Chapter 9 - Gabriel’s Deal
Federal agents spent six hours inside the apartment.
Harper sat at the kitchen table while Gabriel described companies, dock contracts, nightclub ownership structures, and men Harper had never heard of.
He did not pretend innocence.
That surprised everyone except Marcus.
Gabriel admitted to crimes.
Not murder.
Not trafficking.
But extortion.
Illegal gambling operations.
Bribery.
Money laundering through businesses he inherited from his father.
Agent Price repeatedly warned him.
“You understand these statements can be used against you.”
“Yes.”
Gabriel never looked away.
Harper watched from the doorway.
The Devil of Beacon Hill was calmly dismantling pieces of his own empire.
For what?
Partly Isabella.
Harper knew that.
Partly Derek.
Maybe partly because Gabriel had spent years becoming something he no longer wanted to be.
She did not ask.
Around sunrise, Agent Price closed his notebook.
“We can use this.”
Gabriel stood.
“What happens to Harper?”
Price looked annoyed.
“That is not your decision.”
“I asked a question.”
“She and Noah will receive federal protection while the investigation continues.”
“Does Lawson lose database access?”
“Not yet.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened.
“We need probable cause connecting his searches to witness intimidation.”
Harper entered the room.
“Use the messages.”
“We are.”
Price looked at her.
“But whoever sent them used prepaid phones.”
“It was Derek.”
“I believe you.”
“That doesn’t help.”
“No.”
Price sighed.
“It doesn’t.”
Harper sat down.
“What about the photograph?”
“We traced the camera.”
Her heart jumped.
“And?”
“It belongs to a private investigator.”
“Who hired him?”
“He claims attorney-client privilege.”
Rebecca scoffed.
“That is not how privilege works.”
“He still isn’t talking.”
Gabriel looked at Price.
“Name.”
Price shook his head.
“No.”
Gabriel smiled faintly.
“Worth asking.”
Harper glared at him.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“You are not doing anything to him.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“You smiled.”
“I do that occasionally.”
She almost smiled back.
Almost.
The moment was interrupted by Noah entering the room.
His hair stuck up in six directions.
“Harper?”
She stood.
“What is it?”
“I can’t find Mom’s necklace.”
Harper froze.
“What necklace?”
Noah touched his neck.
“The one you gave me.”
Harper’s chest tightened.
Their mother had owned a small silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon.
Harper had given it to Noah after the funeral.
“When did you last have it?”
“At our apartment.”
Harper closed her eyes.
Of course.
They had packed in minutes.
Most of their belongings were still there.
“I’m sorry.”
Noah looked down.
“We can get it later.”
Harper hated that sentence.
Later had taken too much from Noah already.
Later they would go home.
Later he could see his friends.
Later he could return to school.
Later they could stop being afraid.
Gabriel crouched.
“Where did you keep it?”
Noah looked at him.
“In my blue box.”
“Where?”
“Under my bed.”
Harper knew immediately what Gabriel was thinking.
“No.”
He looked up.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were going to.”
“I was going to suggest federal investigators retrieve it.”
Agent Price nodded.
“That we can do.”
Noah smiled for the first time all night.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Price wrote down the address.
Two agents went to the apartment later that morning.
They returned with the blue box.
And something else.
Agent Price placed a small black notebook on the table.
“Was this yours?”
Harper stared.
“No.”
“Your brother says it was behind his dresser.”
Noah shook his head.
“I never saw it.”
Gabriel looked at the notebook.
Price opened it carefully.
Inside were dates.
Business names.
Dollar amounts.
Initials.
Harper’s pulse accelerated.
“Derek.”
Rebecca leaned closer.
“How do you know?”
Harper pointed to the handwriting.
“I signed birthday cards beside that handwriting for seven years.”
Price turned several pages.
Then stopped.
Near the bottom was a list.
Mills - 8K.
Nolan - 12K.
Vane - 25K.
Another line followed.
I.A. - CLOSED.
Gabriel leaned forward.
His face changed.
“What?”
Harper asked.
He pointed.
May you like
I.A.
“Isabella Ashford.”
