THEY THREW ME OUT—THEN BOARDED MY SHIP

Captain Alvarez held the gold-edged folder open between us as the embarkation hall fell silent. On the first page, beneath the embossed seal of Meridian Crown Voyages, was my full name. ROSE ELAINE MERCER. Managing Partner, Passenger Operations and Compliance. For several seconds, nobody said anything. Not Daniel. Not Lillian. Not the security officer Lillian had been trying to summon.…