Page 216 of Hidden Depths

"They're kidding, right?"

"No."

I reached down and turned off the speaker.

"They want us alive."

Storm frowned.

"Why?"

"Because they think we know something."

Her eyes widened.

"The ledger."

I nodded.

"Or whatever your grandfather hid before he died."

Whoever these people were...

They believed the answers were still somewhere aboard Sea Whisper.

Which meant one thing.

We still had something they desperately needed.

Nathan's voice cut through the silence.

"Ward..."

"What?"

"I've got four more contacts."

I froze.

Storm's eyes met mine.

"Four?"

"They just appeared over the horizon."

For one terrible heartbeat, I thought we were finished.

Then Nathan laughed.

Actually laughed.

"They're coming in fast."

"What are you talking about?"

Nathan's voice carried something I hadn't heard all morning.

Hope.