Chapter 5 - The Frame Job
My heart pounded furiously against my ribs as I stared at the illegal contraband.
Vanessa had intentionally planted a massive amount of drugs in my suite to frame me for trafficking.
If customs found this in my room when we docked in Mexico tomorrow, I would spend the rest of my life in a foreign prison.
I did not touch the bag, knowing my fingerprints would seal my fate.
I immediately picked up my phone and dialed Captain Reynolds' direct extension.
"Captain, I need you back in my suite right now, and please bring a narcotics testing kit," I requested calmly.
Within five minutes, the security team was back in my room.
Captain Reynolds carefully extracted the package using thick latex gloves.
"This is enough cocaine to lock you away for decades, Miss Miller," she noted grimly.
"Check the ship's security cameras for the hallway outside my room prior to my arrival," I suggested.
One of the officers pulled out a tablet and quickly scrubbed through the footage from embarkation day.
The video clearly showed Dad slipping a master keycard to a corrupt porter, who then carried a suspiciously heavy duffel bag into my suite.
"Your own father orchestrated this?" Captain Reynolds asked in absolute disbelief.
"My family has always believed that my life belongs to them," I answered with a bitter laugh.
"They figured if I was in prison, they could seize my assets legally."
The captain ordered her team to confiscate the drugs and process the evidence.
"We are confining your father to the ship's brig until we can hand him over to federal authorities," she promised.
I felt a massive weight lift off my shoulders as the officers left my room.
The toxic anchors dragging me down were finally being cut away.
I dressed in a beautiful evening gown and headed down to the extravagant Captain's Gala.
I was sipping a martini by the ice sculpture when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
May you like
I turned around to find Mom standing there, completely alone and trembling.
"Millie, you have to listen to me, I have something terrible to confess," Mom whispered urgently.
