Chapter 3 - THE FIRST LIE
The next morning, Luca fired half his security staff.
By noon, he had replaced them.
By sunset, he had learned something worse.
The blackout had been triggered from inside his own security room.
No forced entry.
No hacked system.
Someone with authorization had opened the panel and killed the power manually.
Victor placed the access log on Luca's desk.
"Three cards entered that room yesterday."
"Names."
"Mine."
Victor paused.
"Adrian's."
Luca said nothing.
"And Dominic's."
Luca stared through the window.
Maya was outside with Elena.
Tommy sat beside them with six stitches above his eyebrow.
Luca's fingers tightened around the paper.
"Bring Adrian."
Twenty minutes later, Adrian entered.
"You think I tried to kidnap a child?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't need to."
Luca tossed the access log onto the desk.
Adrian read it.
"So?"
"Why were you in the security room?"
"I wasn't."
"Your card was."
"Then somebody used it."
"Convenient."
Adrian slammed the paper down.
"You think I'd hurt your daughter?"
"I think you called her existence a threat to succession."
"I was angry."
"You were specific."
Adrian paced.
Then stopped.
"Ask Dominic."
"I am."
"No."
Adrian turned.
"Ask him about your father."
Luca became still.
"What about my father?"
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"You really don't know."
"Know what?"
"Why do you think Uncle Dominic took control after your collapse?"
"Because I appointed him."
"After."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"After what?"
Adrian lowered his voice.
"Your father wanted him gone."
Luca stared.
"My father died two years before I collapsed."
"Exactly."
Adrian leaned toward the desk.
"He discovered someone was stealing from the organization."
"Who?"
"Dominic."
Luca's face changed.
"That's a serious accusation."
"I know."
"Proof?"
Adrian swallowed.
"There was a ledger."
"Where?"
"Your father hid it."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Luca studied him.
"Why tell me now?"
"Because I think Dominic poisoned you."
Silence filled the study.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
"That's interesting."
Dominic stood there.
Adrian turned pale.
Dominic walked inside.
"Especially coming from the man who owed three million dollars twelve years ago."
Luca looked at Adrian.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Dominic continued.
"Gambling."
"Shut up."
"Casinos."
"Shut up."
"People threatening to break his legs."
Adrian lunged.
Victor caught him.
Dominic smiled.
"Maybe Luca should ask who paid those debts."
Luca looked at Adrian.
"Who?"
Adrian said nothing.
Dominic answered.
"Dr. Marcus Vale."
Luca stared.
Adrian's face collapsed.
Dominic smiled.
"Interesting, isn't it?"
Luca suddenly understood.
Both men had motive.
Both men had access.
Both men were accusing each other.
And somebody wanted Luca looking in the wrong direction.
That night, Luca began physical therapy.
The pain was unbearable.
He tried to stand between parallel bars.
His legs shook violently.
"Again," he said.
His therapist shook her head.
"You're done."
"Again."
"Luca—"
"Again."
He pulled himself upright.
Three seconds.
Four.
Five.
Then his knee buckled.
He fell.
Maya ran toward him.
"Dad!"
He hit the mat.
Everyone froze.
Luca lay there breathing hard.
Maya knelt beside him.
"Are you okay?"
"No."
She looked scared.
Then Luca smiled.
"But I fell."
Maya blinked.
"So?"
"I haven't fallen in twelve years."
Understanding slowly crossed her face.
Luca laughed.
"I had to stand before I could fall."
Maya smiled.
Elena watched from the doorway.
Something changed in her expression.
Hope.
That night, Elena helped Luca into his chair.
"You scared her."
"I know."
"You scare me too."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because you don't know when to stop."
"I stopped for twelve years."
"That wasn't your choice."
"No."
He looked toward his legs.
"But this is."
Their eyes met.
For a moment, twelve years disappeared.
Then Victor entered.
"Boss."
The moment died.
"What?"
"We found Vale."
"Alive?"
Victor shook his head.
Luca's face hardened.
"Where?"
"In the river."
Elena covered her mouth.
Victor continued.
"And there's something else."
He handed Luca a photograph.
Vale's right hand was visible.
One finger pointed toward the mud beside his body.
He had written three letters before dying.
E.
L.
E.
Elena stared.
May you like
Luca looked at her.
And somewhere downstairs, a window shattered.
