Chapter 7 - The Brother in the Passenger Seat

Sebastian did not speak until sunrise.

We were back at Dr. Levin’s house.

Maria sat across from him again.

This time there were no letters between them.

Only one question.

“Anthony was with my father?”

Maria nodded.

“In the passenger seat.”

“And Thomas hit the car?”

“Yes.”

Sebastian stared.

“Then Anthony survived the crash.”

“Yes.”

“And told everyone my father died in an accident.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you never say that?”

Maria’s eyes filled.

“Because I was not sure Anthony knew Thomas was going to hit them.”

Sebastian laughed in disbelief.

“You spent twenty-three years protecting him from an accusation?”

“No.”

“I was protecting you from the wrong version of the truth.”

He stood.

“What does that mean?”

Maria reached into her bag.

Pulled out an old cassette tape.

Dr. Levin stared.

“Maria.”

She nodded.

“I kept one thing from you.”

Sebastian looked at the tape.

“What is it?”

“Your father’s voice.”

The night before Luca died, he had called Maria from the office.

She had recorded the message because Luca sounded frightened.

Dr. Levin found an old player.

The tape crackled.

Then Luca Romano spoke.

“Maria, if Anthony agrees to testify tomorrow, we can end this.”

Sebastian froze.

Luca continued.

“He says he wants out. I want to believe him.”

A pause.

“I know he betrayed me. But he is still my brother.”

Another pause.

“If I do not come home tonight, take Sebastian and go to Aaron.”

The tape ended.

Sebastian stared at the machine.

“Anthony was going to testify?”

Maria nodded.

“At least Luca believed so.”

“So Thomas may have tried to kill both of them.”

“Yes.”

“Why would Thomas do that?”

Judge Cross answered from the doorway.

We all turned.

His shoulder was bandaged.

Natalie stood beside him.

He looked exhausted.

“Because Anthony was not the highest person in the arrangement.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.

“Who was?”

Judge Cross stepped inside.

“Thomas’s father.”

Natalie whispered:

“My grandfather.”

Edwin Vale.

Dead for eight years.

Former state senator.

Respected publicly.

Feared privately.

Judge Cross sat.

“Edwin built the network. Anthony handled the money. Price handled the police. I handled legal cover.”

Sebastian stared.

“And my father?”

“Luca discovered it.”

“Anthony?”

“He was trapped.”

Sebastian looked at Maria.

“So Anthony was a victim?”

Judge Cross shook his head.

“No.”

“Then what?”

“A coward who became a criminal before he tried to become a witness.”

Sebastian sat down again.

That was harder.

Anthony was guilty.

But not in the simple way Sebastian wanted.

Judge Cross continued.

“Thomas hit Luca’s car because Edwin believed both brothers were going to testify.”

“Anthony survived.”

“Yes.”

“And after that?”

“He changed.”

Maria whispered:

“He chose the network.”

Judge Cross nodded.

“He realized Edwin could kill Luca and fail to face consequences. Anthony decided survival meant obedience.”

Sebastian’s voice was flat.

“And twenty-three years later he became exactly like him.”

“Yes.”

Natalie looked at her father.

“And you?”

Judge Cross closed his eyes.

“I told myself I was protecting you and your mother.”

Natalie’s jaw tightened.

“You let me grow up around them.”

“I know.”

“You let Thomas come to birthdays.”

“I know.”

“You let me think he was funny.”

Her voice broke.

“I know.”

She stepped away.

Sebastian watched her.

Then asked:

“Where would Thomas go?”

Judge Cross looked at Maria.

Maria answered.

“Edwin had a lake house.”

Natalie shook her head.

“It was sold.”

“No.”

Judge Cross looked at her.

“It was transferred.”

“To whom?”

He looked at Sebastian.

“To a shell company Anthony controls.”

Sebastian stood.

“Then Thomas knows Anthony can reach it.”

Judge Cross nodded.

“Or Thomas plans to reach Anthony.”

Dr. Levin frowned.

“Anthony is in federal custody.”

Judge Cross replied:

“Not forever if Thomas has the original records.”

Sebastian stopped.

“What original records?”

Judge Cross swallowed.

“The ones proving Edwin ordered Luca’s death.”

Maria stared.

“You told me they were destroyed.”

“I lied.”

“Where are they?”

Judge Cross looked ashamed.

“I gave them to Natalie.”

Everyone turned.

Natalie looked stunned.

“What?”

“Your eighteenth birthday.”

She stared at him.

“The music box.”

Judge Cross nodded.

Natalie’s face changed.

A cedar music box.

A gift from her father.

She had kept it for thirteen years.

At her apartment.

She whispered:

“Thomas knows I have it?”

Judge Cross shook his head.

“He knows I had it.”

Natalie immediately grabbed her phone.

Security camera app.

She opened it.

Her apartment feed was black.

“No signal.”

Sebastian took his coat.

“We go now.”

Natalie looked at him.

“You do not have to help me.”

He replied:

“I’m not helping the engagement.”

Then looked at Judge Cross.

“I’m helping finish what my father started.”

At Natalie’s apartment, the door was open.

Nothing looked stolen.

Except one thing.

The music box.

Gone.

On the table was a note.

One sentence.

BRING MARIA TO THE LAKE HOUSE.

Natalie read it.

“No.”

Sebastian took the note.

Below the sentence was a time.

6:00 P.M.

And another message.

COME ALONE OR THE ORIGINAL RECORDS BURN.

Maria looked at Sebastian.

He already knew.

Thomas did not want records.

He wanted the only surviving witness who had seen Luca after the crash.

Maria.

Sebastian folded the note.

“I’m not sending you.”

Maria replied:

“You are not sending me.”

She took the note back.

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“I am going.”

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