Chapter 19 - Riverside Bridge
Blue emergency lights reflected across the dark river beneath Riverside Bridge.
Lieutenant Briggs' department SUV stood with its driver's door open.
The engine had gone cold.
Rain had begun washing away tire tracks before investigators could photograph them.
Mercer stepped carefully around the vehicle.
No blood.
No obvious struggle.
No sign of Briggs.
Only his badge remained on the driver's seat.
Arthur examined the scene from several yards away.
He did not touch anything.
Instead, he watched the bridge itself.
"The vehicle was staged," he said quietly.
Mercer looked over.
"What makes you think that?"
Arthur pointed toward the driver's door.
"If Briggs had fled voluntarily, he would have taken his badge."
Mercer nodded.
"And if someone kidnapped him?"
"They would not have left it so neatly displayed."
Forensics searched the area.
One officer climbed beneath the bridge.
Another followed the muddy embankment toward the river.
Ten minutes later, Detective Lewis shouted.
"Chief!"
Mercer hurried over.
Lewis held up a small waterproof evidence pouch recovered from beneath the bridge.
Inside rested another brass coin.
Unlike the previous one marked 17, this coin bore a different number.
3.
Arthur's expression darkened.
"They've sent another message."
Mercer carefully studied the coin.
"What does the number mean?"
Arthur answered after several long seconds.
"I don't know."
Then he corrected himself.
"I know what it used to mean."
Mercer waited.
"In the original investigation..."
Arthur looked toward the dark river.
"...the numbers identified senior members of the organization."
Mercer slowly lowered the evidence bag.
"If this one says three..."
Arthur finished the thought.
"Then whoever carries it answers only to two people."
A detective suddenly called from Briggs' abandoned SUV.
"Chief, you need to see this."
Inside the glove compartment lay a sealed envelope.
Across the front, written in neat black ink, were only six words.
For Arthur Hale. Open Alone.
Arthur stared at the envelope without moving.
May you like
He recognized the handwriting instantly.
It belonged to someone he had believed was dead for more than twenty years.
