Gunn dug into his case again and pulled out a videocassette, went over to the paneled wall, opened a door to a cabinet and popped the cassette into the VCR.

“As you know, the NR-1 had the capability to broadcast a television picture from the ocean floor,” Gunn said.

“I approved the NUMA funds myself. Great educational program. The pictures bounce off a satellite and into classrooms around the world. Teaches youngsters that the ocean is a lot more interesting than MTV. I understand the program has worked out well.”

“Extremely well, in this case. This picture was sent from the NR-1 the day she disappeared.”

Gunn pressed the Play button on the remote control. The screen went fuzzy, then turned seawater green. Bright floodlights illuminated a slender black hull. There was no sound. The time and date showed in the corner.

Sandecker was sitting on the edge of his desk, arms folded. “Looks like the bow view from the sail cam,” he said.

“That's right. Keep on watching. Right about now...”

A sharklike shadow loomed below the hull. Something much bigger than the NR-1 had come up from below. After a few minutes, the sub began to move forward at great speed until it was obscured by bubbles. The screen went fuzzy again.

“This picture was sent from the sub via satellite at exactly the time of her disappearance. It only ran a short while, as you can see, before it was shut down.”

“Fascinating,” Sandecker said. “Run it again, please.”

Gunn replayed the tape.

“Does the White House have a copy of this video?” Sandecker said.

“The transmission came directly to NUMA. My guess is they haven't seen it.”

“Good work, Rudi,” the admiral said. “There's an important piece of the puzzle missing, however.” He reached into the desk humidor and pulled out two cigars - he had them personally selected and rolled for him by the owner of a Dominican Republic plantation - and held one cigar above the other. “Assume the bottom stogie is much larger than the one on top. It comes up under the smaller boat. Then what?” He moved the top cigar away. “You see what I'm getting at. There might be a problem getting the smaller sub to play piggyback.”

“It wouldn't be easy unless - ”

“Unless the NR-1 were cooperating. Which Captain Logan wouldn't do unless he were forced to.”

“Exactly my thoughts.” Sandecker tossed Gunn a cigar and clamped the other in his teeth. They lit up and sat in the cloud of fragrant smoke.

“I understand there was a guest scientist aboard the NR-1,” Sandecker said, after a moment's thought.

“That's right. I have the whole roster.”

“Go over their backgrounds with a fine-tooth comb, especially the scientist's. In the meantime, let's try to find the India-class submarine. The navy keeps track of all operational Russian submarines, but I don't want to alert anyone to the fact that NUMA is still in this.”