Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN EVERYONE BLAMED
By noon Friday, Manhattan believed Mara Belaluchcci had stolen from the Carbone Foundation.
The leak hit 3 gossip sites first.
Then a business reporter received documents showing suspicious transfers approved under Mara’s credentials.
By 2:00 p.m., cameras surrounded Carbone Holdings.
Mara watched the coverage from a safe apartment in Brooklyn.
Her photograph appeared beneath the headline:
CHARITY EXECUTIVE LINKED TO MISSING MILLIONS.
She turned off the television.
Raphael stood by the window.
“I can stop this.”
“No.”
“They’re destroying your name.”
“That’s what we need them to believe.”
“I don’t care what we need.”
Mara looked at him.
“That is exactly why you cannot make the decisions right now.”
Raphael hated that she was right.
The gala began at 8:00.
Eleanor arrived in silver silk and diamonds.
She kissed Raphael’s cheek before 400 guests.
“My poor boy.”
Raphael nearly laughed.
Instead, he played wounded.
“You were right about her.”
Eleanor squeezed his hand.
“I wish I hadn’t been.”
Across town, Mara watched through the foundation security system.
Julian sat beside her.
She still did not trust him.
Neither did Raphael.
“You knew Vincent,” she said.
Julian stared at the monitor.
“Yes.”
“You lied.”
“I omitted.”
“That’s lying in a better suit.”
Julian almost smiled.
Then he explained.
Vincent had suspected Eleanor but lacked proof. Julian had helped him trace accounts. Three days later Vincent died.
“Why didn’t you tell Raphael?”
“Because Vincent made me promise.”
“Why?”
“Because Raphael would have started a war before he had evidence.”
Mara could not argue.
“What really happened to Vincent?”
Julian’s face tightened.
“I don’t know.”
At the gala, Raphael stepped onto the stage.
Behind him sat the returned gifts.
Every one.
The diamond bracelet.
Watch.
Jewelry.
Designer clothes.
Even the Mercedes would be auctioned later.
Raphael faced the crowd.
“These items were returned to me by someone who believed they could do more good here than in her closet.”
Eleanor’s smile disappeared.
Raphael continued.
“Tonight, every dollar they raise will go directly to pediatric care.”
Applause filled the ballroom.
Mara stared at the screen.
This was not in the plan.
Raphael looked directly into the nearest camera.
“And before anyone decides what kind of woman Mara Belaluchcci is based on anonymous accusations, I suggest they wait for evidence.”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
There.
Mara saw it.
The mask slipping.
Eleanor excused herself.
Julian stood.
“She’s moving.”
They tracked Eleanor through the building.
Not toward the exits.
Toward the executive floor.
Raphael left the ballroom 90 seconds later.
By the time Eleanor entered his office, he was watching from the security room.
She opened his desk.
Removed a hardware token.
Connected it to his computer.
The $38 million transfer appeared.
Mara’s credentials were already entered.
Eleanor typed Raphael’s authorization code.
“Now,” Mara whispered.
But Julian stopped her.
“Wait.”
Eleanor reached into her purse.
She removed a second device.
Uploaded something.
Then deleted files from Raphael’s computer.
Raphael’s expression changed.
“What is she doing?”
Mara understood.
“She’s not only stealing the money.”
She zoomed in.
“She’s planting evidence.”
Records appeared linking Raphael to illegal accounts dating back years.
Enough to destroy him.
Enough to send him to prison.
Then Eleanor made a call.
“It’s ready,” she said.
A male voice answered.
Mara could barely hear it.
“Midnight?”
“Yes. And after tonight, my nephew will finally understand what happens to Carbones who forget where their power came from.”
Raphael closed his eyes.
Vincent.
Eleanor had said Carbones.
Plural.
Julian whispered, “We have her.”
Raphael walked toward the office.
But before he reached it, the building alarm screamed.
Lights died.
The security monitors went black.
Mara stood.
“Raphael?”
No answer.
Then gunfire cracked through the building speakers.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Mara ran.
Julian grabbed her.
“You cannot go up there.”
“He’s there!”
“So are armed men.”
She tore away.
The emergency stairwell was chaos.
Guests flooded downward.
Mara climbed against them.
Floor 39.
When she reached 42, smoke filled the corridor.
Raphael’s office door stood open.
A man lay unconscious beside it.
Eleanor was gone.
“Raphael!”
No answer.
Mara entered.
The room was empty.
Then she saw blood beside the desk.
Her knees nearly failed.
A phone lay in the blood.
Raphael’s phone.
Its screen was cracked but illuminated.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
Mara picked it up.
The message contained a photograph.
Raphael sat tied to a chair.
Blood ran from his temple.
Behind him stood Eleanor.
May you like
The message beneath it contained an address and 4 words.
BRING VINCENT’S DRIVE. ALONE.
