Chapter 3 - The Secret Her Father Died Trying To Protect
The next morning, Dominic took Clara to the old Caruso warehouse.
The building stood near the river, abandoned on paper and heavily guarded in reality.
Clara stared at the rusted doors.
"This is Room Twenty-Three?"
Dominic nodded.
"Your father's number."
She felt a knot in her stomach.
Inside, dust covered everything.
Rows of empty offices.
Broken lights.
Old shipping manifests.
Dominic led her upstairs.
Room 23 was at the end of a corridor.
The door was locked.
Clara took out the brass key.
Her hand shook.
She inserted it.
Click.
The lock opened.
Inside was a small office.
A desk.
A chair.
A filing cabinet.
And a photograph on the wall.
Clara stopped.
Her father.
Standing beside Dominic.
Both men were younger.
Her father had a hand on Dominic's shoulder.
Clara stared.
"When was this?"
"Eleven years ago."
"You knew him that long?"
"Longer."
Dominic walked to the desk.
"He taught me how to read numbers."
Clara looked at him.
"You already knew numbers."
"Not like he did."
"Was he your accountant?"
"He was more than that."
Dominic touched the desk.
"He was the only man who ever told me I was becoming like my father."
Clara waited.
"And I hated him for it."
She almost smiled.
"What happened?"
"I listened."
Inside the desk was a hidden compartment.
Clara found it before Dominic did.
She opened it.
A cassette recorder.
A stack of envelopes.
And one handwritten note.
Dominic took the note.
His face went pale.
"What?"
He handed it to Clara.
It said:
If Clara has been brought here, then Dominic finally understands.
She read further.
Do not trust Victor.
She looked at Dominic.
"Who is Victor?"
"My uncle."
"Your father's brother?"
"Yes."
"Was he at the party?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I invited him."
She stared.
"That was a mistake."
"No."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"I wanted him close."
The recorder clicked.
A man's voice filled the room.
Daniel Bennett.
Clara covered her mouth.
"Clara, if you're hearing this, I failed to keep you away."
His voice trembled.
"The Caruso organization has been compromised from inside."
He paused.
"Victor has built a second network under the company."
Clara looked at Dominic.
Dominic closed his eyes.
"The money is being used to buy judges, police commanders, politicians, and shipping ports."
The recording continued.
"I found proof."
A rustle.
"Not in the ledger."
Dominic leaned closer.
"Where?"
The recording answered.
"In the people."
Clara frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Her father's voice continued.
"Every payment is tied to a person."
"Every bribe."
"Every murder."
"Every disappearance."
"And one name appears more than any other."
The tape clicked.
The name was spoken.
"Victor Caruso."
Silence.
Clara looked at Dominic.
"He knew."
"Yes."
"Why didn't he tell you?"
"He was trying to."
"Then why did he die?"
Dominic looked at the recorder.
"Because someone got to him first."
Clara opened one envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Victor speaking to someone.
The man beside him had his back to the camera.
Another envelope.
Another photograph.
Different location.
Same man.
Clara stared.
"I know him."
Dominic turned.
"Who?"
"Your attorney."
He froze.
"Samuel."
She nodded.
"He's been at every meeting."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"He's been with my family for fifteen years."
"And your father was investigating him."
Dominic looked at the photographs.
"Samuel knew."
"He helped cover it."
Daniel entered.
"Sir."
Dominic turned.
"We found another account."
"Whose?"
"Samuel's."
"How much?"
"Seventeen million."
Clara whispered, "That's not all."
Dominic looked at her.
She pointed to the photos.
"The dates."
He checked.
The deposits into Samuel's accounts occurred exactly two days before every major transfer in the network.
Dominic understood.
"He was the leak."
Clara nodded.
The truth had finally surfaced.
But before they could act, Dominic received a message.
Unknown number.
A photograph of Clara.
Taken that morning.
Standing beside him.
The caption read:
She knows too much.
Dominic's expression became murderous.
Clara felt his hand close around hers.
"Don't be afraid."
"I am."
"You don't need to hide it."
"That's the first normal thing you've said."
He looked at her.
"Clara."
"What?"
"If they come for you, you run."
She shook her head.
"No."
His brow furrowed.
"I won't leave you."
"This isn't a negotiation."
"It is now."
He stared.
She lifted her chin.
"My father died because he stood alone."
Her voice trembled.
"I'm not making the same mistake."
Dominic's expression softened.
"You shouldn't have to."
"Neither should you."
He touched her cheek.
The contact was gentle.
Almost unbearably so.
"Do you know how dangerous it is for me to care about you?"
She whispered, "Yes."
"Do you care?"
She looked at him.
"Unfortunately."
His breath caught.
Then the distance between them disappeared.
He kissed her.
Not recklessly.
Not like a man claiming something.
Like a man discovering something he had been afraid to want.
Clara's fingers caught his shirt.
Then footsteps echoed in the hallway.
They separated.
Daniel appeared.
"Sir."
Dominic straightened.
"What?"
"Victor just called."
"What did he say?"
"He wants to meet."
"Where?"
"At your father's old church."
Dominic's expression changed.
He looked at Clara.
May you like
"That place hasn't been used in years."
Clara whispered, "Maybe that's the point."
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