Chapter 7: The Trap at Pier 19
At 3:17 a.m., Arthur Hawthorne made a decision that would either reunite his family or destroy the last pieces of it.
He was going to Pier 19.
Maya stood in the middle of the hospital corridor, staring at him as though he had just announced his intention to jump from the roof.
"You're not seriously considering this.""
Arthur slipped his phone into his coat.
"My mother might be alive.""
"And Edward Blackwood knows that is the one sentence capable of making you walk into any trap he sets.""
"What would you do if it were your father?""
Maya went quiet.
Arthur softened his voice.
"I know what you've lost. I know what it means to hear that someone you buried might still be breathing.""
Maya looked down at the silver key in her hand.
Then she looked up.
"That's exactly why I'm not letting you go alone.""
Arthur shook his head.
"The message specifically says to come alone.""
"Edward has spent eighteen years making people disappear. Do you really think he'll honor a request for privacy?""
"Then what do you suggest?""
Maya pulled out her phone.
"We give him what he expects to see.""
Arthur frowned.
"And what do we actually do?""
"Make sure he's the one walking into a trap.""
At 3:45 a.m., Maya contacted Detective Collins.
He listened without interrupting while she explained the message, the photograph, and the possibility that Richard and Arthur's mother were being held somewhere near the waterfront.
When she finished, Collins rubbed his forehead.
"Pier 19 is a commercial loading facility. Most of the warehouses have been closed for renovation.""
"Who owns it?"" Arthur asked.
Collins opened his tablet.
"Three companies. One is a subsidiary of Hawthorne Shipping.""
Arthur looked up.
"Edward controls the subsidiary.""
"Correct.""
Maya folded her arms.
"Can you get officers there without alerting his people?""
Collins considered the question.
"Not easily. Edward has contacts within the port authority. If we send a visible team, he'll know before we arrive.""
Arthur placed his father's notebook on the desk.
"Then we use the information he left behind.""
He opened the book to the financial records.
One shipping company appeared repeatedly.
Blackwell Maritime Services.
Arthur tapped the page.
"This company received payments from the offshore accounts. It also owns the security contract for Pier 19.""
Collins examined the entries.
"That's enough for a search warrant.""
"How long?""
"Several hours.""
"We don't have several hours.""
Maya stepped forward.
"Then we don't wait for a warrant to protect someone in immediate danger. We establish surveillance, identify the hostages, and move when we have a safe opportunity.""
Collins studied her.
"You've done this before?""
Maya hesitated.
"My father trained me.""
Arthur turned toward her.
"Your father was a security officer.""
"He taught me more than security.""
She opened her phone and showed Collins a photograph of an old document.
It contained a list of emergency access routes around the waterfront.
"Thomas prepared these when he worked for your family. Pier 19 has a maintenance entrance on the southern side.""
Collins nodded slowly.
"All right. I'll arrange a discreet team.""
Arthur looked at Maya.
"What about the sapphire?""
She glanced at the necklace photograph.
"The Hawthorne Star is in police custody.""
"Edward specifically demanded it.""
"Which means he doesn't know whether we've discovered what it contains.""
Arthur remembered the tiny compartment beneath the sapphire.
The hidden cylinder.
His father's message.
The key to a trust agreement.
"What if the necklace is what he really wants?""
Maya looked at him.
"Then we find out why.""
At 4:52 a.m., Arthur stood outside a secure police vehicle.
The eastern sky had begun to lighten.
He held a small velvet jewelry case.
Inside was a replica of the Hawthorne Star, prepared by the estate jeweler several months earlier for insurance photography.
The real heirloom remained secured in police evidence storage.
Arthur looked at Maya.
"Do you think he'll notice?""
"Edward has spent decades examining that necklace. He'll notice.""
"Then why bring it?""
"Because we need him to believe we're following his instructions.""
Collins approached with two officers.
"We have a team positioned near the southern access route. Another team is watching the eastern loading dock.""
Arthur nodded.
"What about the hostages?""
"We haven't confirmed their location.""
Maya checked her watch.
"We should move.""
Collins looked at Arthur.
"Once we're inside, you follow my instructions. No heroics.""
Arthur gave a humorless smile.
"That seems to be the theme of my week.""
Pier 19 was surrounded by rusted fencing and abandoned shipping containers.
The air smelled of saltwater, diesel, and wet concrete.
A single floodlight illuminated the main warehouse.
Arthur stepped out of the vehicle carrying the velvet case.
Maya remained several yards behind him.
A loudspeaker crackled.
