Salvage Bay

By Roger Weston

They tried to control him. Now, he has become their worst nightmare.

"Great reading. Very Exciting....Very enjoyable action thriller!

"The master of assassin novels, Vince Flynn, now has serious competition." Librarian review for The Golden Catch

Book 1 in The Firm Series

Chuck Brandt is a man with a dark and mysterious past. He is a passenger, along with his alleged wife, Rebecca Bacharov, on a cargo cruise up the Inside Passage to Alaska. However, this is no normal voyage. The ship has seemingly been taken over by a crew of terrorists. Chuck doesn't know who they are, exactly, only that they have seized the ship and its dangerous cargo. The captain's destination of  a remote Alaskan island makes no sense. Of more concern, the man in control of the ship is a dangerous psychopath. But he is not the only threat. An elusive stowaway is targeting crewmen. Chuck and the four other passengers find themselves trapped on a death ship, but this is nothing compared to what they face when they arrive at Salvage Bay.  

What others are saying about Weston's books-

"When I start an exciting book I end up finishing it in the one sitting and this was what I did with this novel ... Will be looking for a lot more of Roger Weston's books."

"I found this to be action-packed with interesting glimpses into the spy world."

"I thought this was a very good, well written book."

"Fast moving read and lots of action. I was sorry when I finished it that I didn't have another to read just like it.

"I found this novel fast moving and very descriptive of the characters and places. it has a very good story line."

"Great reading. Very Exciting....Very enjoyable action thriller! I would recommend it to friends I hope his other books are just as good."

"Great book action from start to finish. Story line makes it hard to put down. If you like action then this book will keep you entertained. Recommended reading."

"The Recruiter is a thriller that I couldn't put down until I read the last sentence. It is well written and kept me guessing what could possibly happen next. Very suspenseful to the end."

"A great yarn with hero, twists and turns.....the technology and love at their best."

"Loved this book, will definitely be re-reading it at a later date."


"...a fast paced book adrenalin pumping...cross between Mitch (Vince Flynn) and Dewey (Ben Coes)."

                                                                           

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roger Weston
• Release date: Oct 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201378745

Book preview

Salvage Bay

CHAPTER 1

Cargo Ship Rebecca

Inside Passage of Alaska 

Chuck was standing outside at the cargo ship’s starboard rail when he saw a stranger lean out of a doorway for just a moment. They made eye contact for about a second, but then the man ducked back out of sight and was swallowed by the interior hallway. Something about the brief encounter did not feel right. Chuck had been wandering around the ship for a while. He’d seen the crew—if the black shirts could be called that.  He knew who was in control of the ship. The man he’d just seen was not one of them.

That didn’t mean there was anything wrong. Most cargo ships had extra cabins to accommodate four or five passengers. Chuck was one of them. So was Rebecca, who was traveling as his wife. The man he’d just seen could be a passenger, as well, but there was something else. They’d only made eye contact for a second, but Chuck had seen a flash of panic. Then the man practically fled. This was not normal behavior for a passenger.

Several times, Chuck glanced back down toward the doorway, but the stranger did not reappear. Chuck couldn’t get this out of his mind. He wasn’t sure why the man hadn’t at least taken a few moments to take in the view. The Inside Passage was one of the most amazing places in the world. The ship was slicing a course up a mostly-protected waterway that ran from Victoria and British Columbia all the way up to SE Alaska. It ran from Ketchikan to Juneau, Skagway, and Glacier Bay. You could hardly find more pristine coastline anywhere in the world. The ship was driving north under cloudy skies and thick rain, but the exterior walkway was covered, and dark waters stretched to mysterious green shorelines. Virgin rainforests covered uninhabited islands. Waves washed over stony beaches and forbidding shorelines that had scarcely been touched by mankind. Evidences of civilization were few and far between. 

Of course, the stranger was not obligated to care. There could have been any number of reasons why he didn’t even find the scenery worth a glance. But then why had he looked outside? Clearly, he wasn’t interested in scenery. Chuck was sure of that much. The man had been checking to see if anyone else was out there. That’s why he’d made the quick glances up and down the exterior walkway. But the moment of eye contact was most telling.

