Chapter 8 - THE LEDGER BENEATH THE FLOORBOARDS
The ledger was hidden beneath the floorboards of Arthur's childhood home.
He had kept it there since he was nineteen.
It contained records of Frank Bellucci's operations.
Payments.
Names.
Bribes.
Illegal shipments.
And evidence connecting several powerful men to the fire that killed Maria Callahan.
Arthur had stolen it shortly before the diner burned.
He'd planned to use it to escape Bellucci's control.
Instead, the fire changed everything.
For decades, he'd kept the ledger hidden.
Not because it was useless.
Because it implicated people who could destroy him.
And because some entries also documented his own early involvement in criminal operations.
Now Ethan's life depended on it.
Arthur told Nora the truth.
She listened in silence.
“You had evidence?”
Arthur nodded.
“All these years?”
“Yes.”
Nora stared.
“You could have helped my family.”
Arthur looked down.
“I was afraid.”
She laughed bitterly.
“The great Arthur Moretti was afraid?”
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised her.
Arthur continued.
“I was afraid of prison. Afraid of retaliation. Afraid of losing everything.”
Nora's eyes filled.
“And my grandmother lost her life.”
Arthur nodded.
“I know.”
For a long moment, she couldn't speak.
Then she said:
“Get the ledger.”
Arthur looked up.
“Give it to the authorities.”
He hesitated.
“Nora—”
“If you want to help Ethan, stop protecting yourself.”
The words struck him like a blow.
Arthur stared at her.
Then slowly nodded.
“You're right.”
That night, Arthur retrieved the ledger.
He handed it to his attorney.
May you like
And authorized its delivery to investigators.
For the first time in twenty-seven years, the truth left his control.
