."We're ready to go folks"

Dirk glanced behind Rita into the gloom and noticed the lifeboat was empty.A white anger rose inside him "Where's my wife?" he asked through clenched teeth.
Without taking the gun from his chest Rita flicked her eyes over his shoulder.
Pitt turned and noticed a huddled form under the stairs.Her hands were tied to a railing and her head slumped to one side.Even in the gloom he could see a dark stain covering one side of her face.
His hands clenched in rage he turned back to Rita "If Loren is dead I will personally see you get a one way ticket to hell". His voice like ice and his green eyes mere dark slits.
Rita felt a chill down her spine as she heard those words and looked into those eyes barely visible in the dark.She paled slightly as she saw her future but came back on track quickly."I don't think you're in any position to make threats Mr.Pitt.I have the gun and the boat is sinking.If I were you I'd be more concerned about saving my own life"
Dirk allowed a small smile to play at the corner of his mouth."I don't give a rats ass about my life.From now on it's my duty to see that you pay for what you've done tonight"
Rita nodded in the dark."I was told to expect nothing less from the dashing and gallant Dirk Pitt.You're from the old school Pitt.Nobody cares about anyone else these days.It's all about me and the almighty dollar.People would rather push an old lady into the street these days than help her across it,then sue the family for undue stress at having to have been a witness."
Pitt shook his head in confusion again"Who told you about me?"
Rita laughed "A woman must have some secrets Mr.Pitt"
From the deck Dennis groaned causing both of them to look down momentarily.It was the break Dirk had been waiting for.He put his head down and lunged forward but Rita was faster and she whipped the pistol up and connected with just a glancing blow on the side of the head.He stumbled down to one knee and rolled against the bulkhead.Dimly through the pain he saw Rita pull the gun up to fire but a sudden lurch from the ship caused her to stumble and her shot went wide.
Realizing she didn't have any time to lose she grabbed her husband under the arms and dragged him to the lifeboat.
Dirk crawled over to Loren and cradled her head in his arms as he looked for any signs of life.Thankfully she was still breathing and it was just a flesh wound.He probed the area and felt nothing broken.
He worked at the knots keeping her captive as all around him vents of trapped air escaped from any opening with the roar of a jet plane taking off.He could hear the stressed metal and from somewhere deep below a muted explosion rocked the already bad listing boat.
The final knot came loose and he threw Loren across his shoulder and stumbled aft as he felt the ship pick up speed on it's thousand foot drop to the ocean floor.
He reached the aft railing and launched himself into the black water.

I'm really enjoying this, Rob. :)

That b**** hurt Loren!!!! Evil woman!!!

Fantastic story. Keep it coming. th: :)

YAY! For a while there, I thought we would never find out what happened. :o
Thanks Rob! It was worth the wait. th:

Definitely worth the wait but if that had happened to my wife, Rita would be dead.

Never fear Tony I'm sure Dirk has something special planned for Ms.Rita ;)

The flight North was uneventfull and with a tailwind they chopped half an hour off Josh's estimated time.Both Dirk and Summer marvelled at the sheer beauty of the country,Al had seen it years before but still felt that mother nature had outdone herself when she had created Canada.To him the whole country was magnificent and every time he came up here he told himself that this was where he wanted to retire whenever that fateful day came.A small cabin in the woods next to a lake stocked with fish would suit me just fine he thought to himself.
After landing at Shearwater and taxiing up to the gas dock they thanked Josh and walked up the street to the only hotel in town.
The Eos Adventurer wasn't due until first light so they each booked a room and wandered off to do their own thing after agreeing to meet in the dining room for dinner.Summer stretched out on her bed and was soon fast asleep.Dirk decided on a shower.
After Al had updated Sandecker he strolled over to a small bar just off main street crammed between a video and a hardware store.The dimly lit interior appealed to his dark mood as he sat at the bar and ordered a beer.He felt rather than saw the patrons eyeing him in the suspicious way regulars do to outsiders.He finished his beer and motioned to the bartender for another one.
"I thought I'd find you in here" said a familiar voice at his elbow "Buy me drink stranger"
Giordino laughed and gave Rudi Gunn a bear hug that would have cracked ribs if he'd squeezed hard enough.
"Where the hell did you come from?"
"Sandecker thought I might be of some help.More like he sent me up here to keep you out of trouble.Looks like I got here just in time too." he said waving his arm around the bar "How do you find these places?".
Al grinned "The old Giordino luck I guess.I'm just drowning my sorrows with a couple of beers.Care to join me.I'll buy"
Rudi looked surprised."Al Giordino buying? Hell yes I'll have one" he laughed at Giordinos hurt expression as the bartender placed a beer in front of him.
Rudi raised his bottle "To a successful search"

