Chapter 11 - The Brother Arthur Refused to Believe Guilty
Arthur didn't move.
For several seconds, the only sound in the hallway was Tommy's ragged breathing through the phone.
Then Arthur spoke.
“Leo was twenty-two.”
Tommy said nothing.
“He wasn't even supposed to be working at the docks.”
“I know what I saw.”
Beatrice touched Arthur's arm.
“We need the footage.”
Arthur stared at her.
She could see the conflict in his face.
Family loyalty.
Duty.
Fear.
And underneath it all, the terrible possibility that the brother he'd spent his life protecting had been hiding something monstrous.
“Send us the original files,” Arthur told Tommy.
“Someone tried to delete them.”
“Did they succeed?”
“No.”
“Then keep the drive safe. Don't go anywhere.”
The call ended.
Arthur turned toward the lounge.
Leo was standing in the doorway.
His face was pale.
“How much did you hear?” Arthur asked.
“Enough.”
Camila appeared behind him.
“Leo?”
He ignored her.
“Arthur, I need to explain something.”
Arthur's voice turned dangerously quiet.
“Were you at Pier Nineteen the night it burned?”
Leo closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Beatrice felt her pulse hammer.
“Did you lock the doors?”
Leo opened his eyes.
“Yes.”
Arthur stepped backward.
For the first time in years, Beatrice saw him look truly helpless.
“Why?”
Leo's face crumpled.
“Because Uncle Robert told me there was a chemical leak in the warehouse. He said we needed to secure the building before the emergency crew arrived.”
“You locked people inside,” Arthur said.
“I didn't know anyone was there.”
“You didn't check?”
“I was twenty-two, Arthur! Robert told me everyone had evacuated!”
His voice broke.
“I've lived with those deaths for eighteen years.”
Arthur stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Robert said if I did, you'd be blamed. He claimed our father had ordered the operation.”
Beatrice stepped forward.
“Leo, who gave you the keys?”
“Robert.”
“Did anyone else see you?”
“A security guard.”
“What happened to him?”
Leo swallowed.
“He disappeared after the fire.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
The pieces were fitting together.
But not in the way he'd feared.
“Leo,” Beatrice said carefully, “if you were deceived into locking those doors, then someone wanted you on camera.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“Someone needed evidence that could be used against the Costello family.”
Arthur opened his eyes.
“A perfect scapegoat.”
Leo's knees nearly buckled.
Camila caught him.
Beatrice's phone vibrated.
A new video had arrived from Tommy.
She opened it.
The footage was grainy but clear enough.
A young Leo locked the warehouse entrance.
Then he walked away.
Thirty seconds later, another man approached.
He opened a side door.
Entered.
And emerged carrying a metal briefcase.
Beatrice paused the video.
Arthur leaned closer.
The man's face was partially hidden beneath a cap.
But the camera captured him turning toward the light.
Arthur recognized him instantly.
His uncle.
Robert Costello.
Alive.
Eighteen years ago.
Then, just before the footage ended, Robert spoke to someone outside the camera's view.
The audio was faint.
Beatrice increased the volume.
A woman's voice answered.
Calm.
Impatient.
“Make sure Gallagher doesn't leave.”
Arthur looked at Beatrice.
She looked back.
May you like
They both recognized the voice.
Isabella DeLuca.
