Chapter 10 - The Betrayal Inside Moretti House
The betrayal began with a missing ledger.
Alexander's organization had been undergoing an internal financial review.
Several legitimate companies were cooperating with investigators examining historical fraud and money laundering.
Sofia Bellini supervised the process.
Nico coordinated records preservation.
And Dominic Russo was supposed to have been removed from access.
But one morning, a sealed archive was found open.
Three folders had disappeared.
The missing records related to transfers arranged by Martin Vale.
Alexander stared at the empty cabinet.
"Who had the access code?"
Nico checked the log.
"Four people."
"Names."
"You. Sofia. Me. Dominic."
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"Dominic's access was revoked."
"Somebody used an older override credential."
Silence.
Then Nico said something Alexander didn't want to hear.
"Boss, somebody inside the house is still helping him."
---
I learned about the missing records when Sofia contacted Rebecca.
The documents could affect my case.
Rebecca explained what had happened.
I listened.
Then asked, "Can they recover copies?"
"Some records were backed up. Others may be difficult."
I felt the old panic rising.
Every time I thought I was close to freedom, another door seemed to close.
But Rebecca's next words steadied me.
"Emily, your case doesn't depend on one missing folder. We have multiple sources of evidence."
I breathed out.
"Okay."
"You're building a life while the legal process continues. Don't let each development take that away from you."
I looked around my new apartment.
It was small.
The kitchen cabinets were crooked.
The bathroom faucet dripped.
But it belonged to me.
I had chosen the furniture.
Chosen the curtains.
Chosen the terrible yellow lamp beside the couch.
Derek had never been inside.
It was mine.
And I refused to let fear steal it.
---
That evening, Alexander called.
"I owe you an apology."
I frowned.
"For what?"
"Someone connected to me compromised records relevant to your case."
I sat down.
"You didn't do it."
"No."
"Then why are you apologizing?"
"Because I told you I could provide useful records, and my organization failed to protect them."
I considered his words.
"You don't have to take responsibility for every bad thing people around you do."
He was quiet.
Then said, "I'm learning that."
I smiled.
"How's therapy?"
"Humiliating."
I laughed.
"Good."
He chuckled.
Then grew serious.
"Emily, I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"Dominic Russo is missing."
My smile vanished.
"Missing?"
"He failed to appear for a scheduled interview."
"Do you think he's hiding?"
"Possibly."
"Or someone hurt him?"
"We don't know."
I looked toward my apartment door.
"Alexander, promise me you're not going after him."
He inhaled.
"I'm cooperating with the investigation."
"That wasn't the question."
A pause.
Then he said, "No, Emily. I'm not going after him."
I closed my eyes.
"Good."
---
Two days later, Dominic Russo contacted an attorney.
He had been hiding in a motel outside Indiana.
He claimed Martin Vale had threatened his family.
He also claimed somebody within the Moretti organization had secretly continued the financial network after Alexander began dismantling it.
The accusation sent shock waves through the case.
And the name he gave was unexpected.
Sofia Bellini.
Alexander refused to believe it.
Sofia had known him since childhood.
She had handled his mother's estate.
Helped him investigate Elena's disappearance.
Protected family records for decades.
But investigators found evidence that Sofia had approved certain transfers connected to Martin.
When confronted, she didn't deny it.
Alexander stood across from her in a conference room.
"Why?"
Sofia looked exhausted.
"Your father made me."
"He's been dead for nine years."
She closed her eyes.
"I know."
"Then why did it continue?"
"Because I was afraid of what would happen if the old records became public."
Alexander stared.
"What records?"
Sofia's face crumpled.
"The ones showing I helped falsify your mother's death."
Silence.
Alexander stepped backward.
"You?"
Sofia began crying.
"Your father threatened my daughter. He said he'd kill her if I refused."
Alexander's face lost color.
"You told me you were trying to find the truth."
"I was."
"You helped bury it."
"Yes."
For a long time, neither moved.
Then Alexander asked quietly, "Did you know she was alive?"
Sofia nodded.
His expression broke.
"All these years?"
"Yes."
Alexander turned away.
He gripped the back of a chair.
For several seconds, he could not speak.
Then he whispered, "You watched me mourn her."
Sofia covered her face.
"I'm sorry."
He looked at her.
"That doesn't undo it."
She nodded through tears.
"I know."
Alexander took a breath.
"You're going to tell the investigators everything."
"Yes."
"And you'll accept whatever consequences follow."
Sofia nodded.
He looked toward the door.
"Then we're finished."
---
When he told me, I didn't know what to say.
We sat together on a park bench overlooking Lake Michigan.
The wind was cold.
Alexander's face looked drawn.
"She was family," he whispered.
I watched the water.
"I'm sorry."
"She knew my mother was alive."
I nodded.
"She let me believe I'd buried her."
He looked down.
"I keep thinking about every Christmas. Every birthday. Every year I visited that grave."
His voice broke.
I moved closer.
Then stopped.
"Can I hug you?"
He looked at me.
His eyes filled.
"Yes."
I wrapped my arms around him.
He held me carefully.
For a long time, he didn't speak.
Then he whispered, "I don't know how to forgive her."
I rested my head against his shoulder.
"You don't have to decide today."
He closed his eyes.
For once, the most powerful man in the room had no answer.
And for once, nobody expected him to.
---
That night, I returned to my apartment and found an envelope beneath the door.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph of my mother.
She stood outside Ward & Finch Press.
Beside her was Derek's father.
On the back was a note.
Your mother wasn't only collecting evidence. She was preparing to testify.
I stared at the handwriting.
Then turned the photograph over again.
There was a date.
Three days before her fatal car accident.
May you like
My breathing stopped.
Because until that moment, I'd never questioned how my mother died.
