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She whipped down her blade to rest against her skirt. “Unfortunately, I believe you.”
“Then let’s return to the man you shot,” Braden said. “Who is he?”
Haxton visibly swallowed. “One of MacGowan’s men. He was sent to kill me because I no longer wanted to be a part of their schemes.”
Braden and Samantha exchanged perplexed glances.
“Who the hell is MacGowan?” Braden asked.
“A gang leader. The one at the Hanging Judge.”
“And he kidnapped the children, too?” Samantha asked.
“Yes, he and his sister have been organizing the disappearances.”
Logan frowned. “What sister?”
“Mrs. Girvin.”
Braden felt his jaw sag at that revelation.
“You’re joking,” Logan exclaimed.
“I am not.”
Samantha pressed a hand to her stomach, looking ill. “Oh, my God. Girvin has been with the foundation since the beginning. How could I not have seen this?”
Braden put his arm around her shoulders before narrowing his gaze on Haxton. “And Baines? Where does he come into this?”
“He’s Girvin’s lover.”
That stunned all of them into silence for several long moments.
Braden mentally shook himself free. “You’d best start at the beginning, Haxton. Who came up with the idea to run a criminal rig out of the foundation?”
Haxton took another swig from his glass, fortifying himself. “Girvin did. Then Arthur formulated the mechanics of the plan with MacGowan.”
“How the bloody hell did Baines and Girvin even meet?” Logan asked.
“It was about ten years ago, when Arthur represented her in a criminal case for theft. They became lovers shortly thereafter.”
“But Roger vetted her so carefully before he hired her,” Samantha exclaimed. “How could he have missed that?”
“She changed her name,” Haxton replied. “With Arthur’s help, she created a new identity.”
Samantha sank into a nearby armchair, as if the stuffing had been knocked from her. “And Arthur recommended her to Roger.Hevouched for Girvin.”
Haxton nodded. “But I didn’t know about any of that until after Arthur brought me onto the board.”
“Specifically with the intention of helping to defraud the organization,” Samantha bitterly said.
“I didn’t know that until later, too.”
“Then why the hell did you agree to any of this, Haxton?” Braden exclaimed. “You’re a respectable banker from a distinguished family. Surely you didn’t need the money.”
Haxton shrank into himself, looking even more pitiful. “It wasn’t the money.”
“Then again, why?”
