Chapter 9 - The Woman in the PhotographNobody moved.
The voice came again through the kitchen phone.
“Vincent?”
He knew that voice.
He had heard it every night of his childhood.
His mother's laugh.
Her footsteps.
Her singing in the kitchen.
Her final goodbye.
Except she had died eighteen years ago.
Daniel stared at the receiver.
“No.”
Vincent looked at him.
“You knew.”
“No.”
“You knew she was alive.”
“I didn't.”
The woman's voice sounded amused.
“Daniel always was a terrible liar.”
Vincent's blood ran cold.
“Where are you?”
“Where you were supposed to look first.”
“Where?”
A pause.
“At home.”
The line died.
Vincent understood immediately.
His father's old mansion.
The place where Vincent had grown up.
The place he had avoided since the funeral.
Sal called.
“Vincent.”
“What?”
“We have a problem.”
“What now?”
“The mansion is surrounded.”
“By Carlo?”
“No.”
“Vale?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Sal was quiet.
“Police.”
Vincent stared through the window.
Sirens echoed in the distance.
Daniel swore.
“They're not coming to arrest Carlo.”
Vincent looked at him.
“They're coming for me.”
He understood why a second later.
The photograph.
The gun.
The old evidence.
Someone had built an entire case around Vincent Romano.
Perhaps from the moment he stepped into that diner.
He had been watched.
Tracked.
Manipulated.
The little girl's jar had not been an accident.
Lily had been sent to him.
Or guided to him.
Vincent crouched beside her.
“Lily, tell me exactly what your mother told you before she disappeared.”
“She said to find you.”
“Why?”
“Because you're the only one she trusted.”
Vincent glanced at Daniel.
He didn't like the sound of that.
“Why me?”
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Mom said you were the good brother.”
Daniel looked away.
Vincent felt something painful twist in his chest.
His entire family had spent years telling him Daniel was the monster.
Now Daniel was telling him Vincent was the weapon.
Somebody was still lying.
Maybe everyone was.
They escaped through the basement tunnel.
It opened two blocks away.
From there, they reached a safe garage.
Inside waited Arthur Vale.
Red tie.
Black coat.
Calm expression.
Vincent immediately raised his gun.
“Don't.”
Vale didn't move.
“You have thirty seconds.”
“To do what?”
“Decide whether you want to save Elena.”
Vincent kept the gun raised.
“Where is she?”
“Alive.”
“For now?”
“For now.”
Daniel stepped toward Vale.
“Carlo?”
“Under guard.”
Vincent stared.
“Who is guarding him?”
Vale smiled faintly.
“The woman you saw in the photograph.”
Vincent realized the truth.
His mother was not a victim.
She had been running the game.
For eighteen years.
“Why?”
Vale finally answered.
“Because after your father died, someone had to take control.”
“You?”
“No.”
Vale looked at Daniel.
“Your mother.”
Vincent lowered the gun.
“You're telling me my mother runs the organization.”
Vale nodded.
“And Carlo?”
“A lieutenant.”
“Then why did he want Lily?”
“Because he believes your mother intends to replace him.”
“With whom?”
Vale looked toward Vincent.
“You.”
Vincent felt the room contract.
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Vale continued.
“Your mother has one condition.”
“What?”
“You must choose.”
“Between what?”
“Your family.”
Vale paused.
“And your freedom.”
He placed a file on the table.
Vincent opened it.
Inside was Lily's birth certificate.
Daniel's records.
Elena's records.
And a document with Vincent's signature.
He stared at it.
“I never signed this.”
Vale nodded.
“I know.”
Vincent looked closer.
The signature was perfect.
Underneath it was a single line:
May you like
SUCCESSOR TO ROMANO HOLDINGS.
The date was tomorrow.
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