“He said, ‘Diana, I can't let a child of mine grow up inside this. I won't do it.’”
Sarah stared at her.
“So he decided to leave.”
“He decided to expose Cutter.”
Hank spoke from the window.
“He spent three weeks preparing.”
Sarah looked at him.
“He copied everything.”
“Everything?”
“Financial records. Shipping routes. Payments. Names. Judges. Officers. Safe houses.”
Diana opened the envelope wider.
“Frank was going to take it all to the FBI.”
“Why didn't he?”
Diana looked down.
“Because he trusted the wrong man.”
“Briggs.”
Sarah looked at Hank.
“Who is Briggs?”
“Frank's second-in-command.”
“How long had they known each other?”
“Twenty years.”
Sarah felt sick.
“And he betrayed him?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Briggs told Cutter everything.”
Hank's voice was cold.
“They took Frank to a warehouse near the docks.”
Sarah whispered:
“What happened?”
“They kept him there for two days.”
“Did he talk?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“I was there when they found his body.”
Sarah's face went pale.
Hank looked away.
“They killed him on a Wednesday morning.”
The room was silent.
Sarah stared at the photograph.
“How old was he?”
“Twenty-seven.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
Twenty-seven.
She was twenty-four.
Three years younger than her.
She tried to imagine being twenty-seven.
Having a child.
Trying to escape a criminal empire.
Knowing you might die.
She couldn't.
“How did you survive?”
Hank looked at Diana.
“I got her out.”
“You were his friend?”
“Yes.”
“How close?”
“Close enough that Frank trusted me with the only thing he couldn't protect himself.”
“Mom?”
Hank nodded.
“Your mother.”
Diana reached for Sarah's hand.
“He told Hank to get me away if anything happened.”
“And you?”
“I was supposed to disappear with you.”
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted you to have something normal.”
Sarah laughed bitterly.
“Normal?”
Diana looked at her.
“I know.”
Sarah picked up another photograph.
“Where is the evidence?”
Hank answered.
“We never found it.”
“Cutter didn't?”
“No.”
“Then why is he after me?”
“Because he believes Frank told you.”
“But he never met me.”
“Exactly.”
Sarah looked at him.
Hank leaned forward.
“Frank hid the location somewhere only you could unlock.”
“How?”
“Your birthday.”
Sarah frowned.
“My birthday?”
“The full date. Spelled out.”
Diana reached into the envelope.
She removed a folded sheet.
“Frank left instructions.”
Sarah opened it.
There was a handwritten message.
Third bench. East entrance. Left armrest support.
Sarah looked up.
“Waterfront Park.”
“Yes.”
“The box is still there?”
“If no one found it.”
Hank's phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?”
“Two black SUVs.”
Diana stood.
“Where?”
“Your street.”
Sarah moved toward the window.
She saw them.
Black.
Tinted.
Parked across the street.
One man stood beside one of the vehicles.
He was looking directly at the building.
Sarah felt the blood leave her face.
“They found us.”
Hank nodded.
“It's time to move.”
Diana shook her head.
“Where?”
“Roof.”
“What?”
“North stairwell.”
Sarah stared at him.
“You've already planned this?”
“I've had exit routes mapped for every apartment you've lived in since you were three.”
She looked at him.
“You've been watching us for that long?”
“Protecting you.”
The apartment door shook.
Someone struck it from outside.
Diana gasped.
Hank opened the bedroom window.
“Roof access.”
Sarah grabbed her mother's arm.
“Come on.”
The door shook again.
This time, the frame cracked.
Hank looked at them.
“Run.”
THE PROMISE
The stairwell smelled like dust and old paint.
Sarah pulled Diana upward.
Her mother's breathing became heavier with every step.
“Keep going,” Hank said.
“I'm trying.”
The door below burst open.
Footsteps.
Several.
Sarah looked down.
Men were coming up.
They were moving quickly.
Professionally.
“They're here.”
Hank didn't look back.
“Roof.”
They reached the final landing.
Hank shoved open the door.
Cold wind struck them.
The rooftop was covered in gravel and puddles.
Across the narrow alley was another building.
Sarah stopped.
“We're supposed to jump that?”
“Eight feet.”
“That's not eight feet.”
“It is.”
“It looks like twenty.”
“You're scared.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Sarah stared at him.
“Good?”
“Fear keeps you alive.”
The door behind them shook.
Hank pointed.
“You first.”
Sarah ran.
She jumped.
Her foot landed hard on the opposite roof.
She rolled.
Pain shot through her palms.
But she was alive.
“Mom!”
Diana came next.
She hesitated.
“Diana!”
The door behind her began to open.
She jumped.
Her foot slipped.
Hank caught her arm.
She landed hard.
Her ankle twisted.
“I can't walk.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I can't.”
Hank put her arm around his shoulder.
“Then lean on me.”
They reached the fire escape.
The metal stairs screamed beneath their weight.
Someone appeared on the roof behind them.
Hank pulled his weapon.
The man stopped.
Hank fired once into the metal railing beside him.
The man ducked.
“Move!”
They descended.
At the bottom, an alley waited.
Hank's truck sat around the corner.
He opened the doors.
“Get in.”
Sarah helped her mother inside.
Hank started the engine.
They accelerated.
For several minutes, no one spoke.
Diana stared out the window.
Sarah held Frank's photograph.
Finally, she said: