Chapter 5 - Midnight at Pier Nine
Marcus’s men rescued Daniel before noon.
Unfortunately, Harris escaped.
Thomas escaped with him.
By evening, every television station in Boston was running Sophia’s recordings.
Federal agents publicly announced an investigation into police corruption.
Three officers were arrested.
Six disappeared.
And Harris called me again.
“Midnight,” he said.
“You’re running out of options.”
“So are you.”
He hung up.
Daniel wanted me nowhere near Pier Nine.
We argued in his study.
“You’re not going.”
“They specifically asked for me.”
“They specifically intend to kill you.”
“Then hiding won’t solve anything.”
“It solves you being alive.”
I stared at him.
“You didn’t hide when Sophia died.”
Daniel went silent.
I regretted it immediately.
“Daniel—”
“No.”
He looked away.
“You’re right.”
He walked toward the window.
“For four months I hunted whoever killed her. I barely looked at my daughters because every time I did, I saw Sophia.”
I said nothing.
“I convinced myself revenge was the same thing as protecting them.”
He turned back.
“It wasn’t.”
Upstairs, one of the twins began crying.
Daniel’s expression softened.
“They need a father.”
“Yes.”
“And apparently they’ve decided they need a waitress too.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Grace screams every time somebody else holds her.”
“That is absolutely not true.”
Victoria appeared in the doorway.
“It is.”
I looked betrayed.
“You’re supposed to support me.”
“I support facts.”
Daniel almost smiled.
Then he became serious.
“We go together.”
At 11:48 p.m., we arrived near Pier Nine.
Federal agents waited two blocks away.
Marcus’s men surrounded the warehouse.
The twins were nowhere near us.
We used dolls inside the carriers.
Daniel wore a wire.
I carried Sophia’s phone.
Harris stood inside the warehouse.
Thomas stood beside him.
“You brought Daniel,” Thomas said.
I shrugged.
“He’s difficult to get rid of.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
Harris raised his gun.
“Phone.”
I held it up.
“First tell me something.”
“No.”
“Did you kill Sophia?”
Thomas laughed.
“He did.”
Harris glared.
Daniel’s fists tightened.
Thomas continued.
“Harris cut the brakes. I paid him.”
Harris snapped.
“Shut up.”
Too late.
Every word was being transmitted.
I looked at Daniel.
He gave the slightest nod.
We had the confession.
Harris stepped forward.
“The babies.”
Daniel removed the blankets from the carriers.
Plastic dolls.
Harris froze.
“Oh, that was stupid.”
Gunfire erupted.
We dove behind crates.
Marcus’s men entered through the east side.
Federal agents stormed the west.
Thomas ran.
Daniel chased him.
I grabbed Sophia’s phone and crawled behind a forklift.
Harris appeared above me.
His pistol pointed directly at my face.
“You ruined everything.”
I stared up at him.
“No.”
I smiled.
“Sophia did.”
He pulled the trigger.
Nothing.
Empty.
Harris looked shocked.
I kicked his knee.
He collapsed.
Marcus tackled him.
Across the warehouse, Thomas reached the docks.
Daniel caught him near the water.
Thomas turned with a gun.
“Stay back!”
Daniel stopped.
Thomas laughed desperately.
“You won’t shoot me.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You’re my brother.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel slowly lowered his weapon.
Thomas smiled.
Then federal agents surrounded him.
Daniel said quietly, “That doesn’t mean I have to save you.”
Thomas was arrested.
Harris followed.
By 1:30 a.m., Pier Nine was filled with flashing lights.
I sat on the hood of an SUV.
Daniel approached.
Blood stained his bandage again.
I pointed.
“You ripped your stitches.”
“So?”
“So I’m beginning to understand why people keep shooting you.”
Daniel laughed.
Then suddenly winced.
I shook my head.
“Idiot.”
He sat beside me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said, “Come home.”
I looked at him.
“To see the twins?”
May you like
His gaze held mine.
“Among other reasons.”
