Chapter 8 - THE VOICE FROM THE GRAVE
Antonio Moretti had been dead for eighteen months.
But his voice filled Luca's study that night.
The recording began with a cough.
Then his father's familiar, gravelly voice.
If anyone hears this, I have failed.
Luca sat motionless.
Caleb had received the audio from federal investigators, who recovered it during a search of a Saint Agnes office.
Antonio continued.
My son Gabriel discovered what Elias Ward was doing. I tried to help him. But I waited too long.
A pause.
I thought money could fix what money had helped create.
Luca closed his eyes.
His father had always believed he could control every problem.
Sometimes with influence.
Sometimes with threats.
Sometimes with money.
But Gabriel's disappearance had destroyed him.
The recording continued.
Ward has records of patients held under false identities. Daniel Mercer helped conceal them. I believe others are involved.
Antonio's voice trembled.
Gabriel has evidence. If he survives, he can expose them.
Luca leaned forward.
But if he disappears again, the truth may die with him.
The recording ended.
Luca stared at the desk.
For years, he had blamed his father for failing to find Gabriel.
Now he understood that Antonio had been trying to expose the men responsible.
But understanding didn't erase his anger.
His father had helped finance the foundation.
He had ignored warning signs.
And innocent people had suffered.
Emma entered quietly.
“Mr. Moretti?”
Luca looked up.
She carried a small envelope.
“Arthur found this behind the backing of one of the photographs.”
Luca opened it.
Inside was a handwritten note.
The chapel isn't empty.
Below it was a date.
Three days earlier.
Luca looked at Emma.
“Who wrote this?”
“Arthur thinks Gabriel.”
Luca studied the handwriting.
He recognized the way Gabriel formed the letter G.
The uneven spacing.
The habit of underlining important words twice.
It was his brother's writing.
Gabriel had been near the chapel three days ago.
Luca called Caleb.
“Tell the investigators.”
By morning, federal agents had obtained search warrants for the medical complex and its affiliated properties.
Luca wasn't permitted to join the operation.
He argued.
He threatened.
He called every attorney he knew.
But the agents refused.
“This is an active federal investigation, Mr. Moretti,” the lead agent told him. “Your presence could endanger your brother.”
Luca hated it.
But he stayed.
For twelve hours, he waited in his study.
Emma remained nearby.
Arthur sat beside the fireplace.
Vanessa had been taken for questioning after agreeing to cooperate with investigators.
Luca hadn't spoken to her since.
At 8:17 p.m., Caleb entered.
“They found patients.”
Luca stood.
“How many?”
“Twenty-three at the main facility. Several were being held under questionable legal orders.”
“Gabriel?”
Caleb hesitated.
“Not among them.”
Luca felt his stomach drop.
“What about Ward?”
“Missing.”
“Mercer?”
“Arrested at his home this afternoon.”
Luca sat down slowly.
Another facility raided.
Another trail ending without Gabriel.
Then Caleb continued.
“They found a room beneath the chapel.”
Luca looked up.
“What was inside?”
“Medical records. Financial documents. Video equipment.”
“And?”
Caleb placed a photograph on the desk.
A wall covered in pictures.
Luca.
Emma.
Arthur.
Vanessa.
Rachel.
Lily.
Every person connected to Gabriel.
Someone had been tracking them.
But in the center of the wall was a photograph that made Luca's blood run cold.
Antonio Moretti.
Standing beside Elias Ward.
The image was dated only two weeks before Antonio's death.
Luca stared.
His father had claimed he hadn't seen Ward in years.
Caleb spoke quietly.
“There's something else.”
He placed a second photograph on the desk.
A handwritten list.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
At the bottom was an entry from eighteen months earlier.
ANTONIO MORETTI — FINAL PAYMENT — $4,000,000.
Luca looked up.
“What does that mean?”
Caleb shook his head.
“We don't know.”
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And slowly turned pale.
“Boss.”
Luca stood.
“What?”
Caleb swallowed.
“They found Ward.”
“Where?”
“At a private airfield.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
May you like
Caleb's voice dropped.
“And he says Antonio Moretti paid him four million dollars to keep Gabriel hidden.”
