Chapter 6 - THE EMPTY COFFIN
Roman reached the cemetery before sunrise.
Sophia refused to stay behind.
“If this is about Gabriel, I’m coming.”
“You’re bringing a newborn to a cemetery.”
“I brought him to a stairwell for four nights. We’ve had worse accommodations.”
Roman didn’t argue.
The Callaway family crypt sat behind iron gates at the edge of the property.
Vincent’s grave had been torn open.
Mud covered the grass.
The coffin lid lay on its side.
Empty.
Roman stared into the hole.
Eleven years of grief.
Eleven years of anger.
All built around nothing.
Marcus approached.
“Security cameras were wiped.”
“Of course.”
“There is one thing.”
He handed Roman a plastic evidence sleeve.
Inside was a small brass key.
A number was stamped into it.
417.
Sophia frowned.
“Locker?”
Roman’s face changed.
“What?”
“Vincent and I used to hide cash in train-station lockers when we were teenagers.”
“You were billionaires.”
“Our father liked cutting us off to teach lessons.”
“That sounds healthy.”
“It wasn’t.”
Locker 417 was located in an old private terminal attached to Grand Central.
Roman still had influence there.
The key worked.
Inside was a duffel bag, two passports, a gun, and a video camera.
Roman pressed PLAY.
Vincent appeared on the tiny screen.
Younger.
Bleeding from the forehead.
“If Roman is watching this, then either I’m dead for real… or someone screwed up.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
Vincent continued.
“Dad found out I discovered what Callaway Strategic actually did.”
Sophia looked at Roman.
“What’s Callaway Strategic?”
“Old family company.”
On screen, Vincent laughed bitterly.
“We didn’t just move money. We moved people. Witnesses. Politicians. Assets. Sometimes children.”
Sophia’s face went pale.
Vincent continued.
“I found records tying Dad to illegal identity changes. Babies born under one name and raised under another.”
Roman stared.
“I confronted him. Two days later, my brakes failed.”
The video jumped.
“I survived. Dad offered me a deal. Die on paper, disappear forever, and Roman lives.”
Roman whispered, “What?”
Vincent looked directly into the camera.
“He told me if I came back, Roman would be next.”
Sophia turned toward him.
Roman didn’t move.
The video continued.
“One more thing. If Roman starts digging into our family, tell him to look at Evelyn.”
Roman’s entire body stiffened.
Sophia saw it.
“Who’s Evelyn?”
Roman didn’t answer.
Vincent did.
“Roman’s fiancée wasn’t killed by a drunk driver.”
Roman lunged toward the screen as if he could grab his brother through it.
The video cut to black.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Sophia whispered, “Roman…”
May you like
He stared at the dead screen.
“My fiancée’s name was Evelyn.”
