Chapter 13 - A Queen Without a Kingdom
Roman did not believe it.
Sadie could tell immediately.
“Victor is lying.”
They stood inside the half-renovated Mercer Street apartment.
Sloan’s voice remained on speakerphone.
“He provided supporting documents.”
“Forged.”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely.”
Sloan sighed.
“Roman, I need Tommy brought in for questioning.”
Roman’s expression hardened.
Sadie watched the old instincts return.
Protection.
Control.
Loyalty.
“He didn’t kill Daniel.”
“I didn’t say he did.”
“You implied involvement.”
“I said Victor claims Daniel discovered Tommy inside your organization.”
Roman looked at Sadie.
She understood his fear.
If Tommy betrayed him, Roman’s last stable belief about his old life disappeared.
Sadie said, “Where is Tommy?”
Roman called.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
His expression changed.
Tommy always answered.
Sloan said, “Do not go looking for him.”
Roman gave Sadie a look.
She almost smiled.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“I know that face.”
“What face?”
“The face where you pretend you didn’t hear federal instructions.”
Roman put on his coat.
“That description lacks nuance.”
Sadie grabbed hers.
“You’re not going alone.”
“That sounds like an order.”
“It is.”
He looked faintly impressed.
They found Tommy at St. Michael’s Cemetery.
Roman’s father was buried there.
So was Tommy’s.
Tommy stood between the graves.
He looked up when they approached.
“You heard.”
Roman stopped several feet away.
“Yes.”
Sadie studied Tommy.
He looked exhausted rather than guilty.
“Why didn’t you answer?”
“I needed ten minutes where nobody asked me questions.”
Roman folded his arms.
“You got twelve.”
Tommy smiled weakly.
“Generous.”
Sadie stepped forward.
“What did Daniel discover about you?”
Tommy looked at Roman.
Then at her.
“I worked for Victor.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
“When?”
“All the time.”
Silence.
Tommy continued.
“From the day I joined you.”
Roman stared.
Sadie felt the betrayal hit him physically.
Tommy said, “Victor ordered me to stay close.”
“To spy on me.”
“Yes.”
Roman’s voice went dangerously quiet.
“For how long?”
“Seven years.”
“And then?”
“I stopped.”
“Why?”
Tommy looked toward Anthony Vale’s grave.
“Because I realized Victor had killed my father too.”
Roman’s anger faltered.
Tommy explained.
His father worked security for Anthony.
He had suspected Victor.
After Anthony died, Tommy’s father threatened to leave.
Weeks later, he died in a warehouse accident.
Victor took care of Tommy afterward.
Paid bills.
Found him work.
Placed him beside Roman.
It was the same pattern.
Create an orphan.
Then become indispensable.
Roman sat on a stone bench.
The realization hollowed him.
“Jesus.”
Tommy continued.
“Daniel found payment records proving Victor sent money to me.”
Sadie’s expression hardened.
“You were still taking it?”
“At first.”
“Did Daniel confront you?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three days before he died.”
Her chest tightened.
“What happened?”
“He asked whether I knew Victor was using Roman.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him to walk away.”
Sadie stepped toward him.
“You threatened my brother?”
“No.”
“You told him to stop.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew Victor would kill him.”
“And you didn’t warn Daniel properly?”
Tommy’s face crumpled.
“I thought fear would scare him off.”
Sadie laughed bitterly.
“You men really believed fear solved everything.”
Tommy lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Roman looked at him.
“Did you tell Victor Daniel knew?”
Tommy hesitated.
Sadie’s stomach dropped.
“Tommy.”
“Yes.”
Roman stood.
Sadie had never seen such hurt on his face.
“You told him.”
“I didn’t know he’d kill Daniel.”
“You knew Victor.”
“Not enough.”
Roman moved toward him.
Sadie stepped between them.
Roman stopped.
She did not touch him.
“You told me not to give Victor the old Roman.”
Roman’s breathing was heavy.
Tommy did not defend himself.
Sadie looked at him.
“Your information got my brother killed.”
Tommy’s eyes were wet.
“Yes.”
The word was almost a whisper.
Sadie wanted to hate him.
Part of her did.
But Northstar had taught her something painful.
Most disasters were built from many smaller choices.
Fear.
Silence.
Compromise.
