Chapter 16 - The Locked Lower Deck
Captain Reeves wanted to call the coast guard immediately.
Daniel already had.
Security moved through the yacht.
But Martin knew the vessel.
As CFO, he had spent years aboard during board retreats.
He had locked access to the lower vehicle garage from the internal control panel.
Celeste carried Arthur’s black leather ledger.
Her hands trembled.
Daniel looked at it.
“How long have you had that?”
“Since Father died.”
“You let everyone investigate without giving it up.”
“It destroys him too.”
“He is dead.”
“He is still our father.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“You poured milk over my child to protect a dead man’s reputation?”
Celeste flinched.
“No.”
“Then say what this was really about.”
She looked at him.
“I wanted what he never gave me.”
“Control?”
“Respect.”
Daniel stared.
“You thought stealing the company would make him respect you?”
“I thought owning what he trusted you with would prove he was wrong.”
There it was.
Not money.
Not entirely.
A daughter trying to win an argument with a dead father.
Daniel felt grief and disgust at once.
They reached the lower service corridor with two security officers behind them.
Martin’s voice came through a wall speaker.
“Security stays back.”
Daniel ignored him.
A gunshot echoed from inside the garage.
Not aimed at anyone.
A warning.
Captain Reeves stopped.
Daniel turned to the officers.
“Stay here.”
“Sir—”
“If Martin sees them, he’ll panic.”
“Do not play hero.”
“I’m not.”
Daniel looked at Celeste.
“I’m trying to get evidence away from a desperate man.”
They entered together.
Martin Hale stood beside a maintenance workbench.
He held a handgun.
In front of him lay a laptop and several portable drives.
Daniel noticed immediately.
No hostages.
No Mia.
No Grace.
For the first time in months, Celeste had nowhere to hide behind a child.
Martin smiled.
“Family reunion.”
Celeste held up the ledger.
“You broke into Grace’s apartment.”
“I hired someone.”
“Where’s the USB?”
Martin tapped his pocket.
Daniel said, “Police are coming.”
“Of course.”
Martin looked at Celeste.
“Ledger.”
She did not move.
“You promised me this would stay controlled.”
Martin laughed.
“You poured milk on a baby and called it controlled.”
Celeste’s face collapsed.
Daniel stared.
Martin knew.
He had known the nursery plan.
“You approved the camera deletions,” Daniel said.
“Yes.”
“You altered the medical records?”
“Celeste told me which entries.”
Celeste shouted, “Shut up!”
Martin laughed again.
“There she is.”
Daniel realized Martin wanted them arguing.
He needed time.
“For what?” Daniel asked.
Martin looked at him.
“What?”
“You’re waiting.”
Martin’s smile faded.
Daniel glanced at the laptop.
A progress bar.
Data upload.
“How much are you sending?”
Celeste stared.
Martin said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“Extortion package?”
Martin raised the gun.
“Back up.”
Celeste whispered, “He has everything.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What everything?”
“Private files. Board communications. Sofia recordings. Father’s old payments. My messages.”
Martin said, “And Daniel’s signatures.”
Daniel felt fear.
Not because he was secretly guilty.
Because context could be destroyed faster than truth could explain itself.
Martin said, “When this uploads, every lender sees every ugly thing the Calder family ever hid.”
Daniel looked at the progress bar.
Eighty-one percent.
Celeste moved suddenly.
Martin swung the gun toward her.
Daniel grabbed her arm.
“Don’t.”
She turned on him.
“He’ll destroy us!”
Daniel answered:
“No. He’ll expose us.”
The difference stopped her.
Daniel looked at Martin.
“You think I’m afraid of the truth now?”
Martin frowned.
Daniel continued.
“Send it.”
Celeste stared.
“Daniel.”
“Send all of it.”
Martin’s confidence faltered.
He had built leverage on secrecy.
Daniel was removing secrecy’s value.
“You’ll lose the company.”
“Maybe.”
“You’ll lose your reputation.”
“Probably.”
Martin raised the gun higher.
Daniel did not move.
“But you still go to prison.”
Outside, security waited.
Police boats were approaching.
Martin glanced toward the loading-door camera.
Daniel saw the distraction.
Celeste did too.
But instead of lunging at Martin, she dropped Arthur’s ledger onto the floor and kicked it toward Daniel.
Martin reacted.
Daniel stepped back.
A security officer shouted from the corridor.
Martin fired toward the ceiling.
Sprinklers erupted.
Water flooded the garage.
The laptop sparked.
The upload stopped at ninety-three percent.
Martin swore and grabbed the ledger.
Celeste seized his wrist.
The gun hit the metal floor.
Security rushed in.
Within seconds Martin was pinned against the workbench.
Daniel picked up the soaked ledger.
Celeste stood under the sprinklers, drenched, breathing hard.
For one strange second, she looked like Mia had looked in the nursery.
Wet.
Shocked.
Helpless.
Daniel hated the comparison.
Then Martin shouted from the floor:
“Tell him, Celeste!”
Daniel turned.
“Tell me what?”
Martin laughed.
“The milk wasn’t the first time she used Mia.”
Daniel’s blood froze.
Celeste closed her eyes.
May you like
And Daniel knew the next truth would be worse.
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