He thumbed the pages thoughtfully. Ceylon. What did they call it now? Yes, Sri Lanka. He slipped the logbook into his briefcase, clicked off the lamp and strode out of the office. “I’m finished here,” he said to no one in particular, shutting the door behind him.

A month after Rausing sailed out of Aberdeen for the last time, the offices of Rausing Oceanic burned to the ground. Local authorities traced the cause to some old wiring and insurance paid out £2 million. By the following spring, the footings for new condominiums had been laid on the property.

Chance Encounter

Four miles south of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Present day.

The taxi rattled off, its loud exhaust coughing well into the distance. Tusker and Sam stood slightly dazed in front of the Deep Blue Resort, both in sarongs, their diving fins and buoyancy harnesses at their feet. It was two in the afternoon and the place was quiet.

The old cook was peeling potatoes and looked up as she entered, startled to see her. He clutched her in a tight, awkward embrace and then stepped towards Tusker, who stood behind her. He thought twice about hugging him, but nodded his head and smiled a toothless grin. Sam exchanged excited words with him in Sinhala.

“Thathi went up to Trincomalee after we called this morning to talk to the navy about what happened,” she said to Tusker. “We should get changed and get up there. I’ll drive.” She left the kitchen and hurried to her room. Tusker jogged to catch up.

“Did the cook say where Roland is?”

“He’s gone,” she said tersely. “Never came back apparently.”

Tusker nodded. “I’ll grab Upali’s laptop so we can show the ROV footage to someone at the navy. That should spur some action.”

The GoPro he’d taken on their Vampire dive was now somewhere at the bottom of the ocean, having fallen off during their long night of drifting. The ROV video of the helmet would have to suffice. Tusker set off in a jog towards his room.

Someone had been there. The room wasn’t any messier than he’d left it, but his backpack was not hanging on the back of the door. Upali’s computer bag was on Ian’s bed. The laptop was gone. He’d have normally suspected a burglary, but Ian’s Omega watch was still sitting on the bedside table next to his passport. Tusker quickly changed into a polo shirt and fresh khaki shorts and left to find Sam.

Ten minutes later, they were bashing down the road from the Deep Blue in the Land Rover. The truck lurched and bounced violently on the ruts and potholes. As they reached the junction with the main road, Tusker reached for a seatbelt.