Chapter 5 - THE FIRST SECRET LUCIA CHOSE TO GIVE BACK
Dominic did not confront Marco.
It nearly broke him.
Cassidy watched him make three phone calls instead.
One to his attorney.
One to Elias.
One to the independent director of Valente Holdings’ audit committee.
No threats.
No dramatic orders.
Preserve records.
Restrict access quietly.
Review payments.
Locate Anthony through counsel and law enforcement.
Cassidy was impressed.
She did not tell him.
Marco remained unaware anything had changed.
At least that was the hope.
His access to certain sensitive company systems was suspended under the excuse of cybersecurity maintenance.
His security credentials still opened Dominic’s home.
Cassidy objected.
“Why?”
Dominic looked irritated.
“Because if I lock him out today, he knows.”
“He comes near Lucia.”
“Never alone.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
“Promises are not controls.”
Dominic stared at her.
“You sound like Elias.”
“I sound underpaid.”
“You are not underpaid.”
“Then I sound appropriately paid.”
Lucia entered before he could answer.
She held a folded paper.
Walked directly to Cassidy.
Placed it in her hand.
Cassidy opened it.
A drawing.
A woman with dark hair.
Elena.
A little girl.
Lucia.
A man with a red mark on his wrist.
Not Marco’s silver watch.
Another clue.
Cassidy crouched.
WHO?
Lucia pointed toward the drawing.
Then signed:
GAVIN.
Cassidy nodded.
The man had a red mark.
“What is that?”
Lucia touched her own wrist.
Then made a circle.
Bracelet?
Watch?
Dr. Levin joined.
“Can you draw it bigger?”
Lucia did.
Not a red mark.
A red braided cord bracelet.
Dominic frowned.
“Anthony wore one.”
Elias looked at him.
“You remember?”
“He wore it for years. Some Catholic thing his mother gave him.”
Cassidy asked Lucia:
WHERE?
Lucia drew a door.
Then a key.
Then Elena.
Lucia’s hands moved.
MAMA GIVE PAPER.
GAVIN TAKE?
Lucia shook her head.
No.
ANTHONY.
Cassidy’s heart pounded.
Elena had given Anthony papers?
Dominic crouched.
Signed carefully:
MAMA GIVE ANTHONY?
Lucia shook her head hard.
Then signed:
ANTHONY TAKE.
Dr. Levin raised one hand.
“That’s enough.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
Lucia had given them more in forty seconds than eighteen months of investigation.
Dr. Levin pulled the paper away gently.
“No more questions today.”
Dominic nodded.
Cassidy saw how much effort that required.
Lucia looked at her father.
Then touched his face.
Dominic went still.
She signed:
SORRY.
His eyes filled.
He signed back:
NOT YOUR FAULT.
Lucia stared.
Then repeated:
SORRY.
Dominic shook his head.
His hands moved slower.
MAMA.
NOT YOUR FAULT.
TALK.
NOT YOUR FAULT.
NO TALK.
NOT YOUR FAULT.
Lucia’s mouth trembled.
Cassidy looked away.
Some moments should not have witnesses.
Later, Dr. Levin explained what mattered.
“Memory after trauma can be fragmented.”
Dominic nodded.
“We don’t treat every drawing like deposition testimony.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He exhaled.
“I’m trying.”
Cassidy sat beside him.
Lucia slept upstairs after the session.
“What papers would Elena have?”
Dominic’s face tightened.
“She handled the family foundation.”
“Financial records?”
“Possibly.”
“Was Marco involved?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He oversaw several affiliated charities.”
Cassidy understood enough.
“Could she have found money problems?”
Dominic looked at her.
“My wife was not an accountant.”
“Neither am I. I still notice when my checking account loses twelve dollars.”
He almost smiled.
Then Elias entered.
“We found something.”
Valente Foundation had undergone an internal review two months after Elena died.
Not because of suspected theft.
Because Elena’s death triggered automatic reassignment of her responsibilities.
The review found nothing significant.
But the outside accounting firm had never received three months of backup records.
Missing.
Who had been responsible for delivering them?
Marco.
“Why wasn’t that a problem?” Cassidy asked.
Dominic looked embarrassed.
“Because Marco said the documents were in the West Town fire.”
Convenient.
Elias continued.
“Foundation cloud records show Elena requested copies the week she died.”
“Of what?”
“Vendor payments.”
“To who?”
“Four companies.”
All owned through layers.
One eventually led to a trucking broker.
Another to a security subcontractor.
Third to an events company.
Fourth:
Bellini Event Services.
Marco’s family company.
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“How much?”
“Three-point-eight million over four years.”
Cassidy stopped.
“Foundation money?”
“Some legitimate events. Some unclear.”
Dominic stood.
“That’s what Elena found.”
Maybe.
Not proof yet.
But reason.
Then Elias said:
“There’s another issue.”
“What?”
“One of the security subcontractors received foundation grants for violence-prevention work.”
Cassidy waited.
“And?”
“No evidence the program existed.”
Dominic’s face darkened.
“Who approved?”
“Marco.”
The family charity may have been used to funnel money through fake programs.
Elena may have discovered it.
Anthony may have taken papers.
Gavin sold the location.
The shape of the betrayal began to appear.
Then Dominic’s attorney called.
Anthony Bellini had been found.
Not by Valente men.
By federal agents at O’Hare trying to board a flight to Montreal.
He was detained on a financial warrant unrelated to Elena’s death.
His attorney immediately requested cooperation discussions.
Dominic stared through the window.
“Everyone wants a deal when the door closes.”
Cassidy said:
“Maybe that’s when truth gets cheaper.”
He looked at her.
“You should finish nursing school.”
“Why?”
“You’re wasted carrying plates.”
“That is the first rude thing you’ve said to me.”
“It was intended as encouragement.”
“You need work.”
His mouth twitched.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Marco.
DINNER TONIGHT? NEED TO DISCUSS MOVING LUCIA.
Dominic showed Elias.
Cassidy looked toward the stairs.
Lucia was asleep.
May you like
For the first time, they knew Marco might be part of the danger.
And Marco still believed he could walk through Dominic’s front door and advise him how to protect his daughter.
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