Hotel Megalodon: A Deep Sea Thriller Read Online Free PDF Page B

arrived at Triton Undersea Resort, your home on the ocean floor. We hope you enjoy your stay! Please exit to your right.”
    White added his own voice to the mix. “Welcome everyone! Hors d’oeuvres and champagne will be served now in the lobby. This way, please.” He exited the train, and led the guests toward the sound of live piano music. The distance to walk was short, but it took time with the large group constantly stopping to look out the windows at the stunning reef view.
    “It’s like diving without getting wet!” one remarked.
    “Like a Habitrail for people!” a child remarked. “This is how my hamster must feel, looking out at the world. Look, shark!” The boy put his hand on the glass as a small reef shark swam a few feet away.
    Eventually, the group straggled into the lobby, where a Fijian man sat performing at a baby grand piano. Indian and Fijian servers circulated with trays of more food and drinks, the kind so-called foodies got all excited about. Beluga caviar. Starfruit. Ahi sushi. Free-flowing Moet White Star champagne. Shots of iced vodka. Bottled Fiji water. The food was trifling next to the view, though. The lobby had the largest uninterrupted expanse of windows in the entire hotel. With a three-story floor-to-ceiling height, the reef vista upon which they looked was unparalleled anywhere on the planet. It wasn’t so much like they were looking at the reef. It was like they were a part of the reef.
    Sea stars clung to the lower reaches of the windows. These would be scraped off by scuba-diving staff whose job it was to keep the glass clean should any type of marine growth start to impede the view. But for now, the viewing area was clean as could be, and the guests pointed here and there as they walked about, absolutely entranced. Overhead, White pointed out a school of manta rays appearing to fly over the transparent roof. He looked around at his clients. They were mixing with each other, enjoying the food, the setting having the desired effect. This would be a one-of-a-kind experience even for this been-there-done-that crowd.
    He was in the process of explaining to the reporter where the kitchen was, when his two-way radio lit up. He wore an earpiece with it so that it wouldn’t disturb the guests, but when he flipped his mic on he could talk softly, and still be heard on the other end.
    “James here. Busy. What’s up?”
    “We’ve got a problem with the SWAC system. Need you to be briefed at earliest opportunity, over.”
    White couldn’t suppress a look of irritation while stared down at the Italian marble floor. When he looked up again, he caught the NFL guy’s girlfriend looking right at him, and he quickly slapped a smile back on his face. Everything’s great! Except apparently the SWAC system. He knew that was the special air conditioning system the underwater hotel had, and that SWAC stood for Sea Water Air Conditioning.
    “It’s nice and cool down here, Al. Not sure what the problem is, but can you deal with it?” He smiled as he looked around the crowded lobby. Al’s radio reply came, along with the noise of some kind of alarm that started braying in the background.
    “It won’t be nice and cool down there for long, James. Need you back up here to advise.”

 
    Chapter 5
     
    James White rode the tram alone up out of the hotel. He scowled at a sea turtle gliding over his head. This had better be important, he thought, exiting the train tunnel onto the beach. Those guests down there were having a good time so far, though, and he felt comfortable enough to leave for a few minutes, maybe ride back down with the next influx of new arrivals.
    He navigated the garden paths at a near trot whenever he was sure no one was looking until he reached a solid building—not a bure —on the edge of the topside complex. A sign in front of it proclaimed, Off Limits Area, Engineering Staff Only. White strode to the door, and unlocked it with one of the many keys on his key ring. He