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Charlize dropped off the call, her crucial lunch appointment approaching. Harry returned to the swings. Now only Mick and Carmen remained on the phone.
He had to press for more details. He couldn’t come up with a solution where Harry could save Rose and not become a liability for the case. "Carmen, how exactly do you plan to make Harry's saving of Rose look innocuous to the organization? They are going to assume Harry and Rose will go to the police. They are going to think they are busted and start covering their tracks and silencing witnesses."
Carmen's response was methodical, each word carefully chosen. "We'll make it absolutely obvious that Rose and Harry are neutralized. They won’t be going to the authorities because they won’t be going anywhere."
It struck Mick like lightning. Painful and all consuming. “They won’t be going anywhere because they’ll be dead.”
CHAPTER 27
MICK
Mick's car pulled up to a picturesque suburban house, nestled among lush trees and well-kept gardens. It was the safe house, carefully chosen for its warm and inviting appearance. Mick parked the car, and he and Harry both turned to look at Nathaniel, who sat quietly in the backseat, his eyes wide with anticipation. He barely talked and Mick wondered if that was always his nature or if maybe he was in shock. A sense of unease hung in the air, but it was offset by the friendly atmosphere of the neighborhood.
The front door swung open, and a warm, welcoming family stood on the threshold. A man and a woman, both in their mid-thirties, greeted them with friendly smiles. Two young girls, presumably their daughters, appeared beside their parents, curious and eager.
"Hello there!" the man exclaimed cheerfully, extending his hand. "You must be Nathaniel. We're excited to have you over." He seemed to choose his words carefully, making this all sound like just a pleasant visit.
Nathaniel hesitated for a moment, then took the man's hand with a shy smile. "Hi. I like your tree," he said softly pointing at the very climbable oak in the front yard. The boy was missing his front teeth, one of them just beginning to grow back in. It gave every word he said a little whistle to go along with it.
The woman crouched down to Nathaniel's eye level and offered a warm smile. "We're so glad you're here, Nathaniel. I'm Lisa, and this is my husband, Mark. These are our daughters, Emily and Sarah. I really like the truck on your shirt. Do you like trucks?"
“Vroom,” Nathaniel answered with a waved of his hand.
The two girls beamed at Nathaniel, making him feel more at ease. Emily bent down to pet a small, friendly dog that had scampered over to them. The dog wagged its tail furiously, clearly delighted by Nathaniel's presence.
Nathaniel's eyes lit up as he petted the dog gently. "What's his name?"
Mark chuckled, ruffling Nathaniel's hair. “Wow, Rufus really likes you. You must be a pretty special kid. He never runs up that excited to greet people.”
As the family welcomed Nathaniel into their home, they turned to Harry, who had a pained expression on his face. Harry's emotions were a storm inside him, torn between relief for Nathaniel and anxiety about what lay ahead.
Lisa glanced at Harry and assumed, "You must be Nathaniel's father. It's nice to meet you. It must be hard to part with him like this. Please know that while he’s with us, he’ll be like family. We’ll make sure he’s safe and has plenty to do."
Harry hesitated, his voice wavering. "I'm not his dad. I'm just a friend. Someone who’s glad to see him somewhere safe finally.”
Nathaniel piped up enthusiastically, slipping his hand into Harry’s. "He’s my mom’s friend too. Harry's a hero. He's going to save my mom right now so we can be back together again."
The family exchanged glances, their understanding deepening. They could see the bond between Nathaniel and Harry, and clearly recognizing something was still unfolding. But it was obvious Harry had become a protector, a pillar of support for the young boy.
Mick, who had been observing silently, stepped forward and extended his hand to Mark. "I'm Mick. We really appreciate you being available on such short notice."
Mark shook Mick's hand firmly. "You can’t imagine how our family was helped years ago. We’re always anxious to be able to pay it forward.” He lowered his voice as they stepped away. “Is there any risk we should know? Anything imminent?”
“Everything is being handled quickly here. It’s a bit volatile, but we don’t expect anyone will be specifically seeking out Nathaniel.”
Mick and Harry exchanged a meaningful look, understanding that their paths had diverged for now. Harry was off to rescue Rose, and Nathaniel was safe with a family that would care for him.
“You good from here?” Mick asked, tossing the keys over to Harry. “I’ll be catching a ride. You’ll be on your own.”
“I won’t be on my own long, because I’m going to have Rose with me soon. I’m going to get her out of there. You sure your people know what they’re doing on the back end? The plan in place?”
“Carmen gets shit done. Just watch your back and keep an eye for next steps as the plan comes together. You need to be nimble. Think on your feet. You’re armed right?”
“I am.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be there. There are so many moving parts, and while I think Carmen is right, I still feel shitty not backing you up.”
“Just fry these guys when you get the chance. All of them. And if by some chance Rose and I don’t—”
