Chapter 7 - MIDNIGHT AT PIER NINE
Arthur couldn’t breathe.
Detective Warren took the phone.
“Don’t respond.”
“That’s my son.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Warren looked him straight in the eye.
“You go alone, you may never see him again.”
Arthur wanted to punch something.
Instead he stared at the photograph.
Noah’s head rested against the car door.
No blood.
No visible injury.
Arthur zoomed in.
“He’s breathing.”
“How can you tell?”
“His chest.”
Warren nodded.
“Good.”
Arthur typed a reply.
I HAVE THE USB.
Warren stopped him.
“Add nothing else.”
Arthur sent it.
Three dots appeared.
PIER NINE. 12:00. NO POLICE.
Arthur looked at the clock.
11:17 P.M.
Forty-three minutes.
Behind them, firefighters brought Elena out of the building.
She was coughing, covered in soot, but alive.
Arthur stormed toward her.
“Where did Daniel take Noah?”
Elena looked confused.
“What?”
“Don’t.”
“Arthur, I swear—”
“WHERE DID HE TAKE MY SON?”
“I don’t know!”
“You helped him!”
“Yes!” she screamed.
Everyone nearby turned.
Elena started crying.
“Yes, I helped him steal money. Yes, I slept with him. Yes, I signed things I shouldn’t have signed. I thought we were leaving together!”
Arthur stared at her with pure disgust.
“You discussed killing me.”
Her mouth opened.
“I never agreed to it.”
“You didn’t go to the police either.”
“I thought Daniel was bluffing.”
“He shot at Maria.”
Elena covered her mouth.
Arthur leaned closer.
“And now he has Noah.”
Elena shook her head frantically.
“I never wanted Noah hurt.”
“You put our six-year-old in the middle of a financial crime.”
“I was desperate.”
“No.”
Arthur’s voice became quiet.
“You were greedy.”
That hurt her more.
She looked away.
Then suddenly she said, “Pier Nine.”
Arthur stopped.
“What?”
“Daniel has a storage warehouse near Pier Nine.”
Warren stepped closer.
“Address?”
Elena gave it.
Police teams moved.
Arthur followed.
Warren grabbed his arm.
“You are not walking into that warehouse.”
“I’m the person Daniel wants.”
“Which makes you useful outside.”
Arthur pulled away.
“My son is inside.”
At 11:56, Arthur stood near Pier Nine with a concealed wire under his shirt.
Police tactical units waited three blocks away.
The USB sat in his jacket pocket.
Warren’s voice came through the tiny earpiece.
“Keep him talking.”
Arthur approached the warehouse.
Door open.
One light inside.
“Noah?”
No answer.
He walked deeper.
A figure stepped from behind a shipping container.
Daniel.
Gun in hand.
Arthur stopped.
Daniel looked tired.
Not crazy.
That somehow made it worse.
“USB.”
“Where’s Noah?”
“USB first.”
“Son first.”
Daniel smiled.
“You always were stubborn.”
“You always were a thief.”
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
“You think you built Vance Development alone?”
“I trusted you.”
“You owned everything.”
“I gave you equity.”
“Seven percent.”
“You agreed to it.”
“I made you rich, Arthur.”
“And that wasn’t enough.”
Daniel raised the gun.
“USB.”
Arthur slowly reached into his pocket.
Then a faint sound came from behind Daniel.
“Dad?”
Arthur’s heart jumped.
Noah was tied to a chair.
Awake.
Terrified.
“I’m here, buddy.”
Daniel pressed the gun against Arthur’s chest.
“Give it to me.”
Arthur handed him the drive.
Daniel examined it.
Then smiled.
“Good.”
Arthur waited.
“Now let my son go.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That was never the deal.”
Arthur’s stomach dropped.
Daniel reached into his pocket and held up a set of car keys.
“We’re taking a little trip.”
“Where?”
“The marina.”
Arthur stared at him.
Daniel smiled.
May you like
“My boat leaves in twenty minutes.”
Then Arthur’s earpiece went silent.
