PART 13: The Reunion
The officers brought the yacht back to the quay and secured it to the bollards. I stood there trembling, arms outstretched, as one of the officers walked down the gangway and gently handed the pink bundle over to me. I pressed my daughter against my chest as if I would never let her go again. Her tiny hand, warm and soft, immediately grasped my finger, exactly as she always did when she was scared.
I burst into sobs, but this time they were tears of pure release and boundless relief. "Mama's here," I whispered over and over against her warm cheek, kissing her little head. Mr. Van Dijk stood beside me, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye with a handkerchief, smiling through his emotion. Lisa stood a few meters away, accompanied by an officer who looked at her gratefully for her crucial role in solving the case.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Kramer was led away in handcuffs, her face rigid with rage and defeat, glancing back at us in one last defiant spasm. "You'll never have to worry about your job or the rent again," Mr. Van Dijk said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Starting tomorrow, we'll build a fresh start together." I nodded, too emotional for words, and gazed into the bright eyes of my little girl, who was finally safe. But just when we thought the nightmare was over, a detective slowly walked toward us carrying a sealed plastic bag containing an item he had just found in the yacht's cabin.
