Chapter 11 - WHERE DANIEL DIED
Belle told federal agents.
She did not go alone.
She had learned that lesson.
But she also knew Patrick would be watching.
So they built a plan.
The location was an abandoned pier near Boston Harbor.
The same place Daniel had supposedly been struck by a car.
Belle arrived carrying the flash drive.
Wind whipped her coat.
“Patrick!”
A light turned on inside the warehouse.
She entered.
Renick was tied to a chair.
Blood ran from his temple.
Patrick stood behind him.
“You came.”
Belle stared at him.
“You killed Daniel here.”
Patrick smiled.
“No.”
Belle froze.
“What?”
“He died here.”
Patrick stepped closer.
“But I didn’t kill him.”
Renick lifted his head.
“Father.”
“Quiet.”
Belle gripped the drive.
“Who did?”
Patrick smiled.
“Ask Sully.”
Belle’s stomach dropped.
Not again.
Patrick explained.
Daniel had confronted Sully that night.
There had been a struggle.
A gun fired.
Daniel was wounded.
Sully panicked.
He called Patrick.
Patrick allowed Daniel to die.
Belle could barely breathe.
Then a voice came from behind her.
“He’s lying.”
Sully entered.
His gun pointed at Patrick.
Belle turned.
Sully’s face was wet with tears.
“I was there.”
Renick stared at him.
Sully continued.
“Daniel confronted me because he thought I worked for Patrick.”
Belle’s voice broke.
“What happened?”
“He shot me.”
Sully pulled up his sleeve.
An old scar crossed his arm.
“I fired back.”
Belle stopped breathing.
Sully whispered, “I hit Daniel.”
The room went silent.
“I didn’t know how bad it was.”
Belle’s eyes filled.
“You left him.”
“No.”
“I called an ambulance.”
Patrick laughed.
“You called me first.”
Sully closed his eyes.
That was enough.
Belle understood.
Sully had hesitated.
And Daniel had died during that hesitation.
“I’m sorry.”
Belle slapped him.
Hard.
Sully did not move.
She slapped him again.
Then she cried.
Years of grief poured out.
Renick watched helplessly.
Patrick looked almost entertained.
That was his mistake.
Micah had once recognized what laughter did to Patrick.
Belle recognized something else.
He enjoyed watching families break.
So she refused.
She wiped her face.
“You don’t get this.”
Patrick frowned.
“You don’t get to use my husband’s death to destroy everyone else.”
Sully looked at her.
Belle stepped away from him.
“I will never forgive what you did.”
Sully nodded.
“But I’m not killing you for Patrick.”
Patrick’s smile vanished.
Renick suddenly kicked backward.
His chair struck Patrick.
Sully fired.
Patrick ran.
Federal agents flooded the warehouse.
Belle reached Renick.
She cut his restraints.
“You came.”
He whispered.
“Of course.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“Everybody keeps telling me that.”
Outside, gunfire echoed.
Patrick escaped onto the pier.
Renick followed.
Belle followed Renick.
At the edge of the harbor, father and son faced each other.
Patrick raised his gun.
Renick raised his.
For twelve years, Boston had feared the Kavanaugh family.
Now everything came down to two men standing beneath cold rain.
Patrick smiled.
“You don’t have it in you.”
Renick lowered his weapon.
“No.”
Patrick laughed.
Then federal agents surrounded him.
Renick looked at his father.
“That’s the difference between us.”
Patrick’s smile finally disappeared.
May you like
He turned his gun toward Belle.
And pulled the trigger.
