Page 79 of Defender
“I don’t trust Michael! I will only speak to you!” The pacing grew louder, faster.
“Colter, do you remember my friend Maria? From high school?”
Dani had to repeat herself twice, but finally the footsteps on Colter’s end stopped. He was listening again. “Maria? Martinelli?”
“That’s the one. Michael is her brother. There’s no one in the world I trust more than him. He always does the right thing. You can trust both of us. We want to help you.”
After a long pause, Colter groaned. “You promise me, Dani?”
“I promise. Will you let the residents go?”
“No. I need them. But you and Michael can come up. And if I see anyone else with you, any weapons at all, this building will blow. I have nothing to lose anymore.”
The call ended with the last words so soft they barely came through.
As soon as the screen went black, everyone jumped to action and talked at once. Ree shouted out orders to her SWAT team.
Finn looked at Dani and Michael. “Are you both out of your minds? You can’t go up there.”
“You heard him, Finn.” His partner looked legitimately scared. “We’re losing him. But he trusts Dani. We need to hear him out.”
“Whatever he’s gotten himself into is huge. This isn’t like him.” Dani tightened her vest. “And what did he mean when he said there were other cops involved?”
“He knows something. Something big.” Michael strapped on a vest that Finn handed him. “We have to find out what that is.”
“We need to get up there before he changes his mind.” Dani laid a hand on Finn’s arm. “I’m going to call you and leave my phone on speaker. Mute your end and record whatever he says.”
His jaw tightened, but eventually he pulled out his phone and got it set.
Captain Ree turned back to them. “The drones have at least eight heat signatures on that sixth floor. Get McCord to release them.”
Like they needed any more pressure.
Michael and Dani walked side by side to the entrance, but something was missing.
“Wait. Finn, come here.” Michael waved his partner over. “Pray with us.”
The expression on Finn’s face was the first hint of light he’d seen since they arrived. “Will do, lad.”
With a hand on each of their shoulders, Finn spoke over them. “Lord, guide these two protectors and bring this situation to a peaceful ending. Be their shield, their fortress and give them peace.”
“Amen,” they said in unison.
“Go with God.” Finn squeezed Michael’s shoulder and backed away. Michael could only focus on one step at a time, moving in front of Dani.
They reached the fifth floor, where Colter sat on the top step watching them. He held a device in his hand. A detonator. “You actually came?”
“I told you. We want to help. We’re here to listen.” Dani stood next to Michael, a mere six steps away from her volatile ex.
Michael had seen the same hopelessness, the same despair in Colter’s eyes, twice before in other calls.
Neither case had ended well.
But Finn’s prayer hovered over them, the words anchoring Michael’s soul in a way he hadn’t experienced before.
He took a step closer. “I’m Michael Martinelli.”
Colter’s brows furrowed. “You were the one with Dani at work.”
