Chapter 12 - The River Crossing
The sedan's rear suspension groaned as it bounced over the wooden dock planks. Ahead of them lay the dark, fast-moving current of the Blackwood River. To their left was a rusty industrial cargo barge moored to the dock, its loading ramp partially lowered.
""Hold on, Lily!"" Julian shouted, aiming the car straight for the narrow metal ramp.
The car hit the steel plate with a bone-jarring crash, airborne for half a second before slamming down onto the metal deck of the barge. Julian slammed on the brakes, stopping inches before the open water at the opposite end of the platform.
Behind them, Vance’s lead SUV attempted to follow, but the angle was too steep. The heavy vehicle bottomed out on the dock edge, throwing up showers of orange sparks as its wheels spun uselessly against the timbers.
Julian grabbed the emergency marine radio mounted near the barge’s control cabin, switching it to the harbor master frequency. ""Barge 44, emergency release! We have armed intruders on dock seven! Disengage moorings immediately!""
An automated hydraulic release hummed beneath the deck. The ancient winches groaned, snapping the safety cables that anchored the barge to the city pier. The heavy current of the river caught the massive iron vessel, swinging it away from the shore into the deep, dark channel.
Standing on the receding pier, Vance emerged from his stalled SUV. The city lights cast his silhouette in harsh relief as he held a phone to his ear. Even across sixty feet of expanding black water, Julian could see the utter malice in the attorney's posture.
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""Daddy..."" Lily whispered from the back seat, trembling as the adrenaline faded. ""Where are we going?""
Julian looked upriver toward the distant silhouette of the St. Jude Memorial Chapel spire piercing the foggy skyline. ""We're going to get Mommy's truth, Lily. And then we're going to finish this.""
