Chapter 7 - THE FIRE WAS NEVER AN ACCIDENT
Mave sat in Enzo's office for nearly an hour.
She didn't cry.
Not at first.
She simply stared at the photograph.
Her father.
Alive.
Standing beside men whose names had shaped Philadelphia's waterfront for decades.
Enzo waited.
Finally, she looked up.
"Tell me everything."
He hesitated.
"Mave, I don't know everything."
"Then tell me what you do know."
Enzo opened an old file.
"Your father was contracted to inspect electrical systems at Pier Nineteen."
She nodded slowly.
"He did industrial work."
"He reported safety violations."
"What kind?"
"Improper wiring. Missing inspection certificates. Equipment being used without authorization."
Mave stared.
"And?"
"According to the records, he refused to sign off on the project."
She swallowed.
"My father used to say a signature could kill someone if you put it on the wrong paper."
Enzo looked at her.
"He was right."
Mave's eyes filled.
"Then why did he die?"
Enzo looked down.
"I don't know."
She shook her head.
"Eleven years, Mr. Baranti."
"I know."
"Eleven years of people telling us the fire was an accident."
Her voice broke.
"My mother blamed herself for leaving him alone that night."
Enzo said nothing.
Mave continued.
"I blamed myself because I couldn't get downstairs fast enough."
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"And now you're telling me he may have been threatened because he refused to lie?"
Enzo looked at her.
"I'm telling you we have reason to investigate."
Mave wiped her face.
"Then investigate."
He nodded.
"I will."
She leaned forward.
"But not because you feel sorry for me."
Enzo met her eyes.
"Because the truth matters."
Mave stared.
Then nodded.
"Good."
That evening, Enzo contacted independent investigators and outside counsel.
The old fire records were retrieved.
Witness statements were reviewed.
And one detail stood out.
The original fire investigator had documented evidence of an accelerant near the rear entrance.
That observation had been omitted from the final summary.
Enzo stared at the discrepancy.
May you like
Then looked at the name of the person who had requested the amendment.
Gerard Whitlock.
