Chapter 5 - The Voice From the Grave
Vincent did not breathe.
The voice continued.
“You always did answer faster when family was involved.”
Salvatore stared at him.
Elena covered her mouth.
Vincent finally spoke.
“My father is dead.”
The caller laughed softly.
“So was Raymond Hale.”
Vincent looked toward Blackwell.
The judge seemed sick.
“You know that voice.”
Blackwell nodded.
“Dominic Moretti.”
Vincent's father.
Vincent gripped the phone.
“Where are you?”
“Close enough.”
“If this is a recording—”
“Your mother broke her wrist when you were nine because you tried riding Anthony's bicycle down the basement stairs.”
Vincent stopped.
No newspaper had reported that.
No lieutenant knew.
His father continued.
“You lied and told her Anthony pushed you. Anthony didn't speak to you for three days.”
Vincent whispered, “You died.”
“I disappeared.”
“Why?”
“Because I finally understood what Meridian was.”
Blackwell said quietly, “Dominic, don't.”
The caller laughed.
“Marcus. Still pretending you're innocent?”
Vincent looked at Blackwell.
The judge's jaw tightened.
Dominic continued.
“Ask your friend why Meridian knew where Anthony would be the night he died.”
Vincent turned fully toward Blackwell.
Blackwell shook his head.
“I didn't know.”
“Ask him.”
Vincent spoke slowly.
“What is he talking about?”
Blackwell looked toward Lily.
“Not in front of her.”
Vincent handed the phone to Salvatore.
Then led Elena and Lily into the secure pantry.
“Stay here.”
Elena grabbed his wrist.
“Don't become your father tonight.”
Vincent looked at her.
“I don't even know who my father is anymore.”
He closed the door.
When he returned, Blackwell was sitting at the kitchen table.
Vincent remained standing.
“Anthony.”
Blackwell stared at the floor.
“I gave Hale an address.”
Salvatore cursed.
Vincent felt nothing at first.
Then everything.
“Why?”
“Hale told me Anthony was meeting a man who could expose Meridian.”
“And you believed him?”
“I was trying to protect Dominic.”
Vincent's voice dropped.
“You gave them my brother.”
“I didn't know they'd kill him.”
“You gave them his location.”
Blackwell looked up.
“I've lived with it every day.”
Vincent moved toward him.
Salvatore stepped between them.
“Vincent.”
He stopped.
Not because of Blackwell.
Because Lily was one room away.
Vincent turned back to the phone.
“Father.”
Dominic answered immediately.
“I'm here.”
“Where?”
“Bring the card.”
“No.”
“You need me.”
“I needed you eleven years ago.”
Silence.
Vincent continued.
“Anthony needed you nine years ago.”
Dominic's voice hardened.
“You think I abandoned you?”
“I buried you.”
“I was trying to destroy Meridian.”
“While your sons did the dying for you.”
The line remained quiet.
Then Dominic said:
“Anthony found me.”
Vincent froze.
“When?”
“Two weeks before he died.”
“He knew you were alive?”
“Yes.”
Elena had never mentioned this.
Perhaps she had not known.
Dominic continued.
“He wanted to join me. I told him to stay out.”
Vincent laughed bitterly.
“That worked.”
“He was a Moretti.”
“So am I.”
“That is why I need you to listen.”
Vincent stared at the dark windows.
Dominic said:
“Meridian doesn't want the card because of the names.”
“What do they want?”
“The account keys.”
Salvatore frowned.
“Accounts?”
Dominic explained.
“Your father—our father—”
Vincent almost interrupted at the wording.
“—built emergency reserves. Over decades, Meridian expanded them. Hidden funds. Companies. Properties. Hundreds of millions.”
“And Anthony stole access?”
“No. Anthony locked them.”
Vincent looked at the micro-SD card.
“Using this.”
“Yes.”
“That explains why Lily was watched.”
“Partly.”
“What else?”
Dominic hesitated.
“Anthony created a dead-man protocol.”
“If what?”
“If Lily dies, the complete Ledger is automatically released.”
Vincent's blood went cold.
Salvatore understood too.
Lily was not merely a key.
She was insurance.
As long as she lived, Meridian's secrets remained hidden.
Vincent whispered, “They need her alive.”
“For now.”
That last phrase changed the room.
Vincent walked to the pantry and opened it.
Lily looked up.
He crouched.
“I need you to do something.”
“What?”
“Stay with Salvatore.”
She frowned.
“Where are you going?”
“To finish something your father started.”
Elena stepped forward.
“No.”
Vincent looked at her.
“I'm not leaving you here unprotected.”
“You don't even know whether Dominic is telling the truth.”
“No.”
Vincent glanced at the phone.
“But I know somebody came for you tonight.”
Blackwell stood.
“I can get them somewhere safe.”
Vincent laughed.
“You've betrayed enough Morettis for one lifetime.”
“I deserve that.”
“Yes.”
“But I can still help Lily.”
Vincent stared at him.
Before he could answer, headlights appeared outside.
Three vehicles.
Salvatore checked the exterior feed.
“Not Meridian.”
“How do you know?”
“The first car is Hale's.”
Captain Raymond Hale stepped out.
Alone.
He walked toward the house holding something white above his head.
A handkerchief.
Marco muttered, “Is he surrendering?”
Vincent opened the intercom.
“Hale.”
“Dominic called you.”
Not a question.
Vincent said nothing.
Hale continued.
“He'll tell you he's trying to destroy Meridian.”
“He did.”
“He's lying.”
Blackwell stepped closer to the monitor.
“Raymond—”
Hale ignored him.
“Dominic Moretti is Meridian.”
Nobody moved.
Vincent stared at the screen.
Hale continued.
“He didn't disappear because they hunted him.”
A pause.
“He disappeared because Anthony discovered who his father really was.”
The private phone rang again.
Dominic.
Vincent looked between the phone and Hale on the monitor.
Two dead men.
Two stories.
One truth.
He answered.
Dominic spoke first.
“Don't believe Hale.”
Vincent said, “Then give me one reason.”
His father remained silent.
Hale shouted from outside:
“Ask him who ordered the hit on Anthony!”
Dominic's voice changed.
“Vincent.”
“Answer him.”
Silence.
“Did you order my brother killed?”
“No.”
Vincent waited.
Then his father added:
“But I know who did.”
“Who?”
A gunshot cracked outside.
The security monitor exploded into static.
Lily screamed from the pantry.
Vincent ran toward her.
Another shot.
Then a body slammed against the front door.
Salvatore drew his weapon.
Vincent checked the side camera.
Hale was gone.
Blackwell whispered:
“They've taken him.”
The private phone remained connected.
Dominic's voice came through.
“Vincent, listen carefully. They know where the girl is.”
Vincent looked toward Lily.
Then a second voice came over the line.
A woman's voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
“Vincent?”
He stopped breathing again.
May you like
The woman said:
“It's Mom.”
