Daniel Ferry did not show up for the meeting.

Police found his car abandoned three blocks from Ross’s office.

His phone was inside.

So was a handwritten note.

He knows. I’m sorry.

Beth stared at the photograph Detective Ortiz placed on the table.

“What does that mean?”

Ortiz answered, “We believe Daniel was feeding information to Gavin.”

Ross sat across from her.

“For money?”

“Possibly.”

Victor shook his head.

“Daniel had access to routing information, but not the ledger.”

Ortiz looked at Ross.

“Who did?”

“Me and Victor.”

Beth leaned forward.

“Then why tell Gavin about me?”

Ross answered.

“Because Daniel knew Gavin needed leverage.”

Margaret sat beside Beth.

Her face had gone pale.

“I told Daniel about her.”

Ross immediately said, “Mom, stop.”

“If I hadn’t—”

“He would have found another way.”

Ortiz’s phone rang.

She stepped away.

Beth looked at Ross.

“You believe Daniel helped them?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think he wanted me hurt?”

Ross hesitated.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because he sent the warning.”

Victor nodded.

“And Gavin probably discovered it.”

Ortiz returned.

“We found Daniel.”

Ross stood.

“Where?”

“St. Vincent’s Hospital.”

Beth’s eyes widened.

“What happened?”

“Someone left him outside the emergency entrance. He’s conscious.”

---

Daniel looked smaller in the hospital bed than Beth remembered.

Ross stood at the foot of the bed.

Ortiz sat beside him.

Daniel refused to look at his cousin.

“I’m sorry.”

Ross said nothing.

Daniel finally looked up.

“I owed money.”

“To Gavin?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“Enough.”

Ross’s jaw tightened.

“So you gave him shipment schedules.”

“At first.”

“And then?”

“He wanted names. Businesses. Drivers.”

“You gave those too?”

Daniel closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

Ross stepped closer.

“Beth?”

Daniel’s eyes opened.

“I told him about Beth.”

Beth was standing outside the room.

She heard every word.

Ross asked, “Why?”

“Gavin saw you visiting Harbor after Aunt Margaret left. He asked who you were seeing.”

“And you told him.”

“Yes.”

Daniel’s voice cracked.

“I thought he’d watch her. Maybe scare you. I didn’t think he’d take her.”

Ross turned away.

Daniel said quickly, “Nate planned that.”

Ross stopped.

“Explain.”

“Nathan wanted the ledger. Gavin wanted to negotiate. Nate decided taking Beth would force you.”

Ortiz leaned forward.

“Where is Nathan?”

Daniel swallowed.

“I don’t know.”

“Try harder.”

“He uses an old freight office near Riverfront.”

Ortiz stood immediately.

Ross said, “Detective.”

She looked at him.

“The ledger.”

“What about it?”

“I’ll give you everything.”

Daniel stared at him.

“Ross, you can’t.”

Ross turned.

“Why?”

“Because half the people named in there will come after you.”

“Then they can stand in line.”

Daniel looked toward Beth outside the room.

“You’re doing this because of her.”

Ross followed his gaze.

“No.”

Beth’s expression changed slightly.

Ross continued.

“I’m doing it because this should have ended years ago.”

Then he looked directly at Beth.

“She’s just the reason I finally stopped making excuses.”

---

Nathan Ror was arrested the following morning.

Police found him near the old freight office Daniel had identified.

Two additional suspects were taken into custody.

One matched Beth’s description of the man at her driver’s window.

The second matched convenience-store footage.

When Ortiz called Beth, Beth sat silently for several seconds.

“Is it over?”

“The immediate threat appears contained. The investigation isn’t.”

“And Gavin?”

“We’re building the case.”

Beth looked across her apartment.

Ross was repairing the loose chain on her front door.

She covered the phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Your lock offended me.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

Ortiz laughed through the phone.

“I heard that.”

Beth returned to the call.

“What happens now?”

“Now we follow the evidence.”

“And Ross?”

“What about him?”

Beth watched him tighten the final screw.

“He’s giving you everything?”

“Everything we’ve requested.”

Beth smiled.

“Good.”

Ross looked over.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

He stood.

“That lock is still terrible.”

“Ross.”

“Yes?”

“You realize normal people hire locksmiths.”

“I did.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Then why are you fixing it?”

Ross looked at the door.

“I needed something to do.”

Beth’s smile faded.

“Because?”

He finally faced her.

“Because if I sit down, I’ll start thinking about what almost happened.”

Beth was quiet.

Ross continued.

“And I’m not ready to think about that.”

She walked toward him.

“You don’t have to.”

He looked at her.

“But you do have to answer one question.”

“What?”

“When this is over, are you disappearing?”

Ross frowned.

“From your life.”

He took several seconds.

“I thought that might be safer.”

Beth shook her head.

“That wasn’t my question.”

“What was?”

“Are you disappearing?”

Ross looked at her.

“No.”

“Good.”

Then she took his hand.

For once, Ross Ferry had nothing to say.

---