Chapter 4: Someone Was Coming for My Daughter
The emergency alarm screamed so loudly that I felt it in my teeth.
"CAPTAIN! WE'VE LOST ENGINE POWER!""
I ran toward the corridor.
Behind me, Vanessa shouted my name, but I didn't turn around.
All I could hear was Lily screaming.
"DADDY!""
I reached the guest cabin just as the door handle began turning.
Someone was trying to get inside.
I grabbed the handle from the other side and shoved my shoulder against the door.
"Who's there?""
A man's voice answered.
"Mr. Carter, it's Joel. Open up. The captain sent me.""
I recognized the name.
Joel was one of the younger deckhands. He had joined the crew three months earlier and rarely spoke unless someone addressed him.
"What does the captain want?""
"There's an emergency. We need to move your daughter.""
I looked through the narrow glass panel.
Joel stood in the corridor, holding a small emergency bag.
But something bothered me.
He wasn't looking toward the cockpit.
He was looking directly at the cabin door.
"Why?""
"Because the yacht is losing power. The lower cabins are safer.""
I glanced at Lily.
She was sitting on the bed, clutching her stuffed rabbit.
"No," I said.
Joel frowned.
"Sir?""
"She's staying with me.""
He tried the handle again.
"Mr. Carter, please. We don't have time.""
I tightened my grip.
"Take three steps backward.""
There was a pause.
Then he did something that made my stomach turn.
He pulled a keycard from his pocket.
The lock clicked.
I threw my weight against the door.
It opened three inches before I stopped it with my shoulder.
Joel pushed.
I pushed back.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?""
His expression changed.
For the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.
"Sir, please!""
I shoved the door open hard enough to send him stumbling into the corridor.
He tried to recover, but I grabbed his jacket and slammed him against the opposite wall.
The emergency bag fell.
Something metallic rolled across the floor.
It was a pair of heavy restraints.
I stared at them.
"What are those for?""
Joel swallowed.
"Equipment.""
"For my eight-year-old daughter?""
"I was told to move her.""
"By whom?""
He looked over my shoulder.
Marcus was standing at the far end of the corridor.
His face was expressionless.
"Let him go, Daniel," he said.
I released Joel but kept myself between him and the cabin.
"Did you send him?""
Marcus sighed.
"You're making this ridiculous.""
I pointed at the restraints.
"Explain those.""
"Emergency equipment.""
"Don't lie to me.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Listen, the yacht has lost power. We're thirty miles offshore. We need everyone following instructions.""
"Then why is your employee trying to take my daughter against my orders?""
Joel lowered his head.
Marcus looked at him.
"Get back to the bridge.""
Joel hesitated.
"Now!"" Marcus barked.
Joel hurried away.
I took a step toward Marcus.
"You're not going anywhere near Lily.""
He gave me a cold smile.
"That's going to be difficult if the boat starts taking on water.""
Then he walked away.
I watched him disappear around the corner.
Something was terribly wrong.
I went into the cabin and locked the door.
Lily jumped off the bed.
"Daddy!""
I scooped her up.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded, but her hands were shaking.
"That man wanted me to go with him.""
"I know.""
"He said Uncle Marcus told him to take me downstairs.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"What else?""
Lily looked at the door.
"He said there was a little boat waiting.""
My stomach dropped.
"What little boat?""
"Uncle Marcus said somebody was coming to get me.""
I kissed her forehead.
"Nobody is taking you anywhere.""
A violent shudder traveled through the yacht.
The lights went out.
Lily screamed and clung to my neck.
I held her until the emergency lighting flickered on.
Then I heard Thomas shouting from the cockpit.
"MR. CARTER! I NEED YOU UP HERE!""
I placed Lily behind me.
"Stay right here.""
"No!""
She grabbed my hand.
I looked at her frightened face.
"You're coming with me.""
I carried her into the corridor.
Richard was standing near the staircase.
His shirt was untucked, and a streak of grease ran across his forehead.
"What happened?"" I demanded.
"Someone sabotaged the engines.""
"Can they restart them?""
