Chapter 4 - The Man Daniel Trusted
Pier Forty-Seven looked deserted when Daniel’s SUV entered the secured yard.
Rain had started over the Hudson.
Frank Bennett stood inside the administrative office.
He smiled when Daniel entered.
Then he saw Maya.
The smile vanished.
“What is she doing here?”
Daniel noticed immediately.
“You know Maya?”
Frank recovered quickly.
“She works for you.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Maya stared at Frank.
“I’ve seen him before.”
Frank looked at her.
“Careful.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Wrong word.”
Frank turned toward him.
“Daniel, you don’t understand what’s happening.”
“Then explain.”
Frank glanced toward Ryan.
“Privately.”
“No.”
“Daniel.”
“No.”
Frank exhaled.
“Sam Miller was diverting shipments.”
“On whose authorization?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel placed copies of the records on the desk.
“Try again.”
Frank’s face tightened.
“You went through internal files?”
“They’re my files.”
Frank stared at the documents.
Maya said, “Where is my cousin?”
Frank looked at her.
“I don’t know your cousin.”
“Luis Santos.”
Something flickered in Frank’s eyes.
Daniel saw it.
“So you do know him.”
Frank remained silent.
Maya stepped closer.
“Where is Luis?”
“He asked questions he shouldn’t have asked.”
Daniel’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“Where is he?”
Frank looked at Daniel.
“You’re destroying years of business over a housekeeper?”
Maya froze.
Daniel did not.
“No.”
Frank scoffed.
“Then what is this?”
“I’m destroying a criminal operation because someone used my company to steal medicine from sick children.”
“You think the world works cleanly?”
“I know exactly how the world works.”
Frank stepped closer.
“That medicine is worth twenty times more outside the normal distribution chain. Hospitals waste inventory. Insurance companies manipulate supply. Everyone takes their cut.”
“Not through my docks.”
Frank laughed.
“That’s your problem, Daniel. You built an empire and convinced yourself you knew everything happening inside it.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Frank continued.
“You don’t.”
“Where’s Luis?”
“Alive.”
Maya gasped.
“Where?”
Frank ignored her.
Daniel slammed one hand against the desk.
“Where?”
Frank finally answered.
“Warehouse Twelve.”
Ryan immediately called security.
Frank shook his head.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Daniel looked at him.
“My mistake was trusting you.”
A security officer suddenly appeared at the door.
“Mr. Foster.”
“What?”
“We found Sam Miller.”
“Where?”
“Warehouse Twelve.”
Maya ran toward the door.
Daniel caught her arm.
“Wait.”
“My cousin could be there!”
“And so could whoever threatened Lily.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
Maya stared at him.
Daniel released her.
“Stay behind me.”
They crossed the yard with security.
Inside Warehouse Twelve, the refrigerated section had been hidden behind stacked commercial containers.
Ryan opened the secured door.
Rows of medical packages filled the room.
Maya stared.
“Oh my God.”
Millions of dollars in medication.
At the back of the room, security officers found two men.
Sam Miller.
And Luis Santos.
Luis was exhausted and frightened, but alive.
Maya rushed toward him.
“Luis!”
He hugged her.
“You shouldn’t have come.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“They wanted the drive.”
Daniel looked toward Sam.
Sam raised both hands.
“I didn’t start this.”
“Who did?”
Sam looked toward Frank.
Frank’s face changed.
Sam said, “He did.”
Frank turned toward the exit.
Security blocked him.
Then Luis spoke.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
Luis shook his head.
“Frank isn’t the top.”
Daniel frowned.
“Who is?”
Luis looked terrified.
“There’s someone inside the pharmacy network.”
“Name.”
“I never saw him.”
“Then what do you know?”
Luis pointed toward the refrigerated crates.
“The next shipment leaves tonight.”
Daniel checked the label.
Destination:
A private pediatric clinic in Manhattan.
Maya stared at it.
May you like
“That’s Lily’s clinic.”
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