Victoria’s confident smirk cracked. Her eyes widened, her chest tightening as she took in the officer’s rank and the two armed federal boarding officers trailing right behind him with tactical clipboards and sidearms.
"Officer... this is a misunderstanding," Victoria stammered, her voice suddenly losing all its previous venom. "I am Victoria Sterling, president of the Bayview Board. This yacht is moored in our residential zone, and under community gala provisions, we have temporary emergency requisition rights—"
"You have zero jurisdiction on navigable federal waterways, Mrs. Sterling," Captain Frederick interrupted with icy precision.
Captain Frederick signaled his team.
"Under Title 46 of the United States Code, unlawful boarding, tampering with marine navigation systems, and seizing a vessel of this class without the owner's written charter constitutes maritime grand theft and piracy under federal maritime law."
The two Coast Guard officers immediately stepped onto the gangway of the Lucky Escape.