Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT AT DOCK SEVENTEEN
Eight years earlier, Daniel Mercer had worked as a logistics analyst for Shaw Maritime.
He was twenty-eight.
Intelligent.
Ambitious.
And determined to prove himself.
He discovered discrepancies in cargo records.
Containers listed as medical supplies were being rerouted through private warehouses.
The shipping manifests did not match the invoices.
Daniel reported the problem to Pierce Rowan.
Pierce told him it was a clerical issue.
Daniel continued investigating.
Then he disappeared.
Now Laurel and Evelyn found evidence that Daniel had contacted a federal investigator shortly before his disappearance.
The investigator had since retired.
His name was Samuel Price.
Hannah arranged a meeting.
Samuel remembered Daniel immediately.
“He was frightened,” Samuel said.
Laurel leaned forward.
“Of whom?”
Samuel hesitated.
“Your husband's organization.”
Laurel felt sick.
“Did he mention Beckett?”
“No.”
She looked up.
Samuel continued.
“He mentioned Pierce Rowan.”
Laurel gripped the edge of her chair.
“What happened to Daniel?”
Samuel's expression darkened.
“He was supposed to meet me with documents.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Samuel looked away.
“Because he vanished the night before.”
Laurel stared.
“Did you investigate?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“We found evidence of a confrontation at Dock 17. But no body.”
Laurel's breath caught.
“No body?”
Samuel nodded.
For eight years, she had imagined Daniel dead.
Now there was a possibility he had survived.
She looked at Hannah.
“Find him.”
Hannah nodded.
“We'll try.”
Laurel looked down at the photograph.
May you like
Her brother had disappeared while trying to expose corruption.
And the man who knew the truth was the same man Beckett trusted more than anyone.
