Chapter 7 - ROMAN WAS THE TARGET
The clean shipment had never been valuable because of what was inside it.
It was valuable because of where it would be.
Roman explained the plan inside Bellamy Holdings at midnight.
The shipment would occupy Pier Nine.
Ninety men.
Customs staff.
Supervisors.
Security.
If an explosion, fire, or major federal violation occurred during unloading, every camera and investigator in Boston would focus on Bellamy.
Meanwhile, the forgotten tunnel beneath Walter’s property could be used to reach the evidence warehouse two blocks away.
“Adrien destroys the archive while everyone looks at you,” Elsie said.
Roman nodded.
“And if people die on the pier?”
“He gets more attention.”
Elsie felt nauseated.
“Why?”
Roman’s face hardened.
“Because Salvatore is dying.”
She looked up.
“Adrien’s uncle?”
“Father.”
The distinction mattered now.
Salvatore Manuso had late-stage pancreatic cancer.
Almost nobody outside his inner circle knew.
When he died, control of the Manuso organization would become contested.
Adrien wanted leverage before that happened.
Destroy federal evidence.
Frame Bellamy.
Take over waterfront access.
Then inherit power without rivals.
“What about Marissa?”
Roman looked at Elsie.
“She may believe she inherits beside him.”
“But they’re brother and sister.”
“She knows.”
Elsie remembered the kiss.
Her stomach twisted.
“It was staged.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did it look…”
Roman understood.
“Because they needed you to believe it.”
Elsie sat down.
Adrien had studied her.
Her jealousy.
Her loyalty.
Her pride.
He knew exactly what image would break the wedding.
And Marissa had helped.
Then Norah entered.
“We found the brake line.”
“Cut?”
“Yes.”
“Prints?”
“Probably nothing useful.”
She handed Roman another file.
“But there’s something else.”
Vehicle-camera footage from a gas station near Walter’s contractor yard.
A man approached the truck at 2:13 a.m.
Dark jacket.
Cap.
Gloves.
He moved out of view for four minutes.
Then left.
Elsie leaned closer.
“Adrien?”
Norah shook her head.
“Watch.”
The man turned briefly.
Walter made a strangled sound.
Elsie looked at him.
“You know him.”
Walter’s face had gone white.
“No.”
But he did.
Roman paused the image.
The man was older.
Heavy shoulders.
Gray hair.
Scar along his jaw.
Elsie had seen him once before.
At Diane’s funeral.
He had stood alone near the cemetery gate.
Walter whispered, “Salvatore.”
Elsie stared.
Adrien’s father had personally tried to kill Walter.
Then Roman’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Salvatore Manuso spoke without introduction.
“Roman, if you want ninety men alive Friday night, bring Elsie Parker to me.”
Roman’s eyes became ice.
“No.”
Salvatore laughed weakly.
“Then Adrien wins.”
Elsie reached for the phone.
Roman pulled it away.
She glared at him.
“This is about my family.”
“It is also a trap.”
Salvatore heard her anyway.
“Elsie?”
She spoke loudly.
“What do you want?”
A coughing fit came through the speaker.
Then Salvatore said:
May you like
“To tell you why your mother really died.”
The line disconnected.
