Chapter 19 - The Bait
Tessa’s plan was simple enough to sound reckless.
That was why Roman liked it.
They announced publicly that Bellamy Holdings would cooperate fully with federal investigators.
Then Tessa announced something more surprising.
She would hold a press conference Friday morning at The Marlowe Room.
She claimed she possessed original documents proving who had ordered her father’s murder.
She did not.
Not exactly.
They had evidence against Arthur Ward.
They had suspicious connections to Elias.
But nothing proving Elias’s current scheme.
If he believed Tessa had more, perhaps he would move.
Roman disliked using her as bait.
Tessa reminded him that she had invented the plan.
He disliked that even more.
By Thursday night, The Marlowe Room looked normal.
Inside, it had become a controlled trap.
Federal investigators occupied two apartments across the street.
Dante’s people monitored entrances.
Miriam coordinated warrants.
Patrick continued serving dinner like nothing unusual existed.
At 9:13 p.m., the first move came.
A courier arrived with flowers.
White lilies.
Tessa stared at them.
The same flowers used on the restaurant tables.
Patrick removed the card.
FOR SEAN’S DAUGHTER.
Roman reached toward the bouquet.
“Don’t touch it.”
Dante scanned the arrangement.
Nothing dangerous.
Inside the vase, however, was a phone.
It rang.
Tessa answered.
Elias.
“You look comfortable behind all that security.”
She glanced toward the windows.
“Where are you?”
“Close enough.”
“You’re losing.”
A quiet chuckle.
“You always were more interesting than Roman.”
“He’ll be devastated.”
Roman rolled his eyes.
Elias continued.
“Tomorrow’s press conference is a mistake.”
“Why?”
“Because the documents you think you have won’t survive scrutiny.”
“You sound nervous.”
“I’m trying to save you embarrassment.”
“My father was murdered. I served strangers dinner for nine years while your family watched my sister’s hospital bills. I’m beyond embarrassment.”
Silence.
Then Elias’s voice hardened.
“You don’t understand what Sean did.”
Tessa’s heart beat faster.
“Tell me.”
“He nearly destroyed thousands of people.”
“You mean criminals.”
“I mean companies. Pension funds. Shipping jobs. Families.”
“My father refused to help your father smuggle contraband.”
“He refused compromise.”
“That’s called integrity.”
“That’s what poor people call it when stubbornness kills them.”
Roman’s expression became lethal.
Tessa lifted one finger.
Stay quiet.
“Then why are you afraid of a dead man’s paperwork?”
Elias breathed once.
“Cancel tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Tessa.”
“No.”
The line clicked dead.
Dante traced the signal.
“Burner. Midtown. Already off.”
Roman walked toward her.
“You enjoyed that.”
“A little.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“He insulted my father.”
“That’s why you enjoyed it.”
She smiled faintly.
Before Roman could answer, Patrick entered carrying a small envelope.
“This was under the front door.”
Inside was a photocopy of Sean’s affidavit.
Across it, somebody had written:
ASK DANTE WHAT HE DID ON OCTOBER 14, 2009.
Everyone looked at Dante.
He went still.
Tessa’s smile disappeared.
“What happened that day?”
Dante did not answer.
Roman stepped forward.
“Dante.”
The older man looked exhausted.
“I was in Boston.”
Tessa’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Victor sent me.”
“To do what?”
Dante looked at her.
“To move your family before Murphy could get to Sean.”
Tessa felt the room tilt.
“You knew my father?”
“Yes.”
“How well?”
“Enough.”
“Were you there the night he died?”
Silence.
Roman’s voice sharpened.
“Answer her.”
Dante looked down.
“Yes.”
Tessa took one slow step backward.
Every instinct screamed betrayal.
“You told me Murphy killed him.”
“He did.”
“You were there.”
“I arrived after the fire started.”
“Did you see Murphy?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Because I saw Arthur Ward leaving.”
The room became completely silent.
Dante continued.
“He was driving Victor’s car.”
Roman stared at him.
“What?”
“Victor had sent me to Sean’s house. Arthur intercepted Victor earlier that night and stole the car.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Your father ordered me not to.”
Roman looked furious.
“Victor protected Arthur?”
“No.”
Dante’s eyes filled with something close to regret.
“He was protecting you.”
Roman laughed bitterly.
“That excuse is becoming old.”
Dante reached inside his jacket.
He removed an old key.
“Victor knew Arthur would eventually come for the Bellamy family. He hid evidence.”
“Where?”
“Under a company that doesn’t officially exist.”
Tessa understood before Roman.
“Lantern.”
Dante nodded.
“Project Lantern was Victor’s private archive.”
Owen stood.
“Elias kept saying Friday because he’s looking for it.”
Dante looked at Roman.
“And if Elias finds Lantern before we do, he won’t just destroy evidence against his father.”
His voice lowered.
“He’ll get enough leverage to take down judges, senators, executives, union leaders, and half the Atlantic shipping industry.”
Roman took the key.
“Where is it?”
May you like
Dante answered with two words.
“Ellis Island.”
