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When they reached the corner of the tank, Hollis led him to better cover behind a giant rock that extended from floor to surface. As they released the last of their air, they swam up between the relative safety between the rock and glass wall of the tank.
Finally, they surfaced on the opposite side of the aquarium and gulped in fresh air as quietly as possible.
While Tony waited for them on the bridge, Hollis and Dylan climbed out of the tank at the other end. From the corner of his eye, Tony saw them. Anger flashed through his eyes as he stalked across the bridge toward them.
Meanwhile, Hollis reached out and hit a button on a nearby control panel.
The bridge started to close, the planks compacting and shutting, moving toward Hollis’s side. Tony froze as he realized he needed to keep moving toward Dylan and Hollis or fall into the water. Pissed, he hurried forward, keeping just ahead of the bridge as it disappeared beneath his feet.
All of a sudden, Hollis pulled the Rosary from her pocket and launched it.
“Bitch!” Tony yelled.
The heavy Incan piece flew through the air. When it hit the bridge, Tony spun and grabbed for it as the planks continued to crank shut.
At the same time, Dylan jumped onto the bridge and slammed into Tony. They flew backward and hit the bridge hard.
“Dylan!” Hollis cried. “Dammit,” she hissed, watching as he struggled with Tony once again.
Beneath Dylan, Tony waved the gun, shooting blindly. But, at such close range, Dylan had the advantage with his Ka-Bar.
And, his blade plunged into Tony’s chest.
Eyes wide in shock, Tony looked down to see blood blossom on his chest. Then, the bridge was suddenly no longer beneath him as it continued to close. Tony dropped into the tank and Dylan scrambled up. Hollis reached out to grab him as the last few planks clanked shut, closing the bridge completely. He jumped and fell into her arms.
They held each other for a long moment. Then, Dylan pulled back and lifted his hand in triumph.
The emerald Rosary dangled from his fingers.
Suddenly, the water thrashed and excitement bubbled below its surface. When a bright red mist bloomed, Hollis cried out and turned back into Dylan’s embrace.
“I’ve got you,” he said and stroked a hand over her hair, unable to tear his eyes away from the bloodbath in the tank.
An hour later, Hollis and Dylan sat on a bench outside the aquarium, wrapped in blankets and holding hot coffees.
Lights on an ambulance and several police cars flashed against the brightening sky. A policeman cuffed the thugs and they were loaded into the back of cruisers.
Lawrence, the aquarium director, turned away from talking to an officer and gave Hollis another reassuring smile.
“I think we’re about done. You sure you’re alright?”
“Fine,” Hollis said.
“You realize you’re going to have to report the wreck of the 13th ship?”
Hollis glanced over at Dylan. “We know.”
Lawrence nodded. “And, that Rosary…” His words faded away into a low whistle. “Stunning.”
“But, not worth dying for,” Hollis said.
Images of the bloody aquarium filled all of their minds.
Dylan reached for her hand and squeezed it.
Above them, the sun rose and painted the sky in shades of pink and orange.
Chapter Eighteen