The flash of surprise, or was it fear?

Not that Chuck would blame the man. There was nothing normal about this cruise. However, so far, all appearances of normality had been maintained. Chuck didn’t know why. In fact, the cruise, so far, had been eerily peaceful. Quiescence had followed the ship, the same kind of total tranquility that preceded storms. But Chuck knew all was not as it seemed. Maybe that was why the panic on the stranger’s face bothered him. Who was he? Why was he sneaking around?

Chuck thought of such things as he felt the cool mist on his face and watched the rain on the water, the fog on the steep mountains of evergreen trees. He watched the seagulls twisting and diving in the wind. A flock of seagulls was flocking around something dead in the water.

Chuck turned and headed for the doorway.

On his way to the galley, he spotted a copper brown stain on the carpet. He kneeled down for a closer look because the dried brown had shades of crimson. It was a thick stain, indicating a lot of spill. He kneeled there a minute and noticed a dry crimson splatter on the wall.

He arrived late to the officer’s mess, a spacious room with two long tables.

The captain stood. Captain Goring was pale-faced like a man emerging from a cave after months with no light. His thin lips pressed tightly together as if he was feeling tension. His gray hair was pasted to his head and gave way to long, bushy gray sideburns. Puffy bags hung under his glittering eyes.

Mr. Brandt, glad you could join us. We have an extra place at our table.

A woman in a chef’s apron drifted over and gave him a choice of meals. Chuck couldn’t help notice that her lips were trembling. Her facial features were sunken, and she avoided eye contact. Leaving, she walked stiffly and disappeared into the kitchen.

The captain gestured with a sweep of his arm. Allow me to introduce your fellow passengers. We’ve brought as many as a dozen passengers, but for this run, you’re an exclusive society. Where is your traveling companion?

Rebecca? She’ll be right along.

"Of course I love her name. How did she happen to choose the Rebecca for a cruise?"

There’s something in the charm of coincidence.

Wonderful. This here is Professor Ellen Severns. She is a professor from UCLA. What did you say you teach, professor?

Severns was a black-haired, dark-eyed woman with an elfin mask-like face and bobbed hair, almost a man’s haircut. She winced at the captain’s oversight. Sociology.

Chuck nodded. Pleased to meet you. That sounds like a fascinating field. I’d love to talk with you about it if we get a chance.

She shrugged.

The captain narrowed his eyes at Chuck. Mr. Brandt, have we met before?

Not that I know of.

You do look familiar, though.

I hear it all the time. I have one of those faces.

The captain gestured at the man sitting next to Professor Severns. Dale Monday is an insurance salesman who won this trip in a regional sales contest. Life insurance, wasn’t it, Dale?

That’s right.

The captain looked at Chuck. I trust you purchased life insurance before we left port. If not, there’s still time. You may have another client, right here, Dale. The captain gave a booming laugh. Are you risk adverse, Chuck?

Yes, I’m afraid so. I believe in minimizing risk.

Please sit down. You’re a man of the sea, isn’t that right? The captain took a drink from his mug.

Chuck eased into his chair. I’m fitting out a cargo ship for humanitarian missions.

By definition, then, you’ll be visiting war zones, plague zones, disaster zones, and dictatorships. Maybe you court danger more than you say.

No more than necessary.

Well, I’m attracted to danger, I’m afraid. Oh, don’t worry, Professor. I avoid rough seas whenever possible. I like smooth sailing, but on land I’m an adrenaline junkie. Nothing makes a man feel more alive than when he’s close to death.

A husky, dark-haired, mustachioed man was sitting next to Chuck. The man said, You sound like a gambling man, Captain. I hope you play the odds right.

The captain gave a booming laugh. If only life were that simple. Chuck, this is Sebastian Matthews. He knows something of playing the odds. He’s a professional gambler.

Sebastian sat back in his chair. Are you a player, Chuck?

A little blackjack when I’m at sea. That’s about all.

We’re at sea now. Maybe we play later.

Why not?

The captain laughed. You’ll jump into a game with a professional gambler, just like that. I thought you were risk adverse.

Chuck smiled. "Nobody mentioned money. I usually play for quarters and get out when I’m $3