The Vision Read Online Free PDF Page A

the beach, heavy packs of equipment
    over their shoulders. They were of an age, and, like the others, physically fit and mentally sharp.
    “Hey! Thought you were lolling around in bed. Didn’t see you down here,” Marshall
    called to Thor, walking down the dock.
    “We’re in search of the find of the century,” Thor said dryly. “I wouldn’t want to
    oversleep and miss all the excitement.”
    “You don’t think we’re going to find anything?” Marshall asked, rubbing a hand over his
    bald head and squinting against the sun.
    “I didn’t say that. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe there was something to find. I’m
    just curious what the state guys have planned if nothing shows up here. People have been
    diving this area for years. Admittedly, we’ve been finding signs of metal down there, but
    hell, that could mean just about anything.”
    “All we need is proof that she’s there, and then it’s up to the ecologists and historians to start arguing about the next steps,” Marshall said with a shrug. He stared at Thor. “To be
    honest, I’d just like to go down in the books as having been in on a real find. If
    determination means anything, we’ll find something for sure.”
    “Determination is always an asset,” Thor murmured. He was looking back at the others.
    Victor Damon gave Genevieve a teasing bump as they walked along the path. She turned
    and pointed a finger at him, saying something. They were probably still ribbing her. He
    said something else, and she stole his baseball cap, then slammed it back on his head.
    Still, they were all laughing. That cop, Jay Gonzalez, seemed to hold her in regard. If
    she’d been a fruitcake, it was doubtful the man would have listened to her so attentively or sent divers out in search of a body.
    “You’ve got a tight-knit crew,” Thor commented.
    “Those two,” Marshall said with a nod toward Genevieve and Victor, “and Bethany all
    went to school together. Best friends. Poor Alex is the new guy. He’s only been around
    for about three years. All the way from Key Largo,” he added dryly. “What about your
    people?”
    “The best,” Thor assured him. “Lizzie and Jack have worked it all—rescue, recovery,
    salvage. They’re a great team. And you must know Jack. Probably better than I do. The
    invitation to join this search came kind of suddenly, and several of my people were
    already committed to other projects. I’m missing some of my regulars, but I’ve known
    Jack forever and I’m glad to have him on my team.”
    “Jack has more experience than all of us put together,” Marshall said.
    “We should get going,” Thor said, checking his watch.
    “I’d like to be down before nine to take advantage of the visibility before the storms roil
    up the sand.” He let out a whistle, drawing the attention of his crew, who hurried for their coffee.
    Genevieve Wallace walked by, her eyes like sharp crystals as she assessed him without a
    word.
    “Nice morning, wouldn’t you say, Miss Wallace.”
    “Yes, a perfect morning,” she replied politely, and hurried on by.

    It was a perfect morning, and the day passed uneventfully. Three different dives, hours
    under water. Just before three, with the regularity of a factory whistle, the storms started rolling in.
    Thor had seen the sky change on the horizon, seen the rain when it had begun farther out
    at sea. When the divers came up for the third time, he motioned to Marshall that it was
    time to call it quits. With the boats lashed together, he could hear Marshall’s people
    talking as he waited for his own crew to stow their gear.
    “I think we were closer yesterday,” Genevieve said.
    “Why? Because of that woman you saw?” Alex teased her.
    She slapped him on the arm. “Because I have a hunch. I think we need to back it up a bit,
    Marshall. We didn’t give yesterday’s location a thorough search. I mean, a relic isn’t
    going to just jump out of the sand into our