Chapter 7 - MICAH’S GAME
Belle became someone else.
She lunged for Renick.
“Give him the drive!”
“We will.”
“Now!”
“Belle.”
“That’s my son!”
Renick caught her shoulders.
“I know.”
“No, you don’t!”
His face tightened.
Then Brinley took Belle’s hand.
“He’ll be okay.”
Belle looked down.
Brinley’s eyes were wet.
“Micah is smart.”
Belle collapsed against the wall.
Meanwhile, somewhere beneath Boston Harbor, Micah watched Patrick Kavanaugh.
He was scared.
Terrified.
But his father had taught him something before he died.
When you’re scared, look.
Count doors.
Count people.
Remember sounds.
Micah counted four men.
Two doors.
One window too high to reach.
He smelled salt water.
He heard gulls.
And every thirty seconds, a deep metal bell.
Patrick crouched in front of him.
“You’re Daniel’s boy.”
Micah said nothing.
“You look like him.”
Still nothing.
“Your father caused me considerable trouble.”
“My dad was good.”
Patrick smiled.
“Good men die too.”
Micah stared at him.
“So do bad ones.”
Patrick’s smile vanished.
One guard almost laughed.
Patrick turned.
The guard immediately looked away.
Micah noticed.
Patrick wanted people afraid of him.
That meant laughter hurt him.
Useful.
Micah shifted in the chair.
Something pressed against his ankle.
His emergency watch.
Patrick’s men had taken his phone.
They had missed the watch beneath his sock.
Micah tapped the side button three times.
Belle’s phone vibrated.
LOCATION SIGNAL DETECTED.
She screamed for Renick.
The signal lasted only eleven seconds.
But it was enough.
Sully mapped it.
“Charlestown.”
Renick leaned closer.
“Near the old dry docks.”
Declan, pale from blood loss, looked at the map.
“Father has tunnels there.”
Renick armed his men.
Belle grabbed a coat.
“No.”
She glared at him.
“Finish that sentence and I’ll break your nose.”
Renick stopped.
Belle came.
They reached the dry docks at dusk.
Patrick had expected them.
Spotlights ignited.
Men emerged from containers.
Gunfire erupted.
Belle crawled behind a concrete barrier while Renick’s men advanced.
Sully found the tunnel entrance.
They descended.
Deep underground, Micah heard gunfire.
Patrick heard it too.
His face changed.
Micah smiled.
“My mom found me.”
Patrick slapped him.
Micah’s head snapped sideways.
The room became silent.
Patrick grabbed his hair.
“Your mother can’t save you.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“No.”
Patrick turned.
Belle stood there.
May you like
A gun trembled in both her hands.
“But I can sure as hell try.”
