Chapter 13 - The Last Favor
The assistant’s name was Martin Hale.
I had seen him at dinners, holding Victor’s phone and laughing a beat too late.
Now he sat across from investigators in an office downtown.
We weren’t there.
Mara kept us informed only where she could, which meant long stretches of waiting and very little certainty.
Martin had preserved payment instructions.
Messages about Sal.
Drafts of the forged retirement letter.
He had also arranged the van.
That didn’t make him innocent.
It made him useful.
Vanessa’s meeting with her father was canceled.
Her attorney sent notice that future contact would go through counsel.
Victor called eleven times.
She answered none.
At noon, Luca received a message.
YOUR FATHER KNEW HOW TO KEEP A FAMILY MATTER PRIVATE.
Under it was an old photograph of the two men shaking hands.
Luca stared at the screen.
Then forwarded it to Mara.
No reply.
I could see how much effort that took.
That afternoon, Sal went upstairs to pack.
I found him folding a clean shirt into his box.
“Again?”
“I need a few things from home.”
“Then use a bag.”
He looked down.
Neither of us spoke for a moment.
I took the shirt out and laid it on the bed.
“You don’t have to keep living like you’ve already been fired.”
Sal sat.
“My whole life, I knew what to do.
Have the car ready.
Check the weather.
Get people home.”
“You did that.”
“I missed things.”
“So did everyone.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Adrian asked me one more favor that day.
Said if anything happened, I should check on Vanessa.”
I waited.
“I figured her father would take care of her.”
Downstairs, the front gates buzzed.
Victor Bellini stood outside them.
No van.
No assistant.
Just a dark overcoat and the certainty that doors still opened for him.
Luca told security to keep the gates closed.
Victor looked up at the camera.
“Send my daughter out.”
His voice came through the monitor in the kitchen.
Vanessa walked in.
Noah was upstairs with Claire.
She looked at the screen for a long time.
Then she pressed the microphone.
“No.”
Victor’s expression barely changed.
“You’re upset.”
“Yes.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“I already regret enough.”
He stepped closer to the camera.
“I can take everything you have.”
Vanessa’s hand steadied on the button.
May you like
“You already tried.”
Behind him, two unmarked cars turned onto the drive.
