Chapter 11 - Pier 19
Pier 19 smelled like diesel, cold metal, and river water.
Adrian walked alone toward Warehouse C with the brass key in his pocket.
He was not alone.
Ortiz had officers in two unmarked vans. A tactical team watched from the neighboring roof. Claire had wanted to come and nearly started a fight when Adrian refused.
“You don’t get to decide everything because your last name is on buildings,” she told him.
“No. I get to decide this because Noah needs one parent not walking into a hostage exchange.”
She had gone quiet after that.
Now Adrian entered the warehouse.
Martin sat under a hanging work light, wrists taped to a chair.
A man in a dark jacket stood behind him holding a pistol.
Not Richard.
“Key,” the man said.
Adrian held it up. “Let him go.”
“Key first.”
Martin’s face was swollen. “Don’t.”
The gunman hit him in the head.
Adrian stepped forward. “Stop.”
“Pocket. Slow.”
Adrian placed the key on the concrete.
The gunman motioned with the weapon. “Kick it.”
Adrian did.
The key slid halfway across the floor.
The gunman moved to pick it up.
That was enough.
A red laser appeared on his chest.
“Police!”
Everything happened at once.
The gunman fired.
Adrian dove behind a steel column.
Officers crashed through a side door.
The gunman ran toward the loading bay.
Martin tipped his chair sideways to avoid the crossfire.
Two shots.
A shout.
Then silence.
Ortiz cuffed the gunman near the river door.
Adrian rushed to Martin.
“Can you stand?”
Martin spit blood. “My dignity can’t.”
Adrian cut the tape.
“Who is he?”
“Contractor. Used by Hart security.”
“Did Richard order this?”
Martin looked at him. “Richard ordered a lot of things. But not all of them.”
Adrian froze. “What does that mean?”
Martin rubbed his wrists.
“Thomas’s death wasn’t Richard acting alone.”
“Who helped him?”
Martin’s eyes shifted toward the open warehouse door where police moved.
Then he whispered, “Your mother.”
Adrian stared.
“No.”
“She switched the glass.”
Adrian grabbed Martin by the coat. “You better be very sure.”
“I watched her do it.”
Ortiz stepped between them.
“Back up.”
Adrian released him.
Martin looked ashamed.
“Thomas wasn’t supposed to die,” he said. “The drug was meant to make him sick enough to miss a board vote.”
Adrian’s voice cracked. “Why would my mother do that?”
May you like
Martin swallowed.
“Because Thomas had decided to leave her for Evelyn Hart.”
