"This authority has heard the evidence," the chair said. "It has heard the logbook, kept for forty years, which shows that the repairs paid for through Alpen Trade never took place. It has heard the bank records, which show that the money paid to Alpen Trade flowed to the private account of Landon Haversham, and in smaller sums to Xavier Wexford. It has heard the power of attorney, which covers medical decisions only, and the partnership agreement, which requires the signatures of both founders for any sale of the fleet. It has heard Fenella Waverly, who was deceived into buying two boats that were never lawfully for sale. It has heard Yvonne Haversham, who heard her husband say, the night before the cruise, that his mother had to go. It has heard Kieran, who saw Landon Haversham push his mother from the deck of the Danube Empress into the river. And it has heard Landon Haversham himself, who produced a letter in his mother's handwriting, dated the day after her reported death."
The chair paused, and looked at Landon, and at Xavier. "On the basis of this evidence, this authority finds that there is cause to refer this matter to the police, and that Landon Haversham and Xavier Wexford should be taken into custody at once, on suspicion of fraud, theft, forgery, and attempted murder."
For a moment, nothing happened. Landon sat staring at the chair, his face blank, as if he had not understood the words, and Xavier sat beside him, his hands gripping the table, his mouth open. Then the door at the back of the room opened, and Detective Octavia came in, and behind her came two officers in uniform, and they walked down the aisle between the chairs, and the whole room turned to watch them, and I felt Wesley's hand close around mine, tight and warm.
Detective Octavia stopped before the table, and she looked at Landon, and her voice was calm and professional. "Landon Haversham," she said, "you are under arrest on suspicion of fraud, theft, forgery, and the attempted murder of Theodora Haversham. You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be used in evidence against you." She turned to Xavier. "Xavier Wexford, you are under arrest on suspicion of fraud, theft, and forgery. You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be used in evidence against you."
Landon stood, and his chair fell backward, and he looked at me, and his eyes were wide, and for a moment I saw the boy again, the boy on the deck of our first boat, and I felt my heart break all over again. "Mother," he said, "Mother, please. I did not mean— I did not—"
I stood, and I looked at him, and I spoke, and my voice was steady, though my hands were shaking. "Landon," I said, "I gave you my name, and my company, and my trust, and you took them all, and you tried to take my life as well. I have loved you since the day you were born, and I will love you until the day I die, but I will not lie for you, and I will not save you from what you have done. Go with them. Tell the truth, at last, and perhaps, one day, you will find your way back to the man you were meant to be."
The officers took Landon's arms, gently, and they took Xavier's arms, and they led them both down the aisle, and the room was silent, and people stood aside to let them pass, and Yvonne sat with her head bowed, and Wesley sat beside her, his arm around her shoulders, and Fenella sat very still, her hands folded, and Gwendolen wept quietly into her handkerchief, and Zane sat with his eyes closed, and Rhys sat with his head in his hands, and Kieran stood at the back of the room, watching, his face grave and kind, and I stood at the table, watching my son walk away between two officers, and I did not turn away.
At the door, Landon stopped, and he looked back at me, and he said, very quietly, "I am sorry, Mother." And I nodded, because I did not know what else to do, and the officers led him out, and the door closed behind them, and the room exhaled, all at once.
The hearing chair stood, and spoke to the room. "This hearing is adjourned," the chair said. "The evidence will be preserved, and the matter will proceed through the proper channels. Mrs. Haversham, this authority thanks you for your courage, and for the thoroughness of your evidence." The room rose, and people began to move, and to speak, in low voices, and Wesley came to me, and he put his arms around me, and I held him, and I felt the strength of him, and the warmth, and I knew that the company would live, and that the boats would sail again.
Outside the tall windows, the Danube moved on, grey and gold in the late afternoon light, and a boat sounded its horn, low and distant, and I thought of Nelson, and of the promise we had made, sixty years ago, on the deck at Passau, that the river would always come first, and I knew that the promise had held.
Chapter 37
— The Chairman Resigns
The morning after the hearing, Vienna woke to grey light and a river the colour of hammered pewter. I stood at the window of my office on the top floor of the Haversham Danube Line building and watched the Danube Empress at her mooring, her white paint bright against the dull water, her flags hanging limp in the still air.