Chapter 2 - The Photograph Hidden in Her Mother’s House
Penny barely remembered the drive home.
The police arrived at the club.
Then detectives.
Then ambulances.
Then men who looked like security but were clearly not police.
Matthew disappeared into a conversation with three people in expensive coats.
Liam told Penny that Jamie would be escorted home safely.
Gordon Pike tried to tell her not to mention what happened.
Penny told him to go to hell.
It was the second most satisfying moment of her birthday.
The first had been poking Boston's most feared crime boss in the chest.
She was beginning to suspect that second place was going to become a permanent position.
Her phone buzzed.
Mom.
Penny answered immediately.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Happy birthday.”
Her mother's voice was soft.
Tired.
But warm.
“Thanks.”
“Did you celebrate?”
“Yes.”
“Cake?”
“Absolutely.”
That was a lie.
Her mother laughed anyway.
“You're a terrible liar.”
“You raised me.”
Silence.
Then Evelyn said quietly, “Are you safe?”
Penny froze.
The question was too precise.
“What?”
“Are you safe tonight?”
“Of course.”
“Penny.”
Her mother's voice had changed.
The warmth was gone.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Mom.”
“Did you see him?”
Penny's stomach dropped.
“See who?”
“Matthew Cole.”
The world seemed to tilt.
Penny looked through the windshield.
Across the parking lot, two black SUVs were still waiting.
Matthew stood beside one.
His attention was fixed on her.
Penny lowered her voice.
“How do you know his name?”
Her mother didn't answer.
“Mom?”
“Come home.”
“Why?”
“Bring the box.”
“What box?”
“The one under my bed.”
Penny's heart began to pound.
“Why?”
“Because he will come looking for it.”
The call ended.
Penny stared at her phone.
Matthew approached.
She stepped backward.
“What did you hear?”
“Nothing.”
“I wasn't listening.”
“You're a terrible liar.”
He almost smiled.
“Your mother is afraid.”
Penny looked at him.
“How do you know?”
“Because you're afraid.”
“I am not.”
“Your hands are shaking.”
She shoved them into her pockets.
“That proves nothing.”
Matthew stopped a few feet away.
“Did your mother mention the Black Crown?”
Penny said nothing.
His eyes hardened.
“You recognize it.”
“I said I don't know anything.”
“Penny.”
She looked up.
“I have spent a lot of years around people who lie for a living.”
“And?”
“You don't.”
That caught her off guard.
Matthew continued.
“You're terrible at lying because you still care whether the person you're talking to believes you.”
Penny swallowed.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“I don't know the truth.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
She looked toward his SUV.
“What happens if I don't?”
“You go home.”
“And?”
“I follow.”
She blinked.
“That sounds like stalking.”
“It is.”
“You're admitting that?”
“Yes.”
She should have been angry.
Instead, an odd laugh escaped her.
Matthew's eyes softened.
“Get in the car.”
“No.”
“Penny.”
“I don't even know you.”
“You know enough.”
“I know you're terrifying.”
“That helps.”
“I know you carry guns.”
“So do thirty percent of the people in this city.”
“I know you ruined my birthday.”
“You ruined my suit.”
“It was ugly.”
“It was custom.”
“It still looked ugly.”
Matthew stared.
Then he laughed.
Not loudly.
Not warmly.
But genuinely.
Penny had never heard anything so surprising.
He looked younger when he laughed.
Almost ordinary.
Almost safe.
The realization made her nervous.
“Go home,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because tomorrow you're going to tell me everything.”
“And if I don't?”
“Then I'll ask again.”
“That's annoying.”
“I've been called worse.”
Penny turned.
Then stopped.
“Matthew?”
“Yes?”
“I really am sorry about the suit.”
“I know.”
She walked away.
He watched her until she entered her car.
Neither of them noticed the man sitting in the black sedan across the street.
The man raised a phone.
“Cole found the girl.”
A pause.
Then he smiled.
“Good.”
At Penny's apartment, she unlocked the door and immediately went to her mother's old photograph box.
She had inherited it three years earlier.
She had opened it only once.
Inside were photographs, letters, an old silver necklace, and one picture of her mother standing beside a handsome young man Penny had always assumed was a distant relative.
She pulled the photograph out.
Her mother's handwritten note was on the back.
Thomas Hayes.
Boston Harbor.
Penny stared.
Then she turned it over.
Her blood went cold.
The man beside her mother was wearing the exact same black crown symbol.
She heard a sound behind her.
A floorboard creaked.
Penny froze.
Someone was inside her apartment.
