Chapter 6 - Ronan Hayes Makes a Promise
Detective Vega arrived before Ronan did.
Sadie was grateful for that.
She did not want the entire situation to become another operation controlled by powerful men.
Vega studied the photographs.
“Do you recognize the number?”
“No.”
“Could Carl have another phone?”
“He changes phones constantly.”
“Why?”
“He said it was for construction jobs.”
Vega gave her a look.
“I'm beginning to suspect Carl doesn't build many houses.”
Sadie almost smiled.
“No.”
“Where’s your security?”
“Outside.”
Vega frowned.
“What security?”
Sadie hesitated.
“A man Ronan assigned.”
Vega stopped writing.
“Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“Ronan Hayes?”
“How many do you know?”
Vega looked through the glass toward the street.
A black sedan sat across from the restaurant.
“You understand who he is?”
“I understand who people say he is.”
“That isn't an answer.”
Sadie looked at the detective.
“Neither is everything people say.”
Vega closed the notebook.
“Be careful.”
“With Carl?”
“With everyone.”
The warning remained in Sadie’s thoughts long after Vega left.
Ronan entered fifteen minutes later.
He walked directly toward her.
“You called Vega.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I’m relieved.”
“You wanted me to call you.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re relieved I didn't?”
“I’m relieved you called someone.”
Sadie searched his expression for manipulation and found none.
Ronan noticed the photograph on her phone.
His face hardened.
“Send that to me.”
“It’s evidence.”
“Send it to Vega first.”
“I already did.”
“Then send it to me.”
Sadie complied.
Ronan enlarged the second image.
His eyes moved across the background.
“What?”
“The angle.”
“What about it?”
“This wasn't taken from the street.”
He pointed toward a reflection.
“The camera is elevated.”
Sadie followed his finger.
A storefront window across the street reflected the Continental entrance.
Above the entrance was a parking structure.
“Someone was in the garage.”
“Yes.”
The security man entered.
“Mr. Hayes.”
“What?”
“We checked the structure.”
“And?”
“No one.”
Ronan looked toward Sadie.
“Did you see anyone unusual tonight?”
“All night?”
“Anyone watching you.”
“I serve rich people. Most of them think staring at staff is included with dinner.”
His jaw tightened.
“That wasn't a joke.”
“I know.”
Sadie thought.
Then remembered.
“A delivery driver.”
Ronan waited.
“He never delivered anything.”
“What did he look like?”
“Baseball cap. Gray jacket. Maybe thirty.”
“Did you see his face?”
“Not really.”
The security man stepped away to make a call.
Ronan sat opposite Sadie.
“You need to move again.”
“No.”
“Sadie.”
“No.”
“Someone knows your location.”
“They knew the hotel. They know I work here. If I keep running, they keep finding me.”
“That doesn't mean you stand still.”
“It means we find out who’s watching.”
“We?”
She crossed her arms.
“If Carl’s involved in stealing from you and somebody is threatening me because of what I might know, then yes.”
“No.”
Sadie raised an eyebrow.
“Excuse me?”
Ronan’s mouth tightened.
“You are not becoming involved in this operation.”
“I’m already involved.”
“Against your will.”
“So were you when somebody forged your authorization.”
Ronan went still.
Sadie saw instantly she had struck something.
“How did you know that?”
“You and Leo weren't whispering as quietly as you thought.”
Ronan looked annoyed.
“That information isn't safe.”
“Neither am I.”
He stood.
“Exactly.”
Sadie stood too.
“You don't get to decide I’m too fragile to know what threatens me.”
“This isn't about fragility.”
“It sounds like it.”
Ronan lowered his voice.
“It’s about experience.”
“With criminals?”
“Yes.”
“I lived with one for two years.”
That silenced him.
Sadie stepped closer.
“I know Carl’s patterns. I know how he lies. I know when he’s scared. I know names he’s mentioned without realizing I remembered them.”
Ronan stared at her.
“That makes you useful.”
The word stung.
She recoiled slightly.
Ronan noticed.
“That came out wrong.”
“No. It came out honest.”
“I don't want to use you.”
“Then don't.”
“Sadie—”
“Let me choose.”
The same principle he had offered her now returned to him.
Ronan slowly exhaled.
“What do you remember?”
Sadie sat.
Over the next hour, she reconstructed two years of fragments.
Names.
Phone calls.
Addresses Carl claimed were construction sites.
Vehicles that arrived late at night.
One warehouse number.
Seventeen.
Ronan exchanged a look with Leo when he arrived.
“Warehouse Seventeen is ours,” Leo said.
Sadie continued.
