Chapter 6 - THE MAN BEHIND THE BADGECaptain Daniel Hargrove had been Gabriel Morel's mentor.
He had taught him how to question witnesses, how to read a crime scene, and how to recognize the difference between a frightened liar and a dangerous one.
For fifteen years, Gabriel had trusted him.
Now that trust lay shattered in the dirt beside an isolated farmhouse.
Viktor stood over the wounded detective.
“You're telling me the man who trained you murdered my mother?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“I said he ordered it.”
“That's supposed to make me feel better?”
“No.”
Gabriel's voice was heavy.
“It's supposed to make you understand how dangerous he is.”
Milan moved toward the doorway.
“We have to leave.”
Viktor looked at him.
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
Gabriel struggled to stand.
“Not yet.”
Jeanne caught his arm.
“Gabriel, you can barely walk.”
“I know.”
He looked toward Viktor.
“There's something in the house we need.”
Viktor stared.
“Bennett's men are still there.”
“Not all of them.”
“How do you know?”
“Because they think I escaped with the recording.”
Viktor glanced toward the flash drive.
Gabriel shook his head.
“That drive contains copies of financial records, internal messages, and the surveillance footage from the warehouse robbery.”
“Then what else do we need?”
Gabriel hesitated.
“The original evidence your mother collected.”
Milan looked stunned.
“You have it?”
“Not all of it.”
Viktor stepped closer.
“Where?”
Gabriel looked toward the farmhouse.
“In my father's old workshop.”
Jeanne stared at him.
“Gabriel?”
He turned toward her.
“I'm sorry, Mom.”
Her expression changed.
“You brought those people to our home.”
“No. I hid evidence here because I thought nobody would ever connect it to you.”
Jeanne looked away.
For the first time, anger replaced fear in her eyes.
“You made that decision for me.”
Gabriel lowered his head.
“Yes.”
“You didn't ask whether I wanted to carry that danger.”
“No.”
Jeanne's voice trembled.
“Your father died because he believed telling the truth mattered. And you've spent your whole life trying to honor him. But somewhere along the way, you forgot that the people who love you deserve the truth too.”
Gabriel said nothing.
Viktor watched the exchange.
He recognized the pain in Jeanne's voice.
It was the same pain Milan had carried for years.
Secrets meant to protect loved ones had become weapons in the hands of their enemies.
Finally, Gabriel nodded.
“You're right.”
Jeanne touched his cheek.
“Then stop trying to save everyone alone.”
For a moment, Gabriel looked less like a detective and more like a frightened son.
Then Viktor spoke.
“I'll go.”
Gabriel looked up.
“What?”
“I'll get the evidence.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You can barely stand.”
“And you have no idea where it's hidden.”
“Then tell me.”
Gabriel hesitated.
Viktor leaned closer.
“You arrested me because I committed a crime. I understand that now. But you also knew there was more to the story, and you kept it from me.”
Gabriel looked down.
Viktor continued.
“I'm not asking you to erase what I did. I'm asking you to let me help uncover what I didn't do.”
The detective studied him.
Then slowly nodded.
“The workshop is behind the garage. There's a loose floorboard beneath the workbench.”
Viktor memorized the instructions.
Gabriel continued.
“Inside you'll find a metal box. It contains your mother's handwritten notes and a list of names.”
“What names?”
“People connected to Meridian.”
Viktor looked toward the farmhouse.
Rain obscured the windows.
The black SUVs remained parked outside.
But the yard appeared empty.
He turned to Milan.
“Stay with Jeanne.”
Milan stepped forward.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“Viktor—”
“I need you to protect her.”
Milan looked hurt.
Then he nodded.
Viktor moved toward the door.
Gabriel caught his sleeve.
“One more thing.”
Viktor turned.
“If you see Hargrove, don't confront him.”
“Why?”
Gabriel's expression hardened.
“Because he knows how you think.”
Viktor frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Gabriel looked toward Milan.
Then back at Viktor.
“He didn't choose you by accident three years ago.”
Viktor felt cold.
“What?”
Gabriel spoke slowly.
“The warehouse robbery was designed to put you in prison.”
Viktor stared.
“Why would anyone do that?”
May you like
Gabriel's answer came like a knife.
“Because your mother left something to you in her will. And you were the only person who could legally claim it.”
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