Page 99 of Hidden Depths

Storm smiled back.

"Yes, you would have."

Nearly four miles away...

The older man lowered his binoculars.

"The captain is adapting."

The younger man watched Sea Whisper begin her gentle turn.

"Should we close the distance?"

The older man shook his head.

"No."

"Let them wonder."

He glanced toward the smaller black RHIB racing across the Pacific.

"They're about to receive our invitation."

He smiled.

"And they don't even know it yet."

18

WARD

The best operations never looked like operations.

They looked ordinary.

That's what made them work.

Sea Whisper continued gliding across the Pacific as though nothing had changed.

Passengers read books.

Scott laughed too loudly at one of his own jokes.

Willow pretended to be annoyed.

Frank and Rose sat together beneath the shade canopy sharing a blanket despite the warm afternoon.

If someone had passed us...

They would've seen nothing more than a luxury charter enjoying perfect weather.

Exactly what we wanted.

Ben joined me near the stern.

"You thinking the same thing?"

I nodded.