Chapter 9 - The Decoy Drive
The midnight air down by the waterfront was freezing and thick with fog.
Pier 44 was a desolate wasteland of rusted shipping containers and broken streetlights.
Hannah pulled her dark coat tightly against her shivering body.
The sound of dark water lapping heavily against the wooden pylons echoed eerily.
She clutched her purse tightly against her chest, feeling the solid weight of the brass candlestick.
"I know you are here, Beatrice!" Hannah shouted into the thick mist.
"Bring my sister out right now!"
A pair of bright headlights suddenly snapped on, blinding Hannah temporarily.
A sleek black luxury sedan sat idling at the far end of the pier.
The driver's side door clicked open.
Beatrice stepped out into the damp night air.
She was wearing a long black trench coat and a pair of dark leather gloves.
She held a silver, suppressed handgun casually by her side.
"Right on time, as always," Beatrice sneered, walking slowly toward the light.
"Where is Sarah?" Hannah demanded, refusing to back down.
"She is asleep in the backseat," Beatrice lied with a wicked smirk.
"She was so tired from crying that I gave her a little sedative to calm her nerves."
"Hand over the flash drive, and I will give you the keys to the car."
Hannah reached into her pocket and pulled out the decoy USB drive.
She held it up high so the headlights caught the metallic casing.
"Open the back door first," Hannah commanded strictly.
"I need to see her with my own eyes."
Beatrice rolled her eyes dramatically.
"You are in absolutely no position to make demands, you pathetic little brat."
Beatrice raised the silver handgun and pointed it directly at Hannah's chest.
"Toss the drive to me right now."
Hannah's heart hammered frantically against her ribs.
She tossed the small piece of plastic onto the wet concrete between them.
Beatrice quickly knelt down and scooped it up with her gloved hand.
She smiled triumphantly, believing she had finally won.
"You really are stupid, Hannah," Beatrice laughed, shaking her head.
"Did you honestly think I would leave a witness alive to testify against me?"
Beatrice aimed the gun squarely at Hannah's face and tightened her finger on the trigger.
"Say hello to your sister in hell."
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Suddenly, a massive, blinding spotlight illuminated the entire pier from above.
The deafening roar of a police helicopter shattered the quiet night.
