Without thinking, Jackson’s self-preservation instincts kicked in. He pushed upwards, the cage trapdoor flipping open, and he slipped through. Jackson dropped his weight belt and in a single motion looked back. In the glare of Philippe’s shrinking camera light he saw his friend, arm out through the bars and behind him, the fatter silhouette of Arty, just before they and the monster vanished into the fathomless depths.

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 33

Cate watched Jack pace, phone to his ear and a face like thunder. He grunted occasionally as he listened.

“Cate’s here,” he said. “I’m opening this up on speaker for her to listen as well. You can repeat what you told me.” He set the phone down on the table setting it to speaker mode. “It’s Vince.” He straightened, folding his arms.

Cate heard an exasperated sigh.

“Cate, how you doing?”

“Vincent, we’re okay here; what news have you got?” she said, as Jack sat beside her.

“You guys were right; the Coast Guard don’t regard it as their problem. Fact is, I don’t think they even see it as a problem at all.” He sighed again. “This thing is such an efficient killer it’s leaving no bodies, no residue, no… proof.”

“We’ve got eyewitnesses. Have you heard about Big Betty down in Baja? Took out a dive team, and the thing breached – everyone on deck saw it.” Cate leant forward on her knees.

“Yes, just saw the reports. But that’s at the other end of the coastline, and in Mexican waters – well out of our jurisdiction. Once again, we got an eyewitness, and guess what? He went in the water with a camera, and came out with a heart condition and no camera. We still got nothing.” There was the sound of a squeaking chair as if Vincent was sitting back. “Sorry guys, but Coast Guard has handballed it to the FWS.”

“Seriously?” Cate scoffed. “The Fish and Wildlife Services?” She felt her face go hot. “To do what? Try for a tag and release?”

Jack held up an open hand waving her down a few degrees. “The thing is, Vince, I’m as supportive of sharks and sea life as any other Ichthyologist. But this thing is an abnormality in these waters, or any modern waters. It’ll make shipping impossible for however long it lives, and by the way that could be many more decades, or even centuries, for all we know. And I haven’t even mentioned the cost to human lives.”

“I know, I know. I needed you with me, and I should have goddamn made sure you came. Thought I could handle it…” There came a sound like a fist coming down on a desk. “I fucked it up.”