Chapter 9 - The Last Partner
Marco entered first.
Daniel lowered the shotgun.
“You nearly got yourself killed.”
Marco frowned.
“Nice to meet you too.”
The vehicle belonged to Luca’s backup security team.
But the scare made one thing clear.
Daniel could no longer remain hidden.
They brought him to New York under another identity.
Margaret Bennett was waiting at Elena’s safe house.
When Daniel entered, Margaret did not cry.
She walked across the room and slapped him.
Then she kissed him.
Then she slapped him again.
Nora and Lily both burst into tears.
For one fragile hour, thirteen lost years disappeared.
But danger had not.
Daniel examined the surveillance photographs with Luca.
He recognized the handwriting.
“Thomas Crane.”
Luca frowned.
The name belonged to Victor Vale’s former attorney.
Officially retired in Switzerland.
Actually missing for ten years.
Elena heard the name and went pale.
“Thomas wasn’t Victor’s lawyer.”
Everyone looked at her.
“He was Richard Shaw’s silent partner.”
Daniel nodded.
“He arrived at Pier Nine.”
Nora remembered the tape.
The unknown voice.
Thomas Crane.
The final piece.
Crane had built the legal structure that allowed Shaw and Victor to move stolen money.
When Daniel discovered it, Crane was the one who wanted him dead.
Shaw was now in custody.
Victor was dead.
But Crane remained free.
And Daniel’s evidence could destroy whatever remained of his empire.
Luca arranged to release a public statement claiming Daniel would testify before a federal grand jury.
It was bait.
If Crane wanted Daniel silenced, he would move.
He did.
The next evening, Marco intercepted a message sent to Celeste.
COME ALONE. OLD OPERA HOUSE. MIDNIGHT.
Nora stared.
“Celeste is working with him.”
Elena shook her head.
“Maybe.”
Luca looked at Nora.
“You still think she knew about your father.”
“She did.”
“But knowing isn’t the same as running the network.”
Nora hated admitting that.
Celeste had been cruel.
Spoiled.
Humiliating.
But cruelty did not automatically equal attempted murder.
They followed Celeste.
At midnight she entered the abandoned opera house.
Luca, Nora, Marco, and federal agents watched from hidden positions.
Thomas Crane appeared onstage.
Seventy-two.
Thin.
Elegant.
Cold.
Celeste faced him.
“I did what you asked.”
“You failed.”
“Nora found the score.”
“Yes.”
“And Shaw was arrested.”
“Yes.”
“That wasn’t my fault.”
Crane stepped closer.
“Your father understood loyalty.”
“My father feared you.”
Crane smiled.
“Same result.”
Celeste’s face tightened.
“I’m done.”
Crane laughed.
“You think you get to be done?”
Nora watched from behind the balcony rail.
For the first time, Celeste looked genuinely terrified.
Crane produced a folder.
“Every transfer bearing your signature.”
Celeste stared at it.
“You forged half of those.”
“Prove it.”
Nora finally understood.
Celeste had participated in financial transfers.
But Crane had trapped her.
That did not excuse her cruelty.
It did complicate the truth.
Crane demanded she lure Luca to the opera house the next night.
Celeste refused.
Crane struck her.
Nora flinched.
Luca moved.
Marco stopped him.
“Wait.”
Crane leaned close to Celeste.
“Tomorrow, Luca comes here. Or your mother learns what really happened to Victor.”
Celeste’s face changed.
“My mother?”
Crane smiled.
“She thinks Victor died naturally.”
Nora looked at Luca.
Victor Vale had supposedly died from a heart attack.
Apparently another family death was not what it seemed.
Crane left.
Agents moved to follow.
But Celeste remained onstage.
Alone.
Then she looked directly toward Nora’s hiding place.
“I know you’re there.”
Nora froze.
Celeste wiped blood from her lip.
“Come down.”
Luca started after Nora.
Celeste called:
“Not Luca. Nora.”
Nora descended.
The woman who had poured champagne on her less than forty-eight hours earlier stood beneath a dead chandelier.
“I owe you an apology.”
Nora almost laughed.
“That seems inadequate.”
“It is.”
Celeste looked toward the exit.
“Crane killed my father.”
Nora stared.
“And he made me help hide it.”
Then Celeste held out a small key.
“Your father wasn’t the only person who left evidence.”
Nora took it.
“What does it open?”
May you like
Celeste whispered:
“My father’s coffin.”
