Completely straight.
Adrian froze.
Margaret’s cup stopped halfway to the table.
Thomas stepped backward.
I said:
“Sorry for what?”
Silence.
Adrian’s face went white.
“You…”
“I what?”
Thomas moved toward the door.
It opened before he reached it.
The captain stood there.
Beside him were two plainclothes security officers who had boarded from a Mercer tender twenty minutes earlier under cover of the engine slowdown.
No guns raised.
No shouting.
One held a body camera.
The other said:
“Mr. Cole, please step away from Claire Mercer.”
Thomas stared.
“How did you board?”
The captain answered:
“Same way people have boarded ships for thousands of years.”
I almost laughed.
Margaret backed toward the window.
Adrian looked at me.
“You weren’t sick.”
“Oh, I was.”
I held up my phone.
“Just not as sick as you needed.”
His eyes locked onto it.
“What did you record?”
“Enough.”
Thomas snapped:
“Do not say another word.”
Too late.
The security officer said:
“We’re not law enforcement.”
Thomas relaxed slightly.
Then the officer continued:
“But maritime authorities are waiting at Evermere Central Harbor.”
Thomas’s face fell.
“We’re not going to Greyhaven?”
The captain smiled.
“No.”
That was the moment they understood.
Not when security entered.
When Thomas realized he had lost the route.
He rushed toward the captain.
One security officer blocked him.
