Chapter 13 - PIER NINE
Vittorio had left the precinct after giving his statement. He told Ruiz over the phone that Celeste had called him too.
“She said she’d return the baby if I came alone,” he said.
“You should have called us,” Ruiz replied.
“I’m calling now.”
By the time police reached Pier Nine, Vittorio had gone inside the storage building.
Dominic waited with Mara in an ambulance parked out of sight. Dr. Chen had approved Mara’s transfer only because medical staff would be on hand if the baby was found. Mara looked exhausted. She refused to leave.
Through a camera carried by an officer, they watched the dark storage room on Ruiz’s tablet.
Vittorio stood in the center. Celeste faced him, holding the baby against her chest. A nurse stood nearby with a medical bag. The child’s soft cry came through the speaker.
“I brought the monitor,” the nurse said. “Please let me check her.”
Celeste shifted the baby closer. “After I get the drive.”
Vittorio raised both hands. “I have it.”
He placed a small black drive on a crate.
“You always did make things worse,” Celeste said.
“I let you use my company. I kept quiet when Mara came to me with questions.” Vittorio’s voice broke. “Give me my granddaughter.”
Celeste stared at him. “You think telling the truth now fixes it?”
“No.”
For a moment, her face changed. She looked tired, almost lost. Then she picked up the drive.
The nurse stepped closer. “Her breathing’s getting harder. I need to check her now.”
Celeste let her look. The nurse listened to the baby’s chest, then looked directly toward the hidden camera.
“We need to go to the hospital,” she said.
Celeste heard the warning in her voice. She grabbed the drive and backed toward the rear door.
Ruiz spoke over the officers’ radios. “Hold positions. Keep the road covered.”
Dominic stood. Mara caught his sleeve.
“Stay where she can see you if she comes out,” Mara said. “She wants you there.”
He looked at her. “I won’t get close unless Ruiz says so.”
“I know.”
Celeste came through the rear door carrying the baby. She stopped when she saw the police cars blocking the road.
Dominic stepped into view, several yards away.
“She’s cold,” he said. “Let the nurse take her.”
Celeste looked at the tiny face beneath the blanket.
“She’ll be all right?” she asked.
“She has a team waiting,” Dominic said. “Please.”
May you like
Celeste took one step toward the nurse.
Then a truck engine roared to life behind the storage building. Its headlights swept across the pier, straight toward them.
