Chapter 11 - IMPACT
The bridge filled the windshield.
Owen shouted through the radio that the helm controls had been disabled.
The impact bent metal and split polished wood, stripping the yacht of every symbol of luxury. In the gray morning light it looked ordinary and damaged, just like the people who had believed wealth could keep consequences away.
Grant left Victor restrained with the officers and ran toward the engine room. Emma carried Lily to the deck while Mason fought to release the anchor.
"We're going to hit!" someone yelled.
Grant found the emergency fuel cutoff behind a locked panel. He tore it open with a fire ax and pulled the lever.
The engines died.
But the yacht still had momentum.
The anchor dropped. The chain screamed through the housing. The vessel turned sideways and struck the bridge support with a brutal crunch.
Emma covered Lily with her body as glass rained across the deck.
When the yacht stopped, smoke rolled from the lower cabin. Everyone was alive.
Victor and Renata were taken into custody.
At dawn, Lily sat inside an ambulance wrapped in a blanket. Grant knelt before her.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I should have seen it. I should have protected you."
Lily looked at him for a long time.
"You believed her."
Grant did not defend himself.
"Yes. And I was wrong."
She reached for Emma's hand, not his.
A state investigator approached with the recovered rabbit recorder sealed in evidence plastic.
"We copied every file," she said. "There is enough here for abuse, conspiracy, fraud, obstruction, and likely homicide."
Grant exhaled.
Then she added, "There is one more recording. Your late wife made it the night before she died. She addressed it to Emma Reyes."
Emma stared at her.
"I never met Lily's mother."
May you like
The investigator shook her head.
"According to the recording, you did."
