Chapter 4 - THE GRAVE THAT WAS NEVER OPENEDAt midnight, Elena and I entered the Moretti family cemetery.
The gates were unlocked.
That frightened me more than a locked gate would have.
Someone wanted us there.
The cemetery was nearly empty.
Rain began falling.
I walked toward Adrian's grave.
The headstone still stood.
ADRIAN MORETTI
Born 1974.
Died 2008.
I stared at the dates.
Elena whispered:
“Open it.”
I looked at her.
“What?”
“The grave.”
I stared.
“You think I'm digging up my brother's body?”
“I think you've never seen what was buried inside.”
We opened the vault.
The coffin was there.
Sealed.
My hands trembled.
Then Elena noticed something.
The coffin was far too light.
We forced it open.
Inside was no body.
Only clothing.
A suit.
A wedding ring.
And a cassette recorder.
I picked it up.
A voice played.
My father's voice.
“If this recording is found, Adrian survived.”
I froze.
“He was never killed in the accident.”
Elena looked at me.
My father continued.
“I created the accident to hide him.”
“Why?”
“Because the Black Ledger had been stolen.”
My father's voice became quieter.
“The ledger contains the names of every politician, judge, police commander, banker, and criminal syndicate leader who ever did business with the Moretti family.”
I swallowed.
“Adrian took the ledger.”
The recording continued.
“I sent him away.”
Then another voice entered.
Adrian.
“You should have told Vincent.”
My father responded.
“Vincent would have come looking for you.”
“He's my brother.”
“And that is why he would have died.”
The recording ended.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind us.
Marcus appeared.
He wasn't armed.
That somehow made him more dangerous.
He looked at the empty coffin.
Then at me.
“You finally opened it.”
I raised my gun.
“Tell me the truth.”
Marcus smiled sadly.
“I've spent eighteen years trying to find it.”
“You knew Adrian was alive.”
“Yes.”
“You worked for him?”
“No.”
“Then who do you work for?”
Marcus hesitated.
Then answered:
“You.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You've been hunting me.”
“I've been protecting you.”
Elena stepped forward.
“From who?”
Marcus looked at her.
“You shouldn't have survived the first night.”
Then a voice came from behind him.
A familiar voice.
Adrian.
“Neither should Marcus.”
Adrian stepped from the shadows.
He looked at me.
Then he said:
“You have no idea what Tony did eighteen years ago.”
A gunshot exploded.
Marcus fell.
May you like
And Adrian disappeared.
Again.
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