“Because it was part of our training perimeter this morning.”
The investigator’s mouth flattened. “And you think what you saw twelve hours ago caused a fire tonight?” He closed his notebook. “Or,…” He adjusted his posture to leave. “You’re both connecting dots that don’t belong together.”
Wyatt stood with restraint and crossed his arms. “That boat burned too fast.”
The investigator gave him a long look. “We’ll review the evidence.”
Great. That’s a dismissal.
The investigator walked off toward the command vehicles, leaving smoke, flashing lights, and the unmistakable feeling that he had already decided the fire was easier to explain as an accident.
Wyatt didn’t move.
Letty lowered her phone. “He doesn’t believe us.”
Wyatt’s eyes tracked the marina. “Doesn’t matter.”
She looked at him. “It does if I’m wrong.”
“You’re not.”
Her brow lifted, watching the dock as the cleanup continued. “You’re certain?”
“I am.” He didn’t explain.I’ve seen fuel spread like that before, not in ballrooms.Wyatt pulled his comm from his vest. “Cal.”
Cal’s voice came through clean and steady. “Go.”
“Get over here.”
Boots approached minutes later as Calder stopped in front of them, sunglasses gone now, eyes sharp. “What’ve you got?”
Wyatt handed him the phone.
“Morning images.” Wyatt paused. “Unknown vessel alongside the Royale. No docking record. Lower deck movement near engine housing.”
Cal studied the screen. “Timing?”
“Within thirty minutes of our training window.”
Cal’s gaze flicked to Letty. “You were photographing the perimeter?”
“Yes, before and after exercise sweep.”
Cal zoomed in further. His expression didn’t change. “Possible.”
“Probable,” Wyatt corrected.
Cal glanced at him. “You’re invested.”
Wyatt’s expression didn’t change as he pivoted toward Letty.
“If this wasn’t an accident,” she said, “then whoever did it knows response patterns. They knew the gala schedule, and they knew how to avoid attention.”
Cal nodded deliberately. “And they don’t know you photographed them.”
Wyatt watched Letty’s reaction and knew she had shared them.
Cal looked at her with eyes narrowing. “Who else has these images?”
