Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE HOUSE WENT DARK|
The attorney's name was Arthur Voss.
For twenty years, he had handled the Costa family's contracts, settlements, and private disputes. He had attended Roman's father's funeral, advised Roman during his first year as head of the organization, and helped negotiate the agreements that kept several powerful rivals from turning the East Coast into a battlefield.
Roman had trusted him.
That was the problem.
Men who betrayed strangers were dangerous.
Men who betrayed you after earning your trust could destroy everything you believed about yourself.
Roman summoned Arthur to the estate under the pretense of reviewing an old shipping agreement.
Arthur arrived at seven in the evening, carrying a leather briefcase and wearing the same calm expression Roman remembered from childhood.
“Roman,” he said warmly. “It's been too long.”
“You were here last month.”
“Business meetings don't count as visits.”
Roman gestured toward a chair.
“Sit.”
Arthur noticed the ledger on the desk.
His smile faded for half a second.
Roman saw it.
“You recognize it.”
Arthur sat down slowly.
“I've seen many ledgers.”
“This one belonged to Daniel Bennett.”
The attorney's fingers tightened around his briefcase.
“Who?”
“Norah Bennett's father.”
Arthur recovered quickly.
“I don't know the man.”
“That's unfortunate. His records suggest he knew you.”
Roman slid the photograph across the desk.
Arthur studied it.
Then he leaned back.
“Where did you get this?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters.”
Roman's voice remained quiet.
“Tell me why your security company received a payment two days before Bennett died.”
Arthur stared at him.
“Your father approved many security contracts.”
“And did he approve the one that ended with a dead accountant?”
For the first time, Arthur's composure cracked.
“Be careful, Roman. You're making accusations that could destabilize your organization.”
“My organization can survive the truth.”
Arthur stood.
“Then I suggest you discover it before you destroy yourself with it.”
He left the study without another word.
Roman watched him go, feeling a cold certainty settle inside him.
Arthur knew something.
And whatever it was, he was prepared to protect it.
At nine thirty, the estate lost power.
The lights went out across the main floor. Security alarms sounded in the east wing, and a guard shouted from the courtyard.
Roman reached for his weapon.
“Marcus!”
“I'm here.”
“Get everyone to the secure rooms.”
A second shout came from upstairs.
Roman ran toward the corridor.
Norah's bedroom door stood open.
Her room was empty.
The window was unlocked.
A chair lay overturned beside the desk.
Roman felt the world narrow to one terrifying