Chapter 7 - What Luca’s Father Hid in the Burgundy

They began with six bottles.

Then twelve.

Then the entire Burgundy rack.

Luca’s father had used a fountain pen.

Black ink.

Dates.

Occasions.

Names.

One bottle stood out.

1998 Domaine Armand.

Label inscription:

FOR MATTEO — WHEN HE FINALLY LEARNS TO LISTEN.

Luca stared.

“My father wrote that when Matteo was ten.”

Emma looked at the bottle.

“Could it mean something else?”

Vanessa whispered:

“He died at twenty-one.”

Luca removed the bottle.

He did not open the wine.

He examined the base.

Wax.

Different from the others.

Daniel brought a knife.

Luca cut around the bottom.

A narrow metal cylinder slid free.

Inside:

A microfilm strip.

And a folded note.

Matteo,

If you found this, then I was right to worry.

Do not trust Robert Bellini.

Luca stopped reading.

Vanessa covered her mouth.

The note continued.

He has been moving union pension money through DeLuca-controlled accounts.

If I confront him openly, he will know how much I found.

Take this to Arthur Pendleton.

Luca stared.

Arthur.

His family lawyer.

The same man who had drawn up Luca’s inheritance.

The same man attending Saturday’s wedding.

Daniel looked at him.

“Sir?”

Luca continued reading.

If Arthur refuses, go to federal investigators.

Do not tell Luca yet.

He is too young and too angry.

Luca almost laughed.

His father had known him well.

Vanessa whispered:

“So Matteo found this.”

“Yes.”

“And went to Arthur.”

Luca looked at the microfilm.

“Maybe.”

Daniel checked old appointment logs.

Twenty-one minutes later, he found it.

Matteo Moretti met Arthur Pendleton at 6:00 p.m.

The day before the crash.

Luca stared at the entry.

Then called Arthur.

The lawyer answered cheerfully.

“Luca.”

“Where are you?”

“At home.”

“Come to the estate.”

“It’s nearly midnight.”

“Now.”

Arthur paused.

“Is something wrong?”

Luca looked at his father’s note.

“No.”

Then:

“Not yet.”

He ended the call.

Vanessa watched him.

“Do you think Arthur told my father?”

Luca looked at her.

“Yes.”

Emma whispered:

“And if he did…”

Luca finished:

“Then Matteo didn’t die because he found the ledger.”

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He looked toward the cellar stairs.

“He died because he trusted the wrong man with it.”