Chapter 11 - The Empire Behind the Smile
Allesio testified.
Not because prosecutors forced him.
Because Delaney walked away.
Two days after their argument, he contacted federal investigators and offered records from three Corsetti companies.
His lawyers nearly resigned.
Marco called him suicidal.
Allesio signed anyway.
The documents showed Corsetti Shipping had used Howerin warehouses to move undeclared cash for older members of the Corsetti organization.
The arrangement predated Allesio becoming boss.
He had continued parts of it for two years.
Then began dismantling it.
That did not make him innocent.
He knew that.
Federal prosecutors agreed to review his cooperation but promised nothing.
When Delaney learned, she was furious.
Not because he confessed.
Because he might go to prison.
Ruth Anne stared at her.
“You angry he lied or angry there are consequences?”
“Both.”
“That sounds uncomfortable.”
“It is.”
“Good.”
Delaney glared.
Ruth Anne returned to the grill.
“You love him?”
Delaney almost dropped a plate.
“No.”
Ruth Anne snorted.
“Child, I am sixty-nine, not blind.”
Delaney lowered her voice.
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Love does not fix this.”
“No.”
“Then why does everyone act like saying it solves something?”
“Because movies are two hours.”
Delaney laughed despite herself.
Ruth Anne continued.
“Real life lasts longer.”
The federal case expanded.
Randolph attempted bargaining.
Prosecutors rejected full immunity.
He finally surrendered.
Cameras captured him entering the courthouse in handcuffs.
Delaney expected satisfaction.
Instead she felt tired.
The man who had frightened her mother for years looked ordinary.
That was almost insulting.
At his arraignment, prosecutors listed charges involving fraud, kidnapping conspiracy, arson, obstruction, extortion, and financial crimes.
Calvin Shaw faced separate charges.
Dennis Kroll cooperated.
Randall received limited immunity for his old records violations.
Bryce became a witness.
Allesio became both witness and defendant in a smaller but serious federal financial case.
Everything was messy.
Truth often was.
Meanwhile, Howerin Development entered receivership.
The medical foundation was placed under independent administration.
Investigators recovered $38 million.
Most went toward restitution and medical assistance.
For the first time in years, St. Catherine’s pediatric fund reopened applications fully.
Delaney visited the office one afternoon.
A young mother stood at the desk crying.
Her son’s surgery had been approved.
Delaney turned away and cried too.
Elaine had not failed.
Not anymore.
The Copper Kettle’s ownership dispute ended when the receiver agreed to sell the remaining interest.
Delaney could not afford it.
Allesio offered nothing.
He had learned.
Instead, something unexpected happened.
The town raised money.
Customers purchased community shares.
Ruth Anne invested savings.
Randall contributed.
Bryce offered money.
Delaney refused his first amount because it was ridiculous.
He reduced it.
She still refused.
Finally he bought exactly one share for one hundred dollars.
“Happy?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“You’re impossible.”
“So I’m told.”
The Copper Kettle became employee-owned.
Delaney held the largest individual share because of Elaine’s original stake.
The poor waitress who nearly lost her job now partly owned the diner.
But happiness remained incomplete.
Allesio stopped visiting.
Table seven remained empty.
Every Thursday at 7:15, Delaney noticed.
She hated herself for noticing.
Three weeks passed.
Juny returned home.
She was healing beautifully.
One evening she placed an old silver coin on the kitchen table.
Delaney froze.
“Where did you get that?”
“Mom’s jewelry box.”
Delaney picked it up.
The coin from Route 9.
“She kept it.”
“Apparently.”
On one side was a saint.
On the other, worn initials.
A.C.
Allesio Corsetti.
Delaney stared.
Juny sat opposite her.
“You should go see him.”
“No.”
“You’re miserable.”
“I am not.”
“You reorganized the spice cabinet alphabetically.”
“That needed doing.”
“You put paprika before oregano.”
Delaney frowned.
“That doesn’t sound alphabetical.”
“Exactly. Emotional collapse.”
Delaney laughed.
Then cried.
Juny reached across the table.
“He told the truth eventually.”
“Eventually.”
“He may go to prison.”
“Yes.”
“Does that make him bad?”
“It means he did bad things.”
“Are those the same?”
Delaney looked at her.
“No.”
Juny nodded.
“Then decide based on the whole man.”
The next morning, Delaney went to Corsetti Shipping.
The building looked less intimidating than she imagined.
Probably because federal agents had removed half the artwork.
Allesio sat alone in his office.
He looked exhausted.
When Delaney entered, he stood.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Neither moved.
She placed the coin on his desk.
His expression changed.
“You kept it.”
“My mother did.”
He touched it.
“My grandfather gave me this when I was twelve.”
“You gave it to a random teenager bleeding on the side of a highway.”
“You weren’t random.”
“I didn’t even tell you my name.”
“I noticed.”
Silence.
Delaney looked around.
“What happens now?”
“Federal hearing next month.”
“Prison?”
“Possible.”
“How long?”
“My lawyer says eighteen months if the judge accepts the cooperation agreement.”
Her eyes filled.
“You sound calm.”
“I made choices.”
“So did your uncle.”
“Yes.”
“So did Randolph.”
“Yes.”
“You could blame them.”
“I could.”
“Why don’t you?”
He looked at her.
“Because you taught me excuses don’t become truth because rich men repeat them.”
She swallowed.
“I’m still angry.”
“You should be.”
“I don’t trust you completely.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know if I ever will.”
“I understand.”
She hated how easily he gave her room.
“What do you want from me?”
“Nothing you don’t want to give.”
Her eyes filled.
“That answer is very inconvenient.”
“I’ve been working on myself.”
She laughed.
Then stepped closer.
“I love you.”
Allesio stopped breathing.
Delaney raised one finger.
“That does not mean everything is fixed.”
“I know.”
“It does not mean I approve of your past.”
“I know.”
“It does not mean I’m waiting eighteen months if you go to prison.”
He nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
She frowned.
“You’re supposed to argue with that one.”
He almost smiled.
“Would it help?”
“No.”
“Then no.”
Delaney looked at him.
“Maybe I’ll wait.”
His expression softened.
“Maybe?”
“Don’t push it.”
She kissed him.
This time she did not stop after one second.
May you like
Outside the office, Marco silently closed the door.
For once, even he knew when not to interrupt.
