Chapter 4 - The Truth Samuel Never Told Her
They did not send Norah home alone.
Roman went with her.
Four security vehicles surrounded the building while Gideon cleared the apartment.
Caleb was gone.
The wooden box remained.
Roman stared at it.
“Why didn't he take it?”
Norah answered, “Because he can't open it.”
A combination lock was built into the lid.
Roman crouched beside the table.
“Do you know the code?”
“No.”
“What mattered to Samuel?”
Norah thought.
Then she looked at Roman.
“Twelve years ago.”
Roman understood.
He entered the year Samuel disappeared.
Nothing.
Norah frowned.
“Maybe the date you escaped.”
Roman looked at her.
“March seventeenth.”
317.
Click.
The box opened.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
A flash drive.
And a handwritten letter.
Norah unfolded it.
Norah,
If you are reading this, the past found you.
Her voice caught.
Roman said quietly, “Keep going.”
I lied about many things, but never about loving you as my daughter.
Norah continued.
Your biological father was Daniel Vain, my younger brother. He discovered that members of the syndicate were working with public officials to steal control of New York’s ports. He was murdered before he could expose them.
Roman’s face changed.
“Daniel.”
Norah looked up.
“You knew him?”
“Barely.”
She continued reading.
I took you because the men who killed Daniel would eventually kill you if they learned you existed.
Norah sat down.
Roman remained silent.
Then she read the final section.
The evidence is on the drive. Trust Roman Falco only if he remembers the debt he owes me. If he has become the kind of man we once fought, run from him too.
Silence.
Norah lowered the letter.
Roman looked away.
“That sounds like him.”
“You almost failed his test tonight.”
“I know.”
Norah plugged the drive into her laptop.
Files appeared.
Shipping records.
Payments.
Names.
One appeared repeatedly.
Victor Sullivan.
Norah stared.
“The district attorney?”
Roman's expression turned lethal.
“Sullivan’s father worked with the men who killed mine.”
“And Samuel’s brother.”
“Yes.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“That is an unfortunate discovery.”
Roman turned.
Victor Sullivan stood there.
And he wasn't alone.
Two men stood behind him.
Gideon was nowhere in sight.
Victor smiled.
“Roman, you really should stop trusting people just because they wear your security uniforms.”
Roman slowly stepped in front of Norah.
Victor noticed.
“How touching.”
“What do you want?”
“The drive.”
Norah closed the laptop.
Victor laughed.
“Give it to me, sweetheart.”
“No.”
“Your father made the same mistake.”
Roman's eyes narrowed.
“Daniel Vain?”
Victor smiled.
“My father handled him.”
Norah's hands shook.
“You murdered my father?”
“Not personally.”
Roman took one step forward.
Victor’s men tensed.
Victor raised his hand.
“Careful.”
Roman stopped.
Victor continued.
“Samuel spent twelve years hiding evidence that could destroy several very important families.”
Norah said, “And you spent six months using Caleb to terrorize me.”
Victor smiled.
“Caleb is useful.”
“Where is he?”
“Probably running.”
Roman glanced toward the hallway.
Victor noticed.
“Waiting for Gideon?”
He smiled.
“He won't be coming.”
Then a voice behind Victor said:
“You should stop making predictions.”
Victor turned.
Gideon stood at the far end of the hall with Roman’s security team.
Victor’s two men immediately backed away.
Gideon looked at Roman.
“Sorry. Elevator problem.”
Roman stared at him.
“You took six minutes.”
“Manhattan elevators.”
Norah almost laughed.
Even Roman's mouth twitched.
Victor’s smile vanished.
Roman walked toward him.
Victor backed up.
“Roman, think carefully.”
“I am.”
“You need me.”
“No.”
“The ports—”
“Can wait.”
“The judges I control—”
“Can be replaced.”
Victor swallowed.
Roman stopped inches away.
“But Samuel Vain can't.”
Victor looked toward Norah.
Roman’s voice dropped.
May you like
“And neither can his daughter.”
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