I’d slept in my daughter’s room for the first two nights. Every time I’d tried to sleep in my own bed, I’d had nightmares about men trying to take her away from me.
I didn’t tell my wife what was going on, she knew I had seen somethings that I was struggling to get my head around, but she hasn’t pushed for me to talk about it.
I called the office again this morning and said I was working from home again; I know I need to go in at some point but everything I need to do right now I can do from home.
I don’t have many cases on my docket for the next couple of weeks, I’ve made sure of it. I want to follow through with this research that Rory as asked me to do.
He doesn’t think we’ll have the answers before something happens to him, and as much as I would love to give him what we’re looking for, I have a feeling he might be right.
I know about all of the threats he’s been receiving he’s told me all about them, I wish he’d tell his brothers, but he won’t. He doesn’t want them to know anything until we have all of the answers.
“Daddy.”
“Hey munchkin.” My little girl comes flying into my office, a smile on her face, a paper in her hand.
“Mommy said you were sad…I drew you a picture.” She climbs up into my lap and I close my computer and hide the papers on my desk. She places a kiss on my cheek, and wraps an arm around me, shoving the drawing in my face.
“Is that us at the park?” I ask her, moving the paper a little bit away from my face so I can actually see it.
She grins at me, and nods so hard her hair tie falls out. Giggling, she climbs off my lap. “I love you daddy” and runs to the door. “Mommy, my hair.”
And just like that, she’s gone.
My mood has improved slightly, having her in my space always puts a smile on my face but knowing what I have to dive back into makes me feel sick.
Four hours later and I’m no further forward. I know Michael is alive, I have images of him in the states, Ireland, England, Italy, France, but I can’t seem to find anything recent. The last image I have is from four months ago when he was on a boat in the waters just off Monte Carlo.
Needing to do something else, I move onto the next thing Rory has me doing.
I set up the safehouse, I’m the only person who knows where it is. Even Rory won’t know, his stipulations. He doesn’t want to risk her safety, especially not now.
Once I have the safehouse arranged and secured, I move onto her identity. It won’t be a permanent change, only for the sake of her travel arrangements. We can’t risk anyone figuring out who she is, or who she’s connected to.
Three name changes, with dates and places of birth all different too, her travel is set. Flight out of Ireland, into London, then a ferry into France. From there she’ll travel by road into Italy.
Having her travel into Italy is a bit of a risk, but they won’t be looking that close hopefully. She’ll take a flight from Italy into Morocco and that’s where my involvement ends. My sources will stay with her and get to the destination a week later.
Everything for her temporary life is set up. She’s not happy about it, but she knows it has to happen. She knows this is the safest thing for her. Rory won’t have it any other way.
I pick up my phone to drop him a text to let him know it’s all taken care of, but he call’s my phone before I have a chance to open the app.
“Perfect timing, everything is taken care of, she leaves tonight...”
“Good…listen, Halliwell, my time is up…”
“Wait, what do you mean your time is up?”
“Liam, he’s on he’s way here…”
“Then get the fuck out of there Rory, fucking run.”
He sighs down the phone. “You and I both know it’s too late for that. One way or another it ends today. Listen, I need to know you remember everything you promised me…”
“Rory, please just run.”
“Drake…for fucks sake man, I need to you to focus. I’m done… I can’t run. I have to try and end this, but I’m almost certain fate is not on my side. So, I need you to follow through. Find Michael, you don’t tell my brothers until you do. You understand?”
“I understand,” I can barely get the words out; my breath catches in my throat.