“Carl hated Thursdays.”
“Why?”
“He always said payroll was Thursdays.”
Leo frowned.
“Our port reconciliation runs Thursday.”
Ronan looked toward Sadie.
“What else?”
“A man named Gabriel.”
The silence became immediate.
Sadie noticed.
“Who is Gabriel?”
Ronan answered after a pause.
“My younger brother.”
“Oh.”
“When did Carl mention him?”
“Maybe three months ago.”
“Exactly?”
“I don't know.”
“Think.”
Sadie closed her eyes.
Carl had been in the shower.
His phone rang.
Sadie answered automatically.
A man said, Tell Jenkins that Gabriel wants it moved before sunrise.
Then hung up.
She told Carl.
He became furious that she had answered.
Sadie opened her eyes.
“Someone said Gabriel wanted something moved before sunrise.”
Leo muttered, “Damn.”
Ronan stood.
“My brother left for Europe three months ago.”
“Was he actually there?” Sadie asked.
Ronan did not answer.
Leo did.
“Yes. We thought.”
Sadie saw something in Ronan’s face she had not seen before.
Not anger.
Fear.
“Is your brother in danger?” she asked.
“Maybe.”
“Or involved?”
Ronan looked at her.
“Maybe.”
She did not tease him about the word this time.
Ronan walked toward the window.
“My father built the original waterfront operation. Gabriel never wanted it.”
“What did he want?”
“To leave.”
Sadie understood that immediately.
“Did you let him?”
Ronan turned.
The question surprised him.
“I didn't stop him.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Leo looked uncomfortable.
Ronan’s expression became guarded.
“He left.”
Sadie nodded.
Sometimes freedom existed only on paper.
She knew that.
Ronan looked away.
“My father died four years ago. I took control. Gabriel wanted nothing to do with it.”
“And now his name appears in Carl’s conversations.”
“Yes.”
Sadie studied him.
“You think Martin is framing him.”
Ronan's gaze sharpened.
“I think Martin may be doing many things.”
“Why?”
“Because if I believe it too early, I might ignore evidence that points somewhere else.”
Sadie nodded.
That was reasonable.
She liked that about him.
It worried her.
Liking things about Ronan Hayes felt dangerous in an entirely different way.
The security man returned.
“We identified the delivery driver.”
Ronan turned.
“Who?”
“Name’s Evan Cole.”
Leo frowned.
“I know him.”
“From where?”
“He worked port security until six months ago.”
“For Martin?”
“Indirectly.”
Ronan’s eyes became cold.
Sadie’s phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
This time no photograph.
Only a location.
WAREHOUSE 17. MIDNIGHT.
Then another message.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH.
Sadie showed Ronan.
His face hardened.
“No.”
She almost laughed.
“I haven't said anything.”
“You're not going.”
“What if Carl is there?”
“Then he's an idiot.”
“What if Gabriel is?”
That stopped him.
Sadie watched Ronan carefully.
“Someone knew mentioning the truth would get my attention. But maybe the message isn't really for me.”
She turned the phone toward him.
“Maybe it’s for you.”
Ronan stared at Warehouse 17.
Sadie could almost see his mind working.
A trap.
A clue.
A betrayal.
Possibly all three.
“I'm going,” he said.
Sadie stood.
“So am I.”
“No.”
“You want to know who sent it.”
“Yes.”
“They asked for me.”
“Which is exactly why you aren't going.”
Sadie stared at him.
“You promised I could choose.”
Ronan looked back.
“I promised I wouldn't control your life.”
“This is my life.”
“And I am asking you not to risk it.”
“Asking?”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
Sadie considered him.
Then nodded.
“Fine.”
Ronan looked suspicious.
“That easily?”
“I'm learning.”
“You're lying.”
Sadie almost smiled.
“Look who's noticing things.”
Ronan stared at her for a long moment.
Then he pointed at Leo.
“Do not let her leave.”
Sadie’s smile vanished.
“You just ruined it.”
“I know.”
Ronan walked out.
Leo looked at Sadie.
Sadie looked at Leo.
“No,” Leo said.
“I didn't say anything.”
“I've worked for him fourteen years. That expression means you're already planning something.”
Sadie sat.
“I’m just a waitress.”
Leo laughed.
“No. That excuse stopped working yesterday.”
At 11:42 p.m., Ronan’s convoy headed toward Warehouse Seventeen.
At 11:49, Leo discovered the bathroom window open.
Sadie Bennett was gone.
And for the first time in years, she was walking directly toward danger not because somebody had forced her—
May you like
but because she had finally chosen what she was willing to fight for.
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