Chapter 6 - The Man Who Knew Her Father
Victor fired first.
The shot struck the stairwell wall. Rourke ducked behind the doorframe and returned fire. Concrete chipped above Lily's head.
"Get down!" Victor shouted.
Lily grabbed the notebook and slid behind the cabinet. The cassette recorder hit the floor. Her mother's voice stopped.
Victor moved toward the stairs, drawing Rourke's attention. Lily saw the gunman's shadow stretch across the floor.
"Victor, don't!" she called.
He didn't hear her—or pretended not to.
Rourke stepped into view. "You always did have a weakness for lost causes."
"Not this one."
"Daniel said the same thing."
Lily went cold. "You knew my father?"
Rourke's smile widened. "I was there when he died."
Victor lunged. The two men crashed against the railing. The gun went off once, then clattered down the stairs.
Lily ran.
She grabbed a metal laundry pole from beside the door and struck Rourke across the back. He stumbled. Victor drove him into the wall, but Rourke was stronger than he looked. He threw Victor aside and caught Lily by the throat.
"Your father should have stayed quiet," he whispered.
Lily's vision narrowed. She drove her knee into his injured leg—the same leg she'd noticed at the restaurant. His grip loosened.
Victor pulled her free.
A siren wailed outside.
Rourke looked toward the exit, then back at Lily. "Ask Victor what was in the third boat."
He shoved past them and vanished up the stairs.
Victor started after him.
Lily caught his sleeve. "No. Tell me what happened to my father."
Victor's face looked suddenly older.
"He was shot at Pier 19," he said. "I was supposed to meet him there. I was late."
"Why?"
"Because someone sent me to the wrong pier."
"Who?"
May you like
Victor looked at the notebook in her hand.
"Your mother believed it was my brother."
