Kronos by Jeremy Robinson Page A

divulging what she knew—what she suspected, but this was his brother. Her memories of Conner included a lot of teasing and arguing. But they were brothers…and Conner had come to Atticus’s aid. Before she could utter a syllable, Conner spoke up.
    “He went after it,” Conner said. “Damn it.”
    It wasn’t a question. He simply knew, just like that, just as she had.
    “How did you know?”
    He shook his head. “It’s always been a weird thing with Atticus. People who love him can read him like a book.”
    Andrea remembered the hospital. She’d had the same feeling. She had known he intended to go after the creature.
    “I don’t know the details yet,” she added, “but I’m going to try tracking him down. He was picked up this morning by a helicopter. They headed out to sea.”
    “The man moves fast. Was it Navy?”
    Andrea shook her head. “No, but I’ll find out who owns it.”
    “You’ll bring him back?”
    “If I can.”
    Conner handed the picture back. “Give this to him when you find him.”
    “I will,” she said as she stood, suddenly more resolute about finding him right away. “Will you be here?”
    Conner smiled again, forcing back his good nature. “I’ve nowhere else to go.”
    Andrea smiled and headed for the door. Conner stopped her with his voice.
    “You know…it’s a rare woman who will drop everything and search the high seas for an old friend. Even if it is her job.”
    Andrea’s face heated as her embarrassment grew.
    “Your picture was in the paper and on the news,” he said, with a knowing smile. “Thanks for going to his rescue. Thanks for going now.”
    Andrea nodded, surprised by the kindness in Conner’s voice. He knew who she was—an old friend, almost something more, but really just a woman who by chance was on the job when his brother needed help. Any number of people could have got to him first. She might have had a cold, and it would have been someone else giving him mouth to mouth after he’d thrown up while unconscious and choked on his own bile. She knew Atticus had no idea she’d resuscitated him, that he’d been dead, if only for a moment. She wondered if he might even resent being brought back. His brother had no idea either, yet there he was, acting as though she were…
    “Andrea,” he added, interrupting her thoughts, “welcome back to the family.”
    With those few words, Andrea’s thoughts cleared. For eight years she’d spent every waking moment with Atticus, and many of them with his family as well. They’d eaten, played, laughed, and adventured together. Inseparable. Kindred. Family. Those memories formed the bond that motivated her now, regardless of their broken past or feelings about what might have been. They were family. And that was enough.
     

 
     
     
    16
     
     
    Gulf of Maine—Aboard the Titan
     
    Serrated teeth tore through flesh, rending sinew and vessel, crushing bones and doing a precise job at what they were designed to do—kill.
    Atticus watched in amazement as white membranes slid over the obsidian eyes of the great white shark tearing into a tuna. He’d seen great whites feeding, as well as many other sharks, but never… never in the Gulf of Maine, nor a shark so enormous.
    “It’s at least thirty feet long!” Atticus stood at what he now knew was a pane of glass looking out at the undersea world below the waterline.
    “Twenty-eight, actually,” replied Trevor, who was now standing beside Atticus, watching the shark.
    “You’re feeding it?” Atticus had seen the live tuna fall into the water, dazed and tired. It hadn’t stood a chance against the ocean’s greatest predator. Second greatest predator , Atticus reminded himself.
    “Indeed. The little beastie is something of a pet, really.” Trevor placed his hand against the glass as the great white tore the fish in half and gulped it down. “Good girl, Laurel.”
    “Laurel?”
    Trevor smiled. “Named after a flower actually. Sheep laurel, a nasty