Chapter 7 - Beneath the Pier
Mud splattered violently across the windshield as the pickup slid down the embankment, its heavy tires churning through clay before finding traction on the concrete foundation of the old barge terminal.
Above them on the bridge, tires screeched and searchlights flared, sweeping harmlessly across the empty road where the truck had been seconds before.
Frank killed the headlights and shut down the engine. The only sound was the steady roar of water churning through the nearby spillway and the tapping of rain against the truck’s roof.
“That bought us ten minutes at most,” Frank whispered, wiping sweat from his forehead. “They’ll send spotters along the bank once they realize we didn't cross the span.”
Marcus lifted Lily into his arms. She blinked awake, rubbing her eyes in confusion. “Daddy? Are we home?”
“Not yet, angel,” Marcus said gently, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. “We’re taking a little boat ride first.”
Marcus led Frank toward a weathered maintenance locker beneath the bridge abutment. Years ago, Marcus had established hidden emergency caches along key transit routes around the city. Using an old four-digit combination, he opened the rusted steel door.
Inside were two tactical dry bags, emergency satellite comms, and a pair of dry jackets. Marcus transferred the lethal evidence from the yellow folder into a waterproof pouch, strapping it securely under his shirt against his ribs.
“Who do we trust with this, Marcus?” Frank asked, checking his sidearm. “Victoria owns half the judges in the state, and the mayor sits on her charity board.”
“There’s one person she doesn’t own,” Marcus said, strapping Lily safely into a lightweight child-carrier harness against his chest. “Federal Prosecutor Nathan Cross. He was Sophia’s mentor before she married me.”
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Frank’s face fell. “Cross disappeared from public view three months ago, Marcus. Rumor has it Victoria had him silenced.”
Marcus looked out across the misty water. “He’s not dead. He’s in hiding. And Sophia gave me the code to find him.”
