Chapter 2 - THE MAN WITH THE BADGE
Harper ran.
She didn’t think.
She didn’t scream.
She simply turned and sprinted toward the side alley.
Her injured ribs screamed with every step.
Behind her, Derek laughed.
“Harper!”
His shoes struck pavement.
“You’re making this worse!”
She hated those words.
He always said them as though she were responsible for what he did next.
Harper reached the iron gate beside the Ashford property.
Locked.
“No.”
She grabbed the bars.
Derek caught her wrist.
Pain shot through her arm.
She gasped.
“Got you.”
“Let go!”
He spun her around.
“You embarrassed me.”
His breath smelled like coffee and cigarettes.
Four days.
She had escaped for four days.
Apparently freedom had an expiration date.
“I filed for divorce.”
Derek smiled.
“You filed paperwork.”
“It’s over.”
“Nothing is over until I say it is.”
He tightened his grip.
Harper bit back a cry.
“I’m not coming home.”
Derek’s expression changed.
The smile disappeared.
“You took Noah.”
“He’s my brother.”
“He was living under my roof.”
“You terrified him.”
“That little brat needs discipline.”
Harper slapped him.
The sound cracked through the alley.
For a moment, both of them looked shocked.
Then Derek’s face twisted.
He raised his hand.
A voice came from the darkness.
“I wouldn’t.”
Derek stopped.
Two men stepped from behind the gate.
Ashford security.
Gabriel followed them.
No jacket now.
Sleeves rolled up.
Hands in his pockets.
His expression was almost bored.
But Harper saw his eyes.
They were locked on Derek’s hand around her wrist.
Derek released her immediately.
“Private matter.”
Gabriel walked closer.
“You’re standing beside my property.”
Derek flashed his badge.
“Officer Derek Lawson. Boston PD.”
Gabriel looked at it.
“I know who you are.”
That unsettled Derek.
“You do?”
Gabriel’s mouth moved in something that wasn’t quite a smile.
“I make a habit of knowing which cops are dishonest.”
Derek’s face went red.
“You threatening an officer?”
Gabriel ignored him.
He looked at Harper.
“Did you ask him to come here?”
“No.”
“Did you ask him to touch you?”
“No.”
Gabriel looked back at Derek.
“There’s your answer.”
Derek stepped forward.
“You think because you have money and a few politicians in your pocket—”
Gabriel’s expression hardened.
“Careful.”
The word was quiet.
Derek shut his mouth.
Gabriel pointed toward the street.
“Leave.”
“I’m taking my wife.”
“Ex-wife,” Harper whispered.
Gabriel’s eyes never left Derek.
“She said no.”
Derek laughed bitterly.
“You have no idea who she is.”
Gabriel finally smiled.
“I know who you are.”
A black SUV rolled slowly to the curb.
Two more Ashford men stepped out.
Derek looked around.
For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face.
He backed away.
But before climbing into the cruiser, he looked directly at Harper.
“This isn’t finished.”
Gabriel answered for her.
“Yes, it is.”
Derek drove away.
Harper stood trembling.
Gabriel turned toward her.
“You lied.”
“What?”
“You told me there wouldn’t be a next time.”
“I didn’t invite him!”
“I know.”
“Then why are you angry?”
“I’m not angry at you.”
That should have comforted her.
It didn’t.
Gabriel looked down the street where Derek had disappeared.
Then he said something that terrified Harper more than Derek’s threats.
“I’m angry because I know that kind of man.”
Harper hugged herself.
“What does that mean?”
Gabriel’s gaze returned to hers.
“It means he won’t stop because you asked.”
A pause.
“He’ll stop when someone makes him.”
Harper stared at him.
“No.”
Gabriel frowned.
“No what?”
“You don’t touch him.”
“He beats you.”
“And he’s a cop.”
“That doesn’t impress me.”
“It should.”
Harper stepped closer.
“If something happens to Derek, every cop in Boston will come looking at me. At Noah. At you.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed.
She continued.
“I don’t need revenge. I need a way out.”
For several seconds, Gabriel said nothing.
Then he nodded.
“Good.”
Harper blinked.
“Good?”
“Revenge is easy.”
His expression became colder.
“Freedom takes planning.”
The following morning, Derek arrived at work at Precinct 12.
There was a plain brown envelope sitting on his desk.
Inside were seventeen photographs.
Harper’s bruises.
Hospital records.
A picture of Derek grabbing her wrist outside Ashford’s residence.
And beneath them all was one handwritten sentence.
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID.
Derek stared at the message.
May you like
Then slowly turned toward the security camera above the squad room door.
Someone was watching him.
