Chapter 9 - THE BOAT
Arthur woke to cold water spraying across his face.
His wrists were tied.
The city lights were far behind them.
Daniel stood at the wheel.
“Morning, sunshine.”
Arthur tasted blood.
“How long?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“Where are we going?”
“Far enough.”
Arthur tested the ropes.
Tight.
Daniel glanced back.
“Don’t bother.”
“You let Noah go.”
“I’m not a monster.”
Arthur laughed painfully.
“You tried to kill me.”
“That was business.”
“You kidnapped a child.”
“That was leverage.”
“You shot at Maria.”
Daniel’s expression shifted.
Arthur saw it.
“You did shoot at her.”
“She should’ve minded her own business.”
“She found papers in a backpack.”
“She kept digging.”
“So you tried to put a bullet in her head?”
Daniel looked away.
Arthur realized something.
“You’re scared of her.”
Daniel laughed.
“Of a nanny?”
“She knows something.”
No answer.
Arthur leaned forward.
“What does Maria know?”
Daniel increased the throttle.
Arthur smiled despite the pain.
“There it is.”
“Shut up.”
“The USB wasn’t the only evidence.”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
Arthur had guessed.
But Daniel’s reaction told him enough.
“You don’t know, do you?”
Daniel walked toward him.
“What evidence?”
Arthur stared into his eyes.
“Untie me.”
Daniel punched him across the jaw.
“What evidence?”
Arthur spat blood onto the deck.
“You’re losing control.”
Daniel grabbed his shirt.
“What did she find?”
A light flashed in the distance.
Daniel looked back.
Another boat.
Fast.
Coming toward them.
Police?
Coast Guard?
Daniel cursed and grabbed the wheel.
Arthur started working the rope against a sharp metal edge under the seat.
Behind them, the second boat gained speed.
Daniel opened a storage compartment and pulled out another gun.
“Bad night for visitors.”
Arthur sawed harder.
The rope began to fray.
The pursuing boat got closer.
Then a voice blasted over a speaker.
“Daniel Price! Cut your engine!”
Detective Warren.
Daniel fired.
Warren’s boat swerved.
Arthur pulled.
The rope snapped.
He kept his hands behind his back.
Daniel hadn’t noticed.
Daniel fired again.
Arthur stood.
Three steps.
Then he tackled him.
The gun went overboard.
Daniel slammed Arthur into the railing.
Arthur hit him back.
The boat veered wildly.
“Cut the engine!” Warren shouted.
Daniel reached for a flare gun.
Arthur grabbed his arm.
They struggled.
The flare fired into the cabin.
Flames erupted.
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“Damn it!”
Smoke poured out.
Arthur grabbed the wheel.
Daniel punched him.
The boat struck something.
A brutal impact threw both men sideways.
Arthur crashed through the railing.
Cold black water swallowed him.
He surfaced, gasping.
The boat burned twenty yards away.
“Daniel!”
No answer.
Warren’s boat arrived.
A life ring hit the water.
Arthur grabbed it.
“Where’s Price?” Warren shouted.
“I don’t know!”
They searched the burning wreckage.
Nothing.
No Daniel.
No body.
Arthur climbed aboard Warren’s boat.
His whole body shook.
“My son?”
“Safe.”
“Maria?”
“Safe.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Then Warren’s phone rang.
His expression changed as he listened.
“What?”
Arthur watched him.
Warren slowly lowered the phone.
“That was the hospital.”
Arthur’s stomach tightened.
“Elena?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Warren looked at him.
“Maria.”
Arthur stood.
“You said she was safe.”
“She was.”
“What happened?”
Warren’s face hardened.
“Someone got into her hospital room.”
Arthur’s blood ran cold.
“And?”
May you like
Warren hesitated.
“She’s missing.”
