Chapter 7 - THE MURDER BEHIND THE MANSION
Vincent Cain had supposedly died of a heart attack nine years earlier.
That was the official story.
The funeral had filled a Chicago cathedral.
Politicians attended.
Business executives delivered speeches.
And Adrian, only twenty-eight at the time, inherited an empire that terrified half the city.
Now his brother was telling him their father had been murdered.
Adrian sat across from me in a quiet office, staring at the recording of Julian's call.
For once, his voice was barely above a whisper.
"What if he's right?"
I studied him.
"Then you need evidence."
He nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Not revenge."
His eyes lifted.
I held his gaze.
"Your father may have hurt people. That doesn't make murder acceptable. But you can't solve this by hurting someone else."
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he nodded.
"You're right."
Julian contacted investigators through an attorney later that afternoon.
He explained that Vincent had begun questioning payments connected to Sebastian Vane shortly before his death.
Vincent wasn't an innocent man.
His businesses had engaged in serious wrongdoing.
But according to Julian, he'd discovered that Sebastian was diverting money through fraudulent medical charities.
Vincent threatened to expose him.
Then Vincent died.
Julian believed the timing was suspicious.
"Why didn't you come forward?" Adrian asked during their next secure call.
Julian's voice trembled.
"Because Sebastian had people inside your organization."
"Samuel?"
"Among others."
Adrian closed his eyes.
His brother continued.
"I thought you believed Dad's lies about me."
"I did."
A long silence followed.
Then Adrian whispered, "I'm sorry."
Julian didn't answer immediately.
Finally, he said, "I was waiting for you to ask questions."
Adrian looked devastated.
For fifteen years, he'd been the feared Cain Don.
He could make business owners obey.
Move money across borders.
Command armed men.
But he couldn't change the fact that his brother had spent nearly two decades believing Adrian would never listen.
I reached for Adrian's hand.
He looked at me.
I squeezed his fingers gently.
"You're listening now."
He nodded.
Then Julian explained how he'd survived.
June Ellis had helped him leave Chicago using a legitimate emergency protection contact at the hospital.
He lived under another name for several years.
Eventually, he began documenting the old charity transactions.
He wanted to expose Sebastian without putting June and Hannah in danger.
But somebody discovered his work.
That was why Coraline recognized Adrian outside Rossi's.
She'd been searching for Julian's remaining evidence.
And she believed my mother had it.
"Where is it?" Adrian asked.
Julian hesitated.
"June knows."
I turned toward Mom.
Her expression changed.
For a long moment, she stared at the floor.
Then whispered, "I thought that part of my life was over."
She stood slowly.
Walked toward the hallway closet.
And removed an old red sewing box.
Inside were needles, thread, and scraps of fabric.
Beneath the false bottom was a small black cassette tape.
Mom held it in trembling hands.
May you like
Then looked at Adrian.
"Your father recorded his last conversation with Sebastian Vane."
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