"Cami Lavelle,” Harriet reported. “She lives just down the street from here, actually. Right across the street from me."
Darien scratched at the stubble on his chin. "Really? Well…maybe I'll have to go take a look and see what can be done about this…situation."
Harriet stepped closer and reached out to lightly touch his arm. "Would you? Oh, I’d be ever so grateful."
Darien put the clipboard down on a package of toilet paper and smiled. "I like the sound of that…”
Chapter 14
Boston Convention Center
Boston, Massachusetts
Reese peered around the corner of the building directly across from the Boston Convention center, froze at the site of several armed men, and ducked back out of sight. He pressed his back against the building and closed his eyes as a cold sweat broke out on his face and chest. "What am I doing? This is crazy…” he muttered.
"You're going to rescue your friend," Semmi replied in his deep voice. He put a hand on Reese’s good shoulder and squeezed. "We’re all scared, man. But we gotta do this—ain’t no one else gonna do it—no one else comin’ to help, either. It's the only way to save your friend—and this city.”
Reese shook his head. “How did it all happen so fast? It’s only been a week! Why are you guys doing this? I don't understand—why don’t you just leave? Lieutenant Decker said that the gangs hadn't completely taken over Boston yet…you guys should all just pack up and get out of here."
"And go where?" demanded Semmi. He leaned around the corner and sized up the opposition. "I count four guys with long rifles."
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Reese said. He looked down at the ground. "I think I’m gonna throw up."
"Well, don't do it on me," Semmi said as he stepped back. "You need to cowboy up, son. If half of what you said is true, you've already been through a lot these last few days...all you gotta do is walk up there and talk.”
“That's the point! I have been through a lot—I should be home right now! I should be with my wife and daughter…”
Semmi put a finger on Reese's chest and pushed him flat against the wall with one shove. "And you will be—you just gotta go through these jokers first. Your friend is in there, and she's counting on you to get her out." He checked the magazine on his AR and slammed it home before he pulled the charging bolt. "Now look—we got two minutes, and then you gotta make your move."
Reese wiped the sweat from his face with his left hand. "Why does it have to be me?"
"Because you killed that piece of garbage, Charlie Mayo. Sean’s gonna want payback, and that means everybody's gonna be looking at you." Semmi shook his head. "We've already been over this, man—you want to get your friend. This is how. Now get your head on straight before you get it shot off."
Reese swallowed and closed his eyes. He saw Cami standing before him with one arm around Amber. She smiled at him and nodded. When Reese opened his eyes, a sense of calm descended upon him like a warm flannel blanket on a cold winter night. His breathing slowed, his heart rate steadied. He took a deep, calming breath. His eyes hardened, and he clenched his good hand into a fist. "Okay…” he whispered.
“Okay?” asked Semmi.
"Okay,” Reese said louder.
“Hollywood, Reaper,” Decker’s voice squawked over Semmi’s radio. “Send it.”
Semmi nodded, then checked his watch. “It’s show time. Do something to get their attention.”
“Like what?”
Semmi stared at him and didn’t answer. “When you hear the signal from the other side of the convention center, you drop and roll to the left. Remember, stay down and to the left. I'll take out the guys in front of you."
Reese swallowed, then looked Semmi in the eye. "You better be a good shot."
Semmi grinned, and a gold tooth flashed in his smile. “I’m retired SWAT, but I’m still decent."
“I knew you were a cop!” Reese hissed. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“I retired a few years back. And you didn’t ask,” Semmi growled. “Now get moving before this whole thing goes sideways, yeah?” He turned Reese by his good shoulder and gave him a healthy shove around the corner.
Reese stumbled forward, then caught himself and sent one last sullen look at Semmi. Once he started forward, he didn't bother looking left or right, but fixed his eyes on the four men who stood in loose formation by the southeast entrance to the massive convention complex.
They’d barricaded their position with several bullet-riddled, burned cars and, consequently, Reese was able to get within thirty feet before the first guard spotted him. A general shout went up, and all four rushed around the end of the barricade which told Reese how to breach their fortification.
Shouts in two different languages reached his ears, and Reese froze. He stared straight ahead and did his best to ignore the four men as they pounded toward him and waved weapons in his direction.
"Howdy guys," he said in as cheerful a voice as he could muster. The four men faced him down and aimed their long guns at him, and Reese's bowels liquefied. His stomach gurgled loudly as it reflected the fear that gripped his soul. A sudden, mortal realization solidified in his mind: if any one of those idiots twitches so much as a fingertip, Reese would never see Cami and Amber again.
A fresh bead of sweat crawled down the side of Reese’s face. What am I doing? This was a stupid idea…stupid, stupid, stupid…
"What's going on ese?” asked the shortest of the four, a swarthy man in filthy jeans, a red polo shirt and a bright red bandanna
