Chapter 10 - The Sinking Truth
The explosion beneath the yacht’s deck was contained, but the fire caught immediately, feeding on the twin-engine fuel tanks. Flames licked greedily up the mahogany hull, casting a fiery orange reflection across the churning black water of the cove. Vance stumbled backward, dropping the detonator as the heat forced him to let go of the stern rail.
"You idiot!" Julian shouted, lowering his gun as he sprinted down the remaining wooden planks of the dock, ignoring the approaching federal agents scrambling down the cliffside. "You destroyed the only leverage you had!"
"It’s not destroyed... it’s insured!" Vance coughed through the thick black smoke, lunging for the life raft tethered to the side of the burning vessel.
Julian didn't hesitate. He holstered his weapon and dove across the gap between the dock and the sinking deck, tackling Vance hard against the railing. The two men crashed onto the wooden planks, grappling furiously amidst the intense heat and rising smoke. Vance struck out blindly, his elbow connecting with Julian’s jaw, but Julian absorbed the blow, using his weight to pin the older man’s arms against the deck.
"Where is the ledger, Vance?" Julian demanded, pressing his forearm against Vance’s windpipe until the security chief choked for air.
"In... in the waterproof compartment... of the life raft," Vance wheezed, his face turning purplish as he clawed helplessly at Julian’s sleeves.
Sirens wailed overhead as federal tactical boats rounded the rocky outcrop of the cove, their blue and red lights flashing frantically against the dark cliffs. Agents in tactical gear scrambled onto the burning yacht, instantly subduing Vance and pulling him away from Julian.
Julian rolled off the deck, gasping for breath as he reached into the partially inflated life raft bobbing beside the hull. His fingers brushed against a heavy, waterproof canvas satchel. He pulled it out, unzipping the heavy-duty seal with trembling fingers. Inside, perfectly preserved despite the smoke and water, lay a stack of yellowed parchment papers bearing his father’s unmistakable signature—along with a certified bank ledger detailing millions of dollars funneled into offshore accounts under Helena Vanderbilt’s name.
As federal agents led Vance away in heavy steel cuffs, one of the lead investigators approached Julian, handing him a clean white towel. "Mr. Vanderbilt? Agent Miller, federal task force. We secured the mansion and detained your mother twenty minutes ago."
Julian wiped the soot from his face, clutching the satchel to his chest like a shield. "Did she say anything?"
"Not a word," Miller replied grimly, shining his flashlight on the documents in Julian’s hands. "Though she did demand a phone call to her Swiss legal team. But Mr. Vanderbilt, there’s something else you need to know about what was found in her private safe at the mansion. It isn't just about corporate fraud."
Julian’s heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?"
May you like
"It’s about Clara," Miller said, lowering his voice as he handed Julian a sealed manila envelope bearing a hospital stamp from thirty years ago. "Your mother didn't just try to keep an unwanted heir out of the family today. She was hiding the truth about who Clara actually is."
---
