warehouse, keeping to the shadows. Though the buildings blocked her view of the river, the cold, damp air reeked of polluted water and rotten fish. The area appeared deserted. She tiptoed around the corner of the building, her breath rasping in short, harsh pants.
Without warning, a hand clamped over her mouth from behind. Instinctively, she squeaked. The fingers tightened, cutting off the noise.
"Shh. Are you trying to get killed?" The hand dropped away.
"Peter!" She whirled. "What are you doing?"
"I refuse to live with another Carla on my conscience. Quit the Wonder Woman act and call the cops."
"They're involved. We'll sign Ga— Val's death warrant."
"Leo and Vic sure as hell aren't going to play Chinese Checkers with him." He sighed. "Do you have a plan?"
"Find Val and warn him."
"Do you have a weapon?" She shook her head and Peter frowned. "Maybe we can see the boat from inside the building."
They tiptoed up the crumbling, rotted wooden steps and into the darkened warehouse. Peter picked his way across the debris-littered floor to an east-facing window. "Here," he whispered.
She warily circled tangles of broken wire and chunks of mold-encrusted cement to join him.
"The Lady Liberty is the black fishing trawler docked to the left." He scrubbed a hand over his face. "You stay inside and I'll go scout around. See if you can find a weapon."
She turned away from the window to examine the gloomy interior. A piece of iron pipe caught her eye, and she skirted a pile of rotted boards to pick it up. "How about this?"
He half turned from the window, then stiffened. He gasped and jerked his gaze back outside. "They've got him!"
The pipe clutched in her hand, she leapt over the pile of boards and ran to his side. She didn't see anyone. "You saw Val?"
"Vic just hustled him on board at gunpoint. They had his hands tied behind his back."
She thrust the pipe at him and yanked open her purse. She snatched out the cell phone. "I'm calling Ga— Val's boss." She pushed the power button. Nothing happened. Cold dread congealed in her throat. She pushed it again. "The battery is dead. Val got upset and was gone all night. He must not have realized the phone needed to be charged." Gabe's state of mind last night was her fault. Tears stung her eyes, and she started to shake.
Peter's fingers whitened on the pipe. "Now what?"
She stared at the pipe. Resolve stiffened her spine. Her shaking stopped. "Now we rescue him."
"Tessa, I don't think it's wise to—"
"We're his only hope. If you aren't going to help, shut up." She searched the garbage until she found a second length of iron pipe. She tested the heft against her palm. A crude, but effective weapon. "I'm going to get him out."
"I can't let you go alone. Let's split up. You find Val, and I'll create a diversion."
He hurried outside. She paused to rifle through her purse for anything useful and found a nail file, which she stowed in her sock. Scant help, but perhaps she could jab the point into an unsuspecting eye. She hid her purse in a corner. Gripping the pipe, she navigated the debris to join Peter.
Hidden in the shadows, they scuttled to the dock. She stared up at the tall black ship. Lady Liberty rolled as waves slapped against her side. Tessa's stomach pitched. She clenched her teeth and reached for the ladder. Gabe needs you.
Clinging tightly to the rusty metal, she climbed, stopping once to wipe sweaty palms on her slacks. She reached the top and peered over the rail. Not a soul in sight. She clambered aboard, and darted behind a huge pile of coiled rope.
Within seconds, Peter joined her. He glanced at his watch. "In five minutes I'll create a disturbance. If all goes well, I'll meet you back at the warehouse. If not, leave without me."
The deck swayed under her feet as she tiptoed to the doorway that led below. Her chest tightened. "Focus on Gabe," she whispered. She eased open the door. The rusty hinges squeaked, shattering the eerie silence. She froze, her hand on the knob. Only her own ragged breathing and racing pulse thundered in her ears. She crept on.
A twisted stairway opened into a cavernous room with a thick web of pipes snaking overhead. The dank, echoing enclosure reeked of fish. Her stomach roiled. Gagging, she breathed through her mouth in short bursts. Pipe at the ready, she edged along the wall, peering into the blackness.