Chapter 4 - The Dead DetectiveThe Man Who Was Supposed To Be Dead Knew Everything
The man removed his hat.
"I know what you're thinking."
Dante didn't move.
"You can't be Elias Grant."
The man nodded.
"Not officially."
I stared.
"What does that mean?"
Grant glanced at me.
"Your father trusted me."
My heart started pounding.
"Then why are you alive?"
"Because I was supposed to die with him."
Dante stepped closer.
"Explain."
Grant's gaze shifted toward him.
"Not here."
"Talk."
"I've been hiding for years."
"From who?"
Grant looked at me.
"The people who killed your father."
Dante's jaw clenched.
"Names."
"Not yet."
"Then you're wasting my time."
Grant reached inside his jacket.
Dante raised his gun.
Grant stopped.
"I'm carrying this."
He slowly removed a folded photograph.
He placed it on the workbench.
It showed Sofia.
My father.
And Elias Grant.
All three were standing outside Saint Agnes Church.
The date was printed on the back.
Eight years ago.
Three years before Sofia's murder.
I picked it up.
"Why was my father there?"
Grant looked at me.
"Because he had discovered a ledger."
"What kind of ledger?"
"Payments."
"To who?"
"Judges."
"Police?"
"Some."
"Politicians?"
"Several."
"Business owners?"
"Dozens."
I stared at him.
"And mafia?"
Grant nodded.
"That too."
Dante's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Who was running the operation?"
Grant looked at him.
"Your uncle."
The room went silent.
Dante didn't blink.
"My uncle died twenty years ago."
"That's what everyone believes."
Dante stepped forward.
"You're lying."
Grant shook his head.
"He never died."
I saw something shift in Dante's face.
A memory.
A wound.
"My uncle's name?"
Grant hesitated.
"Salvatore Russo."
Dante's hand tightened around the gun.
"My uncle is dead."
"His body was never identified."
Dante turned away.
I could see him trying to control his breathing.
"What does this have to do with the honey?"
Grant looked at me.
"Everything."
He picked up one of my jars.
"Your father used honey shipments as cover."
"For what?"
"Messages."
Dante stared.
"Messages hidden in wax."
Grant tapped the glass.
"Every shipment had a seal."
"The bee logo."
He nodded.
"Different wing patterns represented different locations."
I remembered all the jars I'd sold.
All the labels my father had taught me to make.
I suddenly felt sick.
"How many people know this?"
"Three."
"Who?"
"Your father."
"Sofia."
Grant nodded.
"And me."
Dante's eyes narrowed.
"Then who leaked it?"
Grant looked at him.
"That's the question."
A gunshot exploded outside.
Grant ducked.
Dante shoved me behind him.
Marco fired through the window.
Grant crawled toward the back exit.
"Get to Saint Agnes!"
Dante shouted, "Where is the ledger?"
Grant looked back.
"Under the altar."
Another shot.
Grant stumbled.
Blood spread across his jacket.
I screamed.
Dante grabbed him before he hit the floor.
"Who shot you?"
Grant coughed.
"Someone inside your house."
Dante froze.
"Who?"
Grant pulled a tiny key from his pocket and pressed it into my hand.
Then he whispered.
"Don't trust Marco."
Marco's face went white.
Dante looked at him.
The silence that followed was terrifying.
Then Grant died.
Dante slowly stood.
He turned toward Marco.
Marco shook his head.
"No."
Dante raised his gun.
"You have ten seconds."
"I swear to God, Dante, I didn't betray you."
Nine.
"I didn't know who she was."
Eight.
"I didn't know the ledger existed."
Seven.
"Then how did they find us?"
Marco stared at me.
"I don't know."
Six.
Dante cocked the weapon.
Five.
May you like
Marco whispered one sentence.
"I think someone used your honey."
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