Chapter 14 - The Uncle Who Called Maeve a Thief
Vittorio requested a family meeting before his bail hearing.
Roman refused.
Then Vittorio’s attorney sent one message.
I HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT CARLO.
Roman changed his mind.
The meeting occurred in a secure attorney conference room.
Maeve did not plan to attend.
Then Vittorio added a condition.
Kathleen’s daughter must be present.
Maeve laughed.
“Absolutely not.”
Roman nodded.
“Good.”
Three hours later, Maeve changed her mind.
She hated that Vittorio could use curiosity to move her.
But she wanted to hear him say Kathleen’s name while he could no longer control the room.
Ward attended.
So did lawyers.
Vittorio entered wearing county detention clothing under a plain jacket.
He looked smaller.
Still dangerous.
Not because of muscles.
Because he believed everyone had a price.
He saw Maeve.
“Your mother was a thief.”
Maeve sat.
“That’s your opening?”
“She stole family records.”
“She copied evidence of your theft.”
“She stole the boys.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
“She tried to take us because our mother asked.”
Vittorio smiled.
“You believe a cassette?”
“We believe train tickets, legal petitions, medical files, bank records, and witnesses.”
Vittorio’s smile faded.
Maeve leaned forward.
“What do you know about Carlo?”
Vittorio looked at Roman.
“Your father knew Sofia wanted to leave.”
Roman did not move.
“He confronted her.”
“When?”
“The week before she died.”
“And?”
“They fought.”
“That does not make him part of your crime.”
Vittorio shrugged.
“He knew I moved money.”
Roman’s face hardened.
“Proof?”
“He benefited.”
“Proof?”
Vittorio laughed.
“Still needing paperwork.”
Maeve interrupted.
“Because you built your whole life around people believing stories without it.”
Vittorio looked at her.
“She has Kathleen’s mouth.”
Maeve smiled without warmth.
“You noticed before you killed her?”
Silence.
Ward watched carefully.
Vittorio’s eyes changed.
Only slightly.
Maeve saw it.
So did Ward.
Vittorio said, “Your mother should have stayed out of family matters.”
There.
Not confession.
Something close to motive.
Maeve’s hands shook beneath the table.
Roman noticed.
He did not speak for her.
She asked, “Did you order Vale to sabotage her brakes?”
Vittorio looked toward his attorney.
The attorney said, “Do not answer.”
Maeve nodded.
“Fine.”
She stood.
Vittorio frowned.
“That’s all?”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“My mother died thinking she had failed to protect everyone.”
Vittorio smiled faintly.
Maeve continued.
“You spent fourteen years keeping her name dirty because you were afraid of a dead woman’s paperwork.”
His smile disappeared.
“You built charities with stolen money and still could not buy enough silence.”
Vittorio’s face changed.
Anger.
Good.
Maeve said, “That’s all.”
As she turned, Vittorio shouted.
“Ask Roman who paid for your agency placement!”
Maeve stopped.
The room went silent.
She looked at Roman.
His face showed genuine confusion.
Vittorio laughed.
“Your house manager did not find her by accident.”
Maeve knew that.
“Hess followed Sofia’s instruction.”
“No.”
Vittorio smiled.
“Hess got money.”
Roman looked at Helena.
“From who?”
Vittorio’s attorney whispered, “Stop.”
Vittorio ignored him.
“Carlo.”
Roman froze.
“Our father?”
“He found Kathleen before he died.”
Maeve sat back down.
Carlo Falcone had died four years earlier.
“What did he do?”
Vittorio’s smile returned.
“Paid Hess to watch the daughters.”
Roman’s world shifted again.
Their father knew Kathleen survived.
At some point, he stopped believing she was guilty.
Why had he never told his sons?
Vittorio leaned back.
“Carlo figured it out too late.”
Roman’s voice cracked.
“Figured out what?”
“That I lied.”
Nobody moved.
Vittorio’s attorney closed his eyes.
Vittorio realized what he had said.
Too late.
Ward spoke for the first time.
“Thank you.”
Vittorio turned toward him.
The meeting ended.
Outside, Roman stood in the hallway.
Maeve came beside him.
“Your father knew.”
“Apparently.”
“He paid Hess to watch us.”
“Yes.”
“Why not tell you?”
Roman laughed bitterly.
“Pride.”
Maybe.
Fear.
Shame.
A father who built sons around certainty and could not admit the foundation was false.
Maeve looked at him.
“Do not make his silence your next inheritance.”
Roman met her eyes.
Then nodded.
“No.”
Before the meeting with Vittorio, Maeve practiced the questions with Ward.
He stopped her after the third one.
“You are trying to make him confess.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because angry people fill silence.”
Maeve frowned.
“So ask less?”
“Ask clearly. Then wait.”
Roman, standing nearby, said, “That sounds impossible for her.”
Maeve turned.
“You are not invited to rehearsal.”
Ward hid a smile.
The preparation changed the meeting.
When Vittorio insulted Kathleen, Maeve wanted to throw every fact at him.
Instead she waited.
That waiting was what made him talk too much.
Afterward, Ward said, “You did well.”
Maeve looked at Roman.
“He would have punched him.”
Roman did not deny it.
Maeve smiled faintly.
“Good thing I asked the questions.”
Roman nodded.
“Very good thing.”
May you like
It was a small victory, but it mattered.
For once the truth had moved forward because nobody hit anyone.
