Page 66 of False Flag

“You said I was a troll.”

“No. I said some of Gerard’s followers—Archaeological Truthers—are trolls.”

“You think you’re smarter than everyone. That I’m not good enough for you. But you’re just a slutty waitress.”

“Now you are being a troll.”

“I don’t want Beau’s sloppy seconds anyway.”

“Careful, or I’ll refuse to be your dive partner in the future. Last I checked, I’m the one Gerard needs in the water, not you.”

She picked up her gear bag and laptop case from the deck by her feet and stomped away, heading for the changing room belowdecks.

She gripped her computer with a white-knuckled fist, feeling angry enough to breathe fire. Once they were out on the water—away from Osborne’s internet shields—she’d use her internet hotspot to email Freya from her computer, sending the scan of the Letora Island archaeological inventory along with notes of everything she’d observed on the island since she arrived.

She would also demand to know what the hell was up with Jacob and Lloyd Burns. She needed to know who her friends and her enemies were, once and for all.

Thirty minutes later, the boat left the dock with everyone on the expedition team on board. Gerard showed no sign of having witnessed the drama by the rear dive platform, but Jake was certain the man had watched—and enjoyed—every moment.

He wouldn’t be surprised to learn cameras had caught the action from kiss to shove. No doubt it would end up in the documentary—if this went that far. Jake had to hope it wouldn’t, but NSWC had sent him here, knowing he’d be filmed. They couldn’t complain if he ended up in the final product.

The volunteer agreement stated that his last name, and therefore his relationship to Lloyd, was not to be used, nor was any mention of his military affiliation allowed. For now, everyone was pretending they didn’t know he was a SEAL.

At some point, he’d have it out with Lloyd for violating his OPSEC, but for now, his role required him to be thrilled to be volunteering because he was a Lost Civilizations fanboy.

To get into his role, he reminded himself how he’d felt when he stepped aboard the vessel. Gorgeous boat on his favorite sea. And he would get to dive with Staci.

They didn’t have full masks that allowed speaking, so they would communicate with hand gestures. Underwater, she couldn’t ditch him, nor could she argue with him. This would be even better than paintball.

He and Gerard went over the charts while Staci outfitted herself for the dive. She was taking far longer belowdecks than she should. Gerard was getting impatient, but Jake couldn’t help but wonder if it was a cover for something else.

Was the podcaster nervous?

He didn’t seem the nervous type. Jake knew plenty of men who presented confidence to mask insecurity, but that didn’t ring true for Gerard Campbell. He was ultra confident in his knowledge and abilities—which Jake now knew was unwarranted. But he sold it because he believed it.

So what about today made him uneasy? They weren’t looking for evidence of Mu today. This was just a test run for the team. They’d get B-roll footage, nothing more.

It wasn’t like the podcaster’s theories were finally being put to the test.

Gerard paced the deck, then said to Dahlia, “Check on her, will you?”

Jake checked his watch. It would take another twenty minutes for them to reach their dive location. There was no reason for Staci to hurry.

Yeah. The man was definitely nervous.

Dahlia returned. “She’ll be up shortly.”

“What’s the holdup?”

She rolled her eyes. “Womanly problem would be my guess.”

Jake smiled. The message was clear: it was none of Gerard’s damn business.

A full five minutes later—Jake would bet she took longer on purpose—Staci emerged in her wetsuit, carrying mask and fins. Jake wasn’t the only one who stopped everything and just took a moment to admire the view.

Her hourglass shape was even more striking in a black wetsuit with green waist-narrowing panels that emphasized her curves. He’d seen every bare inch of her and still might think her body was photoshopped if he wasn’t seeing her in the flesh.

She held up her arms and met Gerard’s gaze. “Getting what you paid for?”