Chapter 7 - The Same Mechanic Touched Both Cars

His uncle did not deny it.

That was the worst part.

Lorenzo stared.

“You killed your brother.”

The old man looked at the ledger.

“He was going to destroy all of us.”

Sarah whispered:

“He was going to confess.”

“Yes.”

Daniel laughed bitterly.

“And that deserved death?”

“No.”

His uncle looked tired.

“It required a decision.”

Lorenzo stepped closer.

“You always call murder something smaller.”

The old man said nothing.

Sirens sounded outside.

Hale had done what he promised.

The uncle looked toward the windows.

Then at Lorenzo.

“You think police fix twenty years?”

“No.”

“Then why call them?”

“Because I am done letting family replace law.”

The uncle almost smiled.

“You’ll regret that.”

“Maybe.”

Lorenzo picked up the ledger.

“But it will be my regret.”

Police entered.

His uncle was arrested.

No dramatic fight.

No weapon.

Just an old man suddenly without people obeying him.

Daniel watched him leave.

Then sat on the desk.

“My mother.”

Sarah touched his shoulder.

He moved away.

Not cruelly.

Just not ready.

Richard looked at the ledger.

One entry caught his eye.

He froze.

Isabella saw.

“What?”

Richard pointed.

A payment dated eighteen years earlier.

Recipient:

R. Crane.

Purpose:

SARAH CONTACT.

Lorenzo looked at him.

“You were paid every time my mother tried to reach me.”

Richard closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

Isabella stared.

“How many times?”

Richard whispered:

“Thirty-two.”

Silence.

Peter looked sick.

Lorenzo held up the letters.

“Every letter.”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

Richard answered.

“Ten thousand each.”

Isabella covered her mouth.

Lorenzo stared.

“Three hundred and twenty thousand dollars.”

“Yes.”

“You sold thirty-two chances for me to hear from my mother.”

“Yes.”

Richard’s voice broke.

“I told myself she was safe.”

Lorenzo said nothing.

“I told myself you were protected.”

Nothing.

“I told myself—”

Lorenzo raised one hand.

“Stop.”

Richard stopped.

Lorenzo looked at Isabella.

She was crying.

“This is your father.”

“I know.”

“You found the letters three months ago.”

“Yes.”

“Did you know he had been paid per letter?”

“No.”

Richard whispered:

“She did not.”

Lorenzo looked at him.

“I wasn’t asking you.”

Richard lowered his eyes.

Isabella stepped closer.

“I knew he had hidden them.”

“Yes.”

“I knew your uncle had pressured him.”

“Yes.”

“I did not know he had been paid for each one.”

Lorenzo studied her.

Then nodded.

“I believe you.”

She looked surprised.

He continued.

“That does not make what you did smaller.”

“I know.”

Sarah looked at Lorenzo.

“Can I say something?”

He turned.

“You can.”

“I kept writing even when I believed you hated me.”

His face changed.

“Why?”

“Because one day you might not.”

Silence.

Daniel opened the ledger again.

Another entry.

Same year.

PAYMENT TO C. VEGA.

Two million.

Richard pointed.

“That is the money I used.”

Hale examined the page.

“Yes.”

“So that part was true.”

Lorenzo looked at Richard.

“Partly.”

“Yes.”

Peter sighed.

“Everyone in this family seems to own half a truth.”

Sarah looked at Lorenzo.

He almost smiled.

Then Hale turned another page.

His expression changed.

“What?”

Lorenzo asked.

Hale looked at Sarah.

“This payment is recent.”

“How recent?”

“Last week.”

Recipient:

P. Morris.

Peter froze.

Everyone looked at him.

“No.”

Lorenzo stared.

“Peter?”

Peter shook his head.

“I never received money.”

Amount:

Fifty thousand dollars.

Purpose:

LETTER DELIVERY.

Silence.

Isabella whispered:

“Someone paid Peter to bring the letters tonight.”

Peter went pale.

“I brought them because Sarah asked.”

Hale looked at him.

“Check your account.”

Peter did.

His hands shook.

Then stopped.

“Fifty thousand.”

Lorenzo stared.

“When did it arrive?”

“Yesterday.”

“From whom?”

Peter opened the transfer details.

Sender:

VALE FAMILY TRUST.

Lorenzo looked toward the police car carrying his uncle away.

“No.”

Sarah understood.

“He wanted the letters delivered.”

Lorenzo frowned.

“Why?”

Hale looked at the ledger.

“Because he wanted tonight to happen.”

Silence.

Daniel stared.

“He wanted us to find him?”

Hale nodded slowly.

“Or he wanted something else exposed before he was arrested.”

Lorenzo looked at the final pages.

One had been torn out.

Fresh edge.

Sarah whispered:

“What was on that page?”

Richard went pale.

He knew.

Lorenzo turned.

“What?”

Richard whispered:

“The trust beneficiary.”

“Who?”

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Richard looked at Lorenzo.

“Not you.”