The communications room sat three corridors away.
Warren looked at me.
“We may need to move you.”
“Where?”
“Bridge safe compartment.”
“Do it.”
No hesitation.
Lena opened a rear panel.
We moved.
My legs were stronger now.
Not normal.
Better.
Adrenaline fighting sedation.
We reached the bridge through secured crew access.
Marco locked the door behind us.
PART 27
Captain Warren remained in command position.
Rain battered the windshield.
Sea dark.
Violent.
I sat in the secure rear section.
Then Adrian appeared outside the bridge.
He banged on the door.
“Captain!”
Warren answered over intercom.
“Yes?”
“My wife is missing.”
“We are searching.”
“She may be overboard.”
“What evidence do you have?”
Silence.
Then.
“She was drugged.”
Warren’s eyes sharpened.
“Drugged?”
Adrian immediately corrected.
“Medicated.”
“For seasickness.”
“What medication?”
“I don’t know.”
Warren stayed calm.
“Then perhaps Dr. Kemp can explain.”
Adrian said nothing.
Good.
Every question forced another crack.
PART 28
Then Adrian said.
“Turn the yacht around.”
Warren replied.
“We are maintaining safe navigation until search procedures determine otherwise.”
“My wife could be dead.”
Warren looked toward me.
Then answered.
“We have no confirmed person overboard.”
Adrian shouted.
“I own this yacht.”
I almost laughed.
Wrong again.
My father owned the vessel through Prescott Marine Holdings.
Adrian owned exactly zero percent.
Warren said.
“No, sir.”
That silence was beautiful.
PART 29
At 8:39, helicopter blades became audible over the storm.
Faint.
Then stronger.
A searchlight swept across the water.
Then over the yacht.
Everyone froze.
Radio crackled.
“Prescott vessel Verity.”
“This is maritime law enforcement.”
“Maintain heading.”
“Prepare for boarding.”
Adrian went completely still.
Marianne sat down.
Douglas swore.
Dr. Kemp disappeared from view.
The temporary deckhand moved toward the stern.
Warren locked additional access points.
Rescue was close.
Not complete.
Close.
PART 30
The helicopter could not immediately land because of wind.
Officers prepared a controlled approach.
Another patrol craft was now thirty minutes away.
Meanwhile, Adrian switched strategies.
He walked into the main salon.
Straightened his shirt.
Fixed his hair.
Then started crying.
Cameras showed everything.
He said loudly.
“My wife is missing.”
“I think she fell.”
Marianne held his shoulders.
Perfect grieving mother.
Douglas demanded emergency response.
Performance.
Again.
I watched from the bridge.
The man who wanted me dead was rehearsing widowhood while I was thirty meters away.
PART 31
Boarding team finally came down by controlled insertion.
Four officers.
Then two more.
Captain Warren briefed them privately.
Video.
Audio.
Galley footage.
Crew list.
My location.
Drug concern.
Potential accomplices.
They split immediately.
Adrian.
Douglas.
Marianne.
Kemp.
Temporary staff.
Separated.
No coordination.
Good.
One officer asked Adrian.
“When did you last see your wife?”
“About six.”
Lie.
Camera had him with me after six.
“Was she conscious?”
“Barely.”
“What had she taken?”
“Seasickness pills.”
“Who provided them?”
Pause.
“The doctor.”
