“If Richard gets out, his first move will be to silence us,” Gabriel said.

“He cannot stop the federal prosecutors,” I said. “The evidence is already in their hands.”

“The prosecutors are not the only ones with power in this city, Claire,” Gabriel said, turning to face me.

He crossed his arms, his face shadowed by the dim lighting of the room.

“Your father has spent forty years building relationships with people in high offices,” Gabriel said.

“Who?” I asked.

“Senator Thomas Sterling,” Gabriel said. “They went to law school together. Sterling sits on the Senate committee that oversees federal law enforcement budgets.”

I felt a cold drop of dread in my chest.

“Sterling’s endorsement is the only reason my security firm received its first federal defense contract,” Gabriel said quietly.

“If Richard goes down, he will take Sterling with him,” I said.

“Which means Sterling will do whatever it takes to stop this investigation,” Gabriel said. “And he knows exactly where my firm is vulnerable.”

“I did not realize your business was at risk because of this, Gabriel,” I said, standing up.