Chapter 6 - The Night at Pier 4
The rain was falling in relentless sheets over the Boston harbor as Julian’s black armored SUV pulled to a quiet stop behind the abandoned brick warehouses of Pier 4.
The Atlantic Ocean slammed against the wooden pilings below, spray misting against the windshield.
Julian turned off the engine. In the dim light of the dashboard, he checked the clip on his Sig Sauer pistol before sliding it back into his shoulder holster. He turned to look at Sadie in the passenger seat. She was wearing one of his heavy black wool coats over her clothes, her dark hair pulled back into a neat braid.
"Stay behind me no matter what happens," Julian said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Silvio’s men monitor the harbor patrols. If he realizes we're here, this gets messy."
"I'm coming with you to the safe," Sadie said firmly. "My father's handwriting is on the secondary lock dial. I know the rhythm."
Julian stared at her for a moment, admiring the fierce determination in her dark eyes. He reached over, cupping the back of her neck, and pressed a soft, warm kiss to her forehead. "Then let's clear your family's name."
They slipped out into the freezing rain, moving quietly along the side of the rusted iron gate. Julian used a heavy pair of cutters to snap the chain on the side door, pushing the creaky metal open.
Inside, the warehouse was vast, dark, and filled with the stench of salt water, old wood, and wet rust. Dust motes danced in the beam of Julian’s tactical flashlight as he led her toward the back storage office.
Beneath a stack of rotted wooden pallets, Julian uncovered a iron trapdoor set directly into the concrete floor. He pulled it open, revealing a steep flight of stone stairs leading down into the dark foundation sea-wall.
They descended into the cold subterranean vault.
At the end of the narrow stone corridor stood an ancient, heavy steel safe door bearing the faded gold emblem of the Corsini Syndicate.
Sadie stepped forward, her fingers touching the cold steel combination dial. She closed her eyes, remembering her father's weak voice in the hospital room.
"Three turns right to the year of the fire," she whispered, turning the dial. Click. Click. Click. "Two turns left to the tie clip notch... five turns right to the train ticket punch..."
A heavy, metallic THUNK echoed through the vault.
The massive steel locking bolts retracted.
Julian stepped forward, putting his shoulder against the heavy door and pushing it open. Inside, resting on a pedestal in the center of the small concrete room, was a thick, leather-bound book strapped with brass locks—the original Corsini family financial ledger from 1999.
"We found it," Sadie breathed, tears welling in her eyes.
"Yes, you did," a loud, arrogant voice echoed from the top of the stone stairs behind them.
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Julian instantly drew his weapon, shoving Sadie behind his back as heavy footsteps marched down into the vault corridor.
Silvio Corsini stepped into the light, holding a silenced pistol, flanked by six heavily armed syndicate soldiers.
