Chapter 39
People say that life flashes before your eyes moments before death. Harper didn’t have any of that. The fear simply intensified within her, as she gripped the phone.
David stepped towards them holding the gun steady.
Harper took a step back, as did Brookes.
‘No one needs to get hurt,’ David said, directing the gun at Brookes.
Leo and Zoe could be back at any moment and walk into the crossfire. The thought only intensified her fear.
‘What do you want?’ Brookes said.
‘Harper knows, don’t you?’
She nodded.
‘The meddling bitch almost ruined everything,’ he said.
‘Just doing my job.’
‘You need to be careful who you mess with. Not everyone is as good at keeping secrets as you are. People talk, gossip spreads, and eventually, the snippets of information add up to a lot of truth.’
‘Harper will give you what you want, and then you’ll walk out that door and never come back,’ Brookes said.
David smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
Harper’s gaze shifted towards the door, just past David’s shoulder. Where the hell was Leo?
‘Your brother won’t be joining us.’ He said as if reading her mind.
‘What the hell did you do to him?’
‘If you do what you’re told, then you can go to him. He’s at the bottom of the vineyard. Hopefully, the snakes won’t get him before you have a chance.’
‘You repulsive bastard.’
‘You didn’t think I was that repulsive when you were screwing my brains out?’
Brookes’ jaw clenched at the same time as his fists. Harper just hoped he wasn’t going to do anything stupid. David wouldn’t hesitate to shoot. The things she’d discovered about him may have been numerical, but the people that he was associated with were dangerous, and that made him dangerous, too. They couldn’t underestimate him, not for a second. She should have known better.
‘Don’t even think about it, tough guy. I’m sure Harper here doesn’t want to clean out your blood from this lovely carpet.’
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Wipe it all.’
‘I can’t do that.’ If she wiped everything off from the system, she would lose her job. The investigation would be all over, her reputation ruined, and men like David would continue to abuse the system, but the alternative was much worse; they’d both be dead.
‘Sure you can.’
‘People will ask questions.’
‘You’re smart enough to shut them down,’ he said. ‘Now be a good girl and grab your laptop. Think about doing anything stupid and I won’t hesitate to put a bullet through his head.’
‘It’s in my room.’
‘I suggest you move. You,’ he said to Brookes. ‘Follow and behave. Believe me, shooting you in the back of the head won’t be an issue.’