Chapter 9 - THE MURDER THAT CREATED A MAFIA KING
Alexander Moretti had inherited his father's empire at twenty-eight.
He'd always believed the old man died from a sudden heart attack.
Now Eleanor was telling him someone had arranged his death.
"Who?" Alexander asked.
His voice was barely audible.
Eleanor looked frightened.
"Richard Hayes."
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"Why?"
"Because your father discovered Richard was stealing from the organization."
I looked at Alexander.
The same scheme.
The same stolen money.
The same lies.
Eleven years earlier, my father had uncovered the truth.
Alexander's father had apparently uncovered it too.
And both men had paid a terrible price.
Eleanor continued.
"Richard controlled the financial records. He was preparing to transfer ownership interests through fraudulent trusts."
Alexander stared.
"And Jonathan Carter?"
"He copied the records before Richard could destroy them."
I swallowed.
"Then why was my father kept alive?"
Eleanor looked at me.
"Because he memorized part of the authorization sequence required to unlock the original accounts."
My stomach tightened.
"Richard needed him."
"Yes."
"Then why tell me he was dead?"
"Because Jonathan refused to cooperate while he believed you were alive and in danger."
I stared.
"So Richard convinced him I was dead."
Eleanor nodded.
"And he arranged for Derek to marry me."
Her face crumpled.
"I'm so sorry."
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Alexander leaned forward.
"Mother, why did you stay hidden?"
Eleanor looked at him.
"Because Richard threatened to kill you if I contacted you."
His eyes filled.
"You could have come to me."
"I was afraid."
Alexander looked away.
I recognized the pain in his face.
The same terrible conflict I'd experienced when learning my mother had kept secrets.
Love.
Anger.
Grief.
Relief.
All tangled together.
Finally, he whispered, "I don't know how to forgive you."
Eleanor nodded.
"I understand."
Then she looked at me.
"Emily, your father never stopped asking about you."
I began crying.
"Is he alive?"
"Yes."
"Can I see him?"
Eleanor nodded.
"The authorities know where he's being held."
I covered my mouth.
Then she added something that made Alexander straighten.
"There's one more thing."
"What?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"Jonathan left a message for you."
She looked at Alexander.
"Before he disappeared, he recorded a statement about Richard's crimes."
Alexander leaned forward.
"Where is it?"
Eleanor swallowed.
"In a safety deposit box."
"What bank?"
She gave the name.
Then added:
"The box belongs to Emily Carter."
I stared.
"I've never opened a safety deposit box."
Eleanor nodded.
"I know."
"Then how could it be mine?"
She looked at my left hand.
"Because your father hid the access token inside your mother's wedding ring."
My heart stopped.
The ring.
The one I'd carried in the wooden box for years.
I suddenly remembered the tiny engraving inside the band.
Three numbers.
417.
And beneath them, a single letter.
M.
Alexander stared at the ring.
Then whispered:
"That's not just a bank account."
I looked at him.
"What is it?"
May you like
His face hardened.
"It's the master access code to the Moretti family trust."
