Chapter 4 - The Man Inside Roman’s House
By sunrise, Tommy Sullivan was in custody.
But Roman didn’t celebrate.
He stood in his study staring at the flash drive while Marcus worked through its contents.
Sadi sat on the sofa.
Ben stood near the fireplace.
Roman looked at him.
“Start again.”
“I told you everything.”
“No. You told me enough to stay alive. There’s a difference.”
Ben swallowed.
Sadi said, “Ben.”
Her brother looked at her.
“Tell him.”
Ben rubbed both hands over his face.
“Raymond wasn’t the one running it.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed.
“Who was?”
“I never got a name.”
“Try harder.”
“I heard Raymond talking once. He called the person ‘Mr. H.’”
Marcus looked up.
Roman’s face went still.
Sadi noticed.
“What?”
Marcus answered.
“There aren’t many people close to Roman with an H in their name.”
Sadi stared at Roman.
“Hail.”
Roman said nothing.
Ben continued.
“Raymond said, ‘The old man built the throne. The younger one only sits in it.’”
Roman’s expression changed.
Marcus stood.
“No.”
Sadi looked between them.
“Who?”
Roman spoke quietly.
“My uncle.”
“Name?”
“Victor Hail.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Victor retired years ago.”
Roman looked at him.
“Did he?”
Silence filled the study.
Victor Hail had helped raise Roman after Roman’s father died.
He had taught him the business.
Taught him which politicians lied well.
Which men folded under pressure.
Which friends stayed loyal only until the money changed.
Roman picked up his phone.
“Find him.”
Marcus dialed.
Then stopped.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“Victor’s already here.”
Sadi slowly stood.
“What?”
Marcus looked toward the security monitor.
A gray-haired man was walking through the front entrance.
Alone.
Roman watched the screen.
“He knows.”
Victor entered the study five minutes later.
Elegant.
Sixty-three.
Perfect gray suit.
Silver hair.
Calm smile.
His gaze moved from Roman to Sadi to Ben.
“Well,” Victor said. “This looks uncomfortable.”
Roman remained behind the desk.
“Sit.”
Victor smiled.
“You haven’t ordered me to sit since you were nineteen.”
“Then enjoy the nostalgia.”
Victor sat.
Roman placed a printed transaction sheet in front of him.
“Raymond Cole.”
Victor barely glanced at it.
“What about him?”
“You tell me.”
“I don’t know the man well.”
Ben spoke.
“He knows you.”
Victor looked toward him.
“And you are?”
“The man you tried to bury.”
Victor smiled.
“I’m afraid you’ve confused me with someone interesting.”
Sadi watched his eyes.
He was too calm.
Roman noticed her watching.
“Victor.”
“Yes?”
“Where is Raymond?”
“No idea.”
Roman leaned forward.
“Then why did your private driver pick him up outside a hotel at 2:14 this morning?”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
Marcus placed a photograph on the desk.
Victor looked at it.
Then at Roman.
“You’ve become thorough.”
“You taught me.”
“That may have been a mistake.”
Sadi’s pulse quickened.
Ben stepped backward.
Roman said, “Why?”
Victor sighed.
“Because you became sentimental.”
Roman glanced toward Sadi.
Victor noticed.
“There.”
Victor pointed casually.
“That.”
Roman’s voice hardened.
“Careful.”
Victor smiled.
“You found a waitress in an alley and suddenly dismantled an operation worth millions because you were offended.”
Sadi stared at him.
“You ordered it?”
Victor looked at her.
“No.”
“Did you know?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
Roman’s jaw flexed.
Sadi whispered, “You knew Tommy was going after me.”
Victor shrugged.
“You were leverage.”
Roman moved so quickly the chair behind him tipped.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Boss.”
Roman stopped himself.
Victor smiled faintly.
“Sentimental.”
Sadi spoke before Roman could.
“Why Ben?”
Victor looked at her.
“Your brother was foolish enough to notice things.”
Ben said, “You were moving money through Roman’s companies.”
Victor looked at him.
“Good. You can read.”
Roman’s voice dropped.
“You were stealing from me.”
Victor laughed softly.
“Stealing?”
He stood.
“I built half of what you own.”
“My father built it.”
“Your father was weak.”
The room changed.
Marcus’s hand tightened at his side.
Roman became completely still.
Victor continued.
“Your father wanted legitimacy. You wanted control. Neither of you understood what your name could have become.”
Roman stared at him.
“And you did?”
“I still do.”
Victor looked at Sadi.
“That girl is proof you’ve lost your edge.”
Sadi stepped closer.
“No.”
Victor turned toward her.
She held his gaze.
“I’m proof you made a mistake.”
He smiled.
“You think so?”
“You let Tommy leave me alive.”
Victor’s smile faded.
Sadi continued.
“You let Ben get away with a copy. You let Raymond panic. And now you walked into Roman’s house because you still think everyone here is afraid of you.”
Roman looked at her differently.
Victor said, “You’re brave.”
“No. I’m angry.”
Victor reached toward his jacket.
Marcus moved instantly.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Victor stopped.
A phone rang.
Not Roman’s.
Victor’s.
Roman looked at it.
“Answer.”
Victor didn’t.
Roman picked it up himself.
“Hello?”
A terrified voice answered.
“Mr. Hail? It’s Raymond. Something’s wrong. The warehouse is empty. Where is everyone?”
Roman looked at Victor.
Then smiled without warmth.
“Hello, Raymond.”
The line went silent.
Roman’s eyes never left his uncle.
May you like
“Now we know where the ledger is.”
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