Chapter 8 - The Woman Who Packed the Bat
Gregory’s phone suddenly rang.
The screen showed his mother’s name.
He answered on speaker.
“Mom?”
Margaret Mercer’s voice came through in a whisper.
“You need to listen carefully.”
“Did you know Dad was alive?”
“Yes.”
Gregory closed his eyes.
“How long?”
“From the beginning.”
“You let me stand at his funeral.”
“It protected you.”
“No. It protected him.”
Margaret began crying.
Ashlynn did not trust the sound.
“Why did you pack the bat?” Gregory asked.
Silence.
Then Margaret said, “William told me Ashlynn planned to kill you.”
“You knew about her military file.”
“I knew she was trained.”
“You wanted me to attack a trained Marine?”
“I wanted you frightened enough to make her reveal herself.”
Ashlynn understood.
The attack had been a test.
If Ashlynn fought like a civilian, William could dismiss her.
If she used military techniques, he would confirm her identity and justify taking her.
Gregory’s face twisted.
“You used me as bait.”
Margaret’s voice hardened.
“You were always too emotional. Your father needed proof.”
“Where are you?”
“On the ship.”
Ashlynn moved closer to the phone.
“Where?”
Margaret recognized her voice.
“Ashlynn.”
“Which cabin?”
“I can help you.”
“Start with the cabin.”
“Deck Twelve. Private dining suite.”
Gregory looked at the jammed door.
“We can’t reach you.”
“There is a service passage behind your wardrobe.”
Ashlynn crossed the room and opened the wardrobe.
The back panel appeared solid.
Margaret explained how to release the hidden latch.
Gregory stared at the concealed passage.
“How do you know the ship has that?”
“Mercer Maritime redesigned several security areas.”
“You own part of this cruise line?”
“Through another company.”
Ashlynn removed the bat from the door.
Gregory braced himself.
They pulled the wardrobe panel open.
A narrow maintenance corridor appeared.
Before entering, Ashlynn asked Margaret one final question.
“Why help us now?”
Margaret’s breathing changed.
“Because William promised Gregory would be spared.”
Gregory said, “And?”
“And I just learned the lifeboat assigned to your cabin has been disabled.”
The cabin door burst inward.
The guard entered.
Ashlynn swung the bat into the wall beside his head—not striking him, but forcing him to recoil.
Gregory shoved the wardrobe aside.
They entered the passage and pulled the panel closed behind them.
As they moved through darkness, Gregory whispered:
“She still helped him fake his death.”
“Yes.”
“She let him turn me into this.”
Ashlynn stopped.
“No one forced you to swing that bat.”
Gregory lowered his eyes.
May you like
“I know.”
👉 Gregory was beginning to face what he had done—but Ashlynn still had no reason to trust him when survival required it most.
