Chapter 3 - A Family Weekend

Grant folded his arms. "Are you accusing me of disabling cameras?"

Claire didn't blink. "I stated who has access."

"Then check the logs."

"I am."

Maya watched him carefully. He sounded offended, not surprised.

That bothered her more.

A knock came again. This time it was Vivian.

"Grant?"

He opened the door.

Vivian took one look at Claire and stiffened. "Why is the captain in a guest cabin?"

"Security issue," Claire said.

Vivian's eyes moved to Maya. "Of course there is."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Maya asked.

"Nothing."

"Say it."

Grant sighed. "Maya."

Vivian smiled with no warmth. "A bracelet is missing."

The room went silent.

"What bracelet?" Maya asked.

"My mother's Cartier bracelet. I wore it at lunch. Now it's gone."

Brooke appeared behind her in the corridor, eyes bright with interest.

"Maybe it fell," Grant said.

Vivian looked at Maya's cream bag.

The insult landed before she spoke.

Maya's hand tightened around the strap. "Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to."

Brooke said, "If everyone's innocent, it should be easy to clear up."

Claire turned. "No one is searching anyone without consent."

Vivian gave her a sharp look. "This is my husband's yacht."

"It's a chartered vessel under my command. On board, safety and procedure are mine."

Vivian's mouth tightened.

Maya looked at Grant.

He should have said something.

He didn't.

Instead, he asked, "Maya, would you mind opening your bag? Just so we can end this?"

Something inside her went cold.

"You think I stole it?"

"No. I think if you didn't, there's nothing to worry about."

Claire's jaw hardened.

Maya slowly set her bag on the table.

"Fine. You open it."

Grant hesitated.

"Go on," she said.

He unlatched the bag.

Phone. Wallet. Sunglasses. Lip balm. A folded napkin. Her room key.

Then Grant stopped.

His fingers closed around something gold.

He pulled it out.

A diamond Cartier bracelet glittered in the cabin light.

Brooke gasped.

Vivian whispered, "I knew it."

Maya stared at the bracelet.

She had never seen it before.

Claire looked at the bag, then at the cabin door, then at the dead camera indicator on the wall.

"Nobody leaves," she said.

Vivian laughed. "Captain, the thief is standing right there."

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Claire's eyes were ice.

"No," she said. "The setup is."