The Amalfi Curse

The CEO of HPI, Gage, calls Haven, tells her that eight people died on the yacht, and informs her that Conrad has decided to take over Project Relic. Gage says, “I can’t pay to put a group of women in the water, Haven. Should something happen, think how that would look” (87). Haven feels betrayed because Conrad was a close friend of her father and saved her life during a diving accident when she was 16. Three of the five women on Haven’s team have left other jobs for the project, but Gage only offers to let Haven keep her stipend. She rejects his offer and hangs up on him. Haven wonders if Conrad’s sudden change of plans has something to do with the gems, and she tells Mal about Gage’s decision and her father’s discovery. Mal is suspicious of Conrad’s motives because the wealthy man doesn’t report his discoveries to the authorities. The dive marshal reminds her friend of the dangers of proceeding without a full team, but Haven refuses to abandon her father’s dream.

The narrative moves into the past. As Mari rows to shore, the sea senses her fury and sends a rogue wave to batter the dock.