Chapter 9 - Daniel’s Boat
The sailboat had been recovered after the accident and stored inside a private marina warehouse.
Evelyn restored it secretly.
Every damaged section had been replaced.
Every original part had supposedly been destroyed.
The boat was not a memorial.
It was a cleaned crime scene.
Julian agreed to wear a transmitter.
Claire wanted to go.
Vance refused.
“Evelyn asked for him because she still believes she can control him.”
Julian boarded alone after sunset.
Police watched from nearby vessels.
Claire monitored the body-camera feed inside a harbor office.
Evelyn stood near the wheel in a black coat.
Dr. Mercer waited below deck.
“Where in a black coat.
Dr. is Lily’s memory card?” Julian asked.
Evelyn touched the chain around her neck.
“Safe.”
“You kidnapped a child.”
“I protected the family from Claire’s hysteria.”
“You nearly burned Lily alive.”
“Conrad acted without authorization.”
“He acted for you.”
Evelyn’s eyes hardened.
“You sound like Daniel.”
“Good.”
“No.”
“He was weak.”
“He wanted to give control of everything our family built to a woman who did not understand sacrifice.”
Julian stepped closer.
“What did you sacrifice?”
“My reputation.”
“My youth.”
“My marriage.”
“Other people’s lives?”
Evelyn slapped him.
Julian did not react.
Claire saw pain cross his face, but he remained still.
“Did you damage Daniel’s boat?” he asked.
Evelyn turned away.
“He discovered the ledger.”
“What ledger?”
“Your father kept records of every private payment.”
“He wanted to use them against me during the divorce.”
“Our father never filed for divorce.”
“He was going to.”
“He found out about Conrad.”
Julian stared at her.
Claire leaned closer to the monitor.
Evelyn and Conrad had not only stolen together.
They had been lovers.
Daniel’s father discovered the affair and the embezzlement.
Mercer changed his heart medication.
He died six months later.
Daniel later found the ledger.
He planned to expose all three of them.
“What happened on the boat?” Julian asked.
Evelyn looked toward the dark water.
“Daniel invited Conrad to discuss the foundation.”
“I followed.”
“Conrad disabled the radio.”
“He loosened the steering assembly.”
“A storm came.”
“Daniel discovered us before we reached shore.”
“Did you push him?”
Evelyn’s voice became quiet.
“He attacked Conrad.”
“Answer me.”
“He fell.”
“Into the water?”
“Against the deck.”
“Then the mast struck him when the rigging failed.”
“Did you call for help?”
“Eventually.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Julian continued.
“What did Daniel say in the hospital?”
“He asked for Claire.”
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“Even then.”
“What did you do?”
“I reminded him who controlled the doctors.”
Mercer appeared from below deck.
“That is enough.”
He held a syringe.
Julian stepped backward.
Police moved toward the boat.
Evelyn saw the lights.
“You betrayed me.”
Julian looked at her.
“No.”
“I stopped helping you betray everyone else.”
Mercer lunged with the syringe.
Julian caught his wrist.
They crashed against the railing.
The memory card chain broke from Evelyn’s neck.
May you like
It fell onto the deck.
Then a fuel explosion tore through the rear cabin.
