Chapter 4 - The Ledger That Could Destroy an Empire
Ironvale locked down.
No official statement mentioned the gunshot.
That confirmed Walter’s worst suspicion.
Someone inside the administration was helping Sorrento.
Walter and Bellandi met inside the prison laundry under the protection of Bellandi’s men.
Bellandi crossed his arms.
“Tell me how you got the ledger.”
Walter leaned against a dryer.
“Carlo hid it before he died.”
“Where?”
“In the wall of an old boxing gym.”
Bellandi frowned.
“My father owned one.”
“He owned three.”
Walter looked at him.
“One burned down. One became condos. The third sat empty for twenty years.”
“You found it there?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Carlo left me a phrase before I drove away with you.”
Bellandi waited.
Walter said:
“Third bell. South wall.”
Bellandi understood.
“He knew.”
“He suspected.”
“And you waited twenty years?”
Walter looked at his damaged knee.
“I didn’t know what the phrase meant until the gym was scheduled for demolition.”
Bellandi nodded slowly.
“So you found the book.”
“Yes.”
“What did you do?”
“Copied it.”
“Then?”
“Sent the copies to Rachel.”
Bellandi stared.
“Why didn’t she arrest Sorrento immediately?”
“Because evidence that old needs corroboration.”
Walter continued.
“Signatures. Account records. Witnesses.”
“So you started digging.”
“Yes.”
“And Sorrento found out.”
Walter tapped his cane.
“He sent four men.”
Bellandi looked at his knee.
“That’s how it happened.”
“They shattered it.”
Bellandi’s face went cold.
Walter continued.
“They told me to forget Carlo.”
“You didn’t.”
“No.”
“So how did you end up here?”
Walter smiled.
“I committed a federal offense.”
Bellandi stared.
“On purpose?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I thought prison would be safer.”
Bellandi laughed loudly.
Walter smiled.
“I miscalculated.”
The door opened.
Frankie entered quickly.
“Marco.”
“What?”
“Pike issued a transfer order.”
Walter straightened.
“For me?”
“Tonight.”
Bellandi frowned.
“Where?”
“No destination.”
Walter and Bellandi exchanged a look.
Bellandi said:
“That’s not a transfer.”
Walter nodded.
“It’s an execution.”
Bellandi turned to Frankie.
“How many men can you trust?”
“Enough.”
Walter shook his head.
“No riot.”
Bellandi looked at him.
“I wasn’t asking.”
“Then I’m telling.”
Bellandi stepped closer.
“You want to survive?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me handle prison.”
Walter stared at him.
“And you let me handle Sorrento.”
May you like
Bellandi smiled slightly.
“Deal.”
