Chapter 5 - THE NIGHT GABRIEL'S FATHER DIED
Gabriel's father had died ten years earlier.
Officially, Vittorio Russo suffered a heart attack in his office.
Unofficially, Gabriel believed someone poisoned him.
Noelle learned this while sitting inside a steel-walled security room beneath one of Gabriel's warehouses.
The flash drive rested between them.
"Thomas Vale investigated financial leaks for my father," Gabriel said.
"You mean he was a criminal accountant."
"I mean he discovered where money moved when people wanted it hidden."
"That's a very elegant way of saying criminal accountant."
Gabriel almost smiled.
Then Marco connected the drive to an isolated computer.
Folders appeared.
PIERCE.
Hearthline.
Civic redevelopment.
Judicial donations.
Property acquisitions.
Noelle stared.
"This is bigger than the charity."
"Much bigger."
They opened a spreadsheet.
Millions of dollars had moved through shell nonprofits over twelve years.
Some financed political campaigns.
Some purchased buildings through intermediaries.
Some simply vanished.
Then Marco opened a folder labeled VR.
Gabriel stopped breathing.
Inside were scanned emails.
One message had been sent to Thomas Vale the week before Vittorio Russo died.
THE PIERCE NETWORK IS USING CHARITY ACCOUNTS TO MOVE PAYMENTS. V.R. KNOWS. H.P. WANTS HIM QUIET.
Noelle whispered, "H.P."
Gabriel's eyes hardened.
"Henry Pierce."
Another email.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO VITTORIO, DO NOT TRUST THE POLICE.
Gabriel walked away from the screen.
Noelle had never seen him lose composure.
Now his hands were clenched hard enough that his knuckles whitened.
"Gabriel."
"My father knew."
"He was investigating Henry."
"And Thomas continued afterward."
Noelle looked back at the files.
"Then Thomas died too."
Marco opened another document.
A scanned insurance report.
Thomas Vale's fatal car accident.
Brake failure.
Gabriel stared at the screen.
Noelle's stomach turned.
"This wasn't an accident."
"No."
Suddenly the security-room phone rang.
Marco answered.
His face changed.
"Boss."
Gabriel turned.
"What?"
"We have movement at Miss Hayes's apartment."
Noelle stood immediately.
"What movement?"
"Two men entered through the rear stairwell."
Her blood went cold.
Gabriel picked up his coat.
"You stay here."
"No."
"Noelle."
"That's my home."
"Which means they may be waiting for you."
She hated that he was right.
Twenty minutes later, Gabriel's team entered the apartment.
No one remained inside.
Nothing looked stolen.
Until Noelle noticed the photograph on her kitchen table.
A picture of her father sleeping inside his rehabilitation room.
Taken that evening.
On the back, six words were written.
DROP THE FILE OR HE DIES.
Noelle couldn't breathe.
Gabriel took the photograph.
Something terrifying settled over his face.
Then his phone rang.
He listened.
His gaze snapped to Noelle.
"What?"
He ended the call.
"Your father's room is empty."
Noelle went completely still.
"What do you mean empty?"
Gabriel reached for her.
But she stepped back.
"Gabriel."
May you like
His silence told her everything.
Someone had taken her father.
