Page 84 of Beyond Protection
A chill raced through me. "That's her. The woman from Pike Place."
"Same stride," Eamon said. His voice had gone tactical. "Same posture."
Michael materialized beside us. Didn't ask. Merely followed our sightline and moved, Alex following.
The woman lowered her phone.
Looked directly at me.
Then disappeared into the crowd.
My pulse pounded hard. "She saw us looking."
"Yeah." Eamon touched my back. "I'm going after them. Don't move."
He was gone before I could argue.
The boat rocked. The carolers kept singing.
But the air had changed. The warmth had fractured.
Now every dark coat looked wrong. Every phone could be a surveillance tool.
One week left. Until Vanessa's timeline ended.
And she was here. Close enough to photograph us. Close enough to touch.
Eamon came back three minutes later. Too fast.
"Lost her," he said. "She went below. Vanished near the bathrooms."
Michael reappeared. "Crew says no one matching that description on the manifest. She could've lied about everything." His jaw was tight. "I've got Alex sweeping below. Crew's watching for anyone unusual."
"On a Christmas cruise?" Eamon's voice was sharp and cutting. "Everyone's unusual. It's cover noise."
"Which is why she picked it."
I scanned the deck. Too many people. Too many coats.
She could be any of them. Or none.
"Mac." Claire had moved closer. "What's happening?"
Ma was watching too. Miles drifted over to join us.
"Just thought we saw someone," Michael said.
"The stalker." It was a statement from Ma, not a question. "Don't insult my intelligence, Michael Francis. You think I don't know what it looks like when someone's hunting my nephew?"
The word landed like a punch.
No one corrected her.
"We're handling it," Eamon said softly. "We're aware, we're watching."
Ma looked at him. "You're a terrible liar."
"I'm aware."