Clutching Loren in a death grip Pitt hit the water hard.He gasped in shock as the icy water assaulted his exposed skin like a thousand tiny knives.Although he was glad for the protection of his clothes as he was pulled under.
He struggled to swim against the suction created by the sinking ferry but was hindered by his unconscious wife.Further into the black void they were pulled as his lungs screamed for air and a blackness started to creep into the egde of his vision.
He felt rather than saw a cord dangling over his chest and with a sudden clarity knew what it was.He fumbled to grasp it with near frozen fingers.With the last of his strength he pulled the cord and even in the stygian blackness with the roar of the sinking ship all around him he could hear the escape of compressed air as the life preserver he had strapped around Loren burst into life.
It was the last act of a desperate man and he prayed it worked.Slowly he felt a small change and he weakly kicked his legs.
"It's not enough" his brain screamed as the suction started to pull them back.The ship reclaiming what was hers he thought grimly.
Suddenly they were surrounded by bubbles and being forced to the surface.A huge pocket of trapped air had exploded from the ship and was carrying them upward.
They shot to the surface so hard that they breached like a couple of playful dolphins.
After catching his breath Pitt looked around him and quickly noticed the outline of a nearby landmass,darker than the starless night and barely visible.Laying Loren on her back he grabbed the life preserver and set out for shore.
After what seemed like hours to the exhausted Pitt his feet finally touched the gravel shore and he dragged them both onto the rocky beach,where he lay gasping and shivering.After five minutes of deep breaths to calm himslef he struggled to his feet and fished his cell phone from his pocket.Wrapped in a plastic sandwich bag he hoped it was still dry as with shaking fingers he dailed a number from memory.
"Al?" he managed to say through the chattering of his teeth"Yes,I'm alive.Barely but I'm alive.No,I have no idea where we are.All I know is we made landfall.Yes,Loren's here with me." he listened for a few more seconds."Thanks buddy.We'll be here"

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get them warm Rob! Hypothermia.... :o ;) :P

:o I hope Al finds them fast! Update again soon. th:

Get those two lovebirds in a warm bed. :lol: And post soon. w:

The bright turquiose ship seemed out of place in the small fishing village but the Eos Adventurer was the latest NUMA research platform.Computer built from the keel up she was ugly but extremely functional.The huge crane sitting admidships looked out of place and towered over the rest of the ship.It was used for raising and lowering the equally bright turquiose submersible sitting just aft of the crane.
Too large to use the dock she was anchored offshore in a deep part of the cove.Her tenders ran back and forth to shore with supplies and scientists.
While Rudi was overseeing the replenishment operation Al,Dirk and Summer were in the chart room behind the bridge poring over maps of the area.
"The Coast Guard says they hit Gill Island and sank here" Summer placed a large X on the map.
"So dad must be somewhere around here.It's too bad Hiram didn't have enough time to run a trace when dad called you" Dirk said.
Al nodded."Maybe next time.I told your dad we were on our way and to phone us at 5pm tonight,hopefully Yeager can do his voodoo and put us closer to the bal park."
"Ok so now we know where to look,let's get this horse and pony show on the road"Summer said excitedly.
"I'll give Captain Calloway the co-ordinates and get us underway" Giordino left the chart room.

Summer looked at Dirk "Shouldn't we notify the Canadian Coast Guard that we're on our way?"
Dirk shook his head."Nah,we go this one alone me thinks.Al and Rudi know what they're doing.The less the Canadians know what's going on the better off everyone will be."
"What?" Summer looked stunned."We have to tell them.It's,it's it's.."She stammered trying to find the right words.
Dirk grabbed her arm and led her out onto the deck and looked around slyly."Dad told Al it was murder" He whispered into her ear.

HA HA! Of course it was murder! I don't like the sound of the sneaking around Canada without permission though...there's dirty work ahead, I can sense it!
Watch out for Rob, Dirk! You're in his territory now, baaaaad news. :lol: ;)
Good work Rob, as always. th:

Don't leave us in suspense for long. Keep it coming. th:

Hehehe.... we Americans can be brusque, that's for sure! p: But I like to think that Mexicans and Canadians are also Americans!!! Let's have a North American Republic!!!! w: party: beer:

Um...no.