Chapter 8 - Fireproof
"Back wall," Giulietta said.
Marco was already moving.
Smoke thickened under the locked door, dark and chemical-smelling. Nico grabbed a metal chair and slammed it against the narrow window beside the records clerk's office.
The first strike cracked the glass.
An alarm finally began to scream.
"Go."
They climbed through the broken opening one at a time into the adjacent office.
Flames rolled across the records-room ceiling just as he dropped through.
Nico coughed hard.
"That was fast."
"Too fast," Giulietta said.
Employees poured downward around them.
Unknown number.
"You found the folder," Warren said.
Giulietta stopped on the landing.
"You started a fire in my building?"
"Careful with accusations."
"You called thirty seconds after the alarm."
"I'm well informed."
"Where is Elena?"
"Alive. For now."
"And Vittorio?"
That told her something.
Warren and Vittorio were not equal partners.
"You don't trust him," Giulietta said.
Warren gave a low laugh.
"I don't trust anyone. That's why I'm still here."
"What is Bellflower?"
"Your inheritance."
"My father said not to let Vittorio control it."
Giulietta smiled without humor.
"You didn't know about the note."
Warren's voice hardened.
"Bring me the folder."
"No."
"Then your attorney becomes a permanent problem."
"If Elena gets hurt, every document I have goes to the federal prosecutor and three newspapers."
Another lie.
Warren did not answer immediately.
Then he said, "You really are your father's daughter."
"People keep saying that like it's a compliment."
She hung up.
Marco touched her arm.
"We have another problem."
Emergency board authority had been invoked.
Marconi Consolidated's primary operating accounts were frozen.
May you like
The request had been submitted under Giulietta's credentials.
And digitally signed by her.
