Chapter 5 - THE MAN DANTE TRUSTED
Dante reached for his coat.
Mara blocked the door.
“No.”
“They have my mother.”
“And that's why you can't think.”
“Move.”
“Dante.”
“Move.”
She didn't.
He was nearly a foot taller, twice as broad, and angry enough to frighten most people.
Mara merely looked at him.
“If they wanted Evelyn dead, she'd already be dead.”
He hated that she was right.
“They want me.”
“No. They want me.”
“Then you're definitely staying here.”
“That isn't your decision.”
“It is tonight.”
Mara's eyes narrowed.
“You don't own people because you're afraid of losing them.”
The words stopped him.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then Dante asked, “What do you suggest?”
“We make them believe they're controlling the exchange.”
Finn arrived twelve minutes later.
He entered the study carrying a pistol, snow on his shoulders.
Dante looked at his oldest friend differently now.
Finn noticed.
“What happened?”
Dante tossed him the folder.
Finn opened it.
Saw his father's name.
His face changed.
“Where did you get this?”
“Inside the wall.”
Finn read.
“My father worked for Vittorio.”
“You never told me.”
“I didn't know this.”
Mara watched him closely.
Finn looked at her.
“You think I'm involved?”
“I think everybody is involved until evidence says otherwise.”
Finn gave a humorless laugh.
“I can see why Dante likes you.”
Dante and Mara both looked at him.
Finn raised his hands.
“Bad time?”
“Yes,” they said together.
Despite everything, Mara almost smiled.
It lasted half a second.
Then Finn's phone vibrated.
A photograph appeared.
Evelyn sat inside the boathouse.
Alive.
Beside her stood the woman in burgundy.
A message followed.
4:30 A.M.
MARA COMES ALONE.
Mara checked the time.
3:58.
“We have thirty-two minutes.”
Dante shook his head.
“You're not walking in there alone.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No.”
“They expect you to resist.”
“They're right.”
“Then use that.”
She explained quickly.
Dante listened.
He disliked every word.
Which probably meant the plan was good.
At 4:27, Mara walked alone across the frozen path toward the boathouse.
Snow settled in her dark hair.
No coat.
No jewelry.
No visible weapon.
Exactly as she had entered the gala.
Inside, Evelyn sat tied to a chair.
The woman in burgundy stood beside her.
The gray-tuxedoed man waited near the rear door.
A third figure remained in shadow.
Mara stopped.
“I'm here.”
The shadow moved.
A man stepped forward.
Late sixties.
Silver hair.
Elegant camel coat.
Mara recognized him.
So did Evelyn.
“Senator Wexler,” Mara said.
Richard Wexler smiled.
The Wexler Meridian Group.
The organization responsible for Mara's invitation.
“You've become very difficult to kill.”
Mara's face did not change.
“You tried seventeen years ago.”
“I delegated.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“You murdered Adrian.”
Wexler sighed.
“Adrian became sentimental.”
“And Vittorio?”
“Also sentimental.”
Mara's heart pounded.
“And Luca Cavalari?”
For the first time, Wexler's smile changed.
“Wrong place. Wrong night.”
Outside, hidden beyond the boathouse wall, Dante heard every word through the transmitter sewn into Mara's gown.
His hands curled into fists.
Finn touched his shoulder.
“Wait.”
Dante wanted to tear the building apart.
But Mara needed Wexler talking.
Inside, she took another step.
“You've spent seventeen years hiding financial crimes.”
Wexler laughed.
“Financial crimes?”
He looked almost offended.
“Your father discovered an arrangement far larger than stolen charity funds. Judges. contractors. union officials. banks. Everyone benefited.”
“And children didn't.”
“Don't become dramatic.”
Mara's expression turned cold.
“You stole money from pediatric hospitals.”
“I redirected capital.”
Evelyn whispered, “Monster.”
Wexler ignored her.
“What did you find at the house?”
“Nothing.”
“Don't insult me.”
“Then why ask?”
His eyes hardened.
There.
Mara saw it.
He didn't know.
He suspected Vittorio had preserved evidence, but he had never found it.
Good.
That meant the files were still valuable.
Wexler extended his hand.
“The key.”
Mara removed the brass key.
“What does it open?”
“If I knew, we wouldn't be having this conversation.”
He smiled.
“Your father was annoyingly theatrical.”
“Runs in the family.”
The gray-tuxedoed man moved behind her.
Mara heard him.
She didn't turn.
“Give me the key.”
“Release Evelyn.”
Wexler laughed.
“You think you're negotiating?”
“Yes.”
“With what leverage?”
Mara looked toward the window.
“You.”
Wexler frowned.
She continued.
“You've spent seventeen years hiding behind respectable people. Tonight you walked into the room yourself.”
His face changed.
Mara smiled.
“You're scared.”
Wexler stepped toward her.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with.”
“Actually, Richard, I finally do.”
Outside, Dante heard sirens.
Not police.
Federal vehicles.
Finn stared at him.
“You called the FBI?”
Dante shook his head.
“No.”
Inside, Wexler heard them too.
His face went white.
He turned toward the gray-tuxedoed man.
“What did you do?”
The man looked equally confused.
Mara wasn't.
She looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn smiled.
May you like
Dante heard his mother say:
“You arrogant fool. Did you really think my son was the only Cavalari who knew how to make a phone call?”
