I had no time to answer.
Ray’s phone vibrated.
A video appeared.
Julian was inside an old industrial warehouse.
Beside him, tied to a chair, was Martha, the woman who had worked in our house and who for years had been the only person who treated me with true tenderness.
Julian raised a wrench in front of the camera.
“Pier 7. One hour, Rachel. You alone. If the police show up, Martha doesn’t come out alive.”
Sebastian shook his head.
“You’re not going.”
I looked at the video.
Then I looked at Ray.
“Get everything ready.”
Sebastian grabbed my arm.
“Rachel, Simone has activated her men.”
I freed myself slowly.
“That’s exactly what I’m counting on.”
PART 3
I arrived alone at an old cargo terminal at Port Newark a little after midnight.
I had traded my heels for boots and my gala dress for black pants and a plain shirt.
The enormous industrial warehouse was almost empty.
Almost.
