Chapter 5 - The Secret Beneath Pier NineAndrew had never seen Nuler angry before.
Not truly angry.
But as Catherine explained what happened twenty years earlier, Nuler's expression changed from confusion to disbelief.
"Thomas worked for Richard Callahan," Catherine said. "He was supposed to help Margaret escape."
"He told me that."
"But the police report said he died."
Nuler stared.
"What?"
"His vehicle was found burned near the river. Two bodies were recovered."
"Then who were they?"
Catherine shook her head.
"We never learned."
Andrew turned toward the window.
"Someone falsified the identification."
Nuler felt sick.
"My father has been hiding from people who believed he was dead."
"And those people may have found him," Andrew said.
They developed a plan.
Michael Reeves would investigate the disappearance of Thomas Turner while Andrew and Nuler searched the records at Pier Nine.
Nuler insisted on accompanying him.
Andrew finally agreed, but only after Michael arranged additional security and an emergency escape route.
At midnight, they entered the warehouse through a maintenance entrance.
The building smelled of saltwater, rust, and old timber.
Andrew moved ahead with a flashlight.
Nuler followed, holding the brass key.
They reached a reinforced door marked ARCHIVE STORAGE.
Inside were rows of metal cabinets.
Andrew examined the labels.
"Box 317."
Nuler found it near the back wall.
The key turned.
Inside lay a sealed envelope, a cassette tape, and a photograph.
Nuler opened the envelope.
The first page contained her mother's handwriting.
If Eleanor is reading this, Victor Hayes has either failed to kill us or succeeded in destroying everything we tried to protect.
Her hands trembled.
Andrew moved beside her.
The letter described hidden financial accounts, payments to corrupt officers, and the night Richard Callahan was murdered.
But one paragraph changed everything.
Thomas is the only man I trust with Eleanor. He is not her biological father, but he has loved her as his own. If I do not survive, he must raise her far away from the Callahan family.
Nuler stopped reading.
Andrew saw the shock on her face.
"What is it?"
She handed him the page.
He read it silently.
Then looked at her.
"Thomas isn't your biological father."
Nuler's eyes filled.
"Then who is?"
Before Andrew could answer, the warehouse lights switched on.
A slow clap echoed from the doorway.
Declan Hayes stepped into the room.
Behind him stood four armed men.
"Well," Declan said pleasantly. "This is touching."
Andrew moved in front of Nuler.
"Where's Thomas?"
Declan smiled.
"Alive. For now."
"Let him go."
"Not until I get what belongs to my family."
Andrew raised his chin.
"You mean the evidence against your father?"
Declan's smile disappeared.
"My father built this organization. Your father was too weak to keep it."
"He was trying to keep innocent people alive."
"He was trying to hand our empire to the government."
Nuler stepped forward.
"Did you kill my mother?"
Declan looked at her.
For a moment, something almost like surprise crossed his face.
"No."
"Then where is she?"
Declan laughed softly.
"That's the interesting part, sweetheart."
Andrew's hand moved toward his gun.
Declan's men raised theirs.
"Careful, boss."
May you like
Then Declan delivered the sentence that changed Nuler's world.
"Your mother didn't die in that fire."
Related Stories
