Chapter 10 - THE LAST RECORDINGDerek gave them one hour.
Gabriel wanted to attack immediately.
Harper stopped him.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because he expects you to."
They returned to the Ashford estate.
The house was empty.
Almost.
Harper noticed the security monitors were back online.
Hundreds of feeds.
Every camera in Boston.
Police stations.
Docks.
Hospitals.
Banks.
Someone had hacked into an entire surveillance network.
Emma sat beside Victoria.
Her wound had been bandaged.
Harper's mother stood near the window.
Gabriel entered the control room.
"We have twelve minutes left."
Harper looked at the screen.
"Where is Derek?"
Victoria shook her head.
"We can't track him."
Harper studied the feeds.
One image caught her attention.
A police evidence warehouse.
Then another.
A hospital.
Then another.
Her old apartment.
She suddenly remembered the red folder.
"Derek doesn't want the evidence."
Gabriel looked at her.
"What?"
"He wants me to think he does."
"What does he want?"
"Something only I can access."
She opened the Ashford archive.
Michael's files.
Encrypted.
One folder had Harper's name.
She clicked it.
The screen asked a question.
WHAT DID YOUR MOTHER CALL YOU?
Harper froze.
Emma looked at her.
"Do you know?"
Harper whispered:
"Little bird."
She entered it.
Access granted.
Hundreds of files appeared.
Bank records.
Police reports.
Medical documents.
Then a list of names.
Thirty-two officers.
Eight judges.
Four politicians.
Three businessmen.
One name highlighted red.
GABRIEL ASHFORD.
Harper stared.
"What?"
Gabriel walked closer.
"That's impossible."
Another file opened automatically.
PHASE TWO.
OBJECTIVE: CONTROL ASHFORD HEIR.
Harper looked at Gabriel.
"You were a target."
"Apparently."
Then another document opened.
OPERATION QUEEN.
Target: Harper Queen.
Objective: Place inside Ashford residence.
Handler: Victoria Kane.
Status: Active.
Harper turned to Victoria.
"You."
Victoria lowered her eyes.
"I had no choice."
"You betrayed me."
"I was protecting you."
"From whom?"
Victoria began to cry.
"Your father."
Harper stared.
"Which one?"
Victoria didn't answer.
The entire room went silent.
Then the lights flickered.
A voice came through the speakers.
Derek.
"Time's up."
The monitors all changed.
Noah appeared.
He was strapped to a chair.
His eyes were closed.
Derek stood behind him.
"Choose."
Harper stepped forward.
"What?"
"Gabriel or Noah."
"What do you mean?"
"Give me Gabriel."
Harper stared.
"Or your brother dies."
Gabriel immediately walked toward Derek's camera.
"Take me."
Harper grabbed him.
"No."
Gabriel looked at her.
"You heard him."
"I won't trade you."
Derek laughed.
"Very touching."
Then he revealed something.
The syringe.
But it wasn't aimed at Noah.
He injected it into himself.
Harper froze.
Derek smiled.
"Now you have eight minutes to find the antidote."
The screen went black.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
"Why would he inject himself?"
Harper stared at the blank screen.
Then she remembered.
Derek always liked control.
He never threatened people without a reason.
She suddenly understood.
"The drug isn't for him."
Gabriel looked at her.
"It's for Noah."
"No."
Harper shook her head.
"The injection was a distraction."
"Then what is it?"
Harper looked toward Victoria.
"The real target is here."
A slow clap echoed from the doorway.
Richard Lawson stood there.
Gun raised.
"Very good."
May you like
He smiled.
"You finally remembered."
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