CHAPTER 6 — The Desperate Man
CHAPTER 6 — The Desperate Man
The transformation happened almost instantly.
The polished investment adviser disappeared.
The charming husband vanished.
Standing before us was a cornered man.
He looked toward the staircase.
Then toward the stern.
Then toward the dark ocean.
Calculating.
Always calculating.
Judge Collins noticed.
"Preston..."
"Don't."
Preston slowly backed away from the table.
"No one needs to make this worse."
Grant stepped forward.
"Tell us the truth."
"There isn't time."
"There is now."
Preston laughed.
"There really isn't."
Then he moved.
Fast.
He grabbed the nearest dining chair and hurled it across the deck.
The heavy teak chair crashed into a waiter, sending crystal glasses exploding across the floor.
People screamed.
Before anyone understood what was happening, Preston sprinted toward the bridge.
"The radios!" the captain shouted.
"Stop him!"
Howard lunged first.
Preston slammed him into the railing.
Howard collapsed.
Grant tried next.
Years younger and stronger than anyone expected, Preston drove his shoulder into Grant's chest.
Grant fell backward across the dining table.
China shattered.
Lanterns crashed onto the deck.
The elegant dinner dissolved into chaos.
Mallory screamed.
"Preston, stop!"
He ignored her.
He reached the bridge in seconds.
The captain attempted to block the doorway.
Preston struck him hard enough to knock him aside.
Then he disappeared inside.
A heartbeat later—
The engines roared.
Much louder than before.
The yacht lurched violently.
Guests lost their footing.
Someone fell against the rail.
Another wine bottle smashed across the deck.
"He increased speed!" the first mate yelled.
"He's trying to outrun someone!"
I grabbed the railing.
"No."
I whispered.
"He's trying to reach international waters."
Judge Collins stared at me.
"Can he?"
"Not before dawn."
"But he'll try."
The radio inside the bridge crackled.
Preston's voice came through the external speakers.
Calm again.
Cold again.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"I'm afraid tonight's dinner has ended early."
Another burst of static.
"If Rebecca hadn't interfered..."
"...none of this would've been necessary."
The yacht surged forward.
Spray exploded against the bow.
Far behind us—
A white light appeared on the horizon.
Then another.
Then a third.
Growing larger every second.
The first mate lifted a pair of binoculars.
His face changed instantly.
"Oh my God..."
Judge Collins grabbed them.
"What is it?"
He focused on the distant lights.
Then lowered the binoculars slowly.
"They're not Coast Guard."
Everyone looked at him.
His voice was barely audible.
"They're multiple federal vessels."
"And they're coming fast."
Inside the bridge, Preston saw the lights too.
For the first time that night...
He realized there was no escape.
Not by sea.
Not by lies.
Not by charm.
The trap he had spent months building for his wife had quietly become the trap waiting for him.
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And the people closing in...
Already knew every move he was about to make.
