The couple was still paying off the mortgage on the house Mark had bought just before they met. He told her the extra hours were for the sake of their financial future, but the truth was far more dangerous. Mark’s unit was investigating a high-profile hit-and-run that the city’s elite wanted buried.
A month prior, Julian Vance, the son of a prominent city councilman, had been driving under the influence when he struck 62-year-old Martha Gable. The accident happened at a crosswalk early in the evening. Martha died at the hospital a few hours later. Witnesses said the luxury sports car was flying, making no attempt to slow down for the turn.
A young mother and her seven-year-old son had been just feet away. The mother’s quick reflexes—yanking her son back onto the curb—saved their lives. They were the key witnesses, though the little boy was so traumatized he hadn’t spoken since the incident. The scene had been horrific, and the evidence against the young Vance was overwhelming. However, the young man remained defiant, even insulting the officers who arrived at the scene.
Julian Vance refused to leave his vehicle, threatening the officers with his father’s influence. He claimed he never saw the woman and that she had “jumped” in front of his car. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that Martha Gable was the sole guardian of her two young grandsons. Their mother had passed away years ago, and their father, Tony, was working out of state to provide for them. Now, the boys faced the foster care system.
