Payback by Keith Douglass Page A

you say they have a building on the bottom of the channel?”
    â€œYes, sir. I’d really like to know what’s inside that concrete-looking structure.”
    The commander paused for a moment, then he nodded. “All right, I’m faxing this to Admiral Kenner immediately. Then I’ll call him. This is something somebody needs to look into and it should be us. Sonar that can pick up men swimming and let the sharks go by. Amazing.” He pushed a buzzer, and his yeoman came in, took the two sheets, and got his instructions. The two officers waited a few minutes until the faxes went through. Then the yeoman came back.
    â€œThe two pages are sent, confirmed,” he said.
    Commander Masciareli reached for his phone and dialed the long-distance number. It rang four times.
    â€œThis is Commander Masciareli in Coronado. I need to speak with the admiral at the first possible moment.” He waited. Less than a minute later he lifted one hand and nodded at Murdock.
    â€œRichard, did you get the two-page fax I just sent you? Something strange going on up by Santa Barbara I think you’ll be interested in.”
    The commander put his hand over the mouthpiece. “He’s getting the fax. He’s a fast reader.”
    Masciareli grinned when he listened. “Yes, sir, I agree it’s something that could be tremendously important, especially if the Chinese or North Koreans are involved. Would it be FBI or CIA jurisdiction?”
    He listened. “Yes, sir, Murdock is right here.” Masciareli frowned as he held out the phone to Blake.
    â€œYes, sir, Lieutenant Commander Murdock, sir.”
    â€œMurdock, yes. Good scouting mission. How deep is the water there?”
    â€œFrom eighty to a hundred feet.”
    â€œThe structure on the bottom of the channel, it looks like concrete?”
    â€œYes, sir. But no lines or tubes or wires leading away from it.”
    â€œAntennas?”
    â€œDidn’t see any, but it was dark down there, and I didn’t use any lights.”
    â€œI’ll fax this to the CNO. I’ll suggest the CIA do the investigation here. They should dig into the owners of that platform. In the meantime I’m suggesting to the CNO thatwe do a training exercise off Santa Barbara in the channel, with a dozen warships and landing craft as a cover for your platoon to dive and get all the specs you can on that structure. They won’t dare use their sonar or we will pick it up. Look for antennas especially. I’ll suggest we get this mounted for tomorrow afternoon. If the CNO goes for it, and I think he will, we should know something before nightfall tomorrow. Get your platoon ready, Commander. Let me have Masciareli again.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    He gave the phone back to his boss and watched. The man’s eyes lit up and he began to breathe faster. He grinned. “Yes, sir. I’ll start getting ready on this end. We’ll use just the one platoon. Can the Navy get the ships ready to move that quickly?”
    He listened for a moment. “Yes, sir. I understand. Yes, sir. Good-bye.”
    Masciareli turned to Murdock smiling. “Well, it looks like we have lit a fire under the admiral, and he expects the CNO to act as soon as he gets the fax. He said if the Navy can’t get enough ships up there, we’ll go with whatever they can move, destroyers, some cruisers, at least one amphibious landing ship with their landing craft, even some surface-effect ships. All we need is a good display to shield what you guys do downstairs.” He paused. “Good work, Murdock. I’m sorry about Irwin. I remember him. Blew out his knee over in Europe somewhere on a parachute drop.” He stood. Murdock stood. “That will be all, Commander.”
    Murdock hurried to his office. Ten minutes later Don Stroh called him.
    â€œBoy, you set off a whirlwind back here. I’ve got my boss and the CNO and the President yelling at me. So