Chapter 5 - The Man Behind the Accident
Vanessa cooperated quickly.
Not from guilt.
From fear.
Salvatore Moretti had controlled the theft network for nearly a decade.
Victor Carter discovered it accidentally.
He had noticed freight manifests listing hospital equipment that never reached the hospitals named on the paperwork.
He reported it.
Three days later, Victor died.
Salvatore arranged the “accident.”
Dominic sat across from his uncle two days later in an interview room.
Avery watched through the glass.
Salvatore smiled.
“You brought the Carter girl into this?”
Dominic said nothing.
“Your father made the same mistake with Victor.”
“What mistake?”
“Thinking decent people survive in our world.”
Dominic leaned forward.
“Victor survived longer than you will.”
Salvatore laughed.
“You think handing evidence to prosecutors makes you clean?”
“No.”
Dominic’s answer surprised Avery.
“I think it makes you finished.”
Salvatore’s smile disappeared.
Outside, Avery looked at Marco.
“What happens now?”
“Federal investigators have the manifests. Financial crimes has the accounts. State police reopened your father’s case.”
“And Dominic?”
Marco glanced through the glass.
“He loses businesses.”
“Because of Salvatore?”
“Because Dominic is shutting down anything connected to his uncle’s network.”
Avery looked at him.
“Voluntarily?”
“Yes.”
That evening, Dominic drove Avery home.
Her rusted sedan was parked outside.
The passenger window still had plastic taped over it.
Dominic stared at it.
“You drive forty miles in that?”
“Don’t insult Gerald.”
“Your car has a name?”
“He’s sensitive.”
“The window is plastic.”
“Character.”
“The rear bumper is held by two different-colored bolts.”
“Personality.”
Dominic looked at her.
Avery laughed.
It was the first genuine laugh she had managed in days.
Dominic smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
“I owe you something.”
“No.”
“You don't know what I was going to say.”
“If it involves money, no.”
“It does.”
“Then definitely no.”
“Your father died exposing crimes committed through my family’s company.”
“Your uncle’s crimes.”
“My name was on the buildings.”
“You were twenty-three.”
Dominic studied her.
“You've researched me.”
“I have internet.”
He smiled slightly.
Avery folded her arms.
“What are you offering?”
“Your mother’s medical expenses.”
“No.”
“Avery.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want to spend the next ten years wondering whether my mother is alive because Dominic Moretti felt guilty.”
“Then don’t take charity.”
“What?”
“Work for it.”
Avery narrowed her eyes.
“What kind of work?”
“My freight companies need a compliance investigator.”
She laughed.
“You’re offering a delivery driver a corporate job?”
“I’m offering the woman who spotted a packaging pattern my entire security division missed a job.”
“I don't have a degree.”
“I have executives with degrees who failed to notice my fiancée stealing evidence from my office.”
“Former fiancée.”
Dominic considered that.
“Very former.”
Avery smiled.
Then shook her head.
“I need to think.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“I distrust people who accept jobs without asking about salary.”
Avery paused.
“What’s the salary?”
Dominic told her.
Avery stared at him.
“That's ridiculous.”
“Too low?”
“Dominic.”
“Benefits include medical insurance for dependents.”
Avery stopped smiling.
He knew exactly what that meant.
“That's manipulative.”
“Yes.”
“At least you admit it.”
“I’m learning.”
She looked toward the apartment window.
Linda stood behind the curtain pretending not to watch them.
Avery sighed.
“One condition.”
“Name it.”
“I don't enter through the service door.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Agreed.”
“And nobody makes delivery drivers stand outside.”
“Agreed.”
“And if you ever hand me a hundred-dollar bill without asking my name again—”
“What happens?”
Avery looked at him.
“You already know I can kick.”
Dominic smiled.
May you like
“Yes.”
“I remember.”
