Chapter 7 - The Man Who Watched Nico’s Father Die
Police took Daniel before sunrise.
Peter went with him.
Not arrested.
Just finished.
There is a difference.
Nico stayed in Hangar Three.
He stood beside the old valve.
Alessandra waited several feet away.
I watched from the office doorway.
Simon spoke first.
“We have enough now.”
Nico looked at him.
“For what?”
“To arrest Marcello.”
“Daniel’s statement.”
“The work order.”
“The valve.”
“The audio.”
“The syringe.”
Nico shook his head.
“The syringe is still just an object Vincent moved.”
Vincent flinched.
Simon continued.
“Daniel saw Marcello use it.”
“Yes.”
“That is evidence.”
“It is.”
Nico looked toward the hangar doors.
“But I want to know why my father waited seven years to expose him.”
Simon lowered his eyes.
“I think I know.”
Nico turned.
“Of course you do.”
Simon accepted that.
“He was protecting you.”
“That explanation is getting tired.”
“It may still be true.”
Simon took a folded document from his coat.
“I did not bring this to the dinner.”
Nico stared.
“What is it?”
“A codicil.”
“To the will?”
“Yes.”
“Why hide it?”
“Because it names me.”
Silence.
Nico took it.
Read.
Then looked up.
“My father removed you as executor in 2020.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He no longer trusted me.”
“Why?”
Simon answered:
“Because I had begun speaking to Marcello.”
Alessandra stared.
Nico’s face hardened.
“You worked with my uncle.”
“No.”
“You spoke to him.”
“Yes.”
“About my father.”
“Yes.”
Simon swallowed.
“I was trying to negotiate a return.”
Nico laughed without humor.
“Without telling my father?”
“At first.”
“What did Marcello offer?”
“A guarantee of safety.”
Nico stared.
“And you believed him?”
“For one week.”
“What changed?”
“He asked where your father was staying.”
Simon looked ashamed.
“That is when I realized there was no negotiation.”
Nico held up the codicil.
“My father found out.”
“Yes.”
“And removed you.”
“Yes.”
“But you kept the will.”
“He never appointed another executor.”
“Why?”
“Because he died.”
Silence.
Nico looked at the final paragraph.
Simon continued.
“The codicil says something else.”
“I see it.”
Alessandra moved closer.
“What?”
Nico read:
IF SIMON EVER DELIVERS THIS DOCUMENT, HE HAS AT LEAST FINALLY CHOSEN TO STOP PROTECTING HIS REPUTATION.
Simon closed his eyes.
Nico continued:
DO NOT PUNISH ALESSANDRA FOR VINCENT’S CHOICES.
Alessandra froze.
Nico looked at her.
The codicil continued:
I MET HER AS A CHILD.
SHE WAS KIND BEFORE ANYONE TAUGHT HER WHAT OUR FAMILIES EXPECTED.
LET HER ADULT CHOICES SPEAK FOR HER.
Nico lowered the page.
Alessandra started crying.
He said nothing.
Simon whispered:
“There is one final instruction.”
Nico read it.
THERE IS A SECOND COPY OF MY LEDGER.
Nico looked up.
“Where?”
Simon shook his head.
“It does not say.”
“It says ‘where Nico learned to count.’”
Vincent frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Nico went still.
Then almost smiled.
“My mother’s kitchen.”
Alessandra looked confused.
Nico explained.
“She used to make me count coffee beans.”
Simon stared.
“The old Romano house?”
“Yes.”
Vincent whispered:
“Marcello lives there now.”
Silence.
Nico folded the codicil.
Alessandra shook her head.
“You cannot walk into his house.”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I’m going to invite him to mine.”
Everyone stared.
Nico continued.
“My uncle spent twelve years sitting at my father’s table after he disappeared.”
His voice was calm.
“He spent five more after killing him.”
He looked at Simon.
“Call him.”
“What do I say?”
Nico looked toward the rising sun.
“Tell him I found the ledger.”
Vincent frowned.
“He will know you already had one.”
“Tell him I found the second.”
Silence.
Alessandra understood.
“You want to see whether he runs to the old house.”
“Yes.”
“And if he does?”
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