THE COST OF BEING RICH
Chapter Sixteen
"She’s not on the starboard side,
either," Lovejoy told me.
I was angry at myself for letting Rose’s
words get to me. I was determined to be a businessman and act formally from
then on. Besides, something like this would never have happened to someone like
my father. "We’re running out of time, and I myself cannot get on a
lifeboat."
"The one on the other side is letting
the men in."
"Then that’s our play. But we’re still
going to need some insurance. Come on."
*****
I get to my safe and take out stacks of bills
and the Heart of the Ocean. I know what money can do to people. I close the
safe, satisfied. "I make my own luck."
I watched as Lovejoy puts a gun in his
waistband. "So do I."
*****
I saw Murdoch turn from the davit of boat 15
and start walking toward the bow. I approached him calmly. "Mr. Murdoch,
I’m a businessman, as you know, and I have a business proposition for
you."
I transferred the money from my coat to his.
My hand was completely numb, and I couldn’t believe that it wasn’t even
trembling. "So we have an understanding then?"
I watched, contented, as he nodded.
As I stepped back, Lovejoy came running up to
me. "I’ve found her. She’s over on the port side. With him."
On the other side of me I heard Murdoch.
"Women and children? Anymore women and children?" He looked straight
at me. "Anyone else, then?"
Life was offered to me. I had a choice to
make. And I chose to find my love. Surely now you see that I am not the evil
villain. My body, my soul, everything loved her until I ached. Everything I
did, I did for Rose.