Chapter 10 - THE DEAD MAN'S COMPANY
Z
Norah had never met Arthur Hale.
At least, she didn’t think she had.
Her contract for the Harborlight gala came through an agency called Meridian Cultural Services.
She had exchanged emails with an account manager named Charles Wells.
They had spoken twice by phone.
She had never seen his face.
Detective Alvarez traced the company before noon.
It had been created nine months earlier.
One employee.
No physical office.
Its registration ultimately connected to a private trust in Delaware.
Beneficiary unknown.
The phone number used by Charles Wells disappeared the moment police requested subscriber records.
“Arthur hired me through a shell company,” Norah said.
Luca stood across the safe-house kitchen making coffee.
After the attack on Margaret’s home, nobody had argued about where Norah would stay.
She was in Luca Moretti’s house.
Not mansion.
House.
That was what he called the stone estate overlooking Lake Michigan.
It had eleven bedrooms.
Norah refused to participate in the lie.
“Why me?” she asked again.
Luca gave her coffee.
“Because of Samuel.”
“That explains why I was useful. Not what they wanted.”
“The ledger.”
“They didn’t know where it was.”
“They believed you might.”
“I didn’t.”
“But your father left clues only you would recognize.”
Norah stared at the measuring tape on the counter.
Four inches.
A ridiculous distance.
A message across seventeen years.
“Arthur manipulated me into finding it.”
Luca nodded.
“The moved pedestal started the process.”
“So the theft was bait.”
“And framing you created pressure.”
She rubbed her forehead.
“This man threatened my mother, planted evidence on me and used my dead father like a scavenger hunt.”
“Yes.”
“Please stop agreeing so calmly.”
“What would you prefer?”
“I don’t know. Flip a table.”
He looked at the enormous marble island.
“That would be expensive.”
Norah stared at him.
Then laughed.
It came out almost hysterical.
Luca smiled.
She hated how much she liked it.
“Arthur needs the ledger,” she said.
“Or wants to destroy it.”
“Then why not take it seventeen years ago?”
“Samuel hid it before Arthur realized he had it.”
Norah thought.
“The boxes.”
“What?”
“The people who attacked Mom took the archive boxes before we opened the wall.”
“They expected the ledger there.”
“Meaning they didn’t know about Dad’s measurement clue.”
“Correct.”
“So Arthur isn’t omniscient.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“That sounded dangerous.”
“I’m thinking.”
“That’s what worries me.”
Norah walked toward the window.
Outside, men patrolled the property.
“Arthur has been controlling everyone by knowing what they don’t.”
“Go on.”
“He knew about my father. Graham. Your father. Salvatore. He knows where old evidence points.”
“But?”
“He didn’t know where the ledger was.”
Luca nodded.
“He didn’t know Elena would steal the diamond either.”
“Exactly.”
She turned.
“He’s losing control.”
“And desperate people make mistakes.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“Or become more dangerous.”
Graham Vale entered.
Norah stiffened.
Luca’s security followed behind him.
“You brought him here?”
“I asked him to come.”
Graham looked ten years older than the previous night.
“My daughter contacted me.”
“Elena?” Norah asked.
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“She wouldn’t say.”
“What did she want?”
Graham sat.
“An exchange.”
Luca didn’t move.
“The diamond for the ledger?”
Graham shook his head.
“The digital key for Arthur Hale.”
Silence.
Norah stared.
“She has Arthur?”
“No.”
“Then what does that mean?”
“Elena believes Arthur will come out of hiding personally if he thinks the ledger and digital archive can be destroyed together.”
Luca’s expression darkened.
“She wants to bait him.”
“Yes.”
“With Norah.”
Graham looked at her.
Norah already knew.
Of course.
Arthur had hired her.
Watched her.
Used her.
He would believe she still possessed what Samuel left behind.
“No,” Luca said.
Norah turned.
“I haven’t said anything.”
“I know your face.”
“You’ve known me one day.”
“It’s been a long day.”
Graham looked between them.
“Elena proposes a meeting tomorrow night.”
“Where?”
“The original Harborlight theater.”
Norah knew the building.
Abandoned twenty years ago near the river.
Arthur Hale’s first charitable project.
Luca said, “Absolutely not.”
Norah set her coffee down.
“We need him alive.”
“Police can handle it.”
Alvarez entered from the hall.
“I wish that were true.”
Norah looked at her.
The detective placed a printed page on the counter.
It showed six senior Chicago officials named in Samuel’s ledger.
Two were currently assigned to oversee the Belladonna investigation.
“We have a leak.”
Luca swore.
Alvarez continued.
“Any formal operation risks warning Arthur.”
“So what are you suggesting?” Luca asked.
“I’m suggesting we use a very small team.”
“No.”
Norah folded her arms.
“You realize I’m standing here.”
“Yes.”
“And I make decisions concerning my body.”
“Yes.”
“And whether I attend this meeting.”
“No.”
She stared at him.
Graham wisely looked away.
Alvarez seemed interested in the ceiling.
Norah stepped close to Luca.
“You publicly defended me because you didn’t like other people deciding I was guilty based on who they thought I was.”
His jaw tightened.
“Different issue.”
“No. Same issue.”
“Arthur has already tried to have you arrested and attacked your mother.”
“Which gives me more reason to finish this.”
“I won’t help you put yourself in danger.”
Norah’s anger cooled.
Not because he was right.
Because she heard what sat beneath his words.
Fear.
Luca Moretti was afraid for her.
She lowered her voice.
“My father died because he tried to stop this man.”
“So did mine.”
“Then you understand.”
“That’s exactly why I understand.”
They stood inches apart.
Norah whispered, “I’m going.”
Luca looked furious.
Then exhausted.
Then resigned.
“You stay beside me.”
“I’m not agreeing to be handcuffed to you.”
“Wasn’t planning handcuffs.”
His gaze held hers.
The room became suddenly too warm.
Norah cleared her throat.
“Good.”
Graham murmured, “I feel I should leave.”
Nobody answered.
The next afternoon, Elena sent the meeting instructions.
One line.
Bring the ledger.
Bring Norah.
Come without police.
At the bottom was a photograph proving Victoria remained alive.
Behind her stood a man in shadow.
Eighty-seven years old.
Silver cane.
Perfectly tailored suit.
Arthur Hale.
May you like
Very much alive.
And smiling.
