CHAPTER 6 — The FBI Was Already Watching
CHAPTER 6 — The FBI Was Already Watching
Two mornings later, my phone rang from an unknown number.
"Mrs. Gable?"
"No."
"This is Mackenzie."
A brief pause.
"My name is Special Agent Daniel Harris."
My pulse stopped.
"I'm with the Financial Crimes Division."
"I believe you've been looking into the Gable family."
Every instinct screamed that this could be another trap.
"How did you get this number?"
"We've been monitoring Austin Gable for eighteen months."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
"We know about the forged loans."
"We know about the shell companies."
"We know about several suspected victims."
"But until now..."
"We've never had someone willing to cooperate from inside the family."
I remained silent.
Then he said something that changed everything.
"We already know who Emily is."
"And Rachel."
"And Sophia."
"And Danielle."
"We've spoken to all of them."
My eyes widened.
"They're working with you?"
"They are now."
The women hadn't just gathered evidence.
They had already gone to federal investigators.
I was the missing witness.
That afternoon, I met Agent Harris inside a quiet government office.
He placed a thick case file on the table.
Across the cover was one name.
Operation Gable.
Inside were photographs spanning nearly twelve years.
Forgery reports.
Wire transfers.
Property scams.
Insurance fraud.
Tax fraud.
Identity theft.
There were more than twenty suspected victims.
Some had lost everything.
Others had disappeared completely after accepting confidential settlements.
"What do you need from me?" I asked.
"The original documents."
"The forged signatures."
"The conversations inside that house."
"And one more thing."
"What?"
"We need them to believe they've succeeded."
The plan was terrifying.
I would pretend to give in.
I would agree to sign.
The documents would be prepared under surveillance.
Every conversation would be recorded.
Every forged page would become evidence.
Every participant would identify themselves.
If everything went according to plan...
The entire family could be arrested together.
One operation.
One night.
No escape.
As I walked back to my car, Blake called.
"Good news," he said cheerfully.
"Mom wants to host a family dinner this Saturday."
I looked toward the federal building behind me.
Then smiled.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Because none of them realized...
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Saturday wouldn't be a celebration.
It would be the last dinner the Gable family ever shared before the handcuffs came out.
