Chapter 11 - DOMINIC'S UNCLE
Salvatore Moretti arrived the next morning, seventy-two and dressed like a man who never carried his own suitcase.
Salvatore looked at me. “Daniel’s girl.” I told him not to call me that.
Dominic placed Dad’s documents on the table.
“You knew.”
Salvatore’s smile vanished.
“About what?”
“Halcyon.”
“Ancient history.”
“Three men died.”
“Accidents happen.”
I looked at Salvatore.
“My father came to your nephew for help.”
Salvatore glanced at Dominic.
“You always were soft.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“Did you order Daniel’s death?”
“No.”
“Did Edward?”
Salvatore did not answer.
That was answer enough.
“Daniel threatened businesses he did not understand.”
“He understood broken machinery.”
“He understood being righteous. Very expensive habit.”
Dominic stepped toward him.
“What did you do?”
Salvatore finally looked uneasy.
“I told Edward to handle his employee.”
“And the accident?”
“I was told the machine failed.”
My hands clenched.
Salvatore noticed.
“You planning to throw me on the floor too?”
“No.”
I smiled without warmth.
“You’d probably break a hip and make yourself the victim.”
Dominic almost laughed.
Salvatore didn’t.
Then I asked the question nobody expected.
“Why did Vanessa keep paying my mother’s insurance?”
Salvatore’s face changed.
Just enough.
Dominic saw it.
“You know.”
Salvatore sighed.
“Edward worried Daniel made copies.”
“He did.”
“Yes. But Edward never found all of them.”
I thought of the locker.
Salvatore continued.
“Keeping Linda alive kept a line open. If Daniel left instructions, eventually one of you might move.”
Mom’s illness had been surveillance, not charity.
Then Salvatore added, “But Vanessa changed the purpose.”
“To recruit me.”
“Yes.”
Dominic stared at him.
“You knew about the fights?”
Salvatore took a drink.
“Those kids were paid.”
“Tessa Reed was coerced.”
“Everybody is coerced by something.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Salvatore looked annoyed.
Dominic smiled.
“What did you do?”
“I invited you here.”
May you like
He looked toward the driveway.
“Avery invited the police.”
