Chapter 12 - Northline
Grant looked as if someone had punched him.
"Kessler's working with Northline?"
Vivian said nothing.
Maya noticed.
"You knew."
"I knew he was coordinating the sale."
"On their boat?"
"Business happens in private."
Claire gave her a long look. "So does fraud."
Grant stood and paced toward the rail.
For the first time, Maya saw him without the polished family confidence. He looked like a man realizing the floor under his life had been hollow for years.
"My father built this company," he said.
Vivian corrected him. "Your grandfather built it. Your father maintained it."
Grant turned. "And Maya's father?"
Vivian's jaw tightened.
"He was an engineer."
"A partner?"
No answer.
"Mom."
She finally snapped. "He was a problem."
Maya went still.
"What does that mean?"
Vivian realized too late what she had said.
Claire's eyes narrowed. "Choose your next words carefully."
Vivian looked at the ocean.
"Daniel Cole discovered accounting irregularities. He threatened to stop a financing deal. There was a fight among the partners. A week later, he died."
Maya's throat tightened. "How?"
"Car accident."
Claire's face had gone pale.
Maya turned to her. "You knew that?"
"I knew he died in a crash. I didn't know what came before it."
Grant whispered, "Was there an investigation?"
Vivian said, "Of course. It was ruled accidental."
Maya heard the wording.
Ruled accidental.
Not was accidental.
"And the trust amendment?"
Vivian's voice dropped. "Daniel signed it three days before he died."
Maya felt sick.
Claire moved closer to her.
"We need to get this to federal investigators."
Vivian laughed sharply. "For a twenty-year-old accident?"
"For current document theft, tampering, attempted fraud, destruction of evidence, and whatever else happened on this vessel today."
A deck officer approached Claire.
"Captain, radar picked up a fast tender approaching from the east."
"Identification?"
"None."
Claire looked toward the horizon.
A black speedboat was cutting hard across the blue water toward them.
Grant stepped closer to the rail.
"That's Northline's tender."
Claire raised the radio.
"Lock exterior doors. Bring all guests inside. Now."
Maya stared at the approaching boat.
Then her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
May you like
One message.
SIGN THE RELEASE OR YOUR CAPTAIN GOES OVERBOARD.
