Chapter 3 - The Negative Victor Could Not Burn

Marco reached the studio floor first.

The front window was broken.

A display case lay on its side.

No one inside.

Arthur switched on every light.

One cabinet was open.

Only one.

The old darkroom archive.

He walked toward it slowly.

“Nothing else was touched.”

Marco looked at him.

“What was kept there?”

“Wedding negatives.”

“Whose?”

Arthur did not answer.

Then pulled out an empty envelope.

BELLINI-CROSS.

Marco stared.

“My parents?”

Arthur nodded.

“And Elena’s parents.”

Elena went pale.

“Why were they together?”

“They were not.”

Arthur looked at her.

“Two weddings. Same summer.”

Marco frowned.

Arthur continued.

“Your mother asked me to keep both sets because Victor appeared in photographs from the Bellini reception.”

Marco understood.

“Meetings.”

“Yes.”

Arthur looked at the broken window.

“Someone came for the old negatives.”

Elena whispered:

“My father.”

Marco looked at her.

“You are sure?”

“No.”

“Then stop protecting him with uncertainty.”

She flinched.

Marco hated himself for saying it.

But did not take it back.

Arthur found one strip on the floor.

Dropped.

Three frames.

He held them to the light.

Frame one:

Marco’s father, Antonio Bellini.

Alive.

Speaking to Victor Cross.

Frame two:

Marco’s uncle, Dominic Bellini.

Entering the room.

Frame three:

Antonio pointing at an envelope in Victor’s hand.

Marco stared.

“When was this?”

“Two weeks before your father died.”

Elena looked at Arthur.

“What was in the envelope?”

“I don’t know.”

Marco said:

“My mother might.”

His phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered immediately.

“Mom?”

A man answered.

“No.”

Marco went still.

“Who is this?”

The voice was calm.

“Someone trying to keep Maria alive.”

“Then put her on.”

“I can’t.”

Marco’s face hardened.

“Who are you?”

“Detective Samuel Ward.”

Arthur’s face changed.

He knew the name.

Marco noticed.

“You know him.”

Arthur nodded.

“Samuel investigated Antonio’s death.”

Marco returned to the phone.

“You ruled it an accident.”

Ward was silent.

Then:

“Yes.”

Marco’s jaw tightened.

“Why?”

“Because I was ordered to.”

“By whom?”

“Commissioner Hale.”

Marco looked at Arthur.

Arthur whispered:

“He was in the photographs.”

Marco asked Ward:

“Where is my mother?”

“With me.”

“Why?”

“Because someone tried to force her into a car twenty minutes ago.”

Elena covered her mouth.

Marco said:

“Who?”

“We did not see his face.”

“Where are you?”

Ward gave an address.

An abandoned precinct annex.

Marco said:

“I’m coming.”

Ward replied:

“Bring Arthur.”

“Why?”

“Because Maria says he has the only copy of a photograph that proves who ordered your father’s death.”

Arthur froze.

“I do?”

Ward ended the call.

Marco turned.

Arthur shook his head.

“I have no idea what he means.”

Elena looked at the darkroom.

“Maybe Maria hid it here.”

They searched everything.

Drawers.

Frames.

Old enlargers.

Boxes.

Nothing.

Then I noticed a portrait hanging crooked.

Marco’s parents.

Wedding day.

Arthur removed it.

Behind the backing paper was a smaller print.

Black and white.

Four men at a table.

Dominic Bellini.

Victor Cross.

Commissioner Hale.

And Antonio.

Marco stared.

“My father was with them.”

Arthur turned the photograph over.

Maria’s handwriting:

ANTONIO AGREED TO MEET THEM ONLY IF SAMUEL LISTENED.

Marco looked up.

“Samuel Ward.”

Arthur nodded.

“So your father was cooperating with police.”

Elena whispered:

“Then why did Ward call the death an accident?”

Marco answered:

“Because someone above him stopped it.”

They reached the annex at 1:12 a.m.

Ward opened the door.

Sixty-eight.

Retired.

Still carried himself like police.

Maria stood behind him.

Marco stopped.

She did too.

No photograph now.

No reflection.

No telephone.

His mother.

Alive.

Silver-streaked hair.

Same eyes.

She whispered:

“My boy.”

Marco walked toward her.

Then stopped six feet away.

His hands were shaking.

“Eighteen years.”

Maria cried.

“I know.”

“You watched me.”

“Yes.”

“You let me think you were dead?”

“No.”

Marco frowned.

“I was told you disappeared and were presumed dead.”

Maria looked at Ward.

Then back at Marco.

“I was not the one who disappeared.”

Silence.

Marco said:

“What does that mean?”

Maria swallowed.

“Dominic told everyone I ran.”

“Yes.”

“He lied.”

“I know.”

“No.”

She stepped closer.

“I was arrested.”

Marco stared.

“For what?”

“Murder.”

Elena whispered:

“What?”

Maria looked at Marco.

“Your father’s murder.”

Marco’s face emptied.

Ward closed the door behind them.

Maria continued.

“I spent eleven months in a private detention facility under another name.”

Marco looked at Ward.

“You knew?”

Ward nodded.

“I found her.”

“Then why didn’t you free her?”

“I did.”

“When?”

“Eighteen years ago.”

Marco turned back to his mother.

“Then why did you stay gone?”

Maria looked at the photograph in his hand.

“Because the person who framed me was still raising you.”

Marco went still.

“My uncle.”

Maria nodded.

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

“Dominic.”

========================================================================