Chapter 12 - THE MAN LUCA WATCHED BEING BURIED|
Simon Voss had been dead for eight years.
At least, that was what Luca had believed.
He remembered standing beside a polished wooden coffin.
He remembered Vanessa crying at the funeral, although he hadn't known who she was then.
And he remembered Raymond placing a hand on his shoulder and saying that Simon's death marked the end of an ugly chapter.
Now Luca stood across the street from the ruins of Maria's Table, preparing to meet a man who had fooled everyone.
Detective Alvarez had insisted on a controlled meeting.
Investigators were positioned nearby.
Gabriel remained with the police.
And I waited inside an unmarked vehicle with a clear view of the restaurant.
I hated being separated from Luca.
But I understood why it was necessary.
He had promised Frank that he wouldn't let anger decide what happened next.
I needed him to keep that promise.
At 9:12 p.m., a black sedan pulled up beside the curb.
A tall man stepped out.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
Narrow face.
It was the man from the projector recording.
Simon Voss.
He approached Luca slowly.
"Hello, old friend."
Luca didn't move.
"I watched them bury you."
Simon smiled faintly.
"People see what they're told to see."
"Was there even a body in that coffin?"
Simon looked away.
"No."
Luca's hands tightened.
"Eight years."
"You let my family believe you were dead for eight years."
"I had enemies."
"You had victims."
Simon sighed.
"Your father always said you were too emotional."
Luca stepped closer.
"Don't speak about my father."
Simon raised both hands.
"Fine."
"Let's talk about Maria."
I watched Luca go completely still.
Simon glanced toward the burned restaurant.
"Your mother was going to expose Raymond."
"She had the financial records."
"She knew about the shell companies."
"And she knew I helped move the money."
Luca's voice was low.
"Did you kill her?"
Simon hesitated.
Then he shook his head.
"I didn't drive the car."
"That's not what I asked."
Simon looked toward the street.
"Raymond gave the order."
A terrible silence followed.
"He wanted her frightened."
"That's what he told me."
"But when we followed her, I understood he wasn't planning to let her reach the police."
Luca stared at him.
"And you stayed in the car?"
Simon lowered his head.
"Yes."
Luca looked as though he'd been struck.
"She trusted you."
Simon didn't answer.
"She fed you at her table."
His voice cracked.
"She gave you a job when nobody else would."
"I know."
"And you watched her die?"
Simon closed his eyes.
"Yes."
Inside the vehicle, I pressed a hand against my mouth.
I could see the pain on Luca's face even from across the street.
But he didn't attack Simon.
He simply asked, "What evidence did you bring?"
Simon removed a sealed folder from his coat.
"Raymond kept copies of everything."
"Payments."
"False invoices."
"Instructions to the people who altered the financial records."
He swallowed.
"I copied enough to protect myself."
"Where are the originals?"
"Some are with Raymond."
"Others were hidden in a private storage facility."
Luca looked toward the folder.
"Why come to me now?"
Simon's face tightened.
"Because Raymond wants me dead."
He glanced behind him.
"And because Vanessa has started talking."
Luca's voice became colder.
"She should have talked fifteen years ago."
Simon lowered his eyes.
"Yes."
Then he said something unexpected.
"Your mother tried to save me."
Luca frowned.
"What?"
"Before she died, she offered to help me confess."
"She said I could still become someone better."
Simon looked toward the ruins.
"I laughed at her."
His voice cracked.
"I told her people like me don't get second chances."
Luca stared at him.
"She believed everyone did."
Simon nodded.
"And I proved her wrong."
A movement near the corner caught my attention.
A dark vehicle had stopped beside the intersection.
Its headlights were off.
A man stepped out.
He looked toward Luca and Simon.
Then he raised his phone.
I immediately alerted the detective beside me.
Police officers moved to investigate.
The man turned and ran.
He was stopped before reaching the next block.
Later, investigators identified him as an associate of Raymond's.
Meanwhile, Simon handed the folder to Detective Alvarez, who had approached with the other officers.
His attorney had arranged the meeting and was waiting nearby.
The detective explained that Simon would have to answer questions concerning the fraud, his false death, and Maria's killing.
Simon nodded.
"I know."
Then he looked at Luca.
"I don't expect forgiveness."
Luca answered quietly.
"Good."
Simon swallowed.
"Your mother deserved better."
Luca stared at the burned restaurant.
"She deserved to grow old with my father."
Simon lowered his head.
Investigators escorted him away.
I stepped out of the vehicle and approached Luca.
He looked exhausted.
"Are you all right?" I asked.
He gave a bitter laugh.
"No."
I stood beside him.
"Do you want to go home?"
He looked toward the sky.
"Not yet."
Then he turned to me.
"Claire, I've spent my entire life believing that strength meant making people afraid."
I said nothing.
"Tonight, I wanted to hurt him."
"I know."
"But I kept hearing my father's voice."
He swallowed.
"And yours."
I looked at him.
"What did you hear?"
His eyes filled with tears.
"That my mother wouldn't want another person destroyed in her name."
I gently took his hand.
For several minutes, we stood beside the ashes of Maria's restaurant.
Then Detective Alvarez returned.
She had received an update from her colleagues.
The documents Simon provided identified a warehouse where Raymond had stored original financial records.
Investigators were preparing to search it.
But there was another problem.
Raymond Calder had disappeared.
His house was empty.
His office had been cleared.
And a private aircraft registered through one of his companies was scheduled to leave Illinois before sunrise.
Luca looked toward the detective.
"He's running."
She nodded.
"We're moving to stop him."
Then her phone rang again.
She listened.
Her face changed.
"Mr. Moretti, there's been a security incident at your house."
My heart began pounding.
"What happened?" I asked.
Detective Alvarez looked directly at me.
"Someone arrived with papers authorizing Frank's transfer to a private medical facility."
Luca went pale.
"Who signed them?"
May you like
The detective paused.
"They bear your signature."
