The terraced decks at the rear came into view first. Everything that had been on them appeared to have been swept away. The only exception was a lounge chair entangled in a rope, whichhung over the edge of the upper deck, like it was caught in the act of escape.
The radar and antennas perched on the top of the yacht had survived mostly intact. Bruce continued on until it reached the bow, where Sam stopped it again.
“Anyone see anything of interest?” Josie asked.
“I didn’t,” Stone said.
“Me, either,” Dino agreed.
“Same,” Commander Choi said. “Can we get a look into the bridge?”
“Sam?” Josie asked.
“Piece of cake,” Sam said.
She moved Bruce to one of the large windows looking into the bridge. Stone thought the room was empty until he caught sight of something moving at the edge of the screen.
“Can you go farther to port?” he asked.
Sam nodded and guided Bruce to the new position.
“How close to the window can you get?” Stone asked.
“I can touch it if you want,” Sam said.
“As close as you can get without doing that should be fine.”
Again, the ROV moved.
As it neared, a leg came into view, followed by the rest of a male body.
“He’s wearing a uniform,” Dino said.
Stone nodded. “I think that’s the captain.”
“What’s that on his forehead?” Dino asked.
Both he and Stone leaned forward as if that would bring clarity.
“I can zoom in, if you want,” Sam said.
“Please,” Stone said.
“The body’s been in the water for a while,” Josie said. “Idoubt the face will be recog—” Josie’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God. Is that…?”
“A bullet hole?” Stone said. “That’s what it looks like to me.”
In the center of the captain’s forehead was the unmistakable entry wound of a gunshot.
“Commander Choi,” Dino said. “I think your accident has just turned into a crime scene.”
“Well, shit,” Choi muttered, then seemed to realize what she’d said. “I think you’re right, Commissioner.”
For the next twenty minutes, they looked through other windows but found nothing that would help explain what had happened on the bridge, nor did they see any other bodies.
“Let’s look at the hull,” Josie said.
It only took a few minutes before Sam said, “I think we found the reason why theAmanda Jaesank.”
