Chapter 16 - PIER NINE

Gabriel wanted to make the exchange himself.

Harper said no.

"He asked for the ledger because he thinks it's the last thing that can bury him."

"And Morrison is my responsibility."

"She's also the woman who gave me a job when nobody else would."

Rebecca looked between them. "Wonderful. Two stubborn people. We have forty minutes."

Ortiz built the plan.

Fake ledger. Federal surveillance from three positions. Gabriel's men kept outside the perimeter so Wade could not claim an armed ambush.

Harper wore a wire.

"You don't have to do this," Gabriel told her.

She looked at him. "I spent years waiting for someone stronger to save me. I'm done waiting."

Wade stood inside a warehouse with Mrs. Morrison tied to a chair.

"Ms. Queen," he said. "Your mother had the same bad habit. Couldn't mind her business."

Harper held up the ledger.

"Let her go."

"Put it on the floor."

She did.

Wade kicked it toward himself.

"Derek was sloppy," he said. "His father was better."

"Did Patrick Lawson threaten my mother?"

Wade laughed. "Threatened? We gave her choices. She chose to stay quiet."

Harper's stomach turned.

"And Elias Ashford?"

"Vincent wanted him gone. Easy money."

"You killed him."

"I arranged a problem. Problems happen."

The wire caught every word.

Wade opened the ledger.

His face changed.

Blank pages.

"You little-"

Harper ran toward Morrison as Wade raised the gun.

A shot cracked.

The shot killed the lights. Gabriel appeared on the catwalk.

Wade fired upward. Gabriel ducked.

Federal agents rushed the doors.

Wade grabbed Harper by the arm and dragged her behind a forklift.

"Tell them to back off!"

Then Mrs. Morrison, still tied to the chair, kicked the forklift's parking lever.

The machine rolled.

Wade lost his balance.

Harper tore free.

He ran for the pier.

Ortiz shouted, "Wade! Stop!"

He kept running.

Gabriel stepped out beside Harper.

For one second, everyone froze.

Then Wade smiled.

"You know what I love about men like you, Ashford?"

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Gabriel said nothing.

"You always think you're different from your fathers."