Chapter 4 - The Ledger Under the Floor
By sunrise, Frankie Romano had disappeared.
That told me Sarah was right.
Nico and I returned to the green house with two men I trusted.
No weapons displayed.
No theatrics.
We searched quietly.
After forty minutes, Nico called from Lily’s bedroom.
“Vincent.”
He stood beside the closet.
The same closet.
One floorboard inside had been recently replaced.
Underneath it was a waterproof envelope.
Nico opened it.
Bank statements.
Photographs.
Lists of payments.
Names.
Police officers.
A city inspector.
Two of my warehouse managers.
Then Nico stopped.
“What?”
He handed me a page.
At the top was my private phone number.
Below it were schedules.
My meetings.
My routes.
Addresses.
Someone had been tracking me.
“Frankie wasn't stealing from us,” Nico said.
“No.”
“He was building something.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Moretti.”
Frankie Romano laughed.
“You always were predictable.”
“Where are you?”
“Did you find my paperwork?”
I looked at Nico.
Frankie continued.
“Dean was supposed to move it last night. Instead, his girlfriend decided to become brave.”
“Sarah isn't his girlfriend.”
“Wife. Girlfriend. Whatever.”
My jaw tightened.
“You used Dean to get close to her.”
“I used Dean because he was useful.”
“And Lily?”
Silence.
Then Frankie said, “The kid was never part of this.”
“That may be the only reason you're still breathing freely.”
Nico watched my expression.
Frankie sighed.
“Vincent, we can solve this.”
“You ran.”
“Strategic retreat.”
“You had men inside my organization.”
“Yes.”
“You sold information.”
“Everybody sells something.”
“Where are you?”
Frankie laughed again.
“You think I'm telling you?”
“No.”
I looked at the papers.
“But you just confirmed the ledger is real.”
Silence.
Then the call ended.
Nico smiled faintly.
“He always did talk too much.”
At the hospital, Sarah was sitting upright when we returned.
Lily slept beside her.
I placed the envelope on the table.
Sarah went pale.
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“Then it's over?”
“No.”
Her face fell.
“But now we know what we're fighting.”
She looked at Lily.
“I want to leave Chicago.”
“You can.”
“Dean will find us.”
“Dean isn't your problem anymore.”
“And Frankie?”
“He won't be either.”
She stared at me.
“You say things like you can control everything.”
“I can't.”
That surprised her.
I pulled a chair closer.
“But I can give you choices.”
“What choices?”
“A safe apartment. Legal representation. Security while Dean's case moves forward.”
“I can't afford—”
“You don't need to.”
“I don't want charity.”
“Good. I don't give charity.”
She frowned.
“What do you call it?”
“Paying a debt.”
“To whom?”
“Elena.”
Sarah’s expression softened.
Before she could answer, Lily woke.
She rubbed her eyes.
“Vincent?”
“Yes?”
“Did you find the bad man?”
“Not yet.”
She considered that.
“Are you going to?”
“Yes.”
Sarah gave me a warning look.
“Vincent.”
I understood.
So I added, “And when we do, the police and lawyers handle the rest.”
Lily nodded.
“Good.”
She reached beneath her blanket.
Then she held out a folded piece of paper.
“I made this.”
It was a drawing.
Three stick figures.
Sarah.
Lily.
And a ridiculously tall man wearing black.
Above him she'd written:
VIN SENT
I stared at it.
“That's me?”
“You're too tall.”
“Apparently.”
“And I couldn't spell your name.”
“You were close.”
Nico appeared in the doorway.
His face erased the moment.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Frankie didn't run from Chicago.”
“Where is he?”
Nico looked at Sarah.
May you like
Then at me.
“He's outside.”
