Chapter 8 - THE LEDGER MICHAEL LEFT BEHIND
Three days later, I received a package.
No return address.
Inside was a small black notebook.
I recognized it immediately.
Michael's handwriting covered the first page.
My knees nearly gave out.
I sat at the kitchen table.
Opened the notebook.
And began reading.
Shipping dates.
Container numbers.
Company names.
Bank transfers.
Then a name appeared.
BELLAMY HOLDINGS.
Beneath it was another.
MORETTI LOGISTICS.
My breath caught.
Dominic's company.
I turned the page.
A handwritten note appeared in the margin.
If anything happens to me, Grace must know the truth.
I covered my mouth.
I brought the notebook to Elena Park, an attorney recommended by Giuseppe Romano.
She examined it carefully.
“This could be important evidence.”
I nodded.
“But we need to verify it.”
I looked at her.
“Do you think Michael was killed?”
She hesitated.
“I think the circumstances deserve renewed investigation.”
I swallowed.
“And Dominic?”
Elena studied me.
“What about him?”
“His company is in the notebook.”
“That doesn't prove he knew about the transactions.”
I looked down.
“I know.”
But the possibility frightened me.
That evening, I confronted Dominic.
He listened while I explained the notebook.
Then I placed it on his desk.
His expression changed when he saw the company name.
“Where did you get this?”
“It was mailed to me.”
He opened it.
Read several pages.
Then sat down slowly.
“These transactions are from eight years ago.”
I nodded.
“Before I worked here.”
He looked at me.
“Before I took control of Moretti Logistics.”
I stared.
“Who controlled it?”
“My uncle.”
“Which uncle?”
Dominic hesitated.
Then said, “Salvatore Moretti.”
I felt cold.
Salvatore was Dominic's father's younger brother.
He had attended Ethan's birthday party.
He had stood near the cake table.
And he had been one of the first people to leave after Lily screamed.
Dominic called Vincent.
“Where is my uncle?”
Vincent checked his phone.
“His townhouse.”
“Confirm.”
A pause.
Then Vincent's expression changed.
“Boss.”
Dominic stood.
“What?”
“Salvatore left New York this morning.”
“Where?”
Vincent swallowed.
“Private flight to Switzerland.”
Dominic stared at the notebook.
Then whispered, “He knew.”
That night, I lay awake beside Lily.
She slept peacefully, one hand curled around her stuffed dinosaur.
I looked at her face.
Michael's eyes.
My mother's smile.
A little girl who had saved another child's life without understanding the danger.
I brushed her hair away from her forehead.
May you like
Then whispered, “I promise I'll find out what happened to your daddy.”
For the first time, I believed I might actually keep that promise.
