Chapter 8 - Midnight at the Pier
At 11:58 p.m., snow began falling over Lake Michigan.
I walked onto Navy Pier carrying an empty briefcase.
Liam hated the plan.
That was one reason I knew it was good.
“You stay behind me,” he had said.
“No.”
“Nora.”
“You can barely walk.”
“I can shoot.”
“Congratulations.”
“You're impossible.”
“You hired me.”
“I've regretted it repeatedly.”
He hadn't.
Neither had I.
Leo and federal agents loyal to a new task force were positioned around the pier.
My mother's copy of the ledger had finally reached someone outside Calder's influence.
More importantly, every file from Dad's memory card had been duplicated and scheduled for release to reporters if we didn't return.
Calder could no longer bury the evidence by killing us.
He just didn't know that yet.
I entered the warehouse alone.
Catherine sat tied to a chair.
Calder stood behind her with a gun.
“You came.”
“I said I would.”
“The case.”
I placed it on the concrete.
“Let her go.”
He laughed.
“You aren't in a position to negotiate.”
“I think I am.”
His expression changed.
I continued.
“My father's files are already with federal investigators.”
“You're bluffing.”
“And twelve reporters.”
His smile disappeared.
“If I don't cancel the release before twelve fifteen, everything becomes public.”
“You're lying.”
“Maybe.”
He looked at his watch.
12:03.
Seven men emerged from the shadows.
All armed.
Calder kicked the briefcase toward himself.
“Open it.”
I did.
Empty.
His face darkened.
“You stupid girl.”
“No.”
I looked at Catherine.
“I learned something from my father.”
Calder raised his gun.
“What's that?”
“Always make sure someone is listening.”
Leo's voice came through hidden speakers.
“Federal agents! Drop your weapons!”
Chaos exploded.
Calder grabbed Catherine.
His men scattered.
Gunfire erupted from both sides.
I dropped behind a crate.
Liam appeared from the opposite entrance.
Of course he did.
“Liam!”
Calder saw him.
He fired.
Liam fell.
Everything inside me stopped.
I ran.
“Nora, stay down!”
Leo shouted somewhere behind me.
I didn't.
I reached Liam.
Blood covered his shoulder.
Not his chest.
Alive.
“You idiot.”
“Good to see you too.”
I dragged him behind cover.
“You were supposed to stay outside.”
“So were you.”
“I was bait.”
“So was I.”
Another bullet struck the crate.
“You two can flirt later!” Leo shouted.
“I am not flirting!”
Liam looked at me.
“You're yelling.”
“Shut up.”
Calder dragged Catherine toward the pier exit.
I saw something on the ground beside Liam.
His gun.
I picked it up.
He grabbed my wrist.
“No.”
“He'll kill her.”
“Nora.”
I looked into his eyes.
Then lowered the weapon.
I was a nurse.
My father had spent his life saving people.
I would not honor him by becoming the thing that killed him.
Instead, I ran toward the fire alarm.
I pulled it.
Sirens screamed.
Emergency doors dropped throughout the warehouse.
One slammed shut in front of Calder.
He spun around.
Leo's agents surrounded him.
Calder pressed his gun against Catherine's head.
“Back off!”
Everyone froze.
Catherine was crying.
Liam limped forward.
“Victor.”
“Stay there.”
“Let her go.”
“Your family destroyed mine.”
Liam stared at him.
“Our fathers destroyed both.”
Calder's expression twisted.
“You think you're different?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Liam looked toward me.
“Because someone finally taught me that surviving isn't the same as living.”
Calder glanced at me.
That was enough.
Catherine drove her heel down onto his foot and threw herself sideways.
Leo fired.
Calder's weapon flew from his hand.
Agents tackled him.
It was over.
Or so we thought.
Calder laughed from the floor.
“You still don't understand.”
Liam stared.
“What?”
Calder's face was bleeding.
But he was smiling.
“You think I wanted the memory card?”
He looked directly at me.
“I wanted Daniel's daughter.”
My skin went cold.
“Why?”
“Because your father didn't just record Patrick Mercer.”
He laughed.
“He recorded Catherine.”
I looked at her.
She went pale.
Calder continued.
“And if you heard the entire recording, Liam would never forgive his mother.”
Catherine whispered, “Victor, don't.”
Liam looked at her.
“What did you do?”
Calder smiled.
“The crash wasn't the worst thing she did that night.”
Catherine closed her eyes.
And I realized the recording we had heard ended too cleanly.
Someone had edited it.
I looked at her.
“What was on the rest?”
Catherine began to cry.
May you like
“Nora…”
“What did you do to my father?”
