Chapter 9 - Descent into the Depths
Descending into the murky subterranean tunnels beneath the shipping yards, Moretti followed the faint, damp footprints left behind by Victor and his captive, his boots splashing through stagnant water. The air was thick with the smell of rust and decaying salt, illuminated only by the faint green glow of his tactical flashlight slicing through the gloom. Ahead, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed off the concrete arches, accompanied by the muffled whimpers of a frightened child trying desperately to stay brave. Moretti increased his pace, ignoring the throbbing pain in his shoulder where a stray bullet had grazed him earlier during the shootout in the hangar. Suddenly, the tunnel opened up into a massive underground reservoir chamber where an old motorboat idled against a concrete dock, ready to smuggle the child out to open sea. Victor stood at the helm with a pistol pressed against the little girl’s temple, warning Moretti to drop his weapon or watch the child sink beneath the black water.