"Thomas is trying.""
We hurried toward the bridge.
The yacht was drifting sideways now. The smooth afternoon water had become choppy, and the stern was swinging toward the approaching swell.
Thomas was bent over the control panel.
"Both engines are down," he said.
"Why?""
"Fuel supply has been interrupted, and the electronic control system has been tampered with.""
"Can you fix it?""
"Not from here. I need to inspect the engine room.""
He looked at Lily.
"Sir, she shouldn't be on the bridge.""
"She isn't leaving my sight.""
Thomas nodded.
Then he pointed at the radio.
"I've already sent a distress call. The coast guard is responding.""
I exhaled.
"How long?""
"Depends on their location. We also have a problem with the satellite communication system.""
"Another problem?""
"Someone disconnected its backup power.""
Richard swore.
I stared at the captain.
"How many people have access to the engine room?""
"Three crew members. Me, the first officer, and the chief engineer.""
"And Marcus?""
Thomas hesitated.
"He's not supposed to.""
"That wasn't my question.""
"He's been down there twice today.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course he had.
I looked at Richard.
"Where is Marcus now?""
"I don't know.""
"Find him.""
Before Richard could move, the radio crackled.
A male voice came through.
"Serenity, Serenity, this is Coast Guard Station Three. We received your distress transmission. Confirm vessel status.""
Thomas grabbed the microphone.
"Coast Guard, this is the motor yacht Serenity. We have complete engine failure approximately thirty miles offshore. One minor injured, no immediate life-threatening injuries.
Suspected deliberate sabotage. Request immediate assistance.""
Static.
Then the operator responded.
"Serenity, assistance is being dispatched. Maintain radio contact.""
Thomas acknowledged.
I finally allowed myself a breath.
Then the bridge door opened.
Vanessa walked in.
She looked at Lily.
"Sweetheart...""
Lily immediately turned away.
Vanessa's face crumpled.
"Daniel, please. I need to talk to you.""
"Not now.""
"It's important.""
I held Lily tighter.
"Everything you have to say can wait until the coast guard arrives.""
Vanessa looked at Thomas.
"Captain, could you give us a moment?""
"No," I answered.
Her eyes filled.
"Daniel, I'm still her mother.""
"Then explain why somebody just tried to remove her from a locked cabin.""
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Thomas suddenly leaned toward the front window.
"Hold on.""
He reached for the binoculars.
"What is it?"" I asked.
"There's another vessel.""
I moved toward him.
Beyond the starboard side, a small motorboat was approaching across the waves.
It had no visible registration number.
Its navigation lights were off.
And it was moving directly toward us.
"Is that the boat you mentioned?"" I asked Joel's empty corridor in my head.
Thomas lowered the binoculars.
"I don't know.""
"Can you identify it?""
"No.""
He grabbed the radio.
"Unidentified vessel approaching motor yacht Serenity. This is a distress situation. Identify yourself and maintain safe distance.""
No response.
The boat continued forward.
I looked toward Marcus.
He wasn't on the bridge.
He wasn't in the corridor.
He had disappeared.
Richard noticed my expression.
"Daniel?""
"Find my brother-in-law.""
"Where?""
"Everywhere.""
Thomas tried the radio again.
The approaching boat slowed.
For a few seconds, I thought it was finally going to turn away.
Then a loudspeaker crackled.
A man's voice came through.
"Daniel Carter!""
I froze.
The voice sounded familiar.
"Send the little girl out!""
Lily buried her face against my shoulder.
I looked at the approaching boat.
The man repeated his demand.
"We know you have her! Send her out, and nobody else gets hurt!""
Vanessa began sobbing.
Richard stared at her.
"Do you know that voice?""
She didn't answer.
I took one step toward her.
"Vanessa.""
She shook her head.
"Tell me who that is.""
Her lips trembled.
Then she whispered three words.
"He's her father.""
I stared at her.
"Whose father?""
Vanessa looked down at Lily.
May you like
And my daughter, still clinging to me, whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Mommy said I wasn't supposed to tell you.""
