Chapter 2 - The Man at the Freight Yard
Lily's father had been missing for thirty-six hours when Norah learned that the wine incident had never been about wine.
At first, she thought she had misunderstood.
The restaurant kitchen was crowded with prep cooks, and the dishwasher was making enough noise to drown out half their conversation.
"What do you mean, your dad hasn't come home?"
Lily glanced toward the swinging doors.
"He's not missing exactly. He called yesterday. Said he had to stay somewhere else."
"Why?"
"He wouldn't tell me."
Norah set down the silverware she was polishing.
Lily's father, Samuel Parker, worked nights maintaining loading equipment at a freight terminal on Chicago's South Side. He was fifty-three, divorced, and raising Lily and her younger brother, Owen, in a two-bedroom apartment near Bridgeport.
He had worked at the same terminal for seventeen years.
Men like Samuel Parker did not suddenly disappear without telling their children why.
"Did something happen at work?"
Lily hesitated.
"After I told him about that woman, he asked me to describe her."
"Valerie?"
Lily nodded.
"He asked what she looked like. Then he asked whether the man sitting with her was Dominic Mercer."
Norah felt something unpleasant settle in her stomach.
"What did you tell him?"
"The truth."
"And?"
"He got really quiet."
The kitchen door opened.
Leo Grant stepped inside.
"Lily, table twelve needs water. Norah, my office."
Norah watched Lily leave.
Then she followed Leo upstairs.
His office smelled of stale coffee and furniture polish. Normally, the manager kept his desk spotless. Today, invoices covered half the surface, and an expensive leather briefcase sat open beside his computer.
"Close the door," he said.
Norah obeyed.
Leo remained standing.
"There's a private dinner tonight. Eight guests. Mr. Mercer will be attending."
Norah said nothing.
"He specifically requested you."
That surprised her.
"Why?"
"I didn't ask."
"Maybe you should have."
Leo looked at her sharply.
"Norah, you need to understand something. People like Dominic Mercer don't make requests because they enjoy conversation."
"Then assign someone else."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
Leo hesitated.
"Because the reservation was made through the Whitmore Foundation."
Norah stared at him.
"Valerie's family?"
"Yes."
"And you think putting me in the same room with her again is a good idea?"
"I think keeping this restaurant open is a good idea."
Norah folded her arms.
Leo lowered his voice.
"Just serve dinner. Don't argue. Don't become anyone's hero."
She looked at him for a long moment.
"Is that what you think happened?"
"I think you got lucky."
"Maybe."
"Luck runs out."
When Norah returned to the kitchen, Lily was gone.
Her apron hung from its usual hook.
Her phone was sitting on the counter.
And beneath it lay a folded piece of paper.
Norah recognized Lily's handwriting.
If something happens to me, ask my dad about Bay 14.
She read the sentence twice.
Then she called Lily's number.
The phone vibrated in her hand.
A cold feeling traveled down her spine.
At 7:42 that evening, Dominic Mercer arrived alone.
He walked through the restaurant in a dark overcoat, accompanied by two men who remained near the entrance.
Norah had expected Valerie.
Instead, Dominic sat at the same private table where the confrontation had occurred.
He ordered sparkling water.
Nothing else.
When Norah approached, he looked at her name tag.
"Norah Bennett."
"That's usually what it says."
His mouth moved slightly.
Almost a smile.
"You're difficult to intimidate."
"Not true."
"Really?"
"I'm intimidated all the time. I just don't think everyone needs to know."
Dominic studied her.
"Where's the younger waitress?"
Norah's hand tightened around her order pad.
"Why?"
"Because I asked."
"That isn't an answer."
His expression changed.
Not anger.
Interest.
"She's not here?"
"No."
"Was she scheduled?"
Norah hesitated.
"Yes."
Dominic leaned back.
"Something's wrong."
It was a statement, not a question.
Norah thought about the note in her pocket.
She thought about Lily's frightened face.
Then she remembered the way Dominic had silenced Valerie with one word.
"Her father works at a freight terminal," she said.
Dominic stopped moving.
"Which terminal?"
"I don't know."
"What's his name?"
"Samuel Parker."
The change in Dominic was immediate.
His face went completely still.
"Say that again."
"Samuel Parker."
Dominic reached into his coat, removed his phone, and called someone.
"Find out whether Samuel Parker is still on the night maintenance roster at South Harbor Freight."
A pause.
"No. Don't contact anyone at the terminal."
He ended the call.
Norah stared at him.
"You know him."
"I know the name."
"Is Lily in danger?"
Dominic didn't answer.
"Mr. Mercer."
His eyes lifted.
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
"Then why did you ask about her?"
Dominic stood.
"Because her father called my office this morning."
Norah felt her breath catch.
"What did he say?"
"He said someone was using my freight contracts to move something they shouldn't."
"Something?"
Dominic looked toward the windows.
Outside, rain had begun falling over Chicago.
"People."
Norah stared at him.
For a moment, the restaurant noise seemed impossibly distant.
"What?"
"He wouldn't explain over the phone. He said he had evidence. Then he stopped answering."
Norah reached into her pocket and unfolded Lily's note.
Dominic read it.
His jaw tightened.
"Bay 14."
"You know it?"
"Unfortunately."
He turned toward the entrance.
One of his security men straightened.
"Get the car."
Norah stepped forward.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"Lily trusted me."
"And that makes you a target."
"She is nineteen years old."
Dominic looked down at her.
"You think I don't understand that?"
"I think you understand whatever is happening better than you're telling me."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Dominic said something she had not expected.
"You're right."
He glanced at the note again.
"Get your coat."
They reached the freight terminal at 8:26.
The gates were open.
The security booth was empty.
A forklift stood abandoned beside a loading ramp, its headlights illuminating a wall of stacked containers.
Dominic ordered his men to remain close.
Norah followed him through a side entrance.
Inside, the building smelled of diesel fuel and wet concrete.
A distant metal door slammed.
Norah froze.
"Did you hear that?"
Dominic raised one hand.
Silence.
Then came a faint sound.
Three knocks.
A pause.
Three more.
Norah turned toward a row of refrigerated storage units.
"That came from there."
Dominic approached Bay 14.
Its steel door was locked from the outside.
He examined the handle.
Then he looked at his security chief.
"Open it."
The lock broke under a heavy cutting tool retrieved from the maintenance truck.
The door swung outward.
Cold air spilled across the floor.
Inside, Samuel Parker sat bound to a chair, blood dried beneath his nose.
He was alive.
Barely conscious.
Norah rushed toward him.
"Samuel? Where's Lily?"
His eyes opened.
He looked at Dominic.
And fear transformed his face.
"Don't trust the people around you," Samuel whispered.
Dominic crouched beside him.
"Who did this?"
Samuel struggled to breathe.
"The Whitmores."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"Which Whitmore?"
Samuel caught his sleeve.
"Not just Valerie."
His voice cracked.
"Your own brother signed the orders."
Dominic went motionless.
Norah looked between them.
"Your brother?"
Samuel nodded weakly.
May you like
Then he whispered the words that changed everything.
"They've already decided you're going to die tomorrow."
