Chapter 7 - The Last Name on the Film

Henry Callahan arrived at eight in the morning.

Matteo’s outside counsel.

Former federal prosecutor.

Sixty-eight.

He had represented the Vescari family for seven years and disliked almost everyone.

That morning, he disliked the microfilm most.

“This is old.”

Victor looked at him.

“So are you.”

Henry did not look up.

“And yet I’m still more useful.”

Walter smiled.

Matteo didn’t.

They converted the film in the estate security room.

I stood behind Walter.

Celeste stood alone.

Victor sat across from her.

Nobody looked comfortable.

The first image appeared.

A list of account numbers.

Then company names.

Then initials.

R.V.

Renato Vescari.

V.A.

Victor Ardano.

A.D.

Alessandro.

Matteo went still.

Celeste looked at him.

“Keep going.”

Henry advanced the frame.

Next page.

Transfers.

Dates.

Amounts.

Renato received the largest share.

Victor moved money through shell companies.

Alessandro’s name appeared beside several federal case references.

Not payments.

Evidence.

Matteo exhaled.

His father had been telling the truth.

Henry advanced again.

Another name.

Matteo leaned closer.

M.V.

He frowned.

“Who is M.V.?”

Walter looked confused.

Victor did not.

Matteo saw it.

“Who?”

Victor closed his eyes.

“Your mother.”

The room changed.

Matteo stared.

“My mother was involved?”

Walter whispered:

“Maria?”

Victor nodded.

“Not willingly.”

Matteo’s mother had died four years before Alessandro disappeared.

Cancer.

At least that was what everyone believed.

Henry looked at Victor.

“Explain.”

Victor stared at the screen.

“Maria found the accounts first.”

Matteo’s face emptied.

“How?”

“She handled charitable foundations for your grandfather.”

Walter nodded slowly.

“She did.”

Victor continued.

“She noticed money moving into companies Renato controlled.”

“What did she do?”

“Told Alessandro.”

Matteo looked at the list.

“So Dad became an informant because of Mom.”

“Yes.”

The answer changed everything again.

Not a selfish father.

Not a coward.

A husband trying to finish what his wife discovered.

Matteo’s voice tightened.

“Did Renato know she found it?”

Victor did not answer quickly enough.

Matteo stood.

“Did he?”

“Yes.”

Walter swore.

Celeste covered her mouth.

Matteo stared at Victor.

“My mother died of cancer.”

Victor nodded.

“She did.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because Renato tried to frighten her before she got sick.”

“How?”

“Car accidents that weren’t accidents. Break-ins. Threats.”

Walter stepped forward.

“You knew?”

Victor looked at him.

“I helped stop one of them.”

Matteo laughed once.

No humor.

“Everyone keeps telling me how they helped while explaining why they said nothing.”

Nobody answered.

Henry pointed at the screen.

“There’s another page.”

He advanced.

A handwritten notation.

A.V. REQUESTS FULL DISCLOSURE AFTER M.V. DEATH.

R.V. REFUSES.

V.A. TO HANDLE.

Matteo looked at Victor.

“You were supposed to handle my father.”

Victor stared at the words.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Keep him quiet.”

“By making him disappear.”

Victor shook his head.

“That wasn’t the plan.”

“What was?”

“To get the film.”

“Renato wanted the list.”

“Yes.”

“At Blackwater Pier.”

“Yes.”

Matteo stepped closer.

“What happened after Walter drove away?”

Victor looked exhausted.

“Renato hit Alessandro.”

“I know.”

“He kept asking for the film.”

“I know.”

“Your father refused.”

Victor swallowed.

“Then Renato pulled a gun.”

Celeste stared.

“Dad…”

“I stepped between them.”

Matteo’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

Victor looked at him.

“Because I had spent ten years doing terrible things with Renato.”

His voice lowered.

“But I was not going to watch him kill your father.”

Silence.

“What happened?”

“I told Renato the film was in Alessandro’s car.”

“It wasn’t.”

“No.”

“Renato left to search.”

“And then?”

Victor looked at Walter.

“I put Alessandro in my car.”

Walter whispered:

“You drove him away.”

“Yes.”

“To Saint Vincent?”

“No.”

Victor shook his head.

“To Canada.”

Matteo stared.

“You helped him escape.”

“Yes.”

“Then why keep us apart?”

Victor looked toward Celeste.

“Because Renato knew I betrayed him that night.”

The room went silent.

Victor continued.

“If Alessandro came back, Renato would know who helped him.”

Matteo’s expression hardened.

“So you chose your family.”

Victor nodded.

“Yes.”

“And sacrificed mine.”

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Victor did not argue.

That was the first honest thing he had done all night.