Chapter 9 - The Price of Knowing
At the motel, Emily sat beside Mrs. Alvarez, drawing a house.
Four windows.
A red door.
Three people on the sidewalk.
She covered the third person when Sarah entered.
“Is Daddy coming?”
Sarah sat beside her.
“We found out he’s alive.”
Emily’s eyes widened.
Then her face changed.
“Does he know about me?”
Sarah didn’t answer fast enough.
Emily looked down.
“He would’ve come if he knew.”
Sarah gathered her close.
“I think so, baby.”
In the next room, Brooks spread maps across the bed.
Pier Nine had been sold years earlier.
The public owner was a storage company.
Its manager connected to a firm Carlo used for equipment purchases.
Luca pointed to a warehouse north of the pier.
“There’s an upstairs office. No windows facing the street.”
Brooks called for surveillance.
Vincent offered men.
She refused.
“You don’t get to run this.”
“Daniel could die while you file paperwork.”
“And he could die because you walk into a trap with six armed friends.”
Vincent looked at the map.
Then stepped back.
Nora placed a stack of forms beside him.
“These permit us to request the accounts you control.”
He signed.
“Your lawyer needs to explain the exposure.”
“I’ve spoken to him.”
Nora studied him.
“This could cost you your business.”
Vincent glanced toward Emily’s room.
“It already cost someone eight years.”
Sarah stood in the doorway.
She had heard.
It didn’t soften what she felt.
But for the first time, he seemed to understand the size of it.
Marco entered carrying food.
His phone rang.
His sister.
He answered, listened, and went pale.
“What?”
The motel office door had been forced open.
A man claiming to be Emily’s uncle had demanded the room number.
Marco’s sister had refused.
Now the security camera was showing two cars circling the lot.
Brooks moved immediately.
“Everyone away from the windows.”
Sarah went for Emily.
The girl wasn’t on the bed.
Her drawing lay beside Mrs. Alvarez.
The bathroom door stood open.
So did the small rear window.
On the sill sat a folded note.
May you like
I SAW THE RED TRUCK.
DADDY IS HERE.
