Chapter 7 - THE FIRE
The video shook badly.
Thomas was filming from inside the warehouse basement.
Smoke alarms screamed above him.
He looked terrified.
Belle had never seen him terrified.
He looked into the camera.
“Belle.”
Her hand flew to her mouth.
“If this gets to you, I’m sorry.”
He coughed.
“I should’ve told you.”
Renick stood behind Belle.
Close enough if she fell.
Not touching.
Thomas continued.
“Maeve was right.”
“Patrick had a partner.”
“I know who.”
The video glitched.
Belle leaned forward.
Thomas said.
“It isn’t Sully.”
Sully closed his eyes.
The room exhaled.
Then Thomas coughed again.
“SB is Sebastian Byrne.”
Sully’s uncle.
Patrick’s younger brother.
A man who had served as Renick’s family attorney for twenty-seven years.
Renick’s face went blank.
Sebastian had drafted Brinley’s trust.
Handled Maeve’s estate.
Controlled half the legal shell companies around Kavanaugh holdings.
He also attended the house every Sunday for dinner.
Micah knew him.
Belle’s stomach dropped.
“Was he at the estate yesterday?”
Sully checked.
“No.”
“Today?”
“No.”
Renick called.
No answer.
Thomas’s video continued.
“Sebastian wants the ledger because it ties him to the Moretti side.”
“He says Renick is too soft because of the kid.”
“He thinks if Brinley dies, Renick becomes what the family needs again.”
Belle looked at Renick.
He did not react.
That was worse than anger.
Thomas coughed hard.
Flames reflected behind him.
“I locked the proof away.”
“If I don’t get out…”
He stopped.
Then smiled.
Not because anything was funny.
Because he knew Belle would remember that face.
“Tell Micah I’m sorry I missed his birthday.”
Belle broke.
The video ended before Thomas did.
She stood too fast.
Renick caught her elbow.
She did not pull away.
For once.
Then Sully’s phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“Brinley’s safe house alarm just went off.”
Belle looked at the empty chair where Micah had been sitting ten minutes earlier.
He was gone too.
A guard ran in.
“Micah went upstairs to get his dinosaur.”
Belle stopped breathing.
Renick was already moving.
Then a text appeared on his phone.
One photograph.
Brinley and Micah sitting together in the back of a black van.
Both alive.
Both terrified.
Below it were six words.
May you like
BRING THE LEDGER OR LOSE BOTH.
