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He shook his head "None of those They won't make it easy

for us by flying on co at secluded inns They'll take one of NUMA's sency's facilities as a base"

"I didn't know the Araphic study in either New Zealand or Australia"

"They don't," replied Dorsett "What they do have is a research ship, the Ocean Angler, which is on a deepsea survey project in the Bounty Trough, west of New Zealand If all goes according to plan, Pitt and Maeve will arrive in Wellington and rendezvous with the NUMA ship at the city docks this time tomorrow"

Deirdre stared at her father with open admiration "How could you know all this?"

He smiled imperiously "I have my own source in NUMA, who I pay very well to keep me informed of any underwater discoveries of precious stones"

"Then our strategy is to have Boudicca and her crew intercept and board the research ship and arrange for it to disappear"

"Not wise," Dorsett said flatly "Boudicca has learned that Dirk Pitt somehow traced the cleanup of the derelict ships to her and our yacht We send one of NUMA's research ships and its crew to the bottom and they'll know damned ere behind it No, we'll treat that matter more delicately"

"Twenty-four hours isn't much time"

"Leave after lunch and you can be in Wellington by supper John Merchant and his security force will be waiting for you at our warehouse outside of the city"

"I thought Merchant had his skull fractured on Kunghit Island"

"A hairline crack Just enough toin on the kill"

"And you and Boudicca?" asked Deirdre

"We'll coht," answered Dorsett "That still leaves us ten hours to firm up our preparations"

"That ht"