God, Rachel. The worst was yet to come. He glanced at the ship's fantail, now vacant except for Ian. THe mountainous man stood hunched over, face in his hands, sobbing.

"I'll speak to her," Chase said. He waited until the officer returned to his car. Until he was completely alone. Why had he agreed to do such a thing? Knock on Rachel's door. Tell her he was responsible fo taking away the only parent she had left. Watch the love in her eyes turn to hate. Although he loathed his decision, he chose the coward's way out. He flipped openhis phone and auto-dialed her number.

Rachel's voice came on the line. Confident, captivating. Unaware. "So, don't tell me. Another fool's errand, right? I swear my father will never grow up."

Chase remained silent for an eternal moment and in those seconds, he wished for the strength of Goliath - to rein in his quaking nerves, to give him the courage to spill the words that refused to form.

"Chase?" Concern edged her tone. "Chase, are you there?"

He forced another swallow. "Rachel, listen," he began, a rasp of a voice. Rusted from panic, from guilt. From disbelief. "Something happened. It...it's your dad."