Chapter 9 - The Father Behind the Mask
Dominic refused.
Claire expected that.
“You are not going alone.”
“He has Emily.”
“He wants you.”
“Exactly.”
“That is not an argument in favor of walking into his house.”
Claire looked at Richard, handcuffed near the warehouse wall.
“Then make him talk.”
Dominic crouched in front of Richard.
“Where are they?”
Richard smiled.
“You think I’m scared of you?”
Dominic’s voice remained calm.
“No.”
That calm was worse than shouting.
“I think you’re scared of Charles.”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
Dominic continued.
“You’re the man who signed the garage order. The man who moved the money. The man on the smuggling manifests.”
Richard said nothing.
“When this ends, Charles will say you acted alone.”
Richard’s face twitched.
Claire saw it.
Dominic did too.
“He already framed his daughter,” Dominic said. “What makes you think he won’t frame you?”
Richard looked away.
Claire stepped closer.
“Did he kill my mother?”
Silence.
“Richard.”
His face tightened.
“She found everything.”
“What?”
“The accounts. The port deals. The fake invoices.”
“Did Charles order you to cut the brakes?”
“I didn’t cut them.”
“But you knew.”
Richard looked at Claire.
“I brought the car.”
The room went still.
Claire felt as if the floor had shifted.
“Why?”
“He said he only wanted to scare her.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I swear.”
“Did you know the brakes were cut when you drove it away?”
“Yes.”
Claire slapped him.
Hard.
Dominic didn’t stop her.
Richard swallowed.
“I told Charles it was too much.”
“And what did he say?”
Richard stared at the floor.
“He said accidents happen every day.”
Claire turned away.
For fifteen years, her father had visited Anne’s grave every anniversary.
He brought white roses.
He cried at memorial dinners.
He told Claire her mother’s death had destroyed him.
All of it theater.
Dominic came beside her.
“We have enough to go to police.”
“Not enough to save Emily.”
Richard looked up.
“There is another place.”
Claire turned.
“What place?”
“Old Whitmore terminal. North Baltimore.”
“Why there?”
“Private docks. No active cameras.”
Marcus was already calling his team.
Claire asked, “Is Charles there?”
“I don’t know.”
Dominic grabbed Richard’s shirt.
“Guess.”
Richard’s voice cracked.
“Yes.”
They flew back immediately.
By the time they reached Baltimore, police had been quietly informed.
Naomi arranged a detective she trusted.
No sirens.
No media.
No warning.
Claire sat in the SUV outside the old terminal.
Dominic handed her a small microphone.
“If you go inside, keep him talking.”
“You’re letting me go?”
“I’m accepting that I can’t stop you.”
“That sounds painful.”
“It is.”
Despite everything, she smiled.
Then he touched her face where Richard had hit her.
Very gently.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“If something goes wrong, do not be brave.”
“What should I be?”
“Alive.”
Their eyes held.
Then Claire opened the door.
Inside the terminal, one light burned above the old loading floor.
Charles stood beneath it.
Madison and Lauren were tied to chairs.
Emily was nowhere to be seen.
Claire stopped.
“Where is she?”
Charles smiled.
“Your little sister finally became useful.”
A metal door opened behind Claire.
She turned.
Emily stepped out.
Untied.
May you like
Holding a gun.
And pointing it directly at Claire.
