Chapter 7 - The Unseen Lens
The Coast Guard cutter escorted the Sea Star back to the private dock at San Diego Harbor, where three ambulances and a fleet of police cruisers waited with flashing red lights. News helicopters hovered overhead, shining bright white spotlights down on the pier.
As paramedics carefully moved Michael onto a stretcher, Rafael tapped the Coast Guard chief inspector on the shoulder. "Officer, before you take Mr. Vance to the hospital, you need to look at this."
Rafael pointed up to the roof of his boat's wheelhouse. "What is that?" the inspector asked.
"An automated marine navigation camera," Rafael explained. "I installed it two years ago for insurance protection. It records continuous high-definition video with integrated atomic time stamps and GPS coordinates."
The inspector quickly pulled a rugged tablet from his vest and plugged in the Sea Star's memory card. In the back of the mobile command vehicle, Michael, Mateo, and the lead investigators gathered around the screen.
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The video playback was crystal clear. The camera's low-light lens had captured the stern balcony of the Titan's Horizon framed against the sunset. The recording clearly showed Julianna walking up behind Michael, shoving him with both hands, and Michael catching the rail. It showed Julianna pulling the black pistol from her silver evening bag and pointing it at his head. It captured Michael raising his hands in surrender, climbing over the guardrail, and jumping into the ocean, followed by Julianna staring down at the water before calmly walking back inside.
"This isn't just an attempted murder investigation," the inspector said, turning to Mateo with deep respect. "This is an ironclad conviction. Young man, your stubbornness saved this man's life."
