Chapter 13 - The Last Ferry
This time, nobody ran toward a door.
Celia held the phone while an agent listened beside her.
Nora stood close enough for Celia to grip her hand.
“Let me hear him,” Celia said.
Elaine sighed.
“Honestly. I’m his aunt.”
“Let me hear my son.”
A rustle.
Then a small voice.
“Mom?”
Celia closed her eyes.
“Hi, baby.”
“When are you coming?”
“Soon. Are you warm?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have your inhaler?”
“In my backpack.”
Nora saw the agent write something down.
Owen’s breathing sounded steady.
For the moment.
“Where’s your backpack?”
“By the blue door.”
Elaine took the phone.
“Enough. The old marina. Thirty minutes.”
The line went dead.
Celia started shaking.
Nora kept hold of her.
An agent brought up maps and property records.
The Voss retreat stood beyond an old marina served by a small private vehicle ferry.
The public service had ended for the night.
But the family owned a boat.
Elaine wasn’t waiting for transportation.
She controlled it.
A surveillance team was already approaching the property.
The immediate concern was getting close without driving her into open water with Owen.
Celia listened to the plan.
Then shook her head.
“She won’t come outside for police.”
“We’re not asking her to.”
“She’ll come outside for him.”
Her eyes shifted toward Adrian.
He stood in the doorway.
Ruth looked at him.
“No private deals.”
“I understand.”
Nora doubted he had understood anything until tonight.
Still, he sat beside the agent and called Elaine.
She answered on the second ring.
“Adrian. Feeling better?”
“You wanted me at the gala. You can have me now.”
“What a generous offer.”
“I’ll bring the access device for the overseas account.”
The agent beside him nodded once.
Elaine went silent.
Nora watched Celia’s face.
That account meant something.
“You froze it,” Elaine said.
“I restricted the foundation’s authorization. The bank will require verification for any transfer.”
“Then unrestrict it.”
“Owen walks to Celia first.”
“You’re in no position to bargain.”
“You called us.”
That landed.
Elaine gave him a location beside the marina’s service pier.
Twenty minutes.
When the call ended, Ruth leaned toward Adrian.
“Do exactly what they tell you.”
He nodded.
Nora followed him into the hallway.
“If you run, I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure people know why.”
“I know.”
His phone lit up one more time.
A message from Elaine.
Bring Nora, too.
May you like
Beneath it:
Her brother still owes me something.
