Chapter 14 - The Hidden Compartment.
Lena closed her hand around the memory card.
Marcus did not move toward her.
That almost made the moment worse.
He simply stood in the doorway, thinking.
“Give me the card.”
“No.”
“It does not belong to you.”
“The box copied from my father’s does.”
“It is evidence.”
“So am I, apparently.”
Marcus’s face tightened.
“You are making assumptions.”
“I have been doing that all night because nobody tells me the whole truth.”
She held up the brass winding key.
“Is this the key Captain Mercer described?”
Marcus looked at it.
“I don’t know.”
“You knew enough to hide it under a false bottom.”
“I did not pack that box.”
“Who did?”
He said nothing.
Lena picked up the strip of paper.
“Who wants me off the other yacht before midnight?”
Marcus’s eyes moved toward the window.
Lena followed his gaze.
The tender crew member was still waiting outside.
Good.
She backed toward the door.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“If you return with that card, you could destroy a case that has taken years to build.”
“Against whom?”
“Your father.”
Lena laughed without humor.
“My father has been legally dead for fifteen years.”
“That does not mean he was innocent.”
“You keep saying that without showing me anything except papers designed to make Noah look guilty.”
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“You want a villain you can understand.”
“No.”
Lena reached the doorway.
“I want one person to stop deciding what version of my life I can handle.”
Marcus took one step forward.
The tender crew member immediately stood.
Marcus stopped.
Lena stepped onto the deck.
Her phone buzzed again.
This time it was Marianne.
WHERE ARE YOU?
Lena typed with one hand.
COMING BACK.
Then another message arrived from an unknown number.
DON’T TRUST THE CARD.
Lena stared at it.
A second message followed.
PLAY FILE 07 FIRST.
She looked back at Marcus.
He was watching her.
“Did you send that?”
“No.”
The answer sounded genuine.
Lena climbed into the tender.
Marcus called down.
“If you play that card on Sterling’s system, they will control what you hear.”
Lena looked up.
“Then I’ll use my phone.”
His expression told her he had not expected that.
The tender started away.
Halfway across, Lena inserted the card into a small adapter attached to her phone.
Seven audio files appeared.
She tapped FILE 07.
The recording began with voices in a room.
One was Marcus.
The other was Marianne.
Lena turned up the volume.
Marianne’s voice was cold and clear.
“Make Noah look guilty enough that she leaves the yacht before midnight.”
Lena’s heart slammed against her ribs.
Marcus answered.
“And if she refuses?”
“Then show her the management agreement.”
“She’ll recognize Celeste’s name.”
“That is the point.”
Lena stared at the dark water between the yachts.
The recording continued.
Marcus said, “You understand what happens if she reaches the island.”
Marianne answered.
“She learns Elias lied to all of us.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“And if he is still there?”
A long silence followed.
Then Marianne said something Lena could barely hear.
“Then I lose her forever.”
The file ended.
Lena looked up.
Marianne stood at the rail of the first yacht.
Her face was pale.
Lena climbed aboard.
Noah reached toward her but stopped himself.
“You okay?”
“No.”
She looked at Marianne.
“Were you working with Marcus?”
Marianne’s eyes moved to the memory card.
“Where did you get that?”
“Answer me.”
Marianne closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Noah swore quietly and turned away.
Lena felt strangely calm.
“You told him to make Noah look guilty.”
“Yes.”
“You told him to use the management agreement.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted me off this yacht before midnight.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Marianne looked toward the island.
“Because I thought if you learned your father was alive, you would forgive him.”
Lena stared at her.
“You know he is alive.”
“I know he was alive five years ago.”
The answer hit like a wave.
“Five years?”
Marianne nodded.
“He contacted me.”
“When?”
“After you graduated.”
Lena’s eyes filled with furious tears.
“He knew where I was.”
“Yes.”
“He knew I thought he was dead.”
“Yes.”
“And you protected him.”
Marianne’s voice broke.
“I protected you from him.”
Lena took a step forward.
“Why would I need protection from my father?”
Marianne looked at the brass winding key in Lena’s hand.
“Because the trust was never created to give you money.”
Celeste frowned.
“What was it created for?”
Marianne’s eyes remained on Lena.
“To make sure Elias could find you again when he decided it was safe to come back.”
Lena’s stomach dropped.
Noah stared at her aunt.
Marianne continued.
“The money was bait.”
“The yacht was a route.”
“The necklace was proof.”
“And the compass was the invitation.”
Captain Mercer whispered.
“To the lighthouse.”
Marianne nodded.
Lena looked at the island.
A light appeared in the top window of the abandoned lighthouse.
May you like
Someone was inside.
The Black Gift Box |
