Bitter Burn novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: The Boathouse

"The water takes the blood, Tyson," I said.

"It's a harbor, not a kitchen floor."

He straightened up and wiped his finger on his jeans.

"You hit him in the chest."

"I hit him where I aimed."

"He went in without a sound."

"Men do, when they're ready."

For a second Tyson looked at me, and I saw him decide to let it stand.

"Your father will want to hear it from you," he said.

"He will."

"Go home, Siobhan. I'll have the boys drag the bottom for a body in the morning."

He turned the beam out over the water once more.

The skiff was already gone.

I drove the long way, twice around the block on Lanvale Street.

When I was sure the black truck was not behind me, I turned toward Curtis Bay.

Bridie's boathouse sat at the end of a gravel lane, lit by one yellow bulb over the door.

She stood in it in her yellow rain slicker with a shotgun held loosely against her leg.

"He's inside," she said.

"He's alive, he's cold, and he hasn't said a word to me except thank you."

"Good."

"Don't thank me yet." She jerked her chin at the lane.

"If Declan's boys find him here, I'm taking you both with me."

"I know."

"You always do. Go on."

The boathouse smelled of diesel and old rope.

A woodstove glowed in the corner, and a camp bed stood against the wall with a grey blanket over it.

Finbar sat on the edge, shivering, with his wet hair plastered to his forehead.

He still wore the collar.

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