7°41’34.8”N, 146°15’43.8”W
Approximately 1100 nautical miles SSW of Hilo, Hawaii
North Pacific Ocean
30 June 2016, 3:47 pm
He came up gasping. The sting of salt water kept him from focusing.
A fist caught him in the jaw. Mennon was suddenly on top of him, holding him down, trying to get his big tattooed forearm around his neck.
He thrashed and twisted and managed to get out of his grasp, at least enough to smash a knee into his groin. The overbuilt fuck sucked in a mouthful of seawater and lashed out. The blow grazed his cheek. He flipped in a tight ball and wrapped his legs around Mennon’s neck and twisted violently with everything he had left.
The two of them sank.
The water was crystal clear and silent. He could see the Minnow descending into the blackness a hundred feet down, dark smoke-filled bubbles trailing behind her.
The same blackness that would be his and Mennon’s grave.
So fucking be it.
Mennon couldn’t get free, try as he might. He writhed and fought, but it didn’t matter. He reached behind him, clawing at his body, at his chest, at anything he could reach. He grabbed his chin; for his trouble he lost a finger. Blood soon clouded the struggle. Sharks would be on the way. He wouldn’t survive them.
Mennon coughed and weakened. He grabbed his head with both hands and jerked viciously, and Mennon’s neck snapped. He heard it—a muffled double-pop!
Howell’s head bodyguard went still.
He released him and clawed for the surface.
He wasn’t going to make it.
A deep calm like the patient darkness below overtook him. His lungs gave up and seawater rushed into them. He twitched violently and lost consciousness.