Chapter 16 - The Price of Listening
Federal agents filled the house before sunset.
Boxes left the study.
Phones disappeared into evidence bags.
Vincent and the three lieutenants were taken away in handcuffs.
Gabriel was not.
Not yet.
A federal prosecutor named Dana Pierce sat across from him in the dining room.
"You understand what cooperation means?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Full records. Accounts. Names. Crimes you participated in. No selective memory."
Gabriel looked at Beatrice.
She signed.
Tell the truth.
He answered aloud. "Yes."
Chloe stared at him.
This was not redemption. It was consequence.
Gabriel knew it too.
"Will he go to prison?" Chloe asked Dana.
"That is not a question I can answer tonight."
Gabriel gave a humorless smile. "Probably."
Beatrice looked at her son.
For once, he did not turn away from her hands.
She signed slowly.
I would rather visit you in prison than bury you beside your father.
Chloe translated, voice tight.
Gabriel looked down.
Then he raised his own hands awkwardly.
He knew only three signs.
I am sorry.
Beatrice's eyes filled.
His fingers were clumsy, but the meaning was clear.
She reached across the table and corrected the shape of his hand.
Again, she signed.
He repeated it.
Better.
Chloe smiled through tears.
Then Dana's phone buzzed.
She read the message and stood.
"We have a problem."
"What?" Gabriel asked.
"Vincent never reached federal lockup."
The room froze.
"His transport vehicle was hit six blocks from here."
Gabriel stood.
May you like
Dana's face was grim.
"Vincent escaped."
