Chapter 11 - Sarah Came Back With a Warning
Mateo stepped in front of me.
Dominic lifted both hands.
“If I wanted you dead, nephew, we wouldn’t be talking.”
“That sentence runs in your family,” I muttered.
Dominic looked amused.
“You must be Harper.”
“You must be the man everyone keeps blaming.”
His smile faded slightly.
“Smart.”
“So was my father.”
“I respected Robert.”
“You killed him.”
Mateo turned toward him.
“Did you?”
Dominic sighed.
“No.”
“Mother?”
“No.”
“You expect me to believe you?”
“No.”
He looked at the ledger.
“But I expect that book to prove it.”
Mateo didn’t move.
Dominic continued.
“Anthony Caruso and I built the original route.”
“For stolen cargo,” Mateo said.
“Yes.”
My stomach tightened.
“At least he admits that,” I said.
Dominic ignored me.
“We made money. Then Anthony became greedy.”
“And you didn’t?”
“I became afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Anthony was moving more than stolen electronics.”
Mateo’s face hardened.
“Drugs?”
“Weapons. People.”
The room became colder.
“I tried leaving.”
“Mother discovered it.”
“Yes.”
“And Robert?”
“He helped her.”
“Then why did he write that you were responsible?”
“Because Anthony convinced him I ordered Elena’s death.”
Mateo’s voice became dangerous.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
Dominic looked toward the floor.
“I’ve spent eleven years trying to prove it.”
“Convenient.”
“Yes.”
Dominic pointed toward the ledger.
“That book contains names. Judges. Police. businessmen. People Anthony paid.”
“Why did you send Grant?”
Dominic’s face tightened.
“I didn’t.”
“The foundation payments?”
“Not me.”
“Then who?”
Dominic looked at Luca.
Luca stepped forward angrily.
“Careful.”
“I’m not accusing you.”
Dominic turned to Mateo.
“I believe whoever framed you also framed me.”
Suddenly gunfire erupted outside.
Security moved.
Dominic swore.
“I was followed.”
Mateo grabbed my arm.
“Back room.”
This time I didn’t argue.
Afterward, Dominic was gone.
Escaped.
Or allowed to escape.
Nobody seemed sure.
The ledger remained.
We spent hours copying it.
Most entries were coded.
One repeated designation appeared hundreds of times.
S.N.
Sarah Nguyen?
I rejected the idea immediately.
“She was twelve when some of these entries were made.”
Mateo nodded.
“Not Sarah.”
The phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Harper.”
Sarah.
I nearly cried.
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Are you safe?”
“No.”
Mateo moved closer.
Sarah whispered:
“I know who S.N. is.”
Everyone froze.
“Who?”
“Samuel Novak.”
Mateo knew the name.
Chicago police commissioner.
I stared.
“No.”
Sarah continued.
“He’s been working with Dominic.”
Dominic again.
Mateo frowned.
“How do you know?”
“I heard them.”
“Where?”
“Grant took me somewhere after the motel.”
“Grant kidnapped you?”
“No.”
Her answer shocked me.
“He saved me.”
“What?”
“He knew the Carusos were coming. He got me out.”
“Then why disappear?”
“Because he discovered someone was following your people.”
Sarah began crying.
“I’m sorry, Harper.”
“I know.”
“No. You don’t.”
Her voice broke.
“Grant didn’t choose you.”
I looked at Mateo.
“What?”
“I did.”
The room disappeared.
“What did you say?”
“Grant needed someone believable. Someone who could accidentally get onto Mateo’s floor.”
“Why me?”
Sarah sobbed.
“Because I knew you needed money.”
That sentence hurt more than anything.
“You knew I’d work the double shift.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I’d be exhausted.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I trusted you.”
Silence.
I closed my eyes.
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
She cried harder.
“But Harper, listen. I thought they wanted photographs. I thought you’d walk into the room, realize the mistake and leave.”
“You told me to stay asleep.”
“Grant made me send that.”
“Why?”
“He said if you came out, they would kill you.”
My anger faltered.
“What?”
“The attack wasn’t supposed to happen until four thirty.”
Mateo’s eyes narrowed.
“But it happened later.”
Sarah whispered:
“Because somebody changed the timing.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Then she said something that turned Mateo pale.
“Grant found the original schedule.”
“What schedule?”
“The hit wasn’t ordered by Caruso.”
Mateo leaned toward the phone.
“Who ordered it?”
Sarah whispered:
“Samuel Novak.”
Then a door crashed open on Sarah’s end.
She screamed.
May you like
The call ended.
---
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