Chapter 13 - Sergeant Cole
Daniel held the recorder behind his back.
“You knew Anna was in danger,” he said.
Cole aimed at his chest. “I knew Anna was dangerous.”
“She was exposing corruption.”
“She was about to destroy people who had families, careers, pensions.”
Maria stared at him. “So you helped kill her?”
Cole’s eyes flicked toward her. “Careful.”
“That means yes.”
“No. It means I cleaned up a mess after Jonathan tried to scare her off the road.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
“My father caused the crash?”
“He sent a driver to follow her. The driver got too close. Anna panicked. She lost control.”
“And you covered it up.”
Cole shrugged. “Accidents happen.”
Daniel moved toward him.
Cole cocked the gun. “One more step.”
Maria noticed a fire alarm behind the shelf beside her.
She also noticed Daniel looking at it.
He understood.
“Why help Claire?” Daniel asked, keeping Cole talking.
Cole laughed. “Claire was useful. She took over the money routes after Jonathan disappeared. Then she got greedy and started skimming.”
“Where is my father?”
“You really think I’m going to tell you?”
Maria shifted closer to the alarm.
Cole’s gun turned toward her. “Don’t.”
She froze.
Daniel suddenly threw the recorder.
Cole instinctively looked toward it.
Maria slammed the alarm.
Sirens screamed through the station.
Sprinklers burst overhead.
Daniel charged.
The gun fired.
Maria screamed.
Daniel hit Cole low, driving him into a shelf. Boxes rained down. Cole fired again, the bullet tearing into the ceiling.
Maria kicked the gun away.
Cole punched Daniel, grabbed Maria by the hair, and dragged her against him.
“Back off!” he shouted.
Daniel stopped.
Cole pressed a small knife to Maria’s throat.
Then the blue door shook under heavy blows.
Transit police.
Cole’s eyes went wild.
“You did this,” he whispered to Maria.
“No,” she said. “Anna did.”
The door burst open.
Cole shoved Maria aside and ran through another exit.
Daniel helped her up.
On the wet floor, the voice recorder had cracked open.
Inside its battery compartment was a tiny key taped beneath the batteries.
May you like
A metal tag on the key read:
PIER 14 - BOX 302.
