Chapter 9 - THE EXCHANGE
At 11:58 p.m., Harper walked into the abandoned training annex carrying a black backpack.
No gun.
No visible wire.
No Gabriel.
At least, that was what Derek was supposed to believe.
"Derek?"
Noah stood beside him.
Harper's knees almost gave out.
"Noah."
He tried to run to her.
Derek grabbed the back of his coat.
"Not yet."
Harper's fear turned white-hot.
"Let him go."
Derek smiled. "Bag first."
She set it on the floor and kicked it forward.
Derek opened the bag.
"Where's the notebook?"
"Safe."
His smile disappeared.
"You never learned."
"I learned plenty. I learned you hit people when you're scared. I learned your badge makes you feel taller. I learned you only call something a lie when the truth can hurt you."
Noah stared at her.
Derek's face twitched.
Good.
Keep him talking.
Harper touched the tiny transmitter taped beneath her blouse.
"Did Wade tell you to frame me?"
Derek laughed. "Wade told me to control you. I should've done it sooner."
"By breaking my ribs?"
"By reminding you who had the power."
The words hung in the gym.
"And Elias Ashford?"
Derek's eyes narrowed.
"That wasn't supposed to be on the card."
There it was.
Harper kept her voice steady. "What did you do?"
"Nothing. Vincent gave us the route. Wade sent men. Elias was collateral."
A door slammed behind Harper.
She turned.
Vincent Cole stepped out of the shadows with a gun.
"You talk too much, Lawson."
Derek stiffened. "We had a deal."
"We did. Then you lost a body camera to an eight-year-old."
Noah suddenly stomped hard on Derek's foot and ran.
"Harper!"
She lunged toward him.
Vincent raised the gun.
A shot cracked through the gym.
Harper hit the floor over Noah.
Someone grunted behind her.
She turned.
Gabriel stood in the doorway.
May you like
His hand was pressed to his side.
Blood spread between his fingers.
