Chapter 4 - The Grave Beneath the Grave
“Uncle Carlo.”
Silence filled the car.
Carlo Moretti was Antonio's older brother.
Luca had not seen him in eighteen months.
Carlo had supposedly retired to Sicily.
“I'm glad you remember me,” Carlo said.
Luca's grip tightened around the phone.
“Where is Matteo?”
“Alive.”
“His sister?”
“Also alive.”
“What do you want?”
“The case Marco left behind.”
Luca looked at Eva.
Carlo continued.
“And Marco's daughter.”
Luca's expression changed.
“No.”
Eva heard.
Her face hardened.
Carlo laughed softly.
“Antonio always said you inherited his stubbornness.”
“My father knew what you were?”
“Your father knew many things too late.”
“You killed him.”
A pause.
“I didn't poison Antonio.”
That was not a denial Luca expected.
“Who did?”
“Come to the cemetery.”
The call ended.
Victor whispered, “Carlo.”
Luca turned on him.
“You knew.”
“I knew he was involved with Meridian.”
“Since when?”
“Since Marco died.”
Eva stared at Victor.
“Twelve years?”
Victor lowered his eyes.
“I was afraid.”
“My father died because you were afraid.”
“Yes.”
The honesty silenced her.
Victor looked at Luca.
“I spent twelve years trying to undo one cowardly decision.”
“Which decision?”
“I gave Carlo Marco's meeting location.”
Eva slapped him.
The sound cracked through the car.
Victor accepted it.
“I thought Carlo only wanted to talk.”
“You betrayed him.”
“Yes.”
Eva's eyes filled with tears.
“You killed my father.”
“No. But I made it possible.”
She turned away.
Luca wanted to throw Victor from the moving car.
Instead he asked, “Why help us now?”
“Because Antonio gave me a second chance.”
“How?”
“He discovered what I'd done. He could have killed me. Instead, he told me to help him destroy Meridian.”
“And did you?”
“I tried.”
“Apparently not hard enough.”
Victor nodded.
“No.”
They reached the cemetery shortly before one in the morning.
Eva had changed into a coat Luca kept in the car, covering most of the blue gown.
The cemetery was closed.
The side gate wasn't locked.
That alone told Luca they were expected.
Marco Conti's grave stood on a quiet hill.
Forty-seven feet from the gate.
Eleven rows down.
A lantern had been placed beside it.
Eva approached.
Someone had disturbed the soil.
“No,” she whispered.
Luca stood beside her.
Victor remained behind.
They found a metal ring concealed beneath decorative stone.
Luca pulled.
A narrow underground compartment opened beside the grave.
Not a coffin.
A vault.
Stairs descended.
Victor looked shocked.
“Marco built this?”
Eva shook her head.
“I never knew.”
They descended.
The chamber smelled of earth and old concrete.
A waterproof container sat in the center.
Inside were files.
Hundreds.
Names.
Transactions.
Photographs.
Judges.
Police officers.
Businessmen.
Meridian.
Eva found another envelope.
Antonio's handwriting.
If this vault is open, Carlo knows.
Do not take everything.
Take Ledger Seven.
Luca searched.
Ledger Seven was missing.
Victor whispered, “Someone got here first.”
A light appeared above them.
Footsteps.
Carlo descended.
Sixty-two.
Silver hair.
Expensive dark coat.
Still elegant.
Still calm.
Two men followed.
Matteo came behind them.
His hands were tied.
Luca looked at him.
Matteo shook his head slightly.
Carlo smiled.
“Family reunion.”
Eva stepped forward.
“You murdered my father.”
Carlo looked at her.
“I ordered his death.”
Victor flinched.
Eva didn't.
“Why?”
“Because Marco wanted to destroy something much larger than himself.”
“You mean criminals hiding behind money.”
“I mean order.”
Luca laughed coldly.
“That's what cowards call corruption when they profit from it.”
Carlo's smile faded.
“You sound like Antonio.”
“Good.”
“Antonio was sentimental.”
“He was better than you.”
“Yes.”
Carlo's unexpected answer caught Luca.
“My brother was better than me. That's why he couldn't win.”
Luca glanced at Matteo.
“Release him.”
“No.”
“Then why bring him?”
“To demonstrate loyalty.”
Carlo drew a pistol.
He handed it to Matteo.
“Kill Eva.”
Matteo stared.
Carlo's men cut his restraints.
“Do it, and your sister goes home.”
Eva went still.
Luca moved in front of her.
Carlo sighed.
“Don't make this theatrical.”
Matteo raised the weapon.
His hand trembled.
Luca looked at him.
“Matteo.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Look at me.”
Matteo did.
“You've protected me for ten years.”
“She's my sister.”
“I know.”
“I can't let them kill her.”
“I know.”
Carlo said, “Enough.”
Matteo aimed.
Eva whispered, “Luca.”
Luca did not move.
Matteo pulled the trigger.
Click.
Empty.
Carlo's expression changed.
Matteo smiled.
“I checked it when you handed it to me.”
Then chaos.
Victor attacked one guard.
Luca hit the other.
Matteo tackled Carlo.
Eva grabbed the fallen weapon and threw it away.
Within seconds Carlo was against the wall.
Luca's forearm pressed against his throat.
“Ledger Seven.”
Carlo laughed.
“You think the ledger matters?”
“Where is it?”
“The ledger is insurance.”
“Against whom?”
Carlo looked toward Eva.
“Against the person who actually killed Antonio.”
Luca froze.
“You said you didn't poison him.”
“I didn't.”
“Name.”
Carlo smiled.
“You won't believe me.”
“Try.”
Carlo whispered the name.
Luca released him.
“No.”
Eva stared.
“Who?”
Luca couldn't speak.
Carlo laughed.
“That's why Antonio never saw it coming.”
Luca grabbed him again.
“You're lying.”
“Ask the hospital.”
“What?”
“Ask who signed Antonio's medication orders the week before he died.”
Luca's phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
A photograph of his mother leaving her apartment.
Timestamp:
NOW.
Below it:
YOU HAVE THE WRONG MORETTI.
Luca looked up.
Carlo's smile vanished.
For the first time, he looked frightened.
“That isn't Meridian.”
“What?”
Carlo stared at the message.
“Get your mother somewhere safe.”
“Why?”
“Because Ledger Seven wasn't stolen from this vault tonight.”
“When was it taken?”
Carlo swallowed.
“Four years ago.”
Luca's heart pounded.
“The night my father died?”
Carlo nodded.
“And only one person besides Antonio knew this vault existed.”
Luca's phone rang again.
His mother's number.
He answered.
“Mom?”
Nobody spoke.
Then a woman's voice whispered from the other end.
It wasn't his mother.
“Come home, Luca.”
May you like
A door slammed through the phone.
Then the line went dead.
