Chapter 3 - BY MIDNIGHT, GRAHAM WAS GONEThe first official question came at 12:34 a.m.
“When did you last see your father?”
Evan answered:
“Around sunset.”
“Specific time?”
“I don’t know. Maybe six thirty.”
“What were you doing at the bow?”
“Giving him a birthday gift.”
The Coast Guard investigator, Lieutenant Sarah Cole, glanced at the paused video on a tablet.
“He was blindfolded.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It was part of the surprise.”
“What was the gift?”
“My mother’s watch.”
“Where is it?”
“I gave it to him.”
“Did he keep it?”
“Yes.”
“Have we found it?”
“No.”
Evan swallowed.
Sarah’s voice remained neutral.
“What are your hands doing here?”
She tapped the frame.
His hands were lifted behind Graham.
“Giving him the watch.”
That was technically possible.
It was not true.
Evan heard the lie leave his mouth and immediately hated it.
Sarah watched him.
“Did you touch your father near the railing?”
“No.”
That part was true.
“Did you argue?”
“No.”
Mostly true.
“Did you know of any reason he would voluntarily leave the yacht?”
“No.”
“Medical issues?”
“No.”
“Depression?”
“No.”
“Conflicts?”
Evan glanced toward Robert.
His uncle stood twenty feet away talking with the captain.
“Business disagreements.”
“With whom?”
“Everyone.”
Sarah waited.
Evan exhaled.
“My father built a company with five thousand employees. He had disagreements.”
“Anyone particularly angry?”
“I don’t know.”
Again, not quite true.
Evan knew Graham and Robert had been fighting.
He just did not know why.
At 1:20 a.m., a helicopter joined the search.
At 2:05, nearby vessels were contacted.
At 3:12, California authorities were notified because possibility of crime could not be excluded.
Nobody said murder.
Not yet.
At 4:06, Evan sat alone in the salon staring at black coffee.
Robert entered.
“They’ll find him.”
Evan did not look up.
“You believe that?”
“I have to.”
“Where was he after dinner?”
“I saw him around nine.”
“With anyone?”
“Half the boat.”
“After?”
Robert sat opposite.
“You’re asking me questions investigators already asked.”
“I’m asking as his son.”
“And I’m answering as his brother.”
Evan finally looked at him.
“What were you fighting about last week?”
Robert’s expression changed.
“Who told you?”
“I heard Dad say he was done covering for you.”
Robert leaned back.
“Your father says dramatic things.”
“What did it mean?”
“Board politics.”
“Which politics?”
“Not tonight.”
Evan laughed bitterly.
“He’s missing.”
“And you think accusing people helps?”
“I think knowing what was happening helps.”
Robert studied him.
Then asked:
“Did you push him?”
Evan’s blood ran cold.
“No.”
“Because video looks bad.”
“I said no.”
Robert nodded slowly.
“I believe you.”
The speed of that answer disturbed Evan.
“Why?”
“You’re angry with your father.”
“Thanks.”
“But you’re not a killer.”
Evan looked toward the dark windows.
Robert continued:
“You need a lawyer.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
“That has never stopped anyone from needing a lawyer.”
That was the first useful thing Robert said.
At sunrise, attorney Naomi Fletcher arrived by helicopter at a nearby marina and was brought aboard after the yacht returned closer to shore.
She was a criminal defense attorney Graham himself once hired for a senior executive under investigation.
Evan did not enjoy the irony.
She watched the video once.
Then again.
“What were you doing with your hands?”
“Giving him the watch.”
Naomi stared.
“Do not lie to me.”
Evan said nothing.
“I am not police.”
Silence.
“I cannot defend facts you hide from me.”
Evan rubbed his face.
“I didn’t touch him.”
“That is not what I asked.”
He stood.
Walked to the window.
The Pacific looked innocent in daylight.
“I was angry.”
Naomi waited.
“I knew he was changing the trust.”
“How?”
“Does it matter?”
“It will.”
“I knew.”
“And?”
“My company is collapsing.”
“Debt?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Worst case? Nine and a half million.”
Naomi’s eyes hardened.
“You have a financial motive and knew about a trust change?”
“Yes.”
“And your hands?”
Evan’s throat tightened.
Naomi understood before he spoke.
“Oh, Evan.”
“I didn’t do it.”
“What did you almost do?”
He turned.
“For maybe two seconds…”
He could barely say it.
“I thought about pushing him.”
Naomi closed her eyes.
“Did you move toward him?”
“I was already behind him.”
“Did your hands touch him?”
“No.”
“What stopped you?”
“He spoke.”
“What did he say?”
“That he was proud I was his son.”
Naomi looked at him for a long time.
Then:
“You tell investigators nothing further until I am present.”
“I look guilty.”
“You have behaved like someone who understands why he looks guilty.”
“I didn’t hurt him.”
“I believe you are telling me that.”
“That’s not enough.”
“No.”
Outside, investigators recovered additional yacht footage.
At 8:43 a.m., Lieutenant Cole returned.
“We need to ask about your father’s estate plan.”
Naomi answered:
“What specifically?”
Sarah placed a document request on the table.
“We spoke with Rebecca Sloan.”
Evan felt his chest tighten.
Sarah looked directly at him.
“Mr. Whitmore amended his trust two days before the birthday.”
Naomi did not move.
Sarah continued.
“And we have reason to believe Evan knew.”
Evan said nothing.
Then Sarah added:
“There’s something else.”
She placed a printed phone record on the table.
A text message.
Evan recognized it instantly.
Sometimes I think my life would finally begin if my father were gone.
May you like
The room went silent.
And Graham Whitmore was still missing.
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