"Mr. Hawthorne.""
Arthur looked toward the warehouse.
Edward Blackwood emerged from the shadows.
He wore a charcoal overcoat and a dark scarf.
His silver hair was perfectly arranged.
At seventy-two, he still carried himself like a man accustomed to commanding entire rooms without raising his voice.
He smiled.
"You're late.""
Arthur stared at him.
"You have my parents.""
Edward tilted his head.
"Straight to business. Your father always appreciated that quality.""
"Where are they?""
"First, the necklace.""
Arthur held up the case.
Edward's eyes moved toward it.
"Open it.""
Arthur did.
The sapphire caught the floodlight.
Edward smiled.
"Beautiful, isn't it?""
"You've spent eighteen years trying to get it.""
"Longer than that.""
"Why?""
Edward stepped closer.
"Because your grandfather was a sentimental old fool who believed a family could survive on loyalty and tradition.""
Arthur's expression hardened.
"What does the sapphire contain?""
Edward's smile faded slightly.
"So you've discovered the compartment.""
"What's inside?""
"The original trust instrument. The document that proves who actually controls the Hawthorne empire.""
Arthur stared.
"My father said it could destroy you.""
"Your father was a sentimental fool too.""
Edward held out his hand.
"Give it to me.""
"Show me my parents.""
Edward gestured toward the warehouse.
Two enormous doors began opening.
Inside, Arthur saw a woman sitting in a chair.
Her hands were tied.
Her hair had turned almost completely silver.
But her face—
Arthur's breath caught.
"Mom?""
The woman lifted her head.
Her eyes widened.
"Arthur?""
He took an involuntary step forward.
"Mom!""
Edward raised one hand.
"Not yet.""
A second figure appeared behind her.
A man with a gray beard and a scar across his forehead.
Maya stopped breathing.
"Dad?""
Thomas Collins looked toward her.
For a moment, he seemed unable to believe what he was seeing.
Then his expression crumpled.
"Maya?""
She took a step forward.
"You're alive.""
Thomas began struggling against his restraints.
"My little girl.""
Maya's eyes filled.
Arthur looked at Edward.
"Release them.""
"Of course.""
Edward extended his hand again.
"The necklace.""
Arthur glanced at the hostages.
Then at Maya.
She gave the smallest possible nod.
Arthur placed the velvet case on a nearby metal table.
Edward opened it.
He examined the sapphire carefully.
Then he laughed.
"Do you really think I'm stupid?""
He looked directly at Arthur.
"This is a replica.""
Arthur said nothing.
Edward closed the case.
"Where is the real one?""
"Somewhere you can't reach.""
Edward's smile vanished.
He turned toward the warehouse.
A man stepped out from behind the hostages.
Daniel Mercer.
He was holding a pistol.
Arthur felt his stomach tighten.
"Daniel.""
His friend looked exhausted.
"Arthur, I'm sorry.""
"You brought them here?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. I tried to stop him.""
Edward laughed.
"How touching.""
Daniel's hand trembled.
Edward turned toward him.
"Give me the weapon.""
Daniel hesitated.
"Edward, you promised—"
"I promised you a great many things. Most of them were lies.""
Daniel lowered his gun slightly.
Edward suddenly reached for it.
A struggle erupted.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck a metal support beam.
Maya moved.
She sprinted toward the warehouse entrance as Arthur ducked behind the table.
Detective Collins shouted from the southern loading dock.
"Police! Drop your weapons!""
Floodlights exploded across the warehouse.
Officers poured through the entrances.
Edward seized the opportunity to grab Arthur's arm.
He pressed a small blade against his throat.
"Tell them to stand down!""
Arthur froze.
Maya stopped several yards away.
"Edward, let him go.""
Edward laughed.
"You really are Thomas's daughter.""
He tightened his grip.
"Your father was always troublesome.""
Thomas struggled against his restraints.
"Leave her out of this!""
Edward turned toward him.
"You're in no position to make demands.""
Then he leaned closer to Arthur.
"Now, let's discuss the real reason I brought you here.""
Arthur felt the blade pressing against his skin.
"What?""
Edward whispered:
"Your mother didn't disappear because she discovered my crimes.""
He looked toward the woman in the chair.
"She disappeared because she discovered yours.""
Arthur's blood ran cold.
"What are you talking about?""
Edward smiled.
"Ask Eleanor why your birth certificate was changed.""
A gunshot rang out.
The lights went dark.
May you like
And when the emergency illumination returned, Edward Blackwood was gone.
So was Arthur's mother.
