Chapter 7 - The Shipping Ledger
I followed the trail of blood down the concrete tunnel, keeping Leo close behind me.
The underground corridor was completely silent except for the steady dripping of rainwater from the ceiling.
We rounded a sharp corner and discovered a massive, brightly lit staging room.
The room was filled with wooden crates stamped with international shipping logos and tables covered in forged passports.
This was the central distribution hub where David organized his human trafficking operations.
I scanned the room and noticed a heavy leather binder sitting on a metal desk.
I flipped through the pages and realized it was the master shipping ledger for the entire syndicate.
The ledger detailed every bribe paid to corrupt cops like Marcus and every illegal transaction David had made.
My eyes locked onto a shipping manifest dated for today, scheduled to depart at midnight.
The cargo was listed simply as "The Whistleblower," assigned to container number 404 at the Seattle docks.
A sharp gasp escaped my lips as the horrible truth washed over me.
Sarah didn't die in the car crash on Interstate 5.
David's men had captured her, and they were planning to smuggle her out of the country on a cargo ship tonight.
I checked the time on my burner phone, realizing it was already eleven o'clock.
"We have to go to the docks right now, Leo," I said, grabbing the heavy ledger.
"Is my mom still alive?" he asked, his eyes wide with desperate hope.
"Yes, and we are going to get her back," I promised fiercely.
We navigated the rest of the tunnel and emerged through a hidden grate near the waterfront.
The Seattle docks were shrouded in thick fog, smelling of salt water and diesel fuel.
We crept silently between the towering stacks of metal shipping containers, searching for the number 404.
Suddenly, a bright searchlight swept across the wet pavement right in front of us.
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Two men carrying assault rifles walked past our hiding spot, speaking in hushed, angry voices.
"The boss wants her thrown overboard as soon as we hit international waters," one of the men grunted.
