Page 81 of The Thief
"We never discussed backup exit routes."
Silence stretches between them as Marcus realizes his mistake, sees it in our faces. His hand moves toward his jacket, but Danny's faster.
"Don't."
Danny's gun is pressed against Marcus' temple before the older man can blink. "Hands where I can see them."
"This is ridiculous. I'm not?—"
"You're not what? Not the mole who's been feeding information to Trace for months?"
Marcus' face crumbles. Forty years of loyalty dissolving in a moment of truth.
"Danny," Henry says quietly. "Take him downstairs."
The basement of Henry's house isn't designed for interrogation, but it works. Concrete walls, single light bulb, metal chair bolted to the floor. Danny secures Marcus with zip ties while I check my phone again.
Still no answer from Stephen's house. Stephen and Maverick are on their way with Makenna and a few of Henry's men. They'll make sure they're safe.
"Start talking," Danny says, settling into a chair across from Marcus. "How long have you been working for Trace?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Wrong answer."
Danny's fist connects with Marcus' jaw, snapping his head to the side. Blood spatters the concrete floor.
"Let's try again. How long?"
"Six months," Marcus gasps. "Since last October."
"Why?"
"Because Henry's lost his edge. Because this family's dying under his leadership."
Another punch, this one to his ribs. Marcus doubles over, wheezing.
"That's not good enough," I say, moving closer. "People are dead because of you. Good people. Jer's dead because of you."
"Jer was a relic. You all are. This world's changing and Henry refuses to see it."
"So you decided to help it along?"
"I decided to back the winning horse."
Danny hits him again, harder this time. Marcus' nose explodes in a spray of blood.
"Where's Trace?" I ask.
"I don't know."
"Bullshit."
"I swear, I don't know. We never met face to face. Everything was through intermediaries."
"What about tonight? What was the real plan?"
Marcus spits blood and tries to straighten up. "Get you all here. Make you think you'd won. While Trace takes care of the real business."
