Chapter 7 - THE SECRET INSIDE THE DINER
The investigation took an unexpected turn when Marcus returned to the diner where Brielle had worked.
The owner, Mr. Kaplan, was nervous.
Too nervous.
Marcus asked about the day of the attack.
Kaplan claimed he hadn't seen anything.
But the diner's security system had recorded the street.
The footage showed the three attackers arriving in a gray sedan.
It also showed something else.
A fourth man.
Standing near the back entrance.
Watching.
Marcus paused the video.
Zoomed in.
Then stared.
The fourth man was not a stranger.
He was Daniel Russo.
Dominic's deputy security coordinator.
Marcus felt cold.
Russo had been responsible for reviewing the route Evelyn and Lily were supposed to take that afternoon.
He had also approved a last-minute change to their security detail.
Marcus called Dominic immediately.
“We have a problem.”
Dominic listened.
Then said:
“Bring me the footage.”
That evening, Dominic confronted Russo in a secure office with counsel and investigators present.
Russo denied involvement.
But the evidence was mounting.
Phone records.
Financial transfers.
Security schedule changes.
Eventually, Russo admitted he'd provided information about Evelyn's movements.
He claimed Calder had threatened his family.
Dominic stared at him.
“You could have come to me.”
Russo looked down.
“I was afraid.”
Dominic's voice hardened.
“So you put my daughter in danger?”
Russo began crying.
Dominic turned away.
He wanted to hurt the man.
Wanted to make him understand what he'd nearly caused.
But then he remembered Brielle.
Standing in the street.
Refusing to move.
He looked toward Marcus.
“Turn over everything to the authorities.”
Marcus nodded.
Dominic walked out.
For the first time in years, he chose not to answer betrayal with violence.
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And he wondered whether that choice made him weaker.
Or finally made him stronger.
