Charles sat in the chair without ever losing his smirk, and Stephen felt his anger surge. "I don't remember telling you to sit," Stephen said with a voice like ice.Charles leaned back in his chair and said, completely undaunted, "Cool off, Stephen, we're all chums here, aren't we?"Stephen was opening his mouth to respond when Marianne broke in with her calm, courteous tones, "Charles, would you care for something to drink or eat?Stephen chuckled to himself. When did Marianne become a hostess to uninvited guests? He pushed the thought aside and focused on Charles. "Let's cut to the chase, Charles. What's with the visit?"Charles sighed, his eyes drifting to his black cat, now purring contentedly as Yuna stroked it. "I came to discuss some business, Stephen."Stephen's eyes turned hard. "Business? In my cabin on any yacht, and in the midst of family?Charles shrugged. "Sometimes business can't wait. And besides, I thought you'd appreciate a little company."Marianne laid a light palm

Clarke's eyes gleamed with a hunting light. "Many people don't know about the system, Enoch. Your surprise is understandable, but I'm not here to watch you be surprised. I need you to tell me what you know about the system."Enoch ignored him, standing to his feet and opening the door, indicting that Clarke should leave his office. "Get out," he said coldly.Clarke didn't flinch. "How did you control the system?"That question made Enoch stop. "What do you mean, control?"He suddenly remembered back at the courthouse when he had somehow managed to seize control of the system. He looked at Clarke while closing the door so that nobody would hear their conversation. Now he seemed interested, eager to know more. "How did you know about the system that I could control?"Seeing his surprised face, Clarke added, "I'll return with whatever help you need, plus a free bonus on top of it."Enoch raised an eyebrow. "What could that be?""I'll help you get Stephen out of the way," said Clarke, smi

Stephen stormed toward the office of the captain. He had to find Ariane. He had to make sure that she was safe. The captain, an older and grizzled man with years of experience etched into his weathered face, looked up as Stephen burst in."Captain, we have a situation," Stephen said urgently. "My daughter, Ariane, has been kidnapped by some men. Their plan is to hijack the yacht."The captain's eyes widened. "Taken? Hijack? Are you sure?""Yes, I'm sure," Stephen replied, his voice tight with desperation. "They have her in the storeroom. We need to find her now."The captain rose and reached for the radio on his desk. "All crew, be on alert. We have a possible hijacking. Search the yacht for a young girl named Ariane. Any sign of suspicious activity, report immediately."He turned to Stephen again. "We will do everything in our power to find her, Mr. Stephen. I promise you that."Stephen nodded, clenching his jaw. "Do whatever it takes."When Stephen emerged from the captain's office,

Shaking, Stephen picked up the single-foot slipper that lay beside the note. It was unmistakably small, child-sized, and he could smell the familiar scent of lavender in his nostrils, Ariane's favorite. The full impact of the fact hit him then with the force of a sledgehammer: Ariane had been here recently, but the kidnappers moved her only minutes ago. Panic surged in him like a tidal wave.He balled the note in his fist; the words barely had time to register on his mind as he tried to lock onto the crisis at hand. His mind was racing with finding Ariane before it was too late. The corridors of the yacht made a disorienting maze, every turn and every shadow seeming to mock his desperate search. He bolted out of the room, the weight of his responsibility pounding in his heart.The water level on the yacht was high, sometimes ankle-deep. Stephen splashed through growing puddles as his flashlight beam cut through the murky blackness. It creaked in the structure of the yacht under the pr

Marianne continued to pound against the door as the hail of blows she pummeled with her fists coursed through her. "Let me out!" she shouted, her voice cracking from desperation. The creeping water was ankle-deep and slowly beginning to squeeze a fist of panic in her chest.She fumbled with her phone to dial up Stephen's number. It rang forever. "Come on, Stephen, pick up," she muttered, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. When it went to voicemail, she cursed under her breath. "Great. Just great.She threw desperate eyes through the little room for any kind of help. The water kept rising. She knew she had just moments before she'd be completely submerged. Desperate, she scoured every inch for a sign of a way out.Charles sat at a corner table in the yacht's restaurant bolting down prawns drenched in hot sauce. He hadn't seen Stephen in quite a while and wondered what could be keeping him. A flicker of darkness, the lights went out, murmurs of confusion filled the room.Charles l