Chapter 7 - MY FATHER'S NAME
"My records?"
Nolan nodded.
"You still don't know who your father was, do you?"
I almost laughed.
"My father was Thomas Bennett. He died when I was twelve."
"That's what your mother told you."
Dante stepped between us.
"Enough games."
"No game."
Nolan looked at me.
"Thomas Bennett worked for Salvatore."
My legs weakened.
"No."
"He wasn't a teacher?"
"He taught accounting at community college."
Nolan smiled.
"Great cover."
I shook my head.
"My father hated crime."
"Because he had seen enough of it."
Dante pulled the ledger page from Nolan's jacket.
There were names and numbers.
One name had been circled.
T. BENNETT.
My breath stopped.
Dante looked at me.
"Claire."
I took the page.
A payment of two million dollars had been transferred to my father's name fourteen years ago.
The year he died.
"No."
Rosa whispered, "Thomas."
Dante looked at her.
"You knew him?"
She nodded slowly.
"He was Salvatore's accountant."
The room tilted.
I sat down.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Rosa knelt beside me.
"Your father tried to leave."
My eyes filled.
"My mother said he died in a highway accident."
"He did."
Nolan said, "After somebody cut his brake line."
Dante's fist tightened.
"Salvatore?"
"Probably."
"Probably?"
Nolan shrugged.
"I wasn't there."
I stared at him.
"Then why did you date me?"
His smile was gone now.
"Because Salvatore believed Thomas hid evidence before he died."
"What evidence?"
"The master ledger."
Dante looked down at the torn page.
"This isn't the master ledger."
"No."
Nolan leaned back.
"The real one can destroy every dirty politician, cop, judge, and business Salvatore ever bought."
"And you thought I had it?"
"He thought you did."
"I was twelve!"
"He believed Thomas left you a key."
My mind raced.
Then I remembered something.
My father had given me a necklace before he died.
A tiny silver compass.
My mother kept it after his funeral.
When she died four years ago, I put it in a box.
At my apartment.
The apartment Nolan had destroyed.
Dante saw my face.
"What?"
"My necklace."
"What necklace?"
I explained.
Nolan's expression changed.
That was enough.
Dante turned to Enzo.
"Send men."
"They already searched the apartment."
"Search again."
Nolan laughed softly.
"Too late."
I stood.
"What did you do?"
"I found the necklace six months ago."
My heart dropped.
"You stole it?"
"I borrowed it."
"Where is it?"
"I gave it to Salvatore."
Dante grabbed Nolan again.
"Where is my father?"
Nolan smiled.
"You really think I'd tell you?"
Dante leaned closer.
"Yes."
A phone began vibrating.
Not Dante's.
Not mine.
Nolan's.
A guard removed it from his pocket.
Unknown number.
Dante answered.
"Father?"
A distorted voice came through.
"You always were impatient, Dante."
Rosa began crying.
Dante went white.
Salvatore Moretti was alive.
The voice continued.
"You have something that belongs to me."
"Nolan?"
"No."
Salvatore laughed.
"The girl."
My skin went cold.
Dante's eyes met mine.
"She's not yours."
"Neither was Thomas Bennett."
Salvatore paused.
"Bring Claire to Pier 19 before midnight."
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll show her what really happened to her mother."
My breath stopped.
"My mother died of cancer."
Salvatore heard me.
His voice softened.
May you like
"Is that what they told you, sweetheart?"
The line went dead.
