Chapter 6 - THE BURNED EVIDENCE
"Vanessa," Eleanor warned, her voice dropping to a lethal octave. "Put the lighter down."
Vanessa laughed.
It was a jagged, hysterical sound.
Her red silk gown was torn at the hem, and she looked completely unhinged.
"You used me, Eleanor," Vanessa spat. "You promised me the empire. But you were never going to let me marry him, were you? You just needed me to keep him distracted while you secured the ledger."
Luca didn't move his gun from Keller's neck.
"Vanessa," Luca said calmly. "Give me the microfiche. We can end this."
"End it?" Vanessa sneered. "It's already over, Luca! She was going to kill me tonight! Why do you think I smashed that decanter over my own head? To get away from Keller!"
Keller swallowed hard. "She's crazy, boss. I was just following Eleanor's orders."
"Shut up," Luca hissed, digging the barrel deeper.
Vanessa held the lighter closer to the small square of film.
"I went to Sophie's apartment this afternoon," Vanessa confessed, her eyes wide and manic. "While she was setting my engagement table. I knew David hid it in the cedar box. I found the false bottom."
I felt a surge of absolute fury.
She had been in my home.
She had touched my things.
"You framed my husband," I said, my voice shaking with rage. "You ruined my life."
"Oh, please," Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Your husband was weak. He couldn't handle the pressure."
She looked back at Eleanor.
"Now," Vanessa said, her thumb hovering over the spark wheel. "I want ten million dollars. In an offshore account. By midnight. Or the Moretti legacy burns right here."
Eleanor let out a sharp, cold laugh.
"You stupid girl," Eleanor said. "Do you think I only made one copy?"
Vanessa froze.
"What?"
Eleanor smiled maliciously.
"The microfiche in your hand is useless," Eleanor said. "It's a decoy. I kept the real ledger."
Vanessa's hand trembled. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Eleanor challenged. "Burn it. See if I care."
Vanessa stared at the film in her hand.
For a second, she hesitated.
That was all Luca needed.
In one fluid motion, Luca kicked the back of Keller's knee.
Keller buckled, dropping his gun.
Before Keller hit the ground, Luca stepped over him, closed the distance to Eleanor, and drove his forearm into her throat.
Eleanor slammed against the wall, dropping Leo's wrist.
"Mommy!" Leo screamed.
I lunged forward.
I grabbed my son with my good arm, pulling him fiercely against my chest.
I buried my face in his hair, crying uncontrollably.
He was safe. He was safe.
Luca pinned his mother against the tile wall.
"Where is it?" Luca demanded.
Eleanor gasped for air, a sickening smile stretching across her face.
"You're... too late," she choked out.
Suddenly, the heavy glass doors of Union Station burst open.
Red and blue police lights flooded the Great Hall.
Dozens of armed tactical officers swarmed into the building, their rifles raised.
"FBI! DROP YOUR WEAPONS! NOBODY MOVE!"
Vanessa screamed and dropped the lighter.
Luca froze.
He didn't raise his hands, but he stepped back from his mother.
A tall man in a dark trench coat walked through the line of officers.
He flashed a gold badge.
"Special Agent Harris," he announced.
He looked directly at Luca.
"Luca Moretti. You are under arrest for racketeering, extortion, and the murder of David Bennett."
My blood ran cold.
"No!" I shouted, clutching Leo tighter. "He didn't kill David! She did!" I pointed at Eleanor.
Agent Harris looked at Eleanor.
Then, to my absolute horror, Eleanor straightened her coat, smoothed her hair, and walked over to the FBI agent.
She didn't put her hands up.
She reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a small, leather-bound notebook.
The real ledger.
She handed it to Agent Harris.
"Thank you, Agent Harris," Eleanor said calmly. "As promised. Everything you need to dismantle the Moretti syndicate is in there."
Harris took the book. "Your immunity deal is secure, Mrs. Moretti."
Luca stared at his mother, utter betrayal flashing across his face.
"You made a deal with the Feds," Luca realized.
"I told you," Eleanor said coldly. "I came back to protect the family. Even if I have to burn you to do it."
Two agents grabbed Luca by the arms, forcing his hands behind his back.
He didn't fight them.
He looked at me.
"Sophie," Luca said, his voice urgent.
"Don't say anything!" Harris barked.
But Luca locked eyes with me.
"The coat," Luca said.
Harris shoved him forward. "Move!"
"The coat, Sophie!" Luca yelled as they dragged him away.
I stood in the center of the station, holding my son, watching them take him.
I looked down at the metal bench.
Sitting right where I had found it.
Leo's bright red winter coat.
May you like
I picked it up.
And I felt something hard sewn into the lining.
