Chapter 4 - THE PERFECT SONBy sunset, almost everyone aboard the Aurelia believed Raymond Halstead had gone overboard.
Nobody had proof.
But there was nowhere else he could be.
The Coast Guard joined the search.
Guests were told to remain aboard until authorities completed initial interviews.
Nolan performed grief flawlessly.
Claire hated herself for thinking of it as a performance.
Then he made another mistake.
He told investigators:
“My father had been drinking.”
Claire interrupted.
“No, he hadn’t.”
Nolan turned.
She continued.
“He had half a glass of champagne.”
“You don’t know what he drank before that.”
“I was with him for most of the party.”
Nolan’s jaw tightened.
An officer asked:
“Mr. Halstead, was your father impaired?”
“I don’t know.”
“You just said he’d been drinking.”
“It was his birthday.”
“That isn’t the same thing.”
Nolan rubbed his face.
“I’m sorry. I’m not thinking clearly.”
Good answer.
Always good answers.
Claire remembered why people liked Nolan.
He knew how to be charming without looking as though he was trying.
He remembered birthdays.
Sent flowers to widows.
Spoke at foundation events.
He could spend twenty minutes discussing a waiter’s hometown and make the waiter feel seen.
Raymond had often said:
“Nolan got his mother’s social instincts.”
Claire had believed it.
So had everyone else.
Maybe Nolan was simply in shock now.
Maybe she was turning normal inconsistencies into evidence because Raymond’s warning had unsettled her.
Then Luis Ortega approached her quietly.
“Ms. Sutton?”
“Yes?”
“I found the black fabric.”
Her pulse jumped.
“The captain said it belonged to Nolan.”
Luis glanced around.
“It’s a blindfold.”
Claire stared.
“What?”
“A black sleep mask. Silk.”
“Where?”
“Caught beside a tie-down fitting near the bow.”
“Did you tell investigators?”
“Yes.”
“What did Nolan say?”
“That it was part of the birthday surprise.”
“What surprise?”
“He said he planned to blindfold Raymond and reveal a watch.”
Claire frowned.
“A watch?”
“That’s what he told the officer.”
Nolan had told her the surprise was the view.
Two explanations.
She looked across the deck.
Nolan stood with Diane, one arm around his aunt.
Perfect son.
Perfect nephew.
Perfect grieving heir.
Claire walked directly toward Elliot.
“We need to talk.”
He looked at her face.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
They moved toward an empty lounge.
Claire closed the door.
“Nolan told me the surprise was a view.”
Elliot frowned.
“He told investigators it was a watch.”
“Exactly.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I don’t know.”
“Claire.”
“Raymond told me he needed to speak to Nolan before midnight.”
Elliot looked away.
“You know why.”
Silence.
Claire stepped closer.
“Elliot.”
He removed his glasses.
“Attorney-client privilege does not disappear because my client is missing.”
“So there was something.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t need to.”
Elliot sighed.
“Raymond was concerned about Nolan.”
“How concerned?”
“Significantly.”
“Financial?”
Elliot said nothing.
Claire remembered Raymond’s expression earlier.
Not angry.
Worried.
“Was he going to cut Nolan out?”
Elliot looked at her sharply.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I didn’t.”
He realized the mistake.
Claire lowered her voice.
“So the will was involved.”
“Potentially.”
“Does Nolan know?”
“I don’t know how much Nolan knows.”
Claire stared.
“Elliot, Raymond may be in the ocean because of what Nolan knows.”
“You need to be very careful.”
“You think I haven’t considered that?”
“I mean legally and morally.”
“I saw them go to the bow.”
“That proves nothing.”
“Raymond warned you about something.”
Elliot froze.
Claire saw it.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You have something.”
Elliot hesitated.
Then took out his phone.
He opened a message.
Time-stamped 4:27 p.m.
From Raymond.
If anything happens tonight, don’t trust appearances. Keep the revised papers secure.
Claire read it twice.
“What revised papers?”
“I can’t discuss them.”
“Raymond thought something might happen.”
“He may have been speaking figuratively.”
“Do you believe that?”
Elliot looked toward the door.
Outside, Nolan’s voice carried faintly as he asked the crew about search conditions.
Then Elliot said:
“No.”
Claire felt cold.
“What do we do?”
“We give this to investigators.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
Elliot opened the door.
Then stopped.
Nolan was standing directly outside.
Nobody knew how long he had been there.
His eyes went from Claire to Elliot’s phone.
“What are you two doing?”
Claire held his gaze.
“Talking.”
“About my father?”
“Yes.”
Nolan stepped inside.
“What papers?”
Elliot’s expression changed.
“You heard?”
“Enough.”
“What papers?” Nolan asked again.
Claire watched him.
The grief was gone.
Completely.
In its place was something she had only glimpsed before.
Fear.
May you like
And Claire finally understood why Raymond’s disappearance had not begun at the railing.
It had begun on paper.
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