Chapter 6 - THE WAITRESS FIGHTS BACK
Amelia refused to hide.
Against every recommendation, she returned to Castellano’s.
Angela hugged her.
Tony made pancakes.
Mr. Del Monaco complained that her substitute had overfilled his coffee.
Ordinary things.
Precious things.
Then Amelia did something Raymond never expected.
She spoke publicly.
Not through Vincent.
Not through lawyers.
Herself.
She gave investigators permission to release authenticated portions of the evidence.
Other women came forward.
One.
Then three.
Then nine.
Former girlfriends.
A paralegal.
A witness Raymond threatened.
A detective ordered to alter a report.
Raymond’s perfect image cracked.
Then Derek Lawson returned.
Not physically.
His assault case had led investigators to his finances.
Derek had received $8,000 two days before entering Castellano’s.
From a company connected to Raymond.
The assault had not been random.
Raymond had paid Derek to provoke Amelia.
He wanted police involved.
A hospital.
A record.
Anything that would force her false identity into a database.
Derek had hit her harder than instructed.
But the plan worked.
Amelia stared at the transaction record.
“The whole thing…”
Vincent finished.
“Was bait.”
For three years Raymond had searched for her.
Then he discovered where she worked but still needed official confirmation that Amelia Carter was Amelia Bennett.
Derek created it.
Amelia felt sick.
Then angry.
Not frightened.
Angry.
“Good,” Vincent said.
She looked at him.
“What?”
“Fear makes you run.”
“And anger?”
“Makes you decide where you’re standing.”
She looked around the diner.
May you like
“I’m standing here.”
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