Westhaven came into view under a clear morning sky. Ada was at the bridge when Ellis confirmed the arrival window. The false answer Ada and Leonie had signed was traveling by road in Cal's coat; Nia's three envelopes were in her bag.
The shore contact answered Ada's final approach call. A staff member could meet Nia privately, and staff knew Cal had left at Moss Point and might arrive by road. Ada had no later location for him.
The attendant found Nia near the lounge entrance and offered to bring her to a quieter exit after the main group. Nia asked whether she had to wait until everyone was gone. Ada, who had come down after the bridge was covered, heard the question herself.
“No,” Ada said. “There is a staff member inside the terminal. We can walk with you now, or you can wait here until the crowd thins.”
“Now. I don't want to spend another hour watching doors.”
Leonie stood several feet behind her. Nia looked back. “You can come to the terminal. I want to speak to the shore person alone.”
“All right,” Leonie said.
Ada stayed alongside Nia as far as the terminal entrance. Passengers flowed around them with cases and coats, asking about buses and breakfast. Nia carried her own bag. She stopped once when a man in a dark jacket came toward the doors, and Ada saw her hand tighten on the strap. The man turned to greet someone else. Nia let the strap go. Ada did not name the reaction for her.
Inside, a woman from the shore team introduced herself to Nia and offered a small room off the public hall. Nia could speak there without Ada or Leonie and leave when she wished. Nia asked whether Cal had arrived. The woman said he had not been seen at the terminal. Nia nodded and went with her. Ada watched the door close without following.
Leonie reached the hall a minute later. “Did she go in?”
“Yes. She asked to speak alone.”
“Inez is waiting for Miriam's answer.”
“Give it to Nia when it comes.”
Leonie asked where she could give her account of Cal's call from shore. Ada directed her to the staff member in the hall, then returned to the ship to finish her current-voyage report. The operator's duty contact rang as she put down the pen.
Cal had complained about Ada's handling of the voyage and referred to a 2018 written answer bearing her signature. The contact asked whether Ada had a copy.
“Cal has the one we gave him,” Ada said. “I will provide my account of it separately. The current-voyage report is ready now.”
“Is the old account connected to the present complaint?”
Ada looked at the two pages in front of her. She could have said it was a different journey. “It is connected to the people involved,” she said. “It was false. I signed it knowing that. I will give you a full written correction.”
The contact asked Ada to preserve the notes and expect a follow-up before her next sailing. Ada agreed. The complete written correction was still due.
When she went back into the terminal, Nia was coming out of the private room. The shore woman walked a few steps behind and stopped where Nia could turn back if she wanted. Nia spotted Ada and gave a small nod. Then she continued toward the public doors. Ada saw Leonie waiting near the wall, making no move until Nia looked her way.