Chapter 17 - The Dry Dock
Harper arrived alone.
At least that was what Derek believed.
The dry dock had been abandoned for years.
Wind moved through broken windows.
Harbor lights reflected across black water.
Harper carried a duplicate case.
Inside were copies of the ledgers.
A transmitter was hidden beneath the lining.
Federal agents waited blocks away.
Gabriel was farther back.
He hated every second.
But he had kept his promise.
Harper entered the warehouse.
“Noah?”
A light came on.
Derek stood on the metal walkway above her.
No badge.
No uniform.
No polished smile.
For the first time, he looked like what Harper had always known he was.
A frightened man who needed everyone else to be more frightened.
“Put the case down.”
“Where is Noah?”
Derek pointed.
Noah sat in a chair near the far wall.
His hands were tied in front.
Harper’s chest hurt.
“I’m okay.”
Derek snapped.
“Quiet.”
Harper’s fear became anger.
“Don’t talk to him like that.”
Derek laughed.
“There she is.”
He descended the stairs.
“The brave Harper.”
He walked toward her.
“You know what’s funny?”
“You needed Ashford to become brave.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I needed to leave you.”
His smile disappeared.
“Open the case.”
Harper did.
Derek examined the pages.
“These are copies.”
Her heartbeat jumped.
He knew.
“You think I’m stupid?”
“Yes.”
Derek slapped the case shut.
Harper did not flinch.
That surprised both of them.
“You used to shake when I raised my voice.”
“I used to think you had all the power.”
“And now?”
Harper looked toward Noah.
“Now I know you only had what I gave you.”
Derek stepped closer.
“You gave me nothing.”
“I gave you my silence.”
He stopped.
“That was everything.”
Harper’s voice grew steadier.
“You had my silence when you hurt me.”
“You had my silence when Emily came to the door.”
“You had my silence when your friends joked about money.”
“You had my silence because you taught me nobody would believe me.”
Derek’s jaw tightened.
Harper continued.
“But people believe me now.”
He grabbed her arm.
Harper’s body remembered before her mind did.
Fear flashed.
Then she heard Gabriel’s words.
You can leave whenever you want.
Harper looked Derek in the eyes.
“Take your hand off me.”
He laughed.
“No.”
She pulled backward.
He tightened his grip.
Noah shouted.
“Leave her alone!”
Derek turned.
That moment was enough.
Harper drove her heel down onto his foot and twisted free.
She ran toward Noah.
Derek caught her uniform.
The fabric tore.
Harper fell.
Derek reached for her.
Then sirens exploded outside.
His face changed.
“You wired me.”
Harper stood between Derek and Noah.
“No.”
She touched the transmitter beneath the case.
“I recorded you.”
Derek grabbed Noah.
Harper froze.
“Back up.”
Derek pulled the boy toward a side door.
Federal agents shouted outside.
Derek dragged Noah into the dockyard.
Harper followed.
“Derek!”
He reached the water.
A small motorboat waited.
Of course.
He had planned an escape.
Then another man stepped from the shadows.
Harper stopped.
Richard Hale.
The retired captain had escaped federal custody during transport.
Derek stared at him.
“What are you doing here?”
Hale looked at the case.
“Cleaning up.”
Derek finally understood.
“You tipped them.”
Hale raised a gun.
Not at Harper.
At Derek.
“You were always the weakest part of this.”
Derek’s face went pale.
For years he had believed himself protected.
Now he discovered what Harper already knew.
Men like Hale protected nobody.
They only protected themselves.
Hale fired.
Derek moved.
The shot struck metal.
Noah dropped.
Harper ran.
Derek tackled Hale.
The gun slid across the concrete.
Federal agents entered.
“DOWN!”
Harper reached Noah.
She covered him.
Derek and Hale fought near the dock edge.
Gabriel appeared behind the agents.
Harper saw him.
“Stay back!”
He stopped.
Derek shoved Hale.
Hale slipped.
He grabbed a railing.
Derek reached for the fallen gun.
Gabriel could have reached him first.
Harper knew it.
Gabriel knew it.
Instead, Gabriel stepped backward.
He raised his empty hands.
Agents tackled Derek before he reached the weapon.
Hale was pulled from the railing.
Noah clung to Harper.
Derek lay facedown on the concrete.
Handcuffs closed around his wrists.
He turned his head toward Harper.
“You did this.”
Harper looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
Her voice was calm.
“You did.”
