A few days later.
At Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey.
After parking inside the port, Gwen opened the door and gazed at the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline spread out before her. She let out a soft gasp of admiration, then turned to Hawk as he stepped out of the passenger seat.
"I've never seen the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan from this angle before. They're beautiful like this, don't you think, Hawk?"
"They're alright."
Hawk glanced at the Statue of Liberty, then at Manhattan across from the port, and gave his assessment.
Listening to Hawk's evaluation, Gwen opened her mouth, too exasperated to even complain. She felt like she never should have discussed whether the view was beautiful with him.
So...
Gwen decisively changed the subject.
"Where's the friend you mentioned?"
"You're early. We agreed on ten, and it's only nine."
Hawk's tone was calm.
A few nights ago, after leaving Gwen's house, he had received a call from Anna. After hanging up, Gwen casually asked who it was, so he told her.
Just as Hawk had said before, as long as Gwen asked, he would not hide anything from her.
But after asking and learning that Anna was the one providing him with information, Gwen said she wanted to come with Hawk.
Hawk agreed.
And so.
Early this morning, Gwen came to the apartment to wake him up. They had agreed to meet here at ten, yet Gwen had arrived at nine.
Fortunately.
An hour was not very long. In the blink of an eye, it was already ten.
At that moment, an utterly ordinary semi-truck drove into the port. After honking twice, it drew Hawk and Gwen's attention.
Hawk turned to look at the semi-truck as it approached them and gradually slowed