Chapter 16 - The Signature on Sunday
The city inspector met the outside accountant with his supervisor present. He confirmed that the signature on Northline's inspection form wasn't his and that no inspection had taken place at the vacant lot. He had never worked with Northline. The form carried the correct city seal, copied from a genuine permit for a different building.
Three more documents billed for nonexistent work. The evidence justified freezing payments and preserving records.
Carlo arrived at the estate uninvited and demanded a private talk with Luca. Mrs. Alvarez escorted him into the library, where Nora was already waiting.
"You've embarrassed the family enough," Carlo said. "Give the project to Pike, dismiss the girl, and this goes away."
"You mean the audit goes away," Luca replied.
"Your father would never have tolerated this disloyalty."
"My father went to prison because he thought loyalty meant nobody could question him."
Carlo's face reddened. He pointed at the documents on Nora's desk. "You signed one of those payments. If you keep digging, they'll come for you too."
"Then they'll see my signature," Luca said.
From the hallway I heard a chair scrape. Michael stepped into the room, looking at the man who'd taught him to drive, taken him fishing and then tried to make the world believe he had relapsed.
"Was I just inconvenient?" Michael asked.
Carlo hesitated. "It wasn't personal."
Michael laughed once, without humor. "You tried to use the thing that nearly killed me as a business strategy. How much more personal could it be?"
May you like
Carlo had no answer. He walked out while Nora was still advising him to contact his own attorney.
Luca found Vanessa's draft letter dismissing me for theft. He gave it to Nora along with the other evidence. He also offered to discuss compensation for the assault through counsel, without attaching conditions. I asked for time to think.
