Chapter 11 - THE WAREHOUSE OF BROKEN PROMISES
The warehouse stood at the edge of the harbor.
Its windows were dark.
Its loading doors were rusted.
Inside, Margaret Dunlevy sat beneath a hanging light.
Anthony Rourke stood beside her.
He checked his watch.
“Where are they?”
A guard shrugged.
“Coming.”
Anthony smiled.
“Good.”
But Mave had not come alone.
Detective Bennett had organized a response team.
Officers surrounded the property.
Declan remained with Mave at a secure location nearby.
Anthony called.
Mave answered.
“Where's my mother?”
“Alive.”
“Let me speak to her.”
Anthony laughed.
“You've got your mother's stubbornness.”
Mave closed her eyes.
“Please.”
Margaret's voice came through the phone.
“Mave?”
“Mom!”
“Don't come.”
Anthony pulled the phone away.
“You hear that?” he said. “Even now, she's trying to protect you.”
Mave's hands trembled.
Detective Bennett signaled for her to keep talking.
“Why did you kill Liam?” Mave asked.
Silence.
Then Anthony laughed softly.
“Because he thought he could ruin everything over a few dogs.”
Declan's face hardened.
Anthony continued.
“He was always too soft.”
Mave swallowed.
“And Brutus?”
“An investment.”
She closed her eyes.
“You trained him to attack.”
Anthony laughed.
“Not exactly. We trained him to respond to fear. Fear makes people predictable.”
Mave felt sick.
Anthony's voice changed.
“Now tell Gallagher to stop the shipment inspection.”
Detective Bennett nodded toward her.
Mave took a breath.
“He won't.”
Silence.
Then Anthony said:
“Wrong answer.”
The call ended.
Seconds later, officers moved.
The operation unfolded rapidly.
Police entered through two loading doors.
Anthony's guards surrendered after a brief confrontation.
Margaret was found alive.
Anthony attempted to flee through a rear exit.
He was arrested near the loading dock.
Mave waited outside the perimeter until paramedics brought her mother out.
She ran toward her.
“Mom!”
Margaret reached for her.
“Mave.”
They held each other.
Both crying.
Declan stood several feet away.
Watching.
Then Margaret looked at him.
Her eyes filled.
“You look like Liam.”
Declan stopped breathing.
She reached for his hand.
“Your brother was a good boy.”
May you like
Declan's face crumpled.
For the first time since Liam's funeral, he cried.
