Her expression didn’t change.“Go on.”
I took a breath.“We heard this scraping sound first.It sounded like someone dragging a metal chair, or something like that.It was loud enough that we stopped what we were doing.”
“Then we heard a splash,” Ezra added.“A second one, right after the first.”
“And more scraping after that,” I finished.“It wasn’t quiet, and it wasn’t subtle.That’s when we stepped out of the corridor to see what was happening.”
“What did you see?”Hansen asked, her pen hovering over the page.
“Sebastian was already in the pool,” Ezra said.His voice had gone tight.“Face down.He wasn’t moving.”
Hansen nodded slowly, jotting it all down.Her eyes flicked back up to us.“And you’re sure about the order of the sounds?Scraping, splash, splash, then more scraping?”
I didn’t hesitate.“Yes.I’m sure.”
“Positive,” Ezra backed me up.
Her eyes lingered on us for a second longer, like she was trying to read between the lines.Then she nodded again.“Okay.Got it.”Chief Hansen’s eyes stayed locked on me, her expression unreadable but her tone just a little too careful.“You’re sure about the order of the sounds?”she asked again.“Scraping, then a splash, another splash, more scraping?Are you completely certain it wasn’t the other way around?Scraping, scraping, splash, splash?”
I didn’t waver, but I was becoming exasperated.“I’m sure.That’s how it happened.”
Her head tilted slightly.“Stress can play tricks on memory, especially when you’re, uhm, distracted.”Her gaze flicked between me and Ezra.
I exhaled slowly, keeping my voice even.“We weren’t that distracted.I know what I heard.”
Ezra leaned in a little, voice low and steady.“We’re sure.”
She studied us for a second longer, then tried again.“Are you positive?Sometimes?—”
“I’m a special investigator with Garden Cove PD,” Ezra cut in, his voice sharper now.“I’ve worked undercover with an FBI task force.Nora has worked as a consultant for the police department on multiple homicide cases.Trust me, we both know how to recall a scene under stress.We’re sure.”
“Can’t you just look at your CCTV footage?You can verify our statements with your own eyes.”While I hadn’t seen any security cameras, I had little doubt they were there.
Her eyebrows lifted, clearly surprised.The cool, composed look flickered, just for a second.Then she nodded stiffly.Without another word, she turned and strolled back to the captain and the others.Their quiet huddle started up again.
We waited, silent, while they whispered and glanced our way more than once.It felt like forever before they finally broke apart.
Chief Hansen returned to us, her expression more neutral this time.“Thank you both for your patience.You can go back to your cabin now.If we need anything else, I’ll find you.”
“What about the investigation?”Ezra asked, his voice low but pointed.
“Don’t worry, Mr.Holden,” she said.“We’ll do a thorough investigation.And after the doctor examines the body, we’ll determine whether the drowning was an accident or not.But that’s for us to handle, not you.You and Ms.Black should go back to enjoying your vacation.”
“What will happen to Sebastian’s body?”I asked, hoping they had a freezer somewhere that wasn’t in one of the kitchens.
“We’ll be moving it to the morgue,” she said.
I frowned.“I’ve studied the deck plans for Lady Voyager, and I would’ve noticed a room marked as a morgue.”
“It’s on the bottom deck behind the medical center.”Her voice hushed.“It’s not something cruise lines like to advertise.”
“How often do people die on cruises?”Ezra asked with incredulity.
“It’s more common than I’d like to admit.”She pivoted her gaze to the covered body.“This is my fourth since I was hired as the security chief two years ago.”
I blew out a breath.“Yikes.”
Hansen shrugged.“Accidents happen on a floating island, especially when you add alcohol to the mix.”
