If Tomorrow Never Comes

Reflections of the Past

An enormous Sea Stallion Helicopter thundered across the ocean and roared down to the only available landing within miles. Bodine and Brock, watching the chopper approach, began walking the length of the Keldysh.

Bodine shouted over the noise of submersible's going into the water for another dive.

"She's a goddamned liar! Some nutcase seeking money or publicity, God only knows why. Like that Russian babe, Anastasia."

Bobby Buell approached them quickly, reporting that the chopper was inbound. Brock nodded and began heading over to the landing spot.

Bodine went on.

"Caroline and Cassidy Priestly died on the Titanic with their mother when they were eleven years old. If she lived, she'd be nearly a hundred by now."

"Ninety five next month,"Brock chimed in.

"Okay, so she's a very old goddamned liar. I traced her as far back as the twenties when she was working as an actress. An actress. There's your first clue Sherlock. Her name was Caroline Sachs. Then she marries a guy named Montgomery, they move to Cedar Rapids and she punches out a couple of kids. Now Montgomery's dead, and from what I've heard Cedar Rapids is dead."

"And everybody who knows about the diamond is supposed to be dead or on this boat but she knows."

They made it to the helipad just as the chopper landed with a thundering downblast and it's wheels bounced. The crew chief quickly began unloading, taking out about ten suitcases. Bodine shook his head.

"Doesn't exactly travel light, does she?"

Finally, the old woman herself was lowered to deck in a wheelchair, following her, another woman, quite a bit younger. Caroline, in her wheelchair, looked especially fragile amongst all the high tech gear, grungy deck crew, and gigantic equipment.

"Hi," Brock stepped toward her. "I'm Brock Lovett, welcome to the Keldysh."

Caroline nodded her head in acknowledgement, the younger woman stuck out her hand to shake Brock's.

"Hi, I'm Serena."

Bodine leaned in close to Brock's ear. "S'cuse me, I have to go check our supply of Depends."

...

Brock and Bodine approached them inside later, finding Serena to be unpacking Caroline's things in a small utilitarian room. There was a number of framed photos on the bureau, arranged carefully next to what Brock found odd, a fishbowl.

"Is your stateroom alright?"

"Oh yes," Caroline answered. "Very nice. Have you met my granddaughter, Serena? She takes care of me."

"Yes," Serena bent down next to the old woman's face. "We met just a few minutes ago, grandma. Remember, up on deck?"

Brock snuck a glance at Bodine, and found him to be rolling his eyes. He then took a look over to the photographs. They seemed to be the usual; children and grandchildren, her late husband. Caroline caught him looking.

"There, that's nice. I have to have my pictures when I travel."

"Would you like anything?" Brock offered. "Anything we can get you?"

Caroline nodded her head simply.

"I should like to see my mother's drawing."

...

It sat there, still, in the lab tray. Caroline confronted the picture, a relic from eighty four years ago. It has to stay in the water until they find a better way to preserve it. It swayed a rippled, almost like it was alive.