Chapter 3 - THE MAN VINCENT INVITED INSIDE
Vincent looked terrible.
Camille had never seen him weak.
Not really.
Even asleep during influenza, Vincent Castellano somehow looked intimidating.
Now oxygen ran beneath his nose.
Hospital monitors surrounded him.
His voice was barely more than air.
Camille remained near the doorway.
“You asked for me.”
His eyes opened.
“Adeline?”
“Fine.”
A pause.
“Scared.”
Vincent closed his eyes briefly.
“Shouldn't have seen that.”
“No.”
Camille stepped closer.
“But she knew what to do.”
His eyes opened again.
“You taught her.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
Camille swallowed.
“What did you mean?”
He frowned.
“Before you passed out.”
“What did I say?”
“Inside.”
Recognition came.
“The cabinet.”
“What cabinet?”
Vincent looked toward Marcus.
“Office.”
“Cedar cabinet.”
“Inside back.”
Marcus immediately left.
Camille started following.
Vincent's voice stopped her.
“Camille.”
She looked back.
“Your badge?”
She stared.
“You know?”
“Marcus told me.”
“I wasn't there.”
“I know.”
No hesitation.
That surprised her.
“How?”
“Because I let the person in.”
Silence.
“You knew your attacker?”
Vincent looked away.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Before he could answer, the doctor entered.
Conversation over.
Marcus returned to the estate with investigators.
The cedar cabinet looked ordinary.
At the rear, beneath an interior panel, they found a narrow compartment.
Inside:
An encrypted flash drive.
A paper ledger.
And photocopies of invoices.
The names meant little at first.
Bayou Renewal Partners.
Delta Recovery Infrastructure.
Gulf Parish Materials.
Companies that had received tens of millions in post-hurricane reconstruction contracts.
All connected through subcontractors to Castellano Logistics.
One signature appeared repeatedly.
Enzo Castellano.
Marcus stared.
Then another investigator pointed to a handwritten notation on the ledger.
E.C. — offshore percentages exceed agreement. Audit Friday.
Today was Thursday.
Vincent had been attacked one day before the audit.
Back at the hospital, Camille asked:
“Was it Enzo?”
Vincent remained silent.
That was answer enough.
“Why won't you say it?”
“Because I didn't see the hand.”
“What?”
“He came to my office.”
Vincent breathed shallowly.
“We argued.”
“He left.”
“Then someone came behind me.”
“You didn't see them?”
“No.”
That changed everything.
Enzo had motive.
Access.
Opportunity.
But Vincent couldn't say Enzo attacked him.
May you like
And Camille suddenly understood something important.
The truth was going to be harder than finding the nearest villain.
