Chapter 4 - Locker 317
The number led them to Union Central Station.
Locker 317 had existed for more than thirty years.
At 1:17 a.m., Isabella stood beside Matteo in the nearly empty terminal.
“This is ridiculous.”
Matteo glanced at her.
“You came voluntarily.”
“I’m reconsidering.”
“Too late.”
She inserted the key.
It turned.
The locker opened.
Inside sat a small metal box.
Isabella stared.
“That belonged to my father.”
“You recognize it?”
“He kept tax documents in it.”
Matteo lifted it out.
Inside were photographs, financial records, and a cassette recorder.
Isabella picked up an envelope.
Her name was written across it.
ISABELLA.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Matteo noticed.
“You don’t have to open it here.”
“Yes, I do.”
She tore it open.
The letter was short.
Bella,
If you ever find this, something has gone wrong.
Alessandro Rossi trusted me to find the truth.
I found it.
The people stealing from him were closer than he understood.
One of them was Richard Moretti.
But Richard was not working alone.
Isabella stopped reading.
Matteo said quietly, “Continue.”
She did.
Alessandro planned to expose them.
Before he could, someone betrayed him.
If Matteo Rossi ever comes looking for answers, give him the recording.
He deserves to know what happened to his father.
Isabella looked at Matteo.
Neither spoke.
Matteo picked up the recorder.
He pressed PLAY.
Static.
Then Daniel Bennett’s voice.
“If you’re hearing this, Alessandro was right.”
Matteo stopped breathing.
A second voice followed.
His father.
“We don’t have much time.”
Isabella stared at him.
Alessandro continued.
“Richard knows Daniel discovered the accounts. But Richard isn’t the person I’m afraid of.”
Daniel asked, “Then who?”
A pause.
“My brother.”
Matteo’s face went cold.
Isabella whispered, “Your father had a brother?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Matteo didn’t answer immediately.
Then—
“Vittorio Rossi.”
Isabella watched him.
“Where is he?”
Matteo looked at her.
May you like
“At the wedding.”
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