Chapter 7: The Friend Who Came to Kill Me
The storage door rose six inches, then stopped.
A shadow stretched across the concrete floor.
"Ray?"" Marcus called again.
"I know you're in there.""
I stood behind the metal cabinet, gripping David's folder in one hand and the prepaid phone in the other. My heart hammered so hard I could hear it over the rattle of the door.
For thirty-five years, Marcus Bell had been the brother I chose. He'd carried me out of a burning garage, sat beside me when my father died, and helped me bury my wife after cancer took her at fifty-one.
I'd trusted him with my life.
Now David was telling me not to trust him with a nine-year-old boy.
"Give me a minute," I called.
"There's no time for that.""
The door rose another foot.
I peered through the narrow gap beside the cabinet. Marcus stood outside with his hands visible, his face illuminated by the overhead security light.
Behind him stood Victor Hale.
And Victor was holding a gun.
"Step away from the cabinet, Ray," Marcus said.
I stared at him.
"You brought him here?""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Put the folder down.""
"Answer me.""
"Please don't make this harder than it needs to be.""
I almost laughed.
"You know what? That's exactly what David said before he disappeared. He told me someone had betrayed him, but he never gave me a name.""
Marcus flinched.
It was small. Barely a movement.
But I'd known him too long to miss it.
"You knew," I whispered.
Marcus looked away.
Victor stepped closer.
"Touching reunion, gentlemen. Unfortunately, we have business to finish.""
I held up the folder.
"What's in here that scares you so badly?""
"Evidence," Victor replied.
"Evidence that was stolen from my company nine years ago.""
"Your company?""
"Bellhaven Security. I built it from nothing. David was a disgruntled employee who decided he deserved more money than he earned.""
"Funny. His letter says you threatened his wife and newborn son.""
Victor's smile vanished.
"David was a liar.""
"Then why are you threatening his son?""
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Marcus took a step forward.
"Ray, give him the folder. We can still walk away from this.""
I looked at my oldest friend.
"Tell me one thing, Marcus. Did you help David disappear?""
His face crumpled.
"Ray—"
"Did you?""
He swallowed.
"Yes.""
The word landed harder than a punch.
Victor gestured impatiently with the gun.
"Enough. The folder.""
I didn't move.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"David came to me nine years ago. He had documents proving Victor was using Bellhaven to intimidate witnesses and move money through fake companies. He wanted to expose everything.""
"And you told Victor.""
"I thought I was protecting the club.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
"Victor threatened to frame us for a robbery. He had photographs, bank records, names. He said he'd put every member of the Iron Wolves in prison.""
"So you sold David out?""
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
"I gave Victor the location of the meeting. I didn't know he was going to kill anyone.""
The room seemed to shrink around me.
"What happened that night?""
Marcus looked at Victor.
The older man lifted his gun slightly.
"Careful, Marcus.""
But something had changed in my friend.
Maybe it was shame. Maybe it was the sight of the folder in my hand.
Whatever it was, Marcus finally looked me in the eyes.
"I told David to meet me at the old bridge. Victor's men were waiting. David escaped, but they caught Laura before she could leave town with Noah.""
My stomach twisted.
"Laura was Noah's mother.""
"I know.""
"What did they do to her?""
"They threatened to take Noah. David came back and surrendered the evidence to keep them away from the baby.""
I stared at him.
"And then?""
"Victor let David leave. He told him that if he ever contacted Laura or Noah again, they'd both disappear.""
"Why didn't David come to us?""
Marcus wiped his face.
"Because he knew I'd betrayed him.""
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Victor sighed.
"Lovely. Now that everyone has confessed their sins, give me the folder.""
I slipped it inside my jacket.
"No.""
His expression hardened.
"You have no idea what you're risking.""
"I know exactly what I'm risking.""
I lunged toward the cabinet and slammed my shoulder into the metal frame.
The cabinet toppled.
Boxes crashed across the floor. The overhead light flickered as I threw myself toward the narrow gap beneath the partially raised door.
A gunshot exploded behind me.
Pain tore through my upper arm.
I hit the concrete, rolled, and scrambled through the opening as Marcus shouted my name.
Outside, I staggered to my feet.
A motorcycle engine roared from the far end of the lane.
Eddie came tearing around the corner, his headlight cutting through the darkness.
"Get on!"" he yelled.
I ran toward him.
Another gunshot struck the storage door.
Eddie grabbed my jacket and hauled me onto the back of his motorcycle.
We accelerated toward the exit as Victor shouted behind us.
I clutched the folder against my chest, my wounded arm burning.
At the gate, Eddie glanced back.
"You still alive?""
"Unfortunately.""
"Good. Marcus just called me.""
My stomach dropped.
"What did he say?""
Eddie hesitated.
"He said you were in trouble.""
I looked at him sharply.
"And?""
Eddie's face was pale beneath his helmet.
"He said we needed to bring Noah somewhere safe.""
"Did he tell you where?""
Eddie nodded.
Then he spoke the words that made my blood run cold.
"He said to take him to the old clubhouse.""
The old clubhouse.
The place where David had hidden the first clue.
The place Marcus had been at the night everything went wrong.
I grabbed Eddie's shoulder.
"Don't go there.""
He frowned.
"Why not?""
I looked at the road ahead.
"Because if Marcus is working with Victor, Noah is exactly where they'll expect us to take him.""
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
*YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO FIND THE BOY.*
Attached was a photograph of Noah sitting alone in the back seat of a car.
May you like
His face was wet with tears.
And beside him sat Marcus Bell.
