Chapter 2 - FIVE MILLION
The yacht moved through bright water off the U.S. coast.
Claire was below deck taking a call.
Margaret stood near the railing.
Daniel approached behind her.
She turned.
“You wanted to talk?”
He smiled.
“About the trust.”
Margaret’s expression cooled.
“What about it?”
“You’ve been changing things.”
There.
He knew.
Margaret said:
“So have you.”
Daniel’s face changed.
Then, suddenly, he grabbed her.
Margaret gasped.
“Daniel!”
He shoved.
She caught his sleeve.
“DANIEL! DON’T!”
For one second, he hesitated.
Then ripped her hand away.
Margaret fell overboard.
Splash.
Daniel stared down.
Breathing hard.
Nothing surfaced.
His face changed.
Panic disappeared.
Cold calculation replaced it.
“Five million.”
Then, almost whispering:
“Finally.”
Footsteps.
Claire rushed onto the deck.
“WHERE’S MOM?!”
Daniel spun.
Fear instantly appeared on his face.
“She slipped! I tried!”
Claire ran to the railing.
“MOM!”
Daniel looked down once.
Then noticed something caught on a deck fitting.
Margaret’s pearl bracelet.
Broken.
He picked it up.
Slipped it into his pocket.
Claire kept screaming.
“MOM!”
Daniel watched her.
Emotionless.
Then grabbed the emergency radio.
Too late to look innocent?
Maybe.
But not too late to create a rescue record.
He called the Coast Guard.
Reported:
accidental fall.
rough footing.
possible head injury.
immediate search.
He sounded terrified.
Polished even under pressure.
May you like
Claire believed him.
At first.
