“Forget it, Cate. We should have known this would be low priority when there are dozens of researchers fighting for funding. Besides, a hundred grand was going to be well short of what we really needed. Think about it; we’d need to be there for at least a week, maybe more. We’d need an underwater camera on some type of submersible platform, new computer equipment, food, accommodation, flights, and on and on.” Greg sighed. “We would have been capital-light by a mile to begin with.”

Cate stood hands on hips, her eyes sharp. “Maybe, but it would have gotten us there… and gotten us there first.”

“No maybe. Definitely. And then we’d be spending days just filling out paperwork and reports. Stanford would own everything.” He began to turn away, but paused and then eased back. “You know what you really need? Some sort of sponsor, or funding partner, independent of the university.”

Cate straightened. “A partner?” she stared off down the hall, the gears in her mind turning again.

“Sure,” Greg said. “I bet Bill was onboard with the concept, but just doesn’t have the funds. If we…”

Cate turned so quickly, Greg flinched. “I could kiss you.”

“Uh, thanks?” he smiled, brows knitted.

She sped off, half turning as she went. “Meet you back at the lab. I’ve got to send someone an invitation they can’t refuse.”

*   *   *

Cate sat in the foyer of the gleaming silver spire that rose a hundred and ten floors above the center of New York City. She licked her lips and her hands gripped the armrests of the soft chair, and beneath her, her feet tapped insistently on the dark marble floor. The reception desk was like the floor – marble, and expensive she bet. There was glass and chrome everywhere, and on walls and pedestals there were works of art with small nametags underneath, each bearing the moniker of artists she had never heard of or could even attempt to pronounce.

She sighed, heart hammering in her chest. If the opulence was designed to make someone feel intimidated, it was sure working on her.

The person she had come to see was Valery Konstantin Mironov, a Russian-born businessman who didn’t exactly have a rags-to-riches story, rather a riches to even more riches story. He was one of the Russian oligarchs who made too many enemies in his homeland and decided to emigrate. The guy was worth billions and was now reputed to be the eighth richest man in the country. That made him interesting, but of little relevance to Cate. However, what did make him an outstanding person for her to seek out was his passion and hobby.