Chapter 7 - The Woman in the Warehouse
At noon the next day, I walked into Pier Nine alone.
At least Cross believed I was alone.
A microphone was sewn inside my coat.
Victor had trackers in both my shoes.
Alessandro had six men positioned around the warehouse.
He hated every part of the plan.
“Five minutes,” he had told me before I left the SUV.
“If you aren't out in five minutes, I come in.”
“Even if it ruins everything?”
“Especially then.”
Now I walked through rusted steel doors.
My mother sat in a wheelchair twenty yards away.
Alive.
“Mom.”
She lifted her head.
“Claire.”
I ran toward her.
A man stepped into my path.
Then another.
Finally, William Cross appeared.
He looked exactly like television.
Silver hair.
Perfect suit.
Warm grandfather smile.
I hated him instantly.
“Ms. Bennett.”
“Let her go.”
“After we settle something.”
I held up the flash drive.
“Blackwater.”
His eyes fixed on it.
“Give it to me.”
“Mom first.”
He smiled.
“You really are Daniel's daughter.”
My throat tightened.
“You killed him.”
Cross sighed.
“Your father made unfortunate decisions.”
“Like saving Elena Romano?”
“Like believing evidence protects good people.”
He walked closer.
“Evidence only matters when someone powerful allows it to matter.”
I wanted him talking.
Victor was recording everything.
“What happened to my father?”
Cross glanced at my mother.
“Evelyn never told you?”
Mom shook her head desperately.
“Don't listen to him.”
Cross smiled.
“Daniel could have disappeared permanently. I offered him money. New identity. Safety.”
“But?”
“He refused.”
My nails dug into my palms.
“So you shot him.”
“No.”
That surprised me.
“Salvatore Romano did.”
Somewhere outside, Alessandro was listening.
Cross continued.
“Salvatore found Daniel in Maine. Daniel had already moved Elena again. They fought.”
“And you?”
“I arrived afterward.”
“You signed the witness statement.”
“I cleaned the scene.”
My stomach turned.
“Where was Elena?”
Cross smiled.
“That's the interesting part.”
I frowned.
“She wasn't dead.”
My mother gasped.
Cross looked delighted.
“Daniel lied to Victor. He said Elena died because he realized someone inside the Romano organization was leaking information.”
I felt cold.
“Who?”
Cross looked toward the rafters.
A gun clicked behind me.
Victor stepped from the shadows.
For one horrible second, I thought the answer was him.
Then Victor raised his gun toward Cross.
“No more games.”
Cross laughed.
“Still loyal, Victor?”
“More than you'll ever understand.”
Then another voice came from behind my mother.
“I think he's talking about me.”
Alessandro’s face changed in my earpiece feed? No—I couldn't see him.
But I recognized the man who stepped forward from old photographs.
Salvatore Romano's younger brother.
Matteo Romano.
Alessandro's uncle.
The respected uncle who had supposedly retired to Florida ten years ago.
Matteo smiled.
“Hello, Claire.”
Everything clicked.
The information leaks.
Carlo’s murder.
My address.
The attack on Rosie’s.
Matteo had access to Romano family records.
“You killed Carlo.”
“He became nervous.”
“You kidnapped my mother.”
“Temporary inconvenience.”
I wanted to hit him.
Instead, I kept him talking.
“And Elena?”
Matteo smiled.
“Alive.”
Victor's face went white.
“What?”
“Very alive.”
Alessandro broke the five-minute rule.
The warehouse doors exploded open.
His men entered from three directions.
Alessandro walked through the center.
His gun remained lowered.
His eyes were on Matteo.
“Where is my mother?”
Matteo laughed.
“There’s my nephew.”
“Where?”
“Put the gun down.”
Alessandro didn't move.
Matteo pressed a pistol against my mother's head.
I stopped breathing.
Alessandro lowered his weapon.
Matteo smiled.
“Good boy.”
Cross moved toward the exit.
Victor blocked him.
Everything happened at once.
My mother kicked backward.
Her wheelchair struck Matteo's knee.
His gun moved.
I grabbed Mom.
A shot thundered.
Alessandro tackled Matteo.
Victor struck Cross.
Men shouted.
Glass shattered.
I dragged Mom behind a concrete pillar.
Then another gunshot.
Silence.
“Alessandro!”
He stood.
Blood covered his white shirt.
My heart stopped.
Then I saw Matteo on the floor.
Alessandro looked down at himself.
“Not mine.”
I nearly collapsed.
Police sirens approached.
Not compromised local officers.
Federal agents.
Victor had sent Blackwater to the FBI, Justice Department, and three major newspapers thirty minutes before I entered the warehouse.
There had never been only one copy.
Cross finally understood.
His political career was over.
His freedom probably was too.
But Matteo was still smiling as federal agents handcuffed him.
Alessandro crouched.
“My mother.”
Matteo leaned close.
“Your father never knew where Daniel hid her.”
“Where is she?”
“You'll never find her.”
Alessandro grabbed his collar.
“Where?”
Matteo whispered something.
I couldn't hear it.
But Alessandro released him.
His face had gone completely still.
Later, outside, I asked what Matteo said.
Alessandro looked toward Lake Michigan.
“He said she found me years ago.”
“What?”
“He said my mother has been watching my life from a distance.”
“Why wouldn't she contact you?”
May you like
His voice broke almost imperceptibly.
“Because she was afraid of the man I'd become.”
