Chapter 6 - What Ethan Saw
Ethan Brooks looked about twelve years old sitting in Evelyn Vale's kitchen.
He was actually twenty-six.
His hands were rough from years of dock work, his hair needed cutting, and there was a faded tattoo of an anchor on his left forearm.
But the way he kept twisting his cap made him look like a boy waiting outside a principal's office.
Nina sat beside him.
Adrian placed the little wooden sailboat on the kitchen table.
The red paint was scratched.
One corner of the white sail had broken away.
But it was there.
He touched the tiny star with his thumb.
"Thank you for bringing it."
Ethan nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"Call me Adrian."
"Okay, sir."
Nina gave him a look.
Ethan swallowed.
"Sorry. Adrian."
A tray of untouched sandwiches sat between them.
Evelyn had insisted everyone eat something.
Nobody had.
Adrian pulled out a chair.
"Nina says you found part of the barrier."
Ethan nodded again.
"A clamp and some of the warning tape. Under the forward lounger."
"How did it get there?"
Ethan rubbed his palms against his jeans.
"Friday night, I was finishing the freshwater washdown. Mrs. Vale came aboard around nine-thirty."
Adrian didn't move.
"Was she alone?"
"Yeah."
"What happened?"
"She said the temporary railing made the bow look terrible. Asked whether we could take it down before Saturday."
"What did you say?"
"I told her no. Not without an approved maintenance change and temporary access restrictions."
Ethan looked at Nina.
"That's what you told us to say."
"Good," Nina replied. "Keep going."
"She got mad. Not yelling or anything. Just that quiet kind of mad."
Adrian knew the kind.
"She told me my boss was paying a lot of money to make the yacht beautiful, not to make it look like a construction zone."
"What happened next?"
"I said I needed authorization."
Ethan looked down.
"About fifteen minutes later, a new work order came through."
Adrian's stomach tightened.
"From my account."
"Yes."
"Then?"
"She came back and said, 'There. Happy now?'"
Ethan's cheeks reddened.
"I removed the temporary stanchions. But I told her the bow had to stay closed. She said she'd let the family know."
Nina leaned forward.
"Did you put up a replacement warning?"
"I put yellow tape across the doorway. I swear."
"Where did it go?"
"Saturday morning, it was gone."
Adrian stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell the captain?"
"I should have. I knew I should have."
Ethan swallowed.
"But Mrs. Vale told me Adrian had approved everything. And then Saturday morning she said the tape was making guests nervous."
"What?"
"She took it down. Said she'd make sure nobody used the bow until the repair was finished."
Adrian felt his jaw tighten.
"And then she went out there with my daughter."
"Yes."
"Did you see her hide anything under the lounger?"
"No. I saw her carrying the last loose warning strap toward it Saturday morning. I didn't see where she put it."
"Why didn't you say something yesterday?"
Ethan stared at his hands.
"My wife had a baby in May. We just bought a house. I thought if I admitted I removed the barrier, I'd be fired."
Adrian looked at him.
The young man was frightened.
Not of being exposed as a villain.
Of losing a job he needed.
Adrian wanted to be angry with him.
He was angry with him.
But he also recognized the system that had taught Ethan an owner's wishes mattered more than his own judgment.
A system Adrian had helped create.
"Did you tell the police?"
Nina nodded.
"I told Ethan we weren't coming here until he'd given Detective Donnelly his statement."
Adrian looked at her gratefully.
Ethan reached into his jacket.
"There's one more thing."
He placed his phone on the table.
It showed a message from Corinne, sent Friday night.
CORINNE: Adrian approved it. Remove the barriers tonight. Do not make me ask a third time.
Adrian read it twice.
"Can you send this to Detective Donnelly?"
"Already did," Ethan said.
Adrian pushed the phone back toward him.
For the first time that evening, Ethan seemed to breathe normally.
Then he added, "Mr. Vale, there's something I don't understand."
"What?"
"Why did she tell the crew to keep the bow closed, then take your little girl out there?"
May you like
Adrian looked at the broken wooden sailboat.
He didn't have an answer he could bear to say aloud.
