Chapter 13 - The Abyssal Tide
The splintered floorboards of the boathouse groaned and gave way under Eleanor’s weight like brittle crackers. With a sharp, piercing shriek that was instantly swallowed by the roar of the ocean wind, Eleanor plunged backward through the gaping hole into the dark, churning abyss of the Pacific tide below.
A loud splash echoed from the rocks beneath the structure, followed instantly by the violent crashing of white-capped waves against the jagged stone pillars.
"Eleanor!" Detective Miller shouted, rushing forward to the edge of the broken floorboards. He peered down into the swirling gray waters.
Below, the freezing ocean current was aggressively pulling debris and foam away from the coastline. There was no sign of Eleanor—only her dark black skirt billowing on the surface for a split second before being dragged under by a violent undercurrent slamming against the rocks.
Detective Miller pulled out his shoulder radio, his breathing heavy. "Coast Guard, this is Detective Miller. We have a suspect fallen into the water off the old coastal cliffs near Sector Four. Strong rip currents. Send a rescue chopper immediately."
He clicked the radio off, turning back to look at Arthur. The older man sat silently in his wheelchair, staring down at the dark hole in the floorboards where his wife had vanished. The vengeance that had driven him across the rugged terrain had completely evaporated, replaced by a heavy, hollow stillness.
"She's gone, Mr. Vance," Detective Miller said softly, walking over to place a reassuring hand on Arthur’s shoulder. "The current out there is lethal. Even if she managed to surface, nobody survives those rocks in this weather."
Arthur slowly nodded, his eyes fixed on the canvas duffel bag of stolen money resting on the wooden table. "She spent her entire life chasing ghosts and gold, Detective. And in the end, that's all she became."
"We'll need to secure the assets and file the final incident report back at the precinct," Miller noted, checking his watch. "Officer Davis has already confiscated her laptop and the offshore transfer files. Every cent she stole from your company will be fully recovered and returned to your accounts."
Arthur took a deep, shuddering breath of the salty air, feeling the profound weight of the nightmare finally lifting from his chest. "Let's go home, Detective. I have a little girl waiting for me who needs her father."
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As the distant sound of the Coast Guard rescue helicopter began to echo over the crashing waves, Detective Miller wheeled Arthur backward out of the ruined boathouse and toward the waiting SUV.
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