Chapter 7 - THE LEDGER SALVATORE WANTED BACK
The old records gave investigators motive.
Modern records gave them a current crime.
Salvatore had never stopped.
The twenty-two million became thirty-six.
Then forty-one.
Shell companies evolved.
Different names.
Same architecture.
He was preparing one final transfer involving two waterfront warehouses controlled by Falcone Holdings.
The brothers had planned to sell them in December.
Salvatore’s hidden buyer would acquire them through layered debt for less than half market value.
Then resell.
Profit:
Almost nineteen million.
Roman canceled nothing.
Instead, auditors marked every document.
Banks monitored the transactions.
Investigators watched.
Salvatore believed the boys were distracted by Eleanor.
Perfect.
Then Mrs. Hess received a message.
Unknown number.
Tell Maeve her mother kept things that don't belong to her. Return them and the Carter girl keeps her sister safe.
I read it once.
Then handed it to Rachel.
Roman’s face became lethal.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“No what?”
“You and Nora are leaving Massachusetts tonight.”
There it was.
Decision.
Control.
Protection wearing the same coat.
“No.”
“Maeve.”
“You don't decide.”
His jaw tightened.
“He threatened your sister.”
“Yes.”
“Then—”
“Then I choose where she stays.”
He stopped.
I continued:
“Nora goes to our aunt in Vermont.”
He hated that.
“Security?”
“One person she knows about.”
“Two.”
“One.”
Roman looked personally wounded.
Gabriel muttered:
“Take the deal.”
Roman glared.
Then:
“One.”
Progress.
“And me?”
“You should go with her.”
“I’m staying in Boston.”
“Why?”
“Because I have an attorney, police involvement and a life.”
I looked at him.
“Do not turn me into bait.”
“I won't.”
“Do not announce where I am.”
“I won't.”
“Do not put me in a room with Salvatore because you think he'll confess.”
Roman’s expression changed.
He had considered something similar.
I almost laughed.
“Absolutely not.”
“Fine.”
Again, he said it badly.
The actual trap required none of us.
At the Falcone family council two days later, Salvatore approved the warehouse transfers.
Signed instructions.
Directed a shell-company representative to move funds.
Every step monitored.
Then Roman placed Lucia’s original letter on the table.
Salvatore stopped.
“Where did you get that?”
“Eleanor kept it.”
The old man stared.
Roman continued:
“She kept everything.”
Salvatore’s eyes moved toward the leather case beside Declan.
The decoy ledger.
He lunged for it.
First move.
Declan blocked him.
Salvatore shoved him.
Hard.
Declan put him back into the chair.
Security entered.
Salvatore rose again anyway.
Second attempt.
This time he reached inside his coat.
Roman moved first.
Caught his wrist.
Nothing dramatic.
No gunshot.
A small folding knife fell to the carpet.
Gabriel kicked it away.
Salvatore struggled.
Roman pinned his arm long enough for security to take over.
“You would choose a servant over family?” Salvatore hissed.
Roman looked at him.
“No.”
A pause.
“I chose the truth over you.”
Investigators entered.
Salvatore’s expression changed.
May you like
He had survived fifteen years because everyone inside Falcone Manor believed family problems stayed inside Falcone Manor.
Not anymore.
