Chapter 25 - The Verdict That Never Came
Closing arguments began on a rainy Thursday.
The prosecution built its case carefully.
Gabriel had controlled shell companies.
Paid intermediaries.
Ordered the sniper attack.
Kidnapped Mason.
Forged foundation records.
Stolen and manipulated ledger pages.
His attorney responded with doubt.
Moretti family lies.
Missing original evidence.
Witnesses with criminal exposure.
Then Gabriel made a stunning decision.
He testified.
Dominic whispered, “He wants the stage.”
Hannah agreed.
Gabriel walked to the witness box.
Calm.
Controlled.
He admitted accessing Salvatore’s accounts.
Claimed he did so to protect family assets.
Denied ordering violence.
Claimed the sniper acted independently.
Denied kidnapping Mason.
Claimed corrupted security contractors framed him.
Then the prosecutor asked about the forged foundation documents.
Gabriel smiled.
“I never touched them.”
“Who did?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect this jury to believe every crime conveniently surrounding you was committed by strangers?”
“I expect them to consider that Dominic Moretti has built his reputation on destroying enemies.”
Hannah felt Dominic stiffen.
Gabriel looked toward him.
“My cousin needed someone to blame for his father’s legacy.”
The prosecutor approached.
“Did Dominic force you to steal Salvatore’s ledger?”
“No.”
“Did Dominic force you to threaten witnesses?”
“No.”
“Did Dominic force you to transfer money to the sniper?”
“I did not.”
The prosecutor displayed Elena’s verified banking trail.
Gabriel’s composure finally weakened.
Then the courthouse lights died.
People screamed.
Emergency lighting activated.
Luca stood immediately.
“Dominic.”
Security officers moved.
A fire alarm sounded.
The judge ordered evacuation.
Hannah smelled smoke.
“This is wrong.”
Gabriel’s attorney looked genuinely confused.
Federal marshals approached the witness box.
One reached Gabriel.
Then suddenly struck the other marshal.
Luca shouted.
“Fake officer!”
Chaos erupted.
The disguised man pulled a weapon.
Dominic dragged Hannah behind the bench.
Adrian tackled Mason.
The gunman fired into the ceiling.
People scattered.
Gabriel climbed over the witness rail.
The fake marshal threw him a jacket.
They ran toward the service corridor.
Agent Pierce fired but missed.
Luca pursued.
Dominic followed.
Hannah grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“He’s escaping.”
“And running blindly is what he wants.”
Dominic stopped.
She pointed.
“Main exits are controlled. He planned another route.”
Adrian heard.
“The old courthouse tunnel.”
Pierce turned.
“What tunnel?”
“Salvatore used it years ago. Connects the courthouse basement to the municipal parking structure.”
Agents rushed downstairs.
Gabriel reached the tunnel first.
Security footage later showed him running with the fake marshal toward a waiting vehicle.
But Gabriel encountered something he had not expected.
Construction.
The old tunnel exit had been permanently sealed two weeks earlier.
When federal agents entered from behind, he was trapped.
The fake marshal raised his gun.
Gabriel shoved him forward.
The man fired.
Agents returned fire.
He fell.
Gabriel dropped to his knees.
Hands raised.
His expensive suit covered in tunnel dust.
Agent Pierce cuffed him personally.
“You really should read municipal construction notices.”
Back upstairs, everyone believed the crisis was finished.
Then Pierce received a message.
Her face changed.
“What?” Hannah asked.
“The fake marshal had a phone.”
“So?”
“It contained scheduled messages.”
Dominic’s expression darkened.
“To whom?”
“Several recipients.”
Pierce looked toward Gabriel being escorted past them.
“He planned for the possibility of capture.”
Gabriel smiled.
Hannah hated that smile.
“What messages?”
Pierce read one.
Then looked at Dominic.
“A contract.”
“For what?”
Pierce hesitated.
“Your assassination.”
Hannah’s blood went cold.
“Who received it?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Gabriel stopped walking.
He turned toward Dominic.
“You took everything.”
Dominic stared back.
Gabriel smiled.
“So I bought one final thing.”
The marshals dragged him away.
Hannah looked at Luca.
“How many people could have received the contract?”
Luca’s face was grim.
“In Gabriel’s world?”
May you like
He checked his weapon.
“Too many.”
