Chapter 2 - The Dockside Welcoming Party
The forty-minute cruise back to Newport was marked by a silence so complete that the only audible sounds were the roar of the wake and the distant crying of gulls.
Grant’s entourage had scattered to the far corners of the upper deck like startled mice. The women who had spent the afternoon taking selfies in silk headscarves were suddenly whispering behind oversized sunglasses, murmuring about calling private car services the second the vessel touched shore. Sadie Monroe had ended her livestream five minutes after Evelyn’s revelation, her phone clutched against her chest while she stared out at the water, terrified of being named in a civil suit.
Grant sat alone on a white leather sofa near the salon doors, staring at his boat shoes. His expensive linen shirt felt damp and clingy in the salt air. Every few minutes, he would open his banking app, stare at his operating balances, and then lock the screen with an aggressive snap.
Up at the helm station, Celeste stood beside Captain Mercer. She had changed into a clean navy crew fleece and pulled her damp hair back into a sleek, professional ponytail.
""Harbor Master has cleared Slip 4,"" Captain Mercer said over the hum of the navigation consoles. ""Port authority is standing by, along with private security from the marina office. Do you want them removed immediately upon tie-up?""
""Yes,"" Celeste said, her gaze fixed on the Newport bridge rising in the hazy distance. ""And notify our legal counsel, Thomas Vance. Tell him I want a formal notice of breach served to Halvorson’s attorney before the sun goes down.""
Noah stepped into the wheelhouse, carrying a sealed plastic evidence bag containing the ruined white polo shirt and the crumpled hundred-dollar bill.
""We have the high-definition security footage from the stern and the bar camera, Ms. Reed,"" Noah said, his voice laced with quiet admiration. ""Everything is time-stamped. Every drop.""
""Back it up to three hard drives, Noah,"" Celeste said, offering the young man a faint, genuine smile. ""And keep Sadie Monroe’s social handles archived. I suspect our friend Grant won’t be able to scrub the internet as quickly as he thinks.""
At five fifteen, the ninety-eight-foot yacht glided smoothly into the Newport Marina basin.
As Seraphina backed into her slip with the precision of a surgical strike, Grant stepped out onto the boarding gangway, eager to disappear into the crowd of tourists and yacht owners on the boardwalk. But as the heavy lines were secured to the cleats, Grant froze.
Standing on the wooden dock, waiting directly at the bottom of the ramp, were four men in crisp charcoal suits, accompanied by two Newport municipal police officers.
""Mr. Halvorson?"" the lead attorney asked, stepping forward with a thick legal folder tucked under his arm.
""What is this?"" Grant yelled, his voice cracking with exasperation as his friends peeked out from the aft deck behind him. ""Are you out of your mind? You called the cops over a spilled drink?""
""I am Thomas Vance, general counsel for Blue Meridian Holdings,"" the lawyer said calmly. ""These officers are here to ensure that you and your guests vacate this vessel immediately without incident. Furthermore, I am personally serving you with notice of immediate contract termination under Clause Sixteen, alongside a formal trespass warning barring you from all properties owned by Bayview Marina.""
Grant looked wildly around the pier. Dozens of marina patrons, wealthy boat owners, and weekend tourists were stopping to watch. Cameras were already pointing in his direction.
""You can't do this!"" Grant hissed, his voice dropping as he tried to preserve whatever dignity remained. ""I have personal belongings in the master stateroom!""
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""Your luggage has already been packed by licensed crew members and placed under seal on the dock cart behind you,"" Vance replied smoothly. ""You have five minutes to step onto the pier, Mr. Halvorson. If you refuse, Officer Davis will take you into custody for criminal trespass and assault.""
Officer Davis rested a hand on his utility belt and nodded toward the concrete walkway. ""Down the ramp, sir. Right now.""
