The Cutthroat

“‘Special’ is the first word,” she prompted.

“‘Special… thanks — to Isaac Bell.’ That’s Grandpa!”

“The one and only,” said Marion Morgan Bell.

“With the scars to prove it.”

“Isaac, what a terrible thing to say.”

“Well, it’s true.”

“Isaac, really,” Marion replied, with a shake of her head.

The little boy clinging to the back of the chair interrupted, “Was there really a Jack the Ripper?”

“Yes, he truly existed,” Isaac said. “A very evil man who was far more nasty than Grandma could show in the movie.”

“But you socked him good, didn’t you, Grandpa?”

“He certainly did, and then some.”

“Marion, it’s just…” Isaac paused as he rose from the chair. “It’s what I said all those years ago.”

Marion gave him a quizzical look.

“‘A renewal.’ Let’s open a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé. Just you and me, after Archie and Lillian pick up the children.”

Marion smiled at her silver-haired hero.

“I promised you another fifty years. Let’s celebrate to many more.”

Then swept her into his arms and kissed her.

About the Authors

Clive Cussler is the author of more than fifty books in five bestselling series, including Dirk Pitt, NUMA Files, Oregon Files, Isaac Bell, and Fargo. His life nearly parallels that of his hero, Dirk Pitt. Whether searching for lost aircraft or leading expeditions to find famous shipwrecks, he and his NUMA crew of volunteers have discovered more than seventy-five ships of historic significance, including the long-lost Confederate submarine Hunley, which was raised in 2000 with much press publicity. Like Pitt, Cussler collects classic automobiles. His collection features more than eighty examples of custom coachwork. Cussler lives in Arizona and Colorado.

Justin Scott’s novels include Rampage and The Shipkiller; the Ben Abbott detective series; and modern sea thrillers published under his pen name Paul Garrison. He is the coauthor with Clive Cussler of nine Isaac Bell novels. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, filmmaker Amber Edwards.

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