She reached for the lamp.
The light came on.
Nothing.
She slowly turned toward the hallway.
No one.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
Don't open the box.
Penny's heart stopped.
Another message appeared.
Your mother lied to you.
Then another.
Your father did not die in an accident.
Penny dropped the phone.
She stood in silence for several seconds.
Then she grabbed her coat.
Her mother had lied.
Her father had not died in an accident.
And somewhere in Boston, someone knew exactly where she lived.
She called her mother.
No answer.
She called again.
No answer.
The third time, a male voice answered.
Penny couldn't breathe.
“This isn't Evelyn.”
“Who are you?”
“Someone who has been waiting for you to find the photograph.”
Penny backed toward the door.
“Where is my mother?”
“She is safe.”
“Where?”
“You don't need to worry about her.”
“I will kill you.”
A brief silence.
Then the man laughed.
“You really are Thomas Hayes's daughter.”
Penny's blood ran cold.
“How do you know my father?”
“Because he owed us something.”
“What?”
“Everything.”
The line went dead.
Penny stood frozen.
Then someone knocked on her apartment door.
Three slow knocks.
She grabbed the heaviest kitchen pan she could find.
Another knock.
“Penny.”
Matthew's voice.
She nearly collapsed with relief.
She opened the door.
He was standing there with Liam.
Matthew studied her face.
“What happened?”
“My mother isn't answering.”
He stepped inside.
“Someone called me.”
“What did they say?”
“That my father didn't die in an accident.”
Matthew's expression became unreadable.
He looked at the photograph in her hand.
Then he went very still.
“Where did you get that?”
“My mother.”
He took the photograph carefully.
His eyes went to the man beside Evelyn.
“Thomas Hayes.”
“You knew him.”
Matthew looked at her.
“Yes.”
Penny whispered, “How?”
“Because your father once saved my life.”
The room went silent.
Matthew placed the photograph on the table.
“Penny, I need you to listen to me.”
She nodded.
“Your father wasn't a small businessman.”
“What was he?”
Matthew's jaw tightened.
“A courier.”
“For who?”
“The Black Crown.”
Penny shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“He worked at the harbor.”
“That's what everyone believed.”
“You're saying my father worked for criminals?”
“I'm saying your father was inside a network that controlled half the illegal shipping entering Boston thirty years ago.”
Penny stared.
“Then why did he die?”
Matthew looked at the photograph again.
“He didn't.”
Penny's breath caught.
“What?”
Matthew met her eyes.
“I saw him six years ago.”
Everything inside Penny stopped.
“You're lying.”
“I don't lie about dead men.”
“Where?”
“North End.”
“When?”
“2019.”
Penny backed away.
“My father died when I was four.”
“I know.”
“You said you saw him six years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Because when I saw him, I was trying to find the man who betrayed me.”
“Was that my father?”
“No.”
Matthew paused.
“Your father was trying to protect you.”
Penny's eyes filled with tears.
“Then why did he leave us?”
“He didn't.”
“What?”
Matthew reached inside his jacket and took out his phone.
He opened a photograph.
A man stood near a harbor warehouse.
Older.
Thinner.
Gray at the temples.
But unmistakably Thomas Hayes.
Penny stared at the screen.
Her knees weakened.
Matthew caught her before she fell.
“He's alive?”
“I believe he is.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then find him.”
“I will.”
“Why?”
Matthew looked at her.
“Because I think the people hunting you are the same people who destroyed my family.”
Penny searched his face.
“What happens if you're wrong?”
“Then I protect you anyway.”
“Why?”
His hand remained around her waist.
For a moment neither moved.
“Because you stood in front of me tonight,” he said quietly.
“I was drunk.”
“I know.”
“I was angry.”
“I know.”
“And I poked you.”
“Yes.”
“Twice.”
“I remember.”
Penny swallowed.
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because no one has done that in fifteen years.”
A sudden crash came from the bedroom.
They both turned.
Liam drew his weapon.
Matthew pushed Penny behind him.
A second later, the bedroom window shattered inward.
A bullet struck the wall.
“Get down!”
Matthew pulled Penny to the floor.
Liam fired toward the window.
A shadow moved across the fire escape.
Then vanished.
Matthew looked at Penny.
“This isn't over.”
Penny nodded.
“No.”
He extended his hand.
“Come with me.”
She looked at it.
“Where?”
“Somewhere no one can get to you.”
She took his hand.
May you like
And the moment her fingers closed around his, Penny realized something she wasn't ready to admit.
For the first time since her father's supposed death, she wasn't alone.
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