Chapter 3 - NOAH'S DINOSAUR

Harper flew at Derek.

"Where is he?"

Gabriel's guard caught her before she reached him.

Derek raised both hands. "I haven't touched the kid."

"You threatened him!"

"I told you to come home. You made this complicated."

Harper screamed, "Where is my brother?"

Then Gabriel's phone buzzed again.

"Found him," Gabriel said.

Harper nearly collapsed.

"Where?"

"Second floor laundry room. He heard someone trying your door and hid. Mrs. Alvarez is with him."

Harper covered her mouth.

Gabriel looked at Derek. "You can leave."

Derek's smile vanished. "She's my wife."

"Not for long, from the sound of it."

Derek stepped close enough that only Harper and Gabriel could hear him.

"This is bigger than bruises, Harper. You know that. Give me what you took, and Noah stays out of it."

Gabriel's head turned.

"What did she take?"

Derek smiled again. "Ask her."

He left.

Twenty minutes later, Noah arrived with Mrs. Alvarez. Harper dropped to her knees and hugged him.

"I thought he got you."

"Derek?" Noah whispered.

Harper pulled back. "Did you see him?"

Noah shook his head. "I heard a man downstairs. I did what you said."

"Good. You did perfect."

Gabriel crouched a few feet away, careful not to crowd him.

"Are you the gangster?"

Harper closed her eyes. "Noah."

Gabriel almost smiled. "Depends who's asking."

Noah reached into his coat and pulled out a cheap green plastic dinosaur.

"Harper said if Derek ever came, I had to keep this."

Harper's heart slammed.

"I told you to hide it, not carry it."

"I did hide it. In my backpack. Then I took the backpack."

He twisted the dinosaur's head. A tiny brass key slid out.

Gabriel's amusement disappeared.

"What's that open?"

Harper stared at the key.

"A locker at South Station."

"What's in it?"

She had never told anyone.

Not the clinic doctor. Not Mrs. Morrison. Not even Noah.

"Proof," she said. "That Derek and three other cops have been stealing evidence, selling seized guns, and taking cash from people they're supposed to arrest."

Gabriel went still.

"Three cops?"

Harper nodded.

"One of the voices on the recording is Captain Wade."

Gabriel's eyes turned flat.

"Then we have a problem."

"Why?"

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He looked toward the dark windows.

"Because Captain Wade is the officer who investigated my brother's death."