Page 31 of No Saint

Once I hear the car pull away, I hit the button on the video I had paused. The final few moments before the vessel was left at the dock for us to find.

Two figures step out onto the deck, one covered entirely in black, face masked behind a balaclava. The sun was just breaching the darkness of the night, forcing the sky to provide more light and I can make out the face of the captain. He’s forced to the very edge of the boat, facing out to the sea. The man doesn’t hesitate when he pulls the trigger, shooting the captain through the back. He falls overboard, hitting the water.

I pause.

No body had been found in the water.

I hit play again, the man walks to the very end of the vessel, disappearing from view and a few moments later a small speedboat pulls up, collecting the final man from the vessel and leaving the rest of the bodies on board. They’d emptied my containers within around two hours, at least a hundred men had been on hand to steal from me.

They’d moved it all onto a smaller vessel they’d anchored to the larger one. It had taken no time at all and bore no witnesses.

The level of organization to get it done, it could have only ever been an inside job. A man greedy enough to steal or were there deeper motivations?

I loop my fingers beneath my chin, watching the speedboat disappear.

14

Icross my arms stubbornly, standing in the middle of the sidewalk in front of the mall. The twins stand either side, Colt ahead.

“Mrs Saint,” he tries.

“Call me that one more time, Colt, and I will punch you in the throat.”

He rolls his eyes, “Mr Saint will not let you back in until you shop, so let’s go.”

“Then I won’t go back.”

Colt blanches.

“And you’re son?” Atlas grumbles, “You’d just abandon him?”

My teeth grind painfully.

“I hate all of you.”

I storm into the oversized building, entering the first shop I see. I don’t even bother truly looking, I grab dresses and jeans and skirts in my size, piling them into the arms of the three men forced to follow me. There were no children’s clothes in this store so after they pay, I make my way towards one.

It was easier getting Lincoln’s clothes. Easier spending money that wasn’t mine when treating my son to new things. He hadn’t had something new for a while, and all the clothes that did belong to him had come from goodwill.

I select his items more carefully, ensuring they would fit perfectly, getting him new shoes and cardigans for the summer, all the clothing soft under my fingers and in a variety of vibrant colors. I can hear the men discussing things quietly but whenever I turn, one if not all are watching me.

The twins were unnerving. Atlas had a looming presence, it was hard to miss him, and he held a lot of anger, a lot ofhatredin his eyes. It was evident in the deep downturn of his mouth, the way his brows furrowed, and eyes simmered. He hadn’t said more than a few words to me and with each there was no warmth or even basic humanity.

His brother however, Asher, he had more character, more charm I supposed. He made conversation even if they were awkward.

And Colt, he was just a puppy. He was the type of man to fall easily into friendship with, light, made jokes. If I’d met him anywhere else, I would have liked him.

But he worked for Gabriel Saint and immediately became an enemy.

They all were.

I hand the items to Asher who goes to pay for them.

“Okay, so we’re done now,” I say, “Take me back to my son.”

Colt looks at the bags, “It is not enough, Mrs Saint.”

“Not enough!?” I squeal.

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