Page 116 of Once a Hero

And yes, they needed the circuit board.

The pattern was there all along.

Since Dad couldn’t figure it out, Beatrice was even more convinced now that the one person with the answer had been Philomena. And she was dead.

Perhaps she taped the circuit board to the table so that someone would find it.

Perhaps she had carried that secret with her for so many years.

The golden key made sense now, even though Beatrice couldn’t see where it might be used.

“I want to try again,” Dad said.

“Let me try again, and please let him go,” Beatrice clasped her hands together. “He’s seventy-seven years old. He doesn’t have long to live. His girlfriend is dead. He missed out on twenty-five years of our lives. Have pity on him.”

“What about me?” Molyneux said. “I lost my marriage. Lost my lover. Lost my two children. Who pities me?”

She didn’t retreat far from the door.

A whole army, dressed in black from head to toe, leveled their weapons directly at Molyneux and her people.

“Hello again,” a male voice said.

Slowly, Beatrice stood up. “Jake?”

The man removed his night vision goggles. The room was bright enough without them.

Sure enough, it was Jake.

“Are you okay—oh no!” Jake yelled.

He must have seen her vest.

The man next to him took off his goggles as well.

“Ben!” Beatrice remained where she was. She was so happy that Benjamin had left the house—but a fire was not what she wanted him to walk into.

“Couldn’t let my baby sister have all the fun,” Benjamin said.

“Eugene?” Molyneux asked.

“Stop right there,” Benjamin pointed his weapon at her. “Stop, I say.”

“Eugene. It’s your mother.”

“I don’t think so.” Benjamin stepped forward.

Molyneux was as fast as lightning as she lifted her arm. Her free hand pointed to the detonator. “Do you know what this is?”

“No!” Beatrice shrieked.

“Calm down,” Dad said. He was on the floor with his legs stretched out. He wasn’t getting up.

“Dad’s got the same vest as I do,” Beatrice said. “Molyneux has both detonators.”

“Dad?” Benjamin stayed where he was. “You’re alive?”

“She tried to kill me at least three times, at the last count.” Dad started to cough. “Good to see you, Son.”

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