A mother went shopping but never returned. Fourteen years later, her family discovers the shocking reason Why…

We’re hoping they can provide more information about the eastern horizon, and whether your mother might be on board. I want to talk to them, Ethan said firmly. Detective Vance hesitated.

That’s not standard procedure, Ethan. Please, Ethan insisted, I’m the one who spoke to the guard at the warehouse. I might recognise someone, or they might recognise me.

After a moment’s consideration, Detective Vance nodded. All right, but just as an observer. I do the talking.

He led Ethan down a corridor to a room where they could watch the interrogations through a one-way mirror. Inside the adjacent room, a middle-aged man in dock-worker’s clothing sat handcuffed to a table, being questioned by two officers. That’s not the guard I met, Ethan said, studying the man.

They observed for several minutes, as the dock-worker stubbornly refused to provide any information beyond his name and employment at the harbour. Detective Vance made notes on a pad, occasionally murmuring observations about the man’s body language or responses. Let’s try the next one, he suggested, after it became clear they would get nothing useful from this suspect.

In the second interrogation room, they found an older man being questioned, and Ethan immediately tensed. That’s him, he said urgently. That’s the guard from the warehouse.

Detective Vance studied the man through the glass. You’re sure? Positive, Ethan confirmed. He’s the one who told me about Ronald.

The detective nodded thoughtfully. Let’s listen in. Unlike the dock-worker, the guard seemed almost relaxed despite his circumstances, answering questions with a detached calm that bordered on amusement.

When asked about his employment, he freely admitted to working security for Harvey Doss. When questioned about the Eastern Horizon, he claimed no knowledge of its cargo or destination. He’s lying, Ethan muttered.

He knew about my mother. He all but admitted she was there. Detective Vance watched the interrogation for a few more minutes before making a decision.

I’m going in. Stay here and watch. Ethan observed as Detective Vance entered the interrogation room, introduced himself to the other officers, and took a seat across from the guard.

The detective’s approach was different, less confrontational, more conversational. You know, we’ve been watching that warehouse for a while, Vance said casually, though Ethan knew this to be a bluff. We’ve identified most of the people who were held there, including Katherine Dawson.

The guard’s expression didn’t change, but a subtle tension appeared in his shoulders. We know she was forced to work for Doss, probably because of a loan she couldn’t repay, Detective Vance continued. What we don’t know is whether she’s still alive, and whether she’s on that ship.

I don’t know what you’re talking about, the guard replied evenly. That’s interesting, Detective Vance said, leaning forward slightly, because you seemed to know exactly who she was when her son mentioned her name last night. A flicker of recognition crossed the guard’s face, quickly suppressed.

Her son is here, by the way, the detective added. He identified you immediately, and let me tell you he’s pretty determined to find his mother after fourteen years of believing she abandoned him and his family. The guard remained silent, but his eyes darted briefly toward the mirror.

Here’s the thing, Detective Vance continued, his voice taking on a harder edge. We’re going to catch up with that ship. The Coast Guard is already in pursuit, and when we do, everyone on board is going to start talking to save themselves.

Ronald, Harvey Doss, they’ll throw you under the bus in a heartbeat to reduce their own sentences. The guard’s composure finally showed cracks. He shifted in his seat, gaze dropping to the table.

You’re looking at serious time, Detective Vance pressed, kidnapping, false imprisonment, probably human trafficking, but if you help us now, if you tell us where that ship is headed, and whether Catherine Dawson is on board, I can put in a good word with the prosecutor. For a long moment the guard said nothing, then he sighed heavily, the sound of a man making a difficult calculation. I’m old, he said finally, I’m sick, prison’s just another place to die.

Then why not do one good thing before you go, Detective Vance suggested, help a family find their mother. The guard considered this, then leaned forward, speaking quietly. I can’t tell you where the ship is going, I genuinely don’t know, that information is compartmentalised, but I can give you access to something that might help…