PART 2
Part 2 – The Secret Beneath the Deck
The marina fell completely silent.
Even the string quartet had stopped playing.
Every eye was fixed on Catherine.
Edward stared at his wife, unable to understand what he had just heard.
"What do you mean..."
"...you can't?"
Catherine forced a shaky laugh.
"Edward, don't do this."
"He's just a frightened kid trying to ruin our evening."
She reached for his arm.
But Edward quietly stepped back.
It was the first time in twenty-three years he had ever pulled away from her.
"If there's nothing on that yacht..."
he said calmly,
"...then prove him wrong."
Catherine's breathing became uneven.
"I don't have to prove anything."
Security tightened their grip on Liam.
One guard whispered,
"You're making a terrible mistake, kid."
Liam looked straight at Edward.
"I know exactly where it is."
Edward frowned.
"You do?"
Liam nodded.
"Engine room."
"Behind the emergency battery compartment."
"There isn't much time."
The captain immediately interrupted.
"Sir..."
"Nobody outside the crew even knows that compartment exists."
Edward slowly turned toward him.
"How many people know?"
"Only me..."
"The chief engineer..."
"...and Mrs. Harrison."
The captain's face slowly lost its color.
Edward looked back at Catherine.
She could no longer meet his eyes.
Without another word, Edward pulled out his phone.
"Call the bomb squad."
"No one boards."
Catherine suddenly grabbed his wrist.
"Edward!"
"You can't embarrass me like this in front of everyone!"
He looked at her in disbelief.
"Embarrass you?"
"My concern is whether everyone here stays alive."
She realized she had said the wrong thing.
She released his hand.
Seconds later...
The distant sound of police sirens echoed across the harbor.
Bomb technicians rushed onto the dock.
The guests backed away in panic.
The yacht was immediately evacuated.
Liam remained perfectly still.
One of the technicians looked at him.
"Show us."
Without hesitation, Liam led them aboard.
He stopped outside the engine room.
"Behind that panel."
The technicians carefully removed the metal cover.
For several agonizing seconds...
Nothing happened.
Some guests exchanged relieved smiles.
Then one technician suddenly froze.
"I've got something."
He slowly reached inside.
Hidden behind the batteries...
was a black metal case covered with wires and a digital countdown timer.
04:17
The dock erupted in screams.
Bomb technicians immediately cleared the area.
Edward stumbled backward, unable to breathe.
He looked toward Catherine.
She was already crying.
"No..."
"It wasn't supposed to happen like this."
Edward whispered,
"What have you done?"
Before Catherine could answer...
Liam quietly said,
"She didn't build it."
Everyone turned toward him.
He pointed toward the parking lot.
"She's waiting for the man who did."
At that exact moment...
A black SUV at the far end of the marina roared to life.
Its tires screeched against the pavement as it sped toward the exit.
Liam's face turned pale.
May you like
He whispered only three words.
"He's getting away."
