Chapter 5 - THE SECRET LUCA LEFT BEHIND
Nora had discovered the truth by accident.
Eleven days earlier, Raphael had asked her to review several archived financial accounts.
He suspected a former supplier had been stealing from the company.
Nora found the missing money.
But she also found something else.
A payment made six years earlier.
The exact week Luca Corsetti died.
The transfer had gone to a private security contractor.
Its description was simple.
SPECIAL COLLECTION — L. CORSETTI
Nora initially assumed it referred to a legitimate debt.
Then she found another payment.
And another.
All authorized by Victor Salerno.
All connected to the same date.
She began checking old records.
Security logs.
Vehicle movements.
Archived messages.
And finally, a deleted surveillance file.
It showed Luca entering his office at 9:14 p.m.
Alone.
At 9:27, Victor arrived.
At 9:42, two unidentified men entered through the service corridor.
At 10:03, Victor left.
At 10:17, security reported a gunshot.
Raphael had always believed Luca was alone when he died.
But he hadn't been.
Nora found the footage.
Copied it.
And tried to bring it to Raphael.
Victor discovered what she'd done.
His men intercepted her in the underground garage.
They beat her.
Demanded the drive.
And told her that if she ever spoke, she'd disappear.
Nora had hidden the evidence inside the lining of her coat.
Then she escaped.
And climbed forty-two floors.
Raphael listened without interrupting.
When she finished, his face was pale.
“Why didn't you call me earlier?”
Nora looked down.
“Because Victor controls your security.”
Raphael said nothing.
“And because I didn't know whether you'd believe me.”
That hurt more than he expected.
He looked at her.
“You should have trusted me.”
Nora's expression changed.
“Would you have believed me?”
Raphael opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Because six months earlier, if Nora had accused Victor of murdering Luca, Raphael might have dismissed her.
He had trusted Victor for seventeen years.
Nora had worked for him for two.
She nodded sadly.
“That's what I thought.”
Raphael looked away.
Then whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Nora blinked.
He looked back at her.
“You were right.”
For the first time since waking, she smiled.
“That's usually the case.”
Raphael laughed.
A short, broken sound.
Then he took her uninjured hand.
“And you're never climbing forty-two floors again.”
Nora raised an eyebrow.
“Is that an order?”
“Yes.”
May you like
She smiled faintly.
“Then install a better emergency system.”
