Chapter 8 - The Siege of Harbor Ridge
Two days after the incident at Pier 9, the police recovered Marcus Crane's camel coat washed up on the rocky shores of Devil's Point. The coroner declared the death an accidental drowning following an underworld dispute. No charges were filed. No inquiries were made into apartment seven on Mercer Street.
The North End syndicate collapsed overnight. Without Crane's leadership or funding, the remaining loan sharks and corrupt city inspectors scattered into the wind or surrendered their contracts to the southern maritime commission.
Sarah sat on the bench outside Harbor Ridge Charter School, watching students in their navy and white uniforms pour through the front gates.
Bee walked down the steps, laughing with two of her classmates, her algebra binder tucked safely under her arm. When she saw Sarah, her face lit up with an innocent, radiant smile that made Sarah’s chest ache with gratitude.
"Sarah!" Bee ran over, throwing her arms around her sister's neck. "You came!"
"I promised I'd pick you up," Sarah smiled, smoothing Bee’s hair. "How was the test?"
"I aced it," Bee grinned proudly. "Mr. Henderson said I have the highest score in the tenth grade."
"Of course you do," Sarah said softly.
A block away, idling beside the curb, sat the familiar matte-black SUV.
Sarah walked Bee over to the passenger door. Jonah was sitting in the back seat, his face still bearing fading yellow bruises, but he was clean, dressed in a fresh jacket, and holding a warm bag of pastries from the bakery downtown.
"Hey, kiddo," Jonah said quietly, his voice full of humility as Bee climbed in beside him and immediately punched his shoulder.
"You're grounded for the rest of your natural life," Bee declared, though she rested her head against his arm a second later.
Declan Vance stood on the sidewalk near the rear of the vehicle, his dark wool coat unbuttoned, looking out over the quiet suburban neighborhood. Sarah walked up to him, the autumn wind tugging at her coat.
"The federal audit on the clinic's trust accounts was dropped this morning," Sarah said. "The city attorney signed an official clearance certificate."
"I know," Vance replied, looking down at her. "I had my attorneys review the paperwork before it hit your desk."
"And Jonah?"
"Jonah is leaving for Seattle tomorrow morning," Vance said. "I have a logistics operation at the Puget Sound docks. He’s going to work as a cargo clerk under one of my old captains. Hard labor, ten hours a day, minimum wage. Half his paycheck goes into an escrow account until he pays back every dime he stole from Crane's victims."
May you like
Sarah sighed, a weight lifting from her shoulders. "It's better than he deserves."
"It's a second chance," Vance said gently. "Everyone deserves at least one, Sarah. Even a Calloway."
