Chapter 3 - Declan Walsh Makes His First Mistake
By eight the next morning, Luca had three rules.
Nobody threatened Walsh.
Nobody touched Walsh property.
Nobody mentioned Harper.
Paulie hated all three.
“You know how we usually solve problems?”
“That’s why you’re not solving this one.”
Paulie crossed his arms.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“No.”
“You smiled.”
“I did not.”
“You definitely smiled when Walsh called the third time.”
Nico entered carrying a folder.
“I found something better.”
Harper joined them.
“What?”
Nico placed documents on the table.
“Blue Harbor Consulting paid Raymond Pike’s brother-in-law’s construction company $180,000.”
Harper leaned forward.
“When?”
“Two weeks after Ethan Collins died.”
Her face tightened.
Luca asked, “Anything connecting Pike directly to Ethan?”
“Not yet.”
Harper suddenly said, “Parking garage.”
Everyone looked at her.
“What?” Luca asked.
“The Velvet Room garage.”
“What about it?”
“Ethan met Pike there.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Ethan told me.”
“When?”
“A week before he died.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“Was there surveillance?”
Harper nodded.
“Declan records everything.”
Paulie said, “Eight months ago. Footage is gone.”
“No.”
Harper shook her head.
“Declan keeps archives.”
“Why?”
“Insurance.”
Luca understood immediately.
“Blackmail.”
“Yes.”
Nico leaned forward.
“Where are the archives?”
“I don’t know.”
“But you know who does.”
Harper hesitated.
“Marcus Bell.”
Paulie laughed without humor.
“Walsh’s security chief?”
“Yes.”
“He’s not exactly going to hand us a hard drive.”
“We don’t need him to.”
Luca looked at Harper.
“What does Marcus want?”
She understood.
“His daughter.”
Paulie’s smile vanished.
“What about her?”
“Nothing bad. She’s applying to medical school.”
Luca’s expression hardened.
“We are not using his daughter.”
“I wasn’t suggesting that.”
“What were you suggesting?”
“Declan promised Marcus he’d pay her tuition. Then he backed out.”
Nico smiled.
“So Marcus already hates him.”
Harper nodded.
“He just needs a reason to stop being afraid.”
---
Marcus Bell agreed to meet Luca at a diner at noon.
He arrived alone.
“Moretti.”
“Marcus.”
“You’ve got five minutes.”
Luca slid a photograph across the table.
It showed Harper entering his townhouse alive.
Marcus stared at it.
“She’s alive.”
“Yes.”
“Declan said she stole from him.”
“Did you believe him?”
Marcus didn’t answer.
Luca continued.
“I need footage from eight months ago.”
“You’re insane.”
“Probably.”
“You know what happens if Walsh finds out?”
“Yes.”
“You lose men.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“He loses friends.”
Marcus pushed the photograph back.
“I’m not helping you.”
Luca stood.
Marcus looked up.
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“No threat?”
“No.”
“No offer?”
“No.”
“Why did you bring me here?”
“To tell you Harper survived.”
Luca walked away.
“Moretti.”
He stopped.
Marcus stared down at the photograph.
“What date?”
Luca slowly turned.
---
That evening, an envelope appeared beneath the windshield wiper of one of Luca’s cars.
Inside was a memory card.
Nico loaded it.
The video showed the Velvet Room parking garage.
Ethan Collins entered.
Raymond Pike followed.
Then Declan Walsh.
Harper covered her mouth.
There was no audio.
The three men argued.
Ethan handed Pike something.
Pike gave it to Declan.
Declan struck Ethan.
Harper turned away.
Luca paused the footage.
“Enough.”
“No.”
“Harper.”
“Play it.”
The footage continued.
Ethan left the garage alive.
Harper blinked.
“He walked out.”
“Yes.”
“Then this doesn’t prove they killed him.”
“No.”
Her shoulders dropped.
Luca pointed at the screen.
“But it proves Pike lied.”
“How?”
“The police report says Pike had never met Ethan.”
Nico nodded.
“And now we can prove he did.”
Harper stared at the frozen image.
For the first time, she smiled.
It was small.
But it was there.
Then Paulie’s phone rang.
His expression changed immediately.
“What?”
He listened.
“Where?”
Luca stood.
Paulie ended the call.
“Marcus Bell disappeared.”
Harper’s smile vanished.
Luca’s phone rang next.
Declan.
Luca answered.
Walsh sounded cheerful.
“Still enjoying your audit?”
Luca said nothing.
“I warned you.”
“Where’s Marcus?”
“Who?”
Luca’s eyes became cold.
Declan laughed.
“Careful, Luca. People might think you’re breaking the treaty.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“No. I’m reminding you who controls my house.”
Luca glanced at Harper.
“No, Declan.”
May you like
His voice dropped.
“You’re showing me exactly where the foundation is cracked.”
