Page 134 of Hidden Depths
Then...
Near the bow...
Something fluttered.
A small piece of white cloth.
"No..."
I whispered.
Hazel leaned closer.
"What is it?"
I enlarged the image again.
It wasn't cloth.
It was paper.
Tied to the forward rail.
Ward looked over my shoulder.
"They wanted it seen."
Ben nodded slowly.
"It wasn't an accident."
Before anyone could say another word...
Calle's voice came over the radio.
"Captain."
"I'm here."
"I've got something floating off our stern."
Storm frowned.
"What kind of something?"
"I don't know."
"It looks like..."
She paused.
"...a waterproof case."
Five minutes later...
Scott used a boat hook to bring it alongside.
No one touched it immediately.
