Page 27 of Endless Whispers

She nodded, her anxiety still simmering beneath the surface. "You're right. But I won’t be able to forgive myself if anything happens to Rose.”

Mick squeezed her hands reassuringly. "We had a full day. We got a lot of shit accomplished. There's nothing else we can do tonight."

Charlize took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew Mick was right, and panicking wouldn't help their cause. "Why were you late tonight? I was freaking out here and you were twenty minutes past when you said you’d be home.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

Mick smiled and then glanced toward the door. "Actually, I have something to show you. Come with me."

Confused but intrigued, Charlize trailed behind Mick as he led her to the hallway stairs. She followed as he climbed up to the roof, her curiosity growing with each step. When they reached the rooftop, she gasped in surprise.

Mick had set up a cozy little area with piles of pillows and blankets, a small TV, and containers of takeout Chinese food. The night sky stretched out above them, filled with stars, and the city lights twinkled in the distance.

"What's all this?" Charlize asked, her worries momentarily forgotten.

Mick grinned and gestured to the makeshift movie night setup. "I thought we could use a break from all the stress and uncertainty. We are always moving forward. Always on to the next thing. Sometimes we need to celebrate. Today you and I got two very important witnesses to tell their story. We deserve a minute to just be still.”

“We’re watching a movie?” her voice was a whisper though she hadn’t meant it to be.

“I remembered that movie you mentioned once, the old classic. Children of the Bold Sea. I thought we could watch it together. I had to really bust my ass to find a VCR, but the only copy of the movie I could find was in that format. I’ve got it all working now."

Charlize's eyes welled up with tears of gratitude. She couldn't believe Mick had remembered such a small detail from a casual conversation.

"How did you...?" she started to ask, her voice choked with emotion.

Mick chuckled and shrugged. "I have a good memory, and I pay attention when it matters. We were out driving one day and you saw the movie on the sign outside a theater. It was the fiftieth anniversary of its release. The look on your face was so nostalgic and happy. We were in the middle of a job. I couldn't take you that day but I knew when we had something good to celebrate we'd watch this movie."

Charlize stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "I really never pictured you as a romantic. Half the time you barely seem like you're paying attention.”

“I'm very good at looking stupid.”

“Yes! Expert-level actor. I thought for sure you tuned out most of what I say.”

“No. Not most of what you say. Maybe twenty-five percent of what you say. It's pretty much anytime you're complaining about my driving. Or when you make fun of my clothes. I definitely tune out when you try to tell me about the reality TV show you're watching. OK, maybe it's more like fifty percent of what you say.”

He held her close, and she felt the rumble in his chest as he chuckled at his own joke. A habit she hated but somehow also made him endearing.

"Let's forget about the world for a little while and enjoy the movie," he said softly.

As they settled onto the blankets, Charlize couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over her. Despite the chaos and danger that surrounded them, they had this moment of respite. The opening credits of her favorite movie were like a familiar lullaby. A song she knew by heart. And she was starting to realize Mick knew her by heart as well.

CHAPTER 23

MICK

Mick met Harry at the same diner, the tense atmosphere palpable as they took a seat. Harry looked exhausted; his face etched with worry lines that hadn't been there the last time they'd met. It was clear something had gone terribly wrong.

"What happened, Harry?" Mick asked, his voice low and steady. He could sense the panic emanating from the guard and it was tying his own stomach in knots.

Harry leaned in closer, his eyes darting around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "Rose didn't come back last night. She was supposed to return after her meeting with Charlize, but she never showed up. I have no idea where she is or what they’ve done with her.”

Mick's heart sank. Rose's disappearance was a serious complication they couldn't afford. Anything could be happening to her right now, and Charlize would never recover from the guilt of getting Rose caught.

"Tell me everything, Harry. What do you know?"

Harry swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "I got orders this morning. Bad ones. I was supposed to drive her son to a different apartment building this morning. The one where kids go before they... disappear."

“What do you mean, disappear?” There was still so much they didn't know about this organization. Trafficking was a heinous crime that took on all forms. He almost didn't want to know what happened to the children who disappeared. But he couldn't help if he didn't get those answers.

“Sometimes when the mother screws up bad, they’re permanently separated from their children. I've only seen it happen twice and I don't know what happened to the mothers, but I do know the children were sent away. From what I understand, if the children are very young, they are likely adopted out on the black market worldwide. If they are older, they run the risk of being forced into some form of trafficking themselves. All of that happens out of this one building. They call it the dead end building and not because it's located on a dead end.”