Chapter 1 - THE NUMBER ON THE CERTIFICATE
“Where did you get your supplemental hull bond?”
Derek Langford blinked.
For the first time that evening, his smile faltered.
“What?”
I pointed toward the document protruding from his portfolio.
“The supplemental hull bond. Who issued it?”
He laughed.
“Mallory, sweetheart, you're embarrassing yourself.”
Kendra leaned against him.
“Again.”
I ignored her.
“Who issued it, Derek?”
He pulled the document halfway out.
“Northbridge Maritime Risk.”
My stomach tightened.
Northbridge.
Of course.
I'd spent seven years investigating maritime insurance fraud.
I'd seen forged certificates.
Invented cargo manifests.
Ships that existed on paper but had never entered a harbor.
And I'd seen that registration sequence before.
NBR-4419-C.
It belonged to a vessel that had been declared a total loss eighteen months earlier.
A vessel called the Saint Agnes.
I looked at Derek.
“Do you know what ship that certificate covers?”
He rolled his eyes.
“It's a fleet endorsement.”
“No.”
I kept my voice level.
“It's a single-vessel endorsement.”
Derek's expression hardened.
“Mallory, stop.”
I looked at the document.
“It's attached to a ship that no longer exists.”
Kendra laughed.
“Oh, please.”
I turned toward her.
“Would you like me to explain the difference between a valid fleet policy and a recycled hull certificate?”
Her smile vanished.
Derek grabbed the paper.
“You don't know what you're talking about.”
I looked at him.
Then smiled.
“That's what you said thirteen months ago.”
His face changed.
I stepped back.
“And you were wrong then too.”
Behind him, the twelve-foot oak doors opened.
The ballroom began to fall silent.
May you like
I didn't turn.
I already knew who was coming.