Cowardice.
Tommy had not ordered Daniel’s death.
But his choice had helped Victor reach him.
That mattered.
“What happened after Daniel died?”
Tommy wiped his face.
“I realized Victor had used me.”
“So you switched sides?”
“Yes.”
“Did Roman know?”
“No.”
Roman laughed once without humor.
“Apparently everyone was protecting me with lies.”
Sadie looked at him.
“Now you know how it feels.”
He met her eyes.
Painful recognition passed between them.
Tommy said, “I’ll turn myself in.”
Roman looked at him.
“You may face charges.”
“I know.”
Sadie almost smiled at the phrase.
Everyone was learning Roman’s favorite answer.
Sloan arrived twenty minutes later.
Tommy surrendered.
Before entering the vehicle, he looked at Sadie.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
It was not forgiveness.
But it was acknowledgment.
Then Tommy looked at Roman.
Roman said nothing.
Tommy got into the car.
Sadie and Roman remained in the cemetery.
Roman stared at the graves.
“My father. Tommy’s father. Daniel.”
Sadie stood beside him.
“Victor destroyed people by making them believe they needed him.”
“Yes.”
“And you built your organization using the same fear.”
Roman looked at her.
“Yes.”
“But you stopped.”
“Too late for some people.”
“Yes.”
He appreciated that she did not soften it.
Sadie said, “What are you going to do with what’s left?”
Roman frowned.
“My businesses?”
“Your kingdom.”
He almost laughed.
“There’s not much kingdom left.”
Federal seizures had frozen assets.
Several associates disappeared.
Others cooperated.
Roman Vale’s legendary organization was collapsing.
He seemed almost relieved.
“Sell whatever is legal.”
“And illegal?”
“Destroy it.”
“People work for you.”
“I know.”
“What happens to them?”
Roman considered.
“The ones without serious charges get legitimate jobs if they want them.”
“With what?”
“Construction. Restaurants. Logistics.”
Sadie stared.
“You have legitimate businesses?”
“I’m offended.”
“You shouldn’t be.”
A smile appeared.
Then Sadie grew serious.
“You really mean to end it.”
Roman nodded.
“Yes.”
“For me?”
“No.”
That answer pleased her.
“For myself.”
Better.
They left the cemetery.
On the drive, Sloan called again.
Victor wanted to speak with Sadie.
Alone.
She refused at first.
Then Sloan said Victor had information about Rebecca.
Sadie changed her mind.
At federal detention, Victor sat behind glass.
No tailored suit.
No control.
Orange uniform.
Gray hair less perfect.
Yet his eyes remained sharp.
Sadie picked up the phone.
Victor smiled.
“You look tired.”
“You look incarcerated.”
His smile faded.
“You always had Rebecca’s mouth.”
“What do you know about my mother?”
Victor leaned closer.
“She made one final recording.”
Sadie froze.
“Where?”
“I know.”
“Tell me.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re out of cards.”
Victor smiled.
“Not quite.”
He looked directly at her.
“I will tell you where Rebecca’s recording is.”
“What do you want?”
“One thing.”
Sadie waited.
Victor’s next words surprised her.
“Tell Roman to visit me.”
“Why?”
“I want to say goodbye.”
“You can rot without closure.”
Victor laughed.
“Still sharp.”
Sadie stood.
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“Nora.”
She looked back.
“Your mother’s recording is inside Anthony Vale’s old house.”
Sadie stopped.
“What house?”
Victor smiled again.
“The one Roman thinks was demolished.”
Her blood chilled.
Another lie.
“Where?”
Victor placed his palm against the glass.
“Ask Roman where he became an orphan.”
Sadie left.
That evening she found Roman in the Mercer Street building.
She told him.
His face changed.
“My childhood house burned after my father died.”
“Did you see it burn?”
“No.”
“Victor told you?”
“Yes.”
Sadie gave him a look.
Roman sighed.
“I’m noticing a pattern.”
They searched property records.
The house still existed.
Transferred repeatedly through shell companies.
Current owner?
Hale Heritage Foundation.
Roman stared at the screen.
Address:
17 Hawthorne Drive.
The place Roman Vale believed had disappeared twenty-two years ago.
May you like
And somewhere inside it waited the final voice of Rebecca Callahan.
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