Chapter 14: The Man Behind the Glass
Rico had been in custody for six hours when the first investigator changed his mind.
Not about the murder.
About the story.
There were too many inconsistencies.
The gun had no usable prints.
The office had evidence of a recent disturbance.
And the security system had been disabled from inside the mansion.
But Sarah Collins still needed one thing.
A reason.
A connection.
A motive strong enough to explain why Antonio would destroy his own family.
Clara found it in a locked file.
Her mother’s journal had one final page folded into the back cover.
She had missed it before.
The handwriting was shaky.
Adrian found out about the accounts.
Antonio was moving money through shell companies and blaming Rico.
Elena knows.
Rico knows some of it.
But there is one thing neither of them knows.
Antonio isn't trying to take the empire.
He is trying to erase every person who can prove the empire was built on a lie.
Clara read the final sentence twice.
Then she understood.
The warehouses.
The trucking companies.
The businesses.
The hidden accounts.
Antonio didn't want Rico dead immediately.
He wanted him discredited.
Arrested.
Destroyed.
Then he could become the only man left standing.
Sarah slammed a folder onto the table.
“We found one of Antonio's companies.””
Clara looked up.
“Where?””
“An abandoned warehouse.””
Her pulse quickened.
“Brooklyn?””
“Red Hook.””
Clara stood.
“I’m coming.””
“No.””
“He killed Michael because of me.””
“He may try to use you again.””
“He already is.””
Sarah looked at her.
“Then stay here.””
Clara shook her head.
“My father is somewhere in that story.””
“You don't know that he’s alive.””
“No.””
Clara swallowed.
“But someone who looked like him was beside Elena's car.””
Sarah sighed.
“You understand I can't protect you if you run into a trap.””
Clara looked at her.
“I know.””
Then she glanced toward Leo, who had been drawing quietly in the corner.
His crayon picture showed a house.
Three adults.
One child.
And a tall dark figure standing behind them.
Clara froze.
“Leo.””
He looked up.
“Who is that?””
“Uncle.””
“Antonio?””
Leo nodded.
“Where did you see him?””
Leo pointed toward the paper.
“Here.””
Clara stared at the drawing.
A red line ran from the tall figure to Elena.
A black line ran toward Rico.
And a blue line ended beside Clara.
Sarah crouched beside him.
“What does the blue line mean?””
Leo looked at her.
“Clara saves Daddy.””
Sarah and Clara exchanged a glance.
The warehouse was empty when they arrived.
Too empty.
No vehicles.
No guards.
No movement.
Sarah raised her weapon.
“Stay behind me.””
They entered.
Rows of shipping crates stretched into the darkness.
A light clicked on above them.
Then a voice echoed through the building.
“You should have stayed away.””
Antonio stepped onto a metal platform above them.
Clara looked up.
“You killed them.””
Antonio smiled.
“Which ones?””
“Your family.””
He laughed.
“Family is a word people use when they want obedience.””
Sarah raised her weapon.
“Antonio Moretti, step down.””
He ignored her.
His eyes remained fixed on Clara.
“You look like your mother.””
Clara’s hands tightened.
“You knew my mother.””
“I knew Elena.””
“You killed her.””
Antonio’s smile disappeared.
“She was going to destroy everything.””
“You murdered her for money.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“I murdered her because she chose the wrong people.””
Clara stared.
“Rico?””
“Yes.””
Antonio looked almost disgusted.
“She thought love could make him different.””
Sarah called out:
“Where is the weapon?””
Antonio laughed.
“On his desk.””
Clara's heart sank.
“You planted it.””
“Of course.””
“And Michael?””
“He knew too much.””
Sarah kept her weapon trained.
“You're confessing.””
Antonio smiled.
“No.””
He pointed toward a speaker.
A recording started.
Rico's voice filled the warehouse.
“Kill her.””
Clara froze.
Sarah looked at her.
Antonio smiled.
“That's why nobody will save him.””
Then the recording skipped.
A second voice appeared.
Antonio’s.
“Again.””
The words were followed by another cut.
Rico’s voice.
“I'm telling you, she has to live.””
Clara stared.
“It was edited.””
Antonio’s smile faded.
“What?””
Clara understood.
“He used Rico's voice.””
Sarah looked at Antonio.
“You've been making fake recordings.””
Antonio stepped backward.
A gunshot exploded.
The lights went dark.
Clara ducked.
Sarah shouted.
“Down!””
Antonio ran.
Clara heard footsteps above.
Then another sound.
A familiar voice.
“Clara!””
She stopped breathing.
Not Rico.
Not Antonio.
A man’s voice from somewhere in the darkness.
Older.
Rougher.
But unmistakably familiar.
“Clara, don't move.””
Her knees weakened.
“My father?””
Silence.
May you like
Then the voice answered.
“I’m sorry it took me this long.””
