Chapter 15 A dream or a memory
By the time Lilac woke up, the sun was high in the sky. She washed and dressed solemnly then called for staff to inform the captain she will be returning to the city. The staff hesitated.
"What is it?" Lilac asked.
"Madam, your husband has given orders to only let you off the ship by sun down," the staff said and Lilac paused. She checked the time. There was still several hours before sun down.
"Where is he?" Lilac asked.
The staff hesitated again, "The family went off board this morning. Your husband left with the chopper. So, you will be leaving by boat," he said and Lilac found it hard to breathe. He left? Then why was she stuck here all night?
Seeing her expression, the staff quickly explained.
"The ship is not too far off land. It would be a short boat right back," he explained. Lilac took a deep breath and nodded.
"Thanks," she said and the staff quickly left.
Lilac took a seat and tried to calm down. But no matter how much she did, she could not. Eric's actions were suspicious to her. She did not believe he did not have ulterior motives for doing this. She had survived last night, but she was not sure if she would survive another. But there was very little she could do. She waited for evening before a staff called her, saying the boat was ready.
On the boat, except the one who captained the boat, there was no one else. As they road towards land, the sky darkened.
Inside the boat, Lilac had a bad feeling. It felt like she had experienced this before but could not put her finger on it. The boat slowly came to a stop, forcing Lilac out of her thoughts. She sat up wondering if they had arrived. Light suddenly flooded the cabin from the cabin window, almost blinding Lilac.
The next second, agents showed up in mass causing Lilac to freeze. She looked outside to find the boat was surrounded.
"Mrs Black, on the ground!" A loud voice commanded. Lilac's head spun. What was happening? Why did this feel like it had happened before? Before she could process what was happening, she was grabbed and pinned down.
"The black family can't escape this one, even if they want to. Search the ship!" Th agent ordered.
"Weapons! We found the weapons!" Lilac heard before she jolted awake in her bed. A dream? A memory? It felt too real.
Her heart pounded in her chest as sweat poured down her back. She looked around to find it was dark outside. She turned around and grabbed for her phone. It was the night of the arrest. Only thirty minutes after she had talked to Eric.
What happened? Had she returned again? Could such a miracle happen twice?
Lilac felt her head pounding in her head as she got up. Whether it was a dream or she had really returned. She could not wait to find out. When she stepped out of her cabin, still dressed in her elaborate gown, she walked around the ship. Looking out side, she found that the guest were all starting to leave.
Lilac could guess that Eric and his family were probably seeing the guests off, so she made her way to the Northern deck. This was a large cruise size ship with several decks and sections for different things. She needed to find out where the boats would be kept.
After making her was my around without success, Lilac stopped a staff.
"Where would the boats be?" She asked and the staff looked confused.
"The guest did not board their boat, they are still docked by the ship, Ma'am," the staff answered.
"No, I meant. Our boats. Where are they kept?" She asked.
"Oh, they are also not on board. They have been used to transport some guests back," the staff said as Lilac nodded before turning around to leave.
The boats were not on board? She tried to recalled the particular boat she had taken, but could not.
Lost, lilac wondered how to escape this plot. Just then, she paused. Yes. She just has to leave with the Black family the next morning. As long as she left with them, she would not be caught in this plot.
She quickly turned to return to her room. Now her worry her gone down a good bit, she realized how dark the sea was at night and fear settled in her heart again. She quickly tried to leave the deck when she heard talking.
She recognized that voice. It was Eric and his brother Harris.
"Didn't we agree to ah e the guest stay the night?" Harris asked, "Suddenly they are all giving excuses of having appointments to catch up to. Do they have to leave as though being pursued?"
"Well, That woman's family sure messed up the party. Government agents arrived. How would they be comfortable staying," Eric said.
"And we are leaving why?" Harris asked, even if the mood has been destroyed, I still am on vacation.
"Micheal has a contact in the ministry we need to meet. Do not worry. It is on a beach some where. You can vecation there," Eric said.
Hearing these words, Lilac lowered into a squat. Ignoring the cold sea air, she folded into a ball. Micheal again. This name unsettled her. He had not been implicated by June's arrest.
"I know we need to rush the deal now before something else goes wrong, but do we have to bother him at suc a time? His wife was arrested at out event, Eric," Harris said.
"I know. Because sh and her family plotted against you and failed," Eric said.
"So this is compensation?" Harris asked.
"Yes. He has taken a a few of our boats on board to bring over lawyers to follow the feds holding his wife while the others are going back to handle the mess this is going to cause when news breaks by morning. I have held back news a few hours, but it will still break eventually. That and all after his wife tried to frame that woman and our family. Friendship needs bounderies. Yes. He owes us." Eric said.
Lilac felt her heart drop. So Michael had the boats. That means he would have a lot of time to rig the boats with illegal weapons. If he is inviting the black family to speed up this deal they keep talking about, then there is a chance he knew Lilac would be on that boat. Or was this a plot for other members of the black family and she just got caught in it? Why? To cut a deal with the feds to let June go?
Lilac refused to believe Micheal Leslie loved her sister that much. Something else must be going on.
"Then what will you do about your wife? She still wants a divorce. Since you don't like, her, you should give it to her," Harris said with a sigh. Lilac could imagine that both men were probably smoking.
"She wants it means she can get it? I will divorce that woman when I am done with her," Eric said.
"I admit she is useful. But don't go too far when using her, Eric. No matter what, she is your wife," Harris said and Lilac heard him walk away.
That woman. Eric was referring to her. Lilac suppressed her shaking hands. She was useful? Why? There is no way she trusted that Eric was using her for something good. She needed to leave. Just when she got up, she heard, someone rush over and announce to Eric.
"Sir, Mr Leslie has returned the boats and says to let you know he has prepared on his end. Your family can leave by morning."
Lilac stiffened. That was Eric's assistant. She could not wait till morning. If she could not leave by boat, she would leave by air.