Chapter 2 - THE SEARCHWithin twelve minutes, the birthday party became a search operation.
The Aurelia turned slowly through the water while crew members checked every interior compartment a second time.
The captain ordered flotation markers deployed.
Radio calls went out.
Coordinates were recorded.
Guests were told to remain calm.
Nobody remained calm.
Claire stood beside the main-deck rail watching Nolan move from person to person.
He asked the same questions repeatedly.
“When did you last see him?”
“Did he say where he was going?”
“Did he drink too much?”
That final question bothered her.
Raymond had consumed half a glass of champagne.
Claire knew because she had been beside him.
Yet Nolan asked three separate guests whether his father might have been intoxicated.
A narrative was forming before anyone had even confirmed Raymond was missing overboard.
Claire told herself she was being suspicious because the situation was frightening.
Then Nolan approached Elliot Crane.
Elliot was sixty-two, compact, quiet, and had served as Raymond’s personal attorney for more than twenty years.
His gray suit looked strangely formal aboard the yacht.
“Elliot.”
“Nolan.”
“Did Dad say anything to you?”
Elliot looked at him.
“About?”
“Anything unusual.”
“No.”
Claire saw the hesitation.
So did Nolan.
“You’re sure?”
Elliot adjusted his glasses.
“Your father said many things to me. You’ll have to be more specific.”
Nolan’s jaw tightened.
Then a crew member called:
“Mr. Halstead!”
Everyone turned.
The young deckhand, Luis Ortega, was standing near the port-side railing.
“I heard something.”
Nolan rushed forward.
“What?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What did you hear?”
Luis pointed toward the water.
“A voice.”
The captain immediately ordered silence.
For several seconds, there was only wind and engine noise.
Everyone listened.
Nothing.
Nolan gripped the rail.
“Dad!”
No answer.
Again:
“DAD!”
Claire watched Nolan’s hands.
He was gripping the railing so hard his knuckles were pale.
Fear?
Maybe.
But she wondered what kind.
The captain ordered the yacht to continue a widening search pattern.
A rescue call was placed to the Coast Guard.
Guests began crying.
One woman sat beside the cake and prayed.
Raymond’s younger sister, Diane Halstead, had collapsed into a deck chair.
“This can’t be happening.”
Claire sat beside her.
“Did Raymond know how to swim?”
“Of course.”
“Any medical conditions?”
“Blood pressure medication. Nothing serious.”
Diane wiped her eyes.
“He was fine today.”
Claire looked toward Nolan.
“He seemed happy.”
“He was.”
Diane followed her gaze.
“Nolan worked on this party for months.”
“I know.”
“He loves his father.”
Claire said nothing.
Diane noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Claire.”
She lowered her voice.
“Raymond told me he needed to speak to Nolan tonight.”
“So?”
“He looked worried.”
Diane frowned.
“About business?”
“I don’t know.”
Across the deck, Nolan was talking with the captain.
“Could currents carry someone quickly?”
“Yes.”
“How far?”
“Depends on time, speed, direction.”
“If he fell ten minutes before we noticed?”
Claire’s head turned.
Ten minutes.
Nobody had established ten minutes.
The captain asked:
“Was that how long he was alone?”
Nolan hesitated.
“Approximately.”
“How do you know?”
“I left him at the bow and came back.”
Claire stood.
“You said you thought he was behind you.”
Nolan turned sharply.
Several guests looked between them.
He answered carefully.
“I did.”
“So when exactly did you leave him?”
“I don’t know, Claire.”
His tone sharpened.
“My father is missing.”
“I’m trying to establish a timeline.”
“The crew is doing that.”
Elliot had walked closer.
“So are we.”
Nolan stared at him.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
But Claire saw tension pass between them.
Something older than the disappearance.
Something unfinished.
The captain interrupted.
“We need the last confirmed location.”
Claire answered.
“The bow.”
Nolan immediately said:
“Yes.”
The captain looked at him.
“You were there with him?”
“For a few minutes.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
“What were you doing?”
Nolan hesitated.
“A birthday gift.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
“What gift?”
“A surprise.”
“What kind?”
Nolan looked at her.
“Does it matter?”
“If it explains why you were at the railing, maybe.”
His expression hardened.
“You’re acting like this is an interrogation.”
Claire did not look away.
“It’s a search.”
The captain asked again.
“What was the gift?”
Nolan exhaled.
“I was going to show him something from the bow.”
“What?”
Nolan paused too long.
“A view.”
Claire almost laughed from disbelief.
“A view?”
“He likes sunsets.”
“So you took him away from his own party to show him the ocean from a yacht?”
Nolan stepped closer.
“What exactly are you accusing me of?”
“Nothing.”
“Then stop.”
Diane stood suddenly.
“Both of you, please.”
Her voice cracked.
“Raymond is missing.”
Claire looked ashamed.
She stepped back.
Diane was right.
Whatever Claire suspected, the search mattered first.
Then another crew member hurried over.
“Captain.”
“Yes?”
“We found something at the bow.”
Nolan went still.
“What?”
“A champagne glass.”
“That proves nothing.”
The crewman looked at him.
“I didn’t say it did.”
Nolan’s face tightened.
“What else?”
The crewman glanced toward the captain.
“Something black caught between two deck fittings.”
Claire’s pulse jumped.
“What?”
“A piece of fabric.”
Nolan’s eyes changed.
Not grief.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
Claire saw it.
And before anyone could ask another question, Nolan said:
“That’s mine.”
May you like
Everyone turned toward him.
He realized too late that nobody had described what the fabric was.
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