Chapter 5 - THE VIDEO THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The flash drive contained seventeen files.
Twelve photographs.
Four scanned documents.
One video.
The video was seven minutes long.
Delaney couldn't bring herself to open it immediately.
She carried the drive to an attorney named Helen Ward, whose office occupied the second floor of a brick building near the county courthouse.
Helen had represented workers injured in industrial accidents for nearly thirty years.
She knew Daniel Shaw's name.
When Delaney mentioned him, her expression changed.
“Your father contacted me before he died.”
Delaney stared.
“What?”
Helen nodded.
“He was concerned about the bridge project. He believed several contractors were cutting corners.”
“Why didn't he file a lawsuit?”
“He was collecting evidence. Then he died.”
Delaney gripped the edge of her chair.
“Did he tell you about Route 9?”
Helen hesitated.
“He said the trouble began after he witnessed something on that road.”
Allesio sat beside Delaney.
For once, he looked genuinely unsettled.
Helen continued.
“Your father was trying to establish whether the same people were connected to both incidents.”
Delaney whispered, “Harrison Howerin.”
Helen looked up sharply.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“He's in the records.”
Helen closed the folder.
“Then we should review everything carefully.”
They watched the video together.
It had been recorded by a dashboard camera mounted inside Daniel's station wagon.
The footage showed rain streaming across the windshield.
The damaged black sedan.
Delaney running toward it.
Her father shouting for her to come back.
Then the SUV arrived.
Two men emerged.
One carried a firearm.
The other stood near the vehicle's passenger door.
The image was grainy.
But the second man turned toward the headlights.
His face became visible for less than two seconds.
Allesio leaned forward.
“Pause it.”
Helen stopped the video.
He stared at the screen.
Then whispered, “Marco.”
Delaney looked at him.
“Your cousin?”
“Yes.”
His face had gone white.
The second man was Marco Corsetti.
The same cousin Allesio had suspected of betraying him.
But the video showed something more.
Marco held a phone.
As the camera continued recording, his voice could be heard through the open window.
“Tell Harrison it's done.”
The words were faint.
But clear.
Delaney felt her stomach tighten.
Allesio looked toward Helen.
“Can that be authenticated?”
“We'll preserve the original and have it examined by qualified forensic specialists.”
“Can it be given to investigators?”
“Yes. Through an appropriate chain of custody.”
Delaney stared at the frozen image.
“Dad knew.”
Helen nodded.
“He may have.”
“And somebody killed him because of it.”
Helen met her eyes.
“We don't know that yet.”
Delaney swallowed.
“But we can find out.”
The next morning, Bryce Howerin's father appeared on television.
Harrison Howerin was a wealthy developer with silver hair, perfect teeth, and a reputation for funding local schools.
He stood outside the Halver Municipal Building, surrounded by reporters.
“My son behaved irresponsibly,” he said. “He has apologized, and our family believes in accountability.”
Delaney watched from Ruth Anne's kitchen.
Juny sat beside her.
Bryce had not apologized to Delaney.
He had posted a video claiming the incident was a misunderstanding.
Harrison continued.
“We're also concerned about the apparent involvement of organized crime figures in what should have been a private matter.”
A reporter asked whether he meant Allesio Corsetti.
Harrison smiled.
“I think the public can draw its own conclusions.”
Delaney turned off the television.
Ruth Anne set down a plate of toast.
“That man could sell umbrellas during a drought.”
Delaney smiled faintly.
Then her phone rang.
An unknown number.
She answered.
“Miss Shaw?”
“Yes?”
“My name is Detective Hannah Blake. I'm with the state police. Attorney Ward provided your contact information and indicated you were willing to speak.”
Delaney straightened.
“Yes.”
“I'd like to arrange an interview regarding the Route 9 incident.”
Delaney looked toward Juny.
Her sister was drawing at the table.
“Of course.”
The detective paused.
“There's something else you should know.”
Delaney felt a chill.
“What?”
“Last night, someone attempted to access your father's old employment records.”
“Who?”
“We're investigating.”
“Why are you telling me?”
“Because the request came through an account connected to Howerin Development.”
Delaney stared at the wall.
Then asked, “Is my family in danger?”
The detective answered carefully.
“We're reviewing that possibility. Please report any threats or suspicious activity immediately.”
When the call ended, Delaney remained motionless.
Ruth Anne touched her shoulder.
“What happened?”
Delaney looked at the photograph of her parents on the refrigerator.
“Someone's looking for what Dad left behind.”
That afternoon, Allesio called.
He had learned about the attempted records access through Helen.
“Delaney, you and Juny should stay somewhere else temporarily.”
She closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“I can arrange—”
“No.”
He stopped.
She continued.
“I'll decide where we go. I'll speak with the detective. And I won't let your people take over our lives.”
There was a long silence.
Then Allesio answered.
“Fair.”
She hadn't expected agreement.
“I can provide information and resources,” he said, “but you make the decisions.”
Delaney looked toward the kitchen.
Juny was laughing at something Ruth Anne had said.
For the first time, Delaney realized how frightened she was of losing that sound.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Allesio's voice softened.
“You're welcome.”
Then he said something she would remember for a long time.
“You don't owe me trust because I helped you.”
Delaney stared at the phone.
“Then what do I owe you?”
“Nothing.”
The answer frightened her almost as much as the danger.
May you like
Because men like Allesio Corsetti were not supposed to understand the meaning of nothing.
And yet, every time he spoke to her, he seemed determined to prove that he did.
