Page 130 of Defending You
“That’s a relief,” Cici said, though Asher doubted she’d been worried about the fact that she’d been a suspect.
“Gagnon and Souza are both dead,” Harris said. “The SD card’s been sent to the FBI.”
No one asked what that was about. They’d all heard the story by now, at least the important parts.
Harris flipped the page in her notebook. “Talked to an agent at the Bureau this morning. They’re working with my department, searching Gagnon’s house. They’ve called in somebody to open that safe he mentioned to you, Miss Wright. They’re already watching the people he’d been blackmailing. Maxwell Pierce is in custody—caught trying to run when he heard what happened.”
Asher felt a grim satisfaction at that news. One less predator on the streets.
“How did he hear?” Gavin asked
“We assume from a guy named Falcone. He was apprehended last night, the only one who survived of the original team. The leader of what you called”—this time, she nodded to Asher—“the second team confirmed that they’d been commanded to kill everyone at the compound except Gagnon himself. He claims they were told everyone on the premises were criminals. He claims they thought they were working for law enforcement.” By the twist of her lips, she wasn’t buying it.
Asher wasn’t, either. Good guys didn’t kill everyone in sight. That wasn’t how operations were meant to go, especially on US soil.
“They’re all in custody up in Augusta.” Harris smiled grimly. “I’m glad it’s not my jurisdiction.”
Bartlett cleared his throat. “One of the names on the SD card belongs to a general. Whatever Gagnon was blackmailing himwith, it was enough to get him to send that military helicopter to rescue him last night.”
“Right,” Harris said. “He’s been arrested by MPs and is being held pending investigation.”
“Is Mr. D’s niece safe?” Cici asked.
“She is. She took our advice and left town. She’s been staying with a family member in Florida. I notified her of Gagnon’s death this morning.” Harris flipped another page in her notebook. “I assume more arrests will come once all the evidence is cataloged. You’ll need to reach out to the Bureau for updates. All to say, that SD card’s going to bring down a lot of criminals.” She looked at Cici. “Credit where credit’s due, ma’am.”
Cici waved off the praise, color rising in her cheeks. “I wasn’t trying to bring down criminals. I was trying to give Forbes back his family’s property.”
Forbes smiled at her from across the room. “Funny how that happens.”
“Oh, and by the way”—Cici focused on him—“Gagnon admitted to me that he’d been at your house the night of the murders. He said Leo Taggart and Lois Stratton were in the room when your parents died, that Leo pulled the trigger—but Lois was just as involved—and that he’d been blackmailing them for years.”
Forbes leaned forward, his expression intense. “Did he name any other names from that night?”
Cici shook her head. “Sorry, no. Just those two.”
Forbes was quiet for a moment, then sighed. “Maybe it’s time to let the rest go. The main players were thieves and smugglers. The worst of them have paid for their crimes one way or another.”
“Speaking of paying…” Cici excused herself and headed upstairs, moving slowly. She held one hand against her ribs, andAsher’s stomach turned as if he were the one experiencing her pain.
The group made small talk and munched from a tray of snacks resting on the coffee table until Cici returned. She carried the small travel pack she’d bought at the sporting goods store what felt like a lifetime ago and handed it to Forbes.
He set it on his lap and opened it, then reverently lifted out the necklace that had started this whole nightmare. The Crimson Duchess caught the afternoon light, its diamonds and rubies gleaming like captured fire.
Forbes’s eyes looked watery when he gripped Cici’s hand. “You can’t know what this means to me.”
Brooklynn scooted closer, gazing at the jewelry with wonder before looking at Forbes with such love that Asher felt something twist in his chest.
Cici’s voice grew thick with emotion. “I wanted to do something that mattered.”
“You did.” Forbes’s voice was rough. “This matters to me. Not because it’s valuable, but because it was my mom’s.”
Asher felt a swell of pride wash over him for this incredible woman he loved. He’d tried to convince himself she was shallow, that she was still that girl who’d casually humiliated him back in high school. But she was so much more than that. She felt things deeply and wanted to change the world in her own beautiful way.
The bruises on her face would heal, but the courage she’d shown—stabbing Gagnon with a letter opener, warning Asher even when it meant taking a beating—that was who she really was. Strong. Selfless. Breathtaking.
He had no idea how they were going to make this work. Her father still looked at him like he was something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. The wealth surrounding them felt like an ocean between their worlds.
But he loved her. And miracle of miracles, she loved him back.
