Chapter 7 - What Dominic Owed the Dead
Lucia Castellano had been dead for four years.
That made confronting her impossible.
It also made blaming her easy.
Elena refused to let anyone do either without evidence.
Rebecca’s team spent three days authenticating portions of the blue ledger. Some entries were written by Lucia. Some by Carlo. Some by accountants long gone.
The initials L.C. did appear beside the payment to the physician connected to Dominic’s father’s death.
But authorization did not necessarily mean murder.
Dominic barely slept.
Marco recovered in a private hospital room under federal protection and complained constantly about the food.
Elena visited once.
“You know nurses can hear you.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“You are impossible.”
“Runs in the family.”
When Dominic arrived, the joking stopped.
The brothers looked at each other.
Marco said, “Mom knew more than we thought.”
Dominic sat.
“I know.”
“She might have helped Carlo.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying that like it doesn’t hurt.”
Dominic looked at him.
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth.”
That word had become expensive.
Dominic looked toward Elena.
Then he said, “There is something I have not told either of you.”
Marco groaned.
“Of course.”
Dominic ignored him.
“After Elena lost the baby, I ordered an attack on one of Victor’s warehouses.”
Elena went still.
“How many people were there?”
“Four.”
“Were they armed?”
“Two were.”
“And the other two?”
Dominic looked down.
“Workers.”
Elena’s stomach turned.
“Were they hurt?”
“One was.”
“How badly?”
“Broken ribs. Concussion.”
Silence filled the hospital room.
Marco said, “I stopped that operation.”
Dominic nodded.
“You stopped the second one.”
“There was a second?”
Elena’s voice was barely audible.
Dominic looked at her.
“Yes.”
She stood.
Every good thing she remembered about him fought with the man sitting before her.
“You told yourself you were grieving.”
“Yes.”
“You told yourself Victor caused everything.”
“Yes.”
“And you punished people who had nothing to do with our baby.”
Dominic’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Elena left.
He did not follow.
That mattered.
She walked six blocks in January wind before realizing she had no coat.
Rebecca found her in a coffee shop twenty minutes later.
“I’m beginning to think everyone in this case needs a tracking device.”
Elena gave her a look.
“Bad joke.”
“Terrible.”
Rebecca sat.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Good answer.”
Elena stared into untouched coffee.
“I still love him.”
Rebecca waited.
“I hate that.”
“Why?”
“Because love feels like endorsement.”
“It isn’t.”
Elena looked at her.
Rebecca continued.
“You can love someone and refuse their choices. You can love someone and leave. You can love someone and testify against them.”
“That sounds miserable.”
“It often is.”
Elena laughed despite herself.
Rebecca took out a folder.
“I have something about Lucia.”
The physician paid before Dominic’s father died had been treating Lucia privately.
Not her husband.
Lucia had discovered that Carlo was dosing her husband with a medication that worsened an existing heart condition.
She paid the physician to obtain samples and records.
“Then why did she hide the autopsy?” Elena asked.
“She didn’t.”
Rebecca slid another document across.
Lucia had requested one.
Carlo canceled it using authority from the family attorney.
Dominic and Marco had never known.
“So Lucia was investigating Carlo.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did the ledger say authorized by L.C.?”
“She authorized payment to the doctor as an informant.”
Elena exhaled.
For the first time in days, one dead person became less complicated.
Not innocent.
Just different.
“What happened to the evidence?”
“Carlo found out.”
“And killed Dominic’s father before Lucia could act?”
“That is one theory. We are not calling it fact yet.”
Elena appreciated that.
At sunset, she returned to the hospital.
Dominic was alone in the hallway.
He stood when he saw her.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
He looked at the floor.
Elena said, “Rebecca found evidence your mother was trying to expose Carlo.”
Dominic’s head lifted.
She explained.
He sat down slowly.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he cried.
Quietly.
Elena did not hold him.
She sat beside him.
That was all.
After several minutes, Dominic said, “My mother wanted me out.”
“Maybe.”
“She left that note for you.”
“Yes.”
“She knew I would give you power without truth.”
“Yes.”
He laughed bitterly.
“She knew me.”
Elena looked at him.
“Do you want out?”
Dominic stared ahead.
“No.”
The answer surprised her.
Then he continued.
“I want accountable.”
She waited.
“If I say I want out, it sounds like I get to walk away from what I did. I don’t.”
Elena’s chest tightened.
“I am going to give Rebecca everything.”
“Through your lawyer.”
“Yes.”
“No private deals.”
“Yes.”
“No revenge.”
He looked at her.
“That one will be harder.”
“Then start there.”
Dominic nodded.
The next week, he began turning over records through counsel.
Legitimate companies were placed under independent management.
Illegal operations were documented and shut down where possible under law-enforcement supervision.
People who wanted to leave were given a path to do so.
Some men called Dominic weak.
Some called him traitor.
A few thanked him.
Victor Antonov disappeared.
Carlo remained in custody.
Then Marta vanished.
No forced entry.
No blood.
Just an empty apartment and one missing object.
A copy of the blue ledger.
Dominic received a message that night.
Not from Marta.
From Victor.
SHE BROUGHT ME YOUR BOOK.
Dominic went pale.
Elena looked at him.
“You think she betrayed you.”
“Yes.”
Elena shook her head.
“Marta spent thirty years surviving men who assume they understand her.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying wait.”
Five minutes later, Elena’s phone rang.
Marta.
“Elena?”
“Yes.”
“Do not tell Dominic where I am.”
Dominic could hear every word.
Marta continued.
“I gave Victor a ledger.”
Elena looked at Dominic.
“A copy?”
“A false one.”
Marco, listening from the hospital bed, began laughing.
Marta said, “Victor thinks he has names. What he has are accounts Rebecca already froze.”
Elena almost smiled.
“Why?”
“Because Victor is running.”
“Where?”
Marta gave an address.
Then she said, “And Elena?”
“Yes?”
“Tell Dominic women can make plans too.”
The line went dead.
Elena looked at her husband.
May you like
Dominic sighed.
“I deserved that.”
