Chapter 5 - THE FILE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
The lawyer's name was Evelyn Price.
She was sixty-two, sharp-eyed, and unimpressed by powerful men.
Her office occupied the second floor of an aging brick building near downtown Pittsburgh.
Rosie arrived two days after leaving Dante's estate.
Evelyn examined her carefully.
"Samuel's daughter."
Rosie nodded.
"Yes."
Evelyn's expression softened.
"You look like your mother."
Rosie swallowed.
"You knew them?"
"I knew your father."
She opened a cabinet.
Removed a thick file.
Placed it on the desk.
Rosie stared.
"What is that?"
"Everything I collected after his death."
"Why wasn't it given to my family?"
Evelyn hesitated.
"Because your mother asked me to stop."
Rosie's chest tightened.
"Why?"
"She was frightened."
Rosie looked down.
The file contained photographs.
Shipping records.
Witness statements.
And a copy of the accident report.
But one document stood out.
A handwritten note.
If anything happens to me, look at the winter manifests.
Rosie stared.
"Winter manifests?"
Evelyn nodded.
"Your father believed someone was moving illegal cargo through Valerio Freight."
Rosie swallowed.
"Who?"
Evelyn looked at her.
"We never proved it."
Rosie turned another page.
Then stopped.
A name appeared repeatedly.
Victor Valerio.
Dante's father.
Rosie's hands began trembling.
"Was Dante involved?"
Evelyn shook her head.
"Not according to the records I found."
Rosie exhaled.
"But he knew something."
"Possibly."
Rosie looked at the file.
Then lifted her chin.
"I want to reopen the case."
Evelyn studied her.
"Are you certain?"
May you like
Rosie nodded.
"Yes."
