Chapter 12 - THE SECOND DAUGHTER
Renick read the note twice.
Then he tore it in half.
Belle had never seen rage become physical without movement.
That was what happened to him.
His face emptied.
His shoulders lowered.
Every guard in the room seemed to understand that something dangerous had entered the space.
“Find the vehicle.”
The security chief spoke rapidly into his radio.
“North camera shows no exit.”
“Then she’s still here.”
They searched.
Closets.
Attic.
Boathouse.
Beach.
Nothing.
Micah stood beside Belle, crying silently.
“This is my fault.”
“No.”
“I gave her the dinosaur.”
“That has nothing to do with it.”
“I should’ve stayed.”
Belle crouched.
“You are not responsible for protecting everyone.”
Micah looked at her.
“Why not?”
Because somebody had to tell him before it became his entire life.
“Because you’re seven.”
Owen watched from across the room.
Something in his expression suggested he understood too well.
Renick returned.
“No signal from her tracker.”
Belle frowned.
“Tracker?”
“In her shoe.”
“Someone knew.”
“Yes.”
Owen looked at the window.
“Callum knows Kavanaugh security.”
Renick glared.
“He designed parts of it.”
“Then stop searching your way.”
“What?”
“Search like a child.”
Renick stared.
Owen turned to Micah.
“Where would Brinley go if she was scared?”
Micah wiped his face.
“She hides.”
“Where?”
“She likes small places.”
Belle remembered the security room.
The sofa.
Brinley beneath blankets.
Micah suddenly looked toward the hallway.
“The boat.”
They ran to the boathouse.
One boat remained tied inside.
Renick checked it.
Empty.
Micah pointed beneath the dock.
“There.”
A tiny hand gripped a support beam.
Brinley was in the water.
Renick jumped without removing his coat.
He pulled her out.
She was freezing.
Conscious.
Terrified.
There was tape across her mouth.
A nylon cord around one wrist.
Belle wrapped her in blankets.
Brinley clung to Renick.
“He said Daddy wouldn’t find me.”
“Who?”
Brinley shook.
“The man.”
“Which man?”
“He had a mask.”
Micah noticed something.
“Her hand.”
Black ink marked Brinley’s palm.
A lighthouse.
And the number 8.
Owen’s face went pale.
Renick saw.
“What?”
“That’s not for you.”
“Then who?”
Owen stared at the symbol.
“It’s for Isla.”
Belle felt cold.
“How?”
Owen stood.
“He knows where she is.”
Renick stepped closer.
“You said she was safe.”
“She was.”
“Where?”
Owen hesitated.
Renick grabbed his jacket.
Belle stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Renick released him.
Owen rubbed his collar.
“Isla is with people Bianca trusted.”
“Where?”
“Vermont.”
Renick’s eyes hardened.
“We leave now.”
“No.”
“Owen.”
“She doesn’t know you.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“And the last man claiming family nearly got Brinley killed.”
Renick stared at him.
Belle understood Owen’s fear.
But she also understood Renick’s.
“Call Bianca.”
Owen looked away.
Belle’s stomach sank.
“You can’t.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Owen said nothing.
Renick knew.
“Bianca is dead.”
Owen closed his eyes.
Belle whispered, “When?”
“Six months ago.”
The car in Rockport.
The blood.
No body.
“She survived the attack,” Owen said. “For three days.”
Renick looked like someone had struck him.
“And you were there?”
“Yes.”
“You watched her die.”
“Yes.”
Renick turned away.
He braced both hands against the wall.
Brinley called softly, “Daddy?”
He returned immediately.
He knelt beside her.
His grief vanished behind fatherhood.
“Right here.”
Owen looked at Belle.
“Bianca made me promise not to bring Isla to Boston.”
“Because of Callum?”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now Callum knows.”
Belle looked at the number on Brinley’s palm.
Eight.
Isla’s age.
A message.
Renick said, “We go to Vermont.”
This time Owen agreed.
They left Brinley with a pediatric doctor and four guards.
Belle wanted Micah to stay.
Micah refused.
“No.”
“Micah.”
“If Brinley wakes up, I should be there.”
That surprised Belle.
He was not asking to join the danger.
He wanted to stay for his friend.
Owen crouched beside him.
“That’s a good reason.”
Micah looked at him cautiously.
Belle kissed her son.
“Do not leave this room.”
“I know.”
“Say it.”
“I will not leave this room.”
She looked at Owen.
“Now we go.”
The Vermont safe house was a cabin near Stowe.
Snow covered the mountains despite summer only at the highest peaks? No—it was August.
Belle corrected the strange mental image.
Green mountains.
Fog.
Pine.
They arrived before dawn.
The cabin door stood open.
Owen ran.
“Isla!”
No answer.
Inside, furniture had been overturned.
A man lay unconscious near the kitchen.
Alive.
Renick searched upstairs.
Belle heard a sound beneath the floor.
She followed it to a pantry.
A trapdoor.
Below was a storm shelter.
She opened it.
Gray eyes stared up at her.
A little girl.
Dark curls.
Thin face.
She held a kitchen knife in both hands.
“Don’t come closer.”
Belle froze.
“You’re Isla?”
The girl’s expression sharpened.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Belle.”
Recognition.
“Micah’s mom.”
Belle’s heart stopped.
“You know Micah?”
Isla lowered the knife slightly.
“My mom had pictures.”
Renick appeared behind Belle.
Isla looked at him.
Everything changed.
Her gray eyes widened.
She knew his face.
Maybe from photographs.
Maybe stories.
Renick did not move.
“I’m Renick.”
Isla’s lips trembled.
“I know.”
He swallowed.
“Can I come down?”
“No.”
Renick nodded.
“Okay.”
Isla stared at him.
May you like
Then she asked the question that shattered him.
“Why didn’t you come when Mom died?”
