Chapter 4 - The Betrayal Inside the House
Marcus pointed the pistol at Gideon's chest.
Jo instinctively moved toward Sammy.
“Don't,” Marcus warned.
Gideon did not move.
“How long?”
Marcus smiled sadly.
“Longer than you want to know.”
“You killed the guards.”
“Yes.”
“Daniel?”
“Alive.”
Jo inhaled sharply.
Marcus looked at her.
“Unfortunately.”
Gideon's voice remained calm.
“Why bring the photograph here?”
“To make you open the drive.”
Understanding settled over Gideon.
Marcus had searched Jo's apartment but failed to find the password.
He needed Jo.
Everything tonight had been engineered.
The warehouse attack.
The photograph.
Even the apparent threat against Sammy.
“You knew I'd protect them.”
Marcus shrugged.
“I knew you'd investigate.”
“No.”
Gideon glanced toward Jo.
“You knew I'd protect them.”
Something bitter crossed Marcus's face.
“That surprised me.”
He ordered Gideon away from the computer.
Then Sammy spoke.
“Mr. Gideon?”
Everyone froze.
The boy stood in the hallway rubbing his eyes.
Marcus turned his head.
It was less than a second.
Gideon attacked.
The gun fired.
Jo screamed.
The bullet shattered a window.
Gideon slammed Marcus into the marble wall.
They fought brutally.
Marcus managed to draw a knife.
Jo grabbed Sammy and dragged him behind the kitchen island.
Gideon caught Marcus's wrist.
Bone cracked.
The knife fell.
Security rushed in seconds later.
Marcus was forced to his knees.
Gideon stood over the man who had served beside him for twelve years.
He could have killed him.
Everyone expected it.
Instead Gideon said, “Lock him downstairs.”
Marcus laughed.
“You've gotten soft.”
Gideon's gaze moved toward Sammy.
“No. I've gotten something to lose.”
Jo heard him.
So did Marcus.
That made the words dangerous.
By sunrise, Gideon's organization was tearing itself apart.
Marcus had built a second network inside it, paying officials and moving narcotics through routes Gideon believed were used only for contraband electronics and stolen luxury goods.
Daniel Voss had discovered it years earlier.
He stole evidence, not money.
The $8 million had been Marcus's cover story.
But Daniel had made one catastrophic mistake.
He trusted someone.
Jo.
Not knowingly.
He had placed control of a hidden account in Sammy's legal identity.
Twenty-three million dollars.
Jo stared at the number on the screen.
“I don't want it.”
Gideon looked at her.
“That may be the first time anyone has said that about twenty-three million dollars.”
“It came from criminals.”
“Yes.”
“You included?”
His pause answered.
Jo walked away.
Later that morning, Gideon found her in the kitchen making grilled cheese for Sammy.
His private chef had offered breakfast.
Sammy wanted his mother's grilled cheese.
Gideon watched her butter bread.
“You hate me.”
“I don't know you well enough.”
“That's worse.”
She glanced at him.
“You kill people?”
Gideon did not answer immediately.
“Yes.”
“Have you hurt innocent people?”
The question was harder.
“I've benefited from things that hurt them.”
Jo swallowed.
“At least you didn't lie.”
“That doesn't make me good.”
“I didn't say it did.”
He nodded.
Fair.
She flipped the sandwich.
“What happens to Marcus?”
“I haven't decided.”
“That's terrifying.”
“He tried to kill me.”
“He also knows where Sammy's father is.”
Gideon's jaw tightened.
“You want Daniel back?”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
“I want answers.”
Gideon understood.
He interrogated Marcus personally.
No violence.
That confused Marcus more than torture would have.
Eventually, Marcus revealed the location.
An abandoned church north of the river.
Daniel had been held there for three days.
Gideon prepared to leave.
Jo appeared wearing her coat.
“No.”
She folded her arms.
“You're not deciding for me.”
“He could be dangerous.”
“He's my son's father.”
“Exactly.”
Their eyes locked.
Neither moved.
Finally Gideon muttered something profane.
Jo smiled faintly.
“Was that you agreeing?”
“That was me reconsidering every decision that brought you into my life.”
“You walked into my diner.”
“Worst coffee in the city.”
“You had three cups.”
He had no answer.
They reached the church before noon.
Gideon's men entered first.
Empty.
A chair sat beneath the altar.
Rope surrounded its legs.
Blood stained the floor.
Jo stopped.
“Daniel?”
A sound came from behind them.
The church doors closed.
A man stepped from the shadows.
Thin.
Bearded.
Older.
Jo recognized his eyes.
Daniel.
For six years she had imagined what she would do if she ever saw him again.
Slap him.
Scream.
Demand explanations.
Instead she whispered:
“You're alive.”
Daniel looked at her.
Then past her.
At Gideon.
“You brought him.”
Gideon's hand moved toward his weapon.
Daniel smiled.
“Still don't understand, Hale?”
“Understand what?”
Daniel looked toward Jo.
“The ledger was never about Marcus.”
May you like
Then he delivered the sentence that changed everything.
“It was about Gideon's father.”
