Chapter 4 - The Witness They Needed Gone
By sunrise, Victor Hale had turned Sophia into a criminal.
News sites reported that confidential financial information had been stolen from Hale Strategic Holdings.
Sophia sat at Dominic’s kitchen table watching her own photograph appear on television.
“How did they get that?”
“Driver’s license database,” Marco said.
The headline changed.
MISSING WOMAN LINKED TO MORETTI ORGANIZATION.
Sophia stared.
“They’re making me look like I work for you.”
Dominic poured coffee.
“You hid in my trunk.”
“That is not employment.”
Marco almost laughed.
Dominic slid the coffee toward her.
Sophia took it.
“Thank you.”
“Progress.”
“Don’t get excited.”
Dominic sat across from her.
Marco placed printed records on the table.
“We found something.”
Sophia leaned forward.
The payment to Trevor wasn’t isolated.
There were dozens.
Judges.
Accountants.
City inspectors.
Security contractors.
And one detective.
Sophia recognized the name.
“Detective Paul Renner.”
Dominic watched her reaction.
“You know him?”
“He came to our apartment last month.”
“Why?”
“Trevor called police during an argument.”
“What happened?”
“Renner told me Trevor was worried about me.”
Marco swore.
Sophia stared at the page.
“He was helping him.”
Dominic said, “Yes.”
“Then Detective Walsh—”
“Different unit. No connection we can find.”
Sophia rubbed her forehead.
“What about your brother?”
Dominic became quiet.
Sophia immediately regretted asking.
But he answered.
“Anthony wanted out.”
“Of the family?”
“Of everything.”
“What happened?”
“He discovered someone was stealing from our companies.”
“Hale?”
Dominic nodded.
“Anthony planned to expose him.”
Sophia looked at the payment.
“And Trevor stopped him.”
“That’s what the records suggest.”
Sophia pushed the papers away.
“So what now?”
“We make Hale believe he can still recover the original drive.”
Marco looked at Dominic.
“Absolutely not.”
Sophia said, “Why?”
“Because you’re the bait.”
She looked at Dominic.
“Is he right?”
Dominic didn’t answer quickly enough.
Sophia stood.
“No.”
“Sophia.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Good.”
She walked toward the window.
Then stopped.
“What if I volunteer?”
Marco stared at her.
Dominic’s voice sharpened.
“No.”
Sophia turned.
“That sounded like deciding.”
“Hale wants you dead.”
“He wants the drive.”
“He’ll take both.”
“Then protect me.”
The words silenced the room.
Dominic stared at her.
Sophia continued.
“You’re Dominic Moretti. Everyone is terrified of you. Start being useful.”
Marco coughed to hide a laugh.
Dominic slowly leaned back.
“You have an interesting way of asking for help.”
“I’ve had a bad night.”
Dominic looked at Marco.
“Call Walsh.”
Sophia blinked.
“You’re agreeing?”
“I’m arranging it properly.”
The plan was simple.
Sophia would call Hale.
She would claim she had kept another copy.
Police would monitor the meeting.
Dominic’s people would remain nearby but invisible.
Hale chose an abandoned office suite above one of his downtown properties.
At 8:40 that evening, Sophia entered alone.
Victor Hale waited beside the windows.
Sixty.
Silver hair.
Perfect suit.
Warm smile.
“You must be Sophia.”
“You know exactly who I am.”
His smile widened.
“I understand why Trevor had difficulty managing you.”
Sophia’s expression hardened.
“Managing?”
“Poor choice of words.”
“No. Accurate choice.”
Hale extended his hand.
“The drive.”
“First tell me about Anthony Moretti.”
His hand slowly lowered.
“That name means nothing to me.”
“You paid Trevor two hundred thousand dollars three days before Anthony died.”
Hale’s smile disappeared.
“You’ve misunderstood those records.”
“Then explain them.”
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“You will when the police see them.”
Hale stepped closer.
“Do you think Dominic cares about you?”
Sophia remained still.
“He cares about what you stole.”
“You don’t know him.”
“And you do?”
Hale laughed.
“You spent one night in his hotel.”
Sophia said nothing.
Hale leaned closer.
“Men like Dominic Moretti don’t rescue women. They acquire useful things.”
Sophia’s jaw tightened.
A voice came through the hidden earpiece.
Dominic.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Sophia almost smiled.
Hale noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She reached into her bag.
Hale stepped forward.
Sophia pulled out the flash drive.
His eyes locked onto it.
“Finally.”
She held it up.
“Tell me what Trevor did to Anthony.”
Hale stared at her.
Then smiled.
“Trevor did exactly what he was paid to do.”
Sophia’s heart hammered.
“Which was?”
“To make sure Anthony never reached the authorities.”
Silence.
That was enough.
Detective Walsh’s voice came through the earpiece.
“We have it.”
Hale’s expression changed.
He suddenly understood.
“You’re recording me.”
Sophia stepped backward.
The doors opened.
Police entered.
Hale turned.
And Dominic appeared behind them.
Hale looked at him.
“Moretti.”
Dominic’s face revealed nothing.
“You should have left my brother alone.”
Hale smiled bitterly.
“You think this ends with me?”
“No.”
Dominic looked toward Sophia.
May you like
“But it starts with her.”
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