Chapter 10 - MARCO’S LAST PAYCHECK
Elena had kept Marco’s final pay stub because the company name was wrong: LANTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES. Rachel compared the tax number. Same charity network.
Six years earlier, Lantern House had paid Marco for “consulting.”
He had never consulted for them.
The payment was a bribe.
Or an attempt at one.
Elena remembered the argument.
“Marco came home furious. He said someone put money in our account.”
“How much?” Rachel asked.
“Fifty thousand.”
Matteo closed his eyes.
“And he returned it?”
“The next morning.”
Three days later, Marco died.
But a supplemental file mentioned a brake-service receipt found in Marco’s glove box.
The repair shop no longer existed.
Matteo stared at the page.
Bianca whispered, “No.”
He looked at her.
“You know him?”
“He manages our retreat property.”
“Did Vittorio hire him?”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
Dominic’s retired officer traced his car through toll cameras.
Heading north.
Toward the private Bellandi airfield.
Matteo stood.
Rachel blocked him.
“You are not chasing him.”
“He may know what happened to Marco.”
“You are the target of an active conspiracy.”
Elena spoke quietly.
“She’s right.”
Matteo looked at her.
“I owe you answers.”
“No.”
Elena’s voice was firm.
“You owe Mia a living witness.”
That stopped him.
Dominic sent officers instead.
At 7:42 a.m., Paul Vescari was detained at the airfield.
Inside his luggage, police found cash.
A false passport.
And a phone.
May you like
One unsent draft message was addressed to Vittorio.
THE GIRL SAW ME IN THE CHAPEL.
