Chapter 16 - Pier Nineteen
Fog covered the Hudson River.
Charlotte approached the abandoned warehouse carrying a leather folder.
No police.
No visible backup.
Malcolm stood beneath a hanging industrial light.
Anna Mercer was tied to a chair beside him.
Detective Pike stood nearby with a handgun.
Charlotte felt immediate anger.
Pike smiled.
“Miss Vale.”
“You look nervous.”
“I’m enjoying retirement.”
Charlotte looked at Malcolm.
“You murdered my mother.”
Malcolm shook his head.
“Daniel gave the order.”
“You poisoned her tea.”
“I followed instructions.”
“That still makes you a murderer.”
Malcolm’s expression hardened.
“The documents.”
Charlotte held up the folder.
“Anna first.”
Malcolm laughed.
“You still think this works like one of your board meetings.”
Charlotte took another step.
“You want my shares.”
“Yes.”
“You need me alive long enough to transfer them.”
“Correct.”
“Then Anna is unnecessary.”
Malcolm considered that.
Charlotte could see greed fighting caution.
Finally, he nodded toward Pike.
Pike cut Anna’s restraints.
Anna ran toward Charlotte.
Halfway across the warehouse, Malcolm shouted.
“Stop.”
Anna froze.
“The papers.”
Charlotte placed the folder on the floor.
She kicked it forward.
Malcolm opened it.
He examined the signature.
Then he smiled.
“At last.”
Charlotte took Anna’s hand.
“Can we leave?”
Malcolm continued reading.
His smile slowly disappeared.
The documents were not share transfers.
They were federal seizure notices.
Charlotte smiled.
Malcolm looked up.
“What did you do?”
“Bought time.”
Red lights appeared through the windows.
Federal tactical teams surrounded the warehouse.
Pike raised his gun toward Charlotte.
Anna screamed.
A shot rang out.
Pike collapsed.
Ethan stood on the upper catwalk.
Malcolm ran toward the river exit.
Charlotte followed.
“Malcolm!”
He pushed through the door.
A speedboat waited outside.
Malcolm jumped aboard.
The engine roared.
Charlotte reached the dock seconds too late.
Ethan joined her.
“He’s getting away.”
Charlotte watched the boat disappear into the fog.
“No.”
She smiled.
“He’s carrying my folder.”
Ethan understood.
“Tracker?”
“Two.”
Federal boats moved into the river.
Malcolm’s escape route was being followed.
Anna wrapped a blanket around herself.
Charlotte approached her.
“I’m sorry.”
Anna began crying.
“I should have spoken sooner.”
“You were afraid.”
“I watched your mother die.”
Charlotte took her hands.
“Then help me tell the truth.”
Anna nodded.
“Elizabeth knew she was being poisoned.”
“Arthur told me.”
“There’s more.”
Charlotte waited.
Anna looked terrified.
“The night she died, she wasn’t alone.”
“Malcolm?”
“No.”
“Daniel?”
Anna shook her head.
“Someone else.”
Charlotte felt cold.
“Who?”
Anna looked toward the river.
“Your mother had a visitor ten minutes before her heart stopped.”
“Who was it?”
Anna whispered the name.
“Samuel Grant.”
Charlotte stared at her.
“My father?”
May you like
Anna nodded.
“And when he left the room, your mother was already dying.”
