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Simon looks back at me.

The amusement is gone from his face.

“You lied.”

The Argent Star’s engines roar.

The vessel pulls away from the landing.

Donald drags Naomi back inside the bridge.

“Stop!” I run to the end of the dock. “You wanted the compass!”

Simon raises a radio.

“Your SEALs have reached the hull.”

My heart stops.

He knew they were coming.

“Ben, get out!”

Static fills my earpiece.

The ship accelerates.

Then an explosion erupts beneath its stern.

Water rises in a towering wall behind the Argent Star.

I am thrown backward onto the concrete.

The false compass tears from my neck and skids across the dock.

Through the ringing in my ears, I hear Marquez shouting.

Federal agents rush toward me.

I crawl to the edge.

Fire burns across the surface of the water.

Pieces of metal rain around the ship.

There is no sign of Ben.

No sign of Scott, Mark, John or Piers.

“Ben!”

Only static answers.

The Argent Star slows.

Its stern lists toward the water.

Simon stands on the bridge wing, staring down at the fire.