“I had it added last year,” he said. “I like to carry my own tender boat.”
“What is the weight capacity of the crane?” Rex asked.
“Approximately seventy thousand pounds,” Vaughan said. “Give or take.”
“With a crane like that, you could go into the salvage business and raise cargo from the ocean floor, couldn’t you?” Rex knew he was pushing it.
Vaughan smiled. “I’ve considered it. I’m intrigued by the idea of discovering sunken treasure.”
“Do you scuba dive?” Rex asked. “Would you participate in diving to find the sunken treasure?”
Vaughan shook his head. “Other than a little recreational diving, I’d leave the treasure hunting dives to the experts.”
Rex glanced around the room. “I bet it takes a large crew to run a yacht this size. Do you have your own divers to maintain the hull?”
“Some members of my crew go under to scrape barnacles when necessary. I have the Lolita serviced twice a year to keep the hull clean and the engines in top shape.”
“Have you ever had a diver injured while diving for you?” Rex asked.
The man had a poker face. The only indication that Rex might have struck a nerve was a slight tightening of Vaughan’s jaw.
“Not once,” Vaughan said. “Now we’ve had crew members slip and fall on a wet deck, but no major injuries.”
“Or deaths?” Rex held Vaughan’s gaze.
“Not on this yacht. Not on my watch.” Vaughan cocked his head to one side. “Why do you ask?”
Rex shrugged. “Just curious what it takes to run an operation of this size and the pitfalls. You know, in case I decide to invest in one.”
Vaughan turned to Rex’s father, who stood to the side, his body stiff and his face unreadable to most.
Rex recognized the look. It was the same stony expression he used when he was angry and had to keep it together until he was somewhere he could let it out.
Vaughan held out his hand. “James, I’m glad you made it. It’s been a while since you’ve attended one of my soirées.”
James shook Vaughan’s hand. “Thanks for the invitation.”
Vaughan released James’s hand and faced Rex. “It’s been a pleasure, Rex. I hope to see you again soon.” His gaze swung to the right. “Ah, there’s my Chloe. I’ve neglected her for too long.” He left them standing by the window and crossed the room to the woman in the silver dress.
Rex wanted to go after Vaughan and Holte and ask more questions, but he was on Vaughan’s boat, surrounded by his hired security. Holte hadn’t admitted that he’d lost a container, nor had he confessed to knowing what had been inside it.
Vaughan had the ability to pull a container off the ocean floor, then send out a small boat to protect it until they could retrieve it and send divers to take out Kimo, thus eliminating the last witness to the gruesome truth.
Without concrete evidence, Rex couldn’t out-and-out accuse Vaughan and Holte of murder and attempted murder or of holding Alana hostage.
They still needed that camera for leverage. Not that Rex expected them to release Alana in trade for the camera and what was on it.
Most likely, they’d make sure Alana and Kimo would end up like the people they’d found in the container.
They needed to watch Vaughan and his people, get that camera and be there when they set up the exchange.
Vaughan slipped an arm around his partner, leaned close to her ear and said something that made her glance toward Rex and his father.
She gave a slight nod and walked with him out onto the deck.
“I think that’s my cue to leave,” Rex said quietly.
As he walked toward the door that led out onto the deck, his father followed.
