Chapter 9 - THE CHILD IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
"Don't you touch my son," Naomi said.
Ward slid the phone into his pocket. "Then be sensible. Sign your statement and this unpleasantness ends."
He placed a paper on a shelf. It said Mara had stumbled during a verbal argument and that Naomi's memory of the incident had been distorted by panic.
"You want me to lie."
"I want you to protect your family."
Ortega stepped between them. "The photograph proves somebody is watching her home. That's intimidation, Captain."
Ward's smile disappeared. "I don't recall asking you to interpret my conduct."
Naomi took the pen. She signed only one sentence: I refuse to make a false statement. Underneath, she wrote the time and date.
Ward snatched the page. "You're making a mistake."
"Maybe," she said. "But my kid deserves a mother who can look him in the eye."
Ward stormed out. The door locked behind him.
Ortega examined the windowless room, then held out his wristwatch. "We may not get another chance. I'll testify that he showed you that photo."
Naomi nodded. The yellow wall behind Eli was her sister's house, three hours inland. He wasn't alone at home. He was spending the weekend there.
Ward's people had found the address, but they'd misunderstood what they were seeing. Naomi could warn her sister once they made landfall.
"All officers report to the bridge. Incoming command traffic."
Ortega looked up. "Maybe Rowan finally reached them."
In the bridge, Ward read a sealed instruction bearing Admiral Rowan's authorization. It ordered the Resolute into port, prohibited destruction of records, and directed its commanding officer to surrender command pending investigation.
May you like
His face went white.
Then he called the engine room and said, "Change course. We're not going to port."
