Gideon returned home immediately.

Norah was eating pancakes at the kitchen island.

She jumped down when she saw him.

“Mama?”

“She's awake.”

Norah ran straight into him.

Gideon caught her instinctively.

“Can I see her?”

“Yes.”

“Now?”

“Soon.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Why not now?”

“Because first I need Mr. Buttons.”

Norah immediately backed away.

“No.”

“Norah.”

“No.”

She hugged the rabbit protectively.

Gideon crouched.

“Your mother put something inside him.”

“What?”

“Something important.”

“You'll hurt him.”

“I'll be careful.”

Norah studied Gideon's tattooed hands.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

She reluctantly surrendered the rabbit.

Dante found the seam repaired with pink thread.

Inside was a tiny flash drive.

He looked at Gideon.

“Well.”

Norah gasped.

“Mr. Buttons ate a computer?”

Dante grinned.

“Apparently.”

Within twenty minutes, the drive was connected to an isolated laptop.

Elise had copied everything.

Bank transfers.

Invoices.

Emails.

Internal memos.

And one video.

Dante played it.

Mercer appeared on-screen inside a hotel conference room.

Another man stood beside him.

Gideon recognized him immediately.

His expression changed.

“Pause.”

Dante froze the frame.

“Problem?”

Gideon stared.

“That's Alden Price.”

Norah looked between them.

“Who's that?”

Gideon's voice turned cold.

“My attorney.”

Dante swore under his breath.

The conspiracy had just become personal.

Price had represented Vale businesses for nine years.

He knew contracts.

Properties.

Accounts.

Security arrangements.

Everything.

Dante leaned closer.

“If Price is involved, Mercer knows more about us than we thought.”

Gideon's phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

“Vale.”

A familiar voice responded.

“Gideon.”

Alden Price.

Gideon looked at Dante.

“Interesting timing.”

Price continued.

“I heard you found a missing child.”

“Chicago gossip moves quickly.”

“You need to stay out of this.”

Gideon smiled without warmth.

“You called the wrong man if you expected that sentence to work.”

“This doesn't concern you.”

Gideon looked at Norah.

She was repairing Mr. Buttons beside Dante.

“It concerned me the second I found her.”

Price exhaled.

“Give the evidence back.”

“So you know about the evidence.”

Silence.

A mistake.

Gideon continued.

“Thank you, Alden.”

“For what?”

“For confirming you belong on the other side of this.”

The call ended.

Dante stared at him.

“He'll run.”

“No.”

Gideon looked toward the snowy skyline.

“He thinks I'm emotional.”

“Aren't you?”

Gideon glanced at Norah.

“Yes.”

Then he buttoned his coat.

“That's why he'll underestimate me.”

---

Hours later, Norah entered her mother's hospital room.

“Mama!”

Elise burst into tears.

Norah climbed carefully beside her.

“I waited.”

“I know, baby.”

“You took forever.”

“I know.”

“Gideon found me.”

Elise looked over Norah's head.

Gideon stood in the doorway.

“He did.”

Norah whispered loudly:

“I think he's a gangster.”

Elise stared at Gideon.

Dante turned away to hide his laugh.

Gideon rubbed his forehead.

“We're still discussing profiling.”

For the first time since Christmas Eve, Elise laughed.

Then Norah reached toward Gideon.

“Come here.”

He hesitated.

“Why?”

“Because Mama needs to say thank you.”

Elise looked embarrassed.

“Norah.”

“What?”

Gideon approached.

Elise extended her hand.

“Thank you.”

Gideon took it.

“You don't owe me anything.”

“I owe you my daughter.”

His expression changed.

“No.”

He looked at Norah.

“You don't owe anyone for keeping a child safe.”

Elise studied him.

She noticed the sadness behind the intimidating exterior.

“What happened to your daughter?”

Gideon became still.

Norah looked up.

“You had a daughter?”

“Yes.”

“What's her name?”

“Juniper.”

“Where is she?”

Gideon took a breath.

“She died.”

Norah's expression softened.

Then she held out Mr. Buttons.

“You can hold him.”

Gideon stared at the battered rabbit.

Dante quietly left the room.

Gideon accepted it.

“Thank you.”

Norah nodded solemnly.

“He helps.”

For once, Gideon Vale had no answer.

---