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The driver hesitated, perhaps afraid to say too much in case they were captured Finally, he spoke “To someone who can help,” he said “To someone who can put a stop to this madness once and for all”

THREE

Sydney, Australia, 1900 hours

Kurt Austin sat in a coe in the Opera Theatre, the ss of the faer Concert Hall lay next door, vacant at the moment

For years, Kurt had planned to visit Sydney and attend a perforner would have been nice, and he’d al hadn’t worked out Unfortunately, now that he’d finally e was a dry, acade him to sleep

He was there for the Muldoon Conference on Underwater Mining, put on by Archibald and Liselette Muldoon, a wealthy Australian couple who’d h four decades of riskyventures

Kurt had been officially invited because of his expertise in underwater salvage and his position as Director of Special Projects for the National Underwater and Marine Agency But it seemed the Muldoons also wanted him there because of the e industry — if there even was such a thing

Over the past decade, he’d been involved in a series of high-profile events Sohad ever occurred Other events were public and well known, including a recent battle to clear a swar ed the weather patterns over India and Asia, potentially starving billions

In addition to whatever notoriety he’d earned, Kurt was easily recognizable He had a rugged look about hiray hair and sharp eyes that were an intense shade of blue All of which meant his absence fro the constant attention of one or both Muldoons had so far prevented

They’d certainly been gracious, but after three days of se his escape

As the lights dian a photo presentation, Kurt sensed the chance he’d been waiting for He pulled out his phone and thuing

A few glances came his way

He shrugged a sheepish apology and put the phone to his ear

“This is Austin,” he whispered to no one “Right,” he added in his ht Okay That does sound bad Of course I’ll look into it right away”

He pretended to hang up and slipped the phone back into his pocket