Chapter 7 - THE HIDDEN PASSENGER
Mateo searched Isabelle’s private cabin.
He found no one inside.
The bed had not been used.
A half-open maintenance hatch led toward the yacht’s emergency radio compartment.
Someone had crawled through the narrow passage.
Victor examined the distress signal.
It included coordinates, audio from the salon and a short message.
VICTOR MOREAU IS ALIVE.
FOUR PEOPLE CONSPIRED TO KILL HIM.
The message identified Camilla, Laurent, Isabelle and Dr. Armand.
It did not identify the sender.
Maritime police surrounded the yacht.
Victor could no longer remain legally dead.
Elena arrived by police launch carrying medical and identity records.
She told officers Victor had survived an attempted murder and remained hidden because he feared additional attacks.
The police separated everyone.
Laurent surrendered his pistol.
Camilla demanded an attorney.
Isabelle claimed the entire conversation had been manipulated.
Victor provided the contingency recordings.
The officers arrested Camilla and Laurent on suspicion of attempted murder and conspiracy.
They did not arrest Isabelle.
Her attorneys argued that no recording directly proved she approved the pier.
She had discussed Victor’s medication and financial control.
She never explicitly said Camilla should kill him.
Isabelle had spent a lifetime speaking in language designed to avoid consequences.
As officers escorted Camilla toward the police launch, she looked at Victor.
“Ask your mother who paid for the helicopter.”
Victor said nothing.
Camilla smiled bitterly.
“She did not want you injured.”
“She wanted you dead.”
Isabelle watched from the salon.
Her expression remained unreadable.
Victor returned to the hidden radio compartment.
A small amount of blood marked the metal edge.
The unknown passenger had cut a hand or arm while escaping.
Mateo found a black glove beneath the radio console.
A gold emblem had been stitched inside.
Victor recognized it as the symbol of the Moreau family’s original shipyard.
Only senior family trustees received items carrying that emblem.
Victor knew every current trustee.
None should have been hiding aboard the yacht.
The police searched the vessel.
They found an emergency boat missing from the rear platform.
The hidden passenger had escaped during the confrontation.
Elena joined Victor near the cabin.
“We have a larger problem.”
“What?”
“Laurent initiated transfers from Moreau Maritime before he came here.”
“How much?”
“Nearly four hundred million dollars.”
“To where?”
“Multiple companies.”
“The final destination is unknown.”
Victor looked toward Isabelle.
“Did my mother authorize them?”
“Her security token approved one portion.”
“She claims it was stolen.”
“It was not stolen.”
“You cannot prove that yet.”
Victor wheeled toward the salon.
Isabelle stood beside the windows watching the police boats.
“Who was hidden in your cabin?” he asked.
“No one.”
“Someone sent the distress signal.”
“Perhaps one of the crew developed a conscience.”
“The blood was inside your private passage.”
Isabelle turned.
“You should be grateful.”
“That signal prevented Laurent from shooting someone.”
“It also ensured the police found us together.”
“Someone wanted the conspiracy exposed before the money vanished.”
Victor placed the black glove on the table.
Isabelle’s eyes moved toward the gold emblem.
Only for a second.
Victor noticed.
“You recognize it.”
“No.”
“You always taught me that hesitation is an answer.”
Isabelle’s voice became colder.
“You have been alive for less than a day, and already you are accusing the wrong person.”
“Then give me the right one.”
She walked past him.
Before leaving the salon, she spoke without turning.
“Your father created the first contingency account.”
Victor stared after her.
May you like
His father, Marcel Moreau, had died eight years earlier.
At least, that was what Victor had always believed.
