Chapter 9 - The Brother Buried Without a Body
Silas Costello had buried two people he loved.
His wife.
And his younger brother, Luca.
Now Victor Sterling was claiming both were alive.
Silas stared at the phone.
"You're lying."
Victor laughed.
"Am I?"
Luca Costello had disappeared six years earlier after refusing to participate in one of the family's shipping operations.
His abandoned vehicle had been found near the Chicago River.
The police believed he'd been murdered.
No body was ever recovered.
Silas had spent years blaming himself.
He'd been too busy consolidating the family empire to notice his brother's growing fear.
Now Victor was turning that guilt into a weapon.
"Let me speak to him," Silas demanded.
A pause.
Then a weak voice came through.
"Silas?"
Silas stopped breathing.
"Luca?"
His brother coughed.
"Don't give Victor what he wants."
Silas gripped the phone.
"Where are you?"
The line went silent.
Victor returned.
"Sign the transfer agreement, and your family walks away alive."
Silas closed his eyes.
For a moment, every instinct told him to agree.
He had enough money.
Enough businesses.
Enough resources to start over.
But something about Victor's demand troubled him.
Why insist on a signed agreement if he already controlled the facilities?
Why keep Elena and Luca alive for years?
Then Silas understood.
Victor needed lawful ownership on paper.
Without valid signatures, the fraudulent transfers might collapse under investigation.
Silas looked toward Marcus.
He kept his voice steady.
"I need proof they're safe."
Victor laughed.
"You don't negotiate with me anymore, Silas."
"Then you don't get my signature."
A long silence followed.
Finally, Victor said:
"You have until midnight."
The call ended.
Silas handed the phone to the investigator.
"Can you trace it?"
"We're working on the lawful procedures needed to locate the source."
Silas nodded.
Then he returned to Noah.
The boy was sitting beside Khloe, drawing a picture.
Three stick figures stood beneath a bright yellow sun.
A tall man.
A woman.
A small boy.
Above them, he'd drawn a red heart.
Silas sat beside him.
Noah looked up.
Then signed something.
Khloe translated.
DADDY, ARE YOU SAD?
Silas swallowed.
He looked at Khloe.
"Teach me how to answer."
She showed him.
Silas signed slowly.
YES. BUT I AM HERE.
Noah smiled.
Then signed:
I LOVE YOU.
Silas's eyes filled.
He copied the sign.
I LOVE YOU.
Khloe looked away to hide her tears.
Then Noah picked up another crayon.
He drew a fourth person beside the family.
A man with dark hair.
Silas frowned.
"Who's that?"
Khloe signed the question.
Noah answered.
UNCLE LUCA.
Silas stared at the drawing.
Then Noah added something extraordinary.
UNCLE LUCA TOLD ME SECRET.
Khloe leaned closer.
WHAT SECRET?
Noah signed carefully.
THE BAD MAN IS SCARED OF THE LADY ON THE PLANE.
Khloe froze.
"Me?"
Noah nodded.
May you like
And then he signed a name Khloe hadn't heard in fifteen years.
GALLAGHER.
