Chapter 11 - The Man Who Killed Leo
Chloe lunged at Daniel.
Gabriel caught her around the waist before she reached him.
"Let me go!"
"Not yet."
Daniel Mercer dropped to his knees with three guns pointed at his chest.
He looked older than Chloe remembered. Thin. Gray around the temples. Terrified.
"I did not murder Leo," he said.
Chloe shook with rage. "You were drunk. You ran the light. You left him bleeding in the street."
"Yes."
The word destroyed her more than an excuse would have.
Daniel looked down.
"Vincent paid me forty grand to move an unregistered load from New Jersey to this warehouse. I drank because I was scared. I was late. I drove too fast. Your brother stepped into the crosswalk."
Chloe's eyes filled.
"So the money was not for killing him?"
"No. God, no."
Gabriel loosened his grip.
Daniel continued. "After the crash, Vincent sent a lawyer before the police finished questioning me. He told me to plead guilty, keep Northstar out of it, and say I had been drinking alone. He promised my family would be taken care of."
"And you agreed," Chloe whispered.
Daniel's face collapsed. "Yes."
She slapped him.
Hard.
Nobody stopped her.
"My mother buried her son while you protected a paycheck."
"I know."
"You do not know anything."
Daniel reached slowly inside his coat.
Mateo raised his gun.
"Easy."
Daniel pulled out a small envelope.
"I kept one thing. Insurance."
Inside was a photocopy of a shipping manifest signed by Vincent and a handwritten note from Carlo demanding an internal audit.
Gabriel read it.
His father had discovered the illegal shipments two days before Leo's death.
Daniel whispered, "Vincent knew your father was closing in."
A red dot appeared on Daniel's chest.
Chloe saw it first.
"Down!"
Gabriel tackled Daniel as a bullet punched through the warehouse window.
Mateo's men fired toward the roof across the street.
Daniel clutched his shoulder, screaming.
Gabriel looked at the blood, then at the shattered glass.
"Vincent knows he is talking."
Daniel grabbed Chloe's sleeve.
"There is one more person," he gasped.
"Who?"
"The doctor who changed Carlo's report."
May you like
He swallowed hard.
"She is at St. Agnes Hospital right now."
