Chapter 12 - THE RETURN OF ANTONIO VALENTI
Nicholas reached the private terminal six minutes too late.
The jet was still there.
Antonio was not.
Neither was Evan.
On the runway, a black SUV was already heading toward the service road.
Nicholas watched it disappear.
Rachel expected rage.
Instead, he looked wounded.
“My father knew I was alive every day for fourteen years.”
Rachel stood beside him.
“And you don’t know why he stayed away.”
“That excuse gets thinner every year.”
Daniel found the jet pilot.
He had been paid to wait.
The intended destination was Toronto.
A decoy.
Rachel searched the ledger data again.
One number appeared repeatedly beside recent payments.
“Locker?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Could be anything.”
Rachel looked around the terminal.
“Gate.”
Nicholas followed her gaze.
Private terminal storage bays were numbered.
Bay 214 sat at the far end.
Inside they found nothing but a folding chair and a burner phone.
The phone rang.
Nicholas answered.
“Hello, son.”
Antonio.
Nicholas said nothing.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I know you hate me.”
“You’re alive.”
“Yes.”
“For fourteen years.”
“Yes.”
Rachel turned away, giving him privacy, but Nicholas activated speakerphone.
“Why did Evan bring you the ledger?”
“Because I told him I could pay more than Vincent.”
Rachel spun back.
“You’re working with Evan?”
Antonio heard her.
“Rachel Bennett.”
Her skin prickled.
“You sound like Thomas.”
“My father trusted you.”
“He shouldn’t have.”
Silence.
Then Antonio said, “That is true.”
Rachel’s heart pounded.
Nicholas stepped closer to the phone.
“Did you kill Thomas?”
“No.”
“Did you know who did?”
“Yes.”
Rachel clenched her fists.
“Then say the name.”
Antonio exhaled.
“Not over the phone.”
“Enough games.”
“This isn’t a game. Evan is listening to people more dangerous than Vincent ever was.”
Rachel frowned.
“Who?”
“Federal Judge Stephen Cole.”
Rachel felt the blood drain from her face.
Evan’s father.
She had met him dozens of times.
Christmas.
Birthdays.
Engagement dinners.
A warm, respected federal judge who had once told Rachel she was the daughter he never had.
Antonio continued.
“Stephen Cole created Northstar.”
Nicholas went still.
“And Evan?”
“His son was never supposed to fall in love with Rachel.”
Rachel nearly laughed.
“Love?”
Antonio’s answer was cold.
“No. Evan’s assignment was to marry you.”
Rachel felt something break inside her.
Antonio continued.
“Once you became Rachel Cole, Stephen intended to control every piece of evidence your father left behind.”
The burner phone beeped.
May you like
Then Antonio revealed the final secret.
“Evan has been watching you since before your first date.”
