The Venetian Pursuit: An Archaeological Thriller (The Jack Reilly Adventures Book 5)

The Venetian Pursuit: An Archaeological Thriller (The Jack Reilly Adventures - Book 5) By Matt James www.severedpress.com Copyright 2022 by Phillip Tomasso ALSO BY MATT JAMES THE JACK REILLY ADVENTURES The Forgotten Fortune The Roosevelt Conspiracy The Dorado Deception The Undying Kingdom The Venetian Pursuit The Lost Legion (2023) RELICS OF GOD The Blood King (2023) THE ZAHRA KANE ARCHAEOLOGICAL THRILLERS with Nick Thacker Empire Lost The Anubis Plague THE UNSEEN Origin Desolation Perseverance Inferno (2023) THE DANE MADDOCK ADVENTURES with David Wood Berserk Skin and Bones Venom Lost City STAND-ALONE NOVELS Dark Island Cradle of Death Sub-Zero The Dragon THE HANK BOYD ADVENTURES Blood and Sand Mayan Darkness Babel Found Elixir of Life OTHER STORIES The Cursed Pharaoh Broken Glass Plague Evolve PRAISE FOR MATT JAMES “The words of a Matt James story flow like the best rivers. Smooth and subtle at times, interrupted by danger and thrills at every churn of whitewater. This guy is the real deal!” —Ernest Dempsey, USA Today bestselling author of WHERE HORIZONS END “Matt James is my go-to guy for heart-stopping adventure and bone-chilling suspense!” —Greig Beck, international bestselling author of TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH “If you enjoy globetrotting adventures jampacked with over-the-top action, then you’ll love Matt James’ work!” —Nick Thacker, USA Today bestselling author of THE ENIGMA STRAIN “If you’re looking for a fast-moving tale with action to spare, give Matt James a try!” —David Wood, USA Today bestselling author of SERPENT “Searching for relentless action and harrowing adventure in dangerous locales? Look no further than Matt James!” —Michael McBride, international bestselling author of CHIMERA “Matt James is a must-read! The thrilling action, unexpected turns, and rip-roaring chases across the globe are fantastic adventures every time! You won't be disappointed.” —Andrew Clawson, bestselling author of THE ARTHURIAN RELIC “Matt James writes thrillers that define the genre! Neck-breaking speed and hairpin plot twists. Top notch!” —Craig A. Hart, bestselling author of SERENITY “Matt James reminds devotees of Indiana Jones and Nathan Drake why their love for rock-solid action-adventure springs eternal!” —Rick Chesler, international bestselling author of ATLANTIS GOLD “Matt’s novels need a pause button. They do not stop!” —Lee Murray, Bram Stoker Award winning author of INTO THE MIST “A talent voice in the action-thriller genre!” —Richard Bard, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of BRAINRUSH “If you like thrills, chills, and nonstop action, then Matt James may just be your next favorite author!” —John Sneeden, bestselling author of THE SIGNAL “Matt James has cemented his place among the finest talents!” —SUSPENSE MAGAZINE “Matt James has proven that true adventure is found in the fine line between myth and reality. James walks that tightrope with a master's touch.” —J.M. LeDuc, bestselling author of SIN THE VENETIAN PURSUIT The Jack Reilly Adventures - Book 5 By Matt James PROLOGUE Pacific Ocean July 2, 1937 Twenty-five hundred miles north of Lae, New Guinea, a churning blue ocean of nothing stretched for as far as the eyes could see. Well, that’s what Amelia Earhart had believed until only a few minutes ago. But there, sitting on the edge of the horizon, and right smack in the middle of a massive storm, was a blotch of unmapped green. Several storms, actually, she thought. Besides the squall straight ahead of her, she spotted a second one off to her right, as well as a third storm further out to her left. They each moved independently of one another, as if searching for something. Something to kill. “The storms,” she said, glancing at the man sitting next to her. “They look…angry.” Ever the adventurer, Amelia would’ve typically thought of an uncharted island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean as a chance to explore—a chance to live. But she first had to get them there in one piece. And her passenger was armed. Fred. She wondered what had happened to her loyal partner. Fred Noonan was the best navigator she had ever flown with. She had been stunned when another man had boarded her airplane in his place. Amelia was being kept silent by the threat of death. Even when berated by incoming messages, Amelia was persuaded not to answer. Then, the calls stopped altogether. Something was interfering with the transmissions. The culprit, her hijacker, was a slight Filipino man who owned the saddest eyes Amelia had ever seen. He wasn’t a hardened criminal. She could see it, plain as day. This man was here out of necessity and was acting well out of character. He had forced Amelia to take off and then given her a set of coordinates leading out into the middle of a deadly area in the middle of the ocean. Amelia had heard stories about these waters. The Dragon’s Triangle was known to be the deadliest expanse of the Pacific. It was also known by an older, more sinister moniker, the Devil’s Sea. And we’re flying straight up its backside. “You still haven’t told me what we’re doing here,” Amelia said, glancing down at the pistol pointed at her. “You owe me that much.” James sighed. “You’re right.” His mastery of English was impeccable, though not unexpected. The official language of the Philippines was English, after all. He held up the papers he had been clutching tightly since he first stepped foot on her plane. “These are the translated copies of a journal—a journal written by—” Out of nowhere, the plane was hit by a bolt of lightning. The interior lights and instrument panels went crazy from the powerful surge of electricity. The current must’ve damaged something vital because the Electra fell out of the sky. Luckily, Amelia was an ace behind the stick. The aircraft fought her, but she regained control and aimed for the rapidly approaching splotch of land to the north. It was either that, or she’d have to put the plane down in the ocean. That would almost certainly be a death sentence. This was where she really could’ve used Fred. Her current co-pilot had no prior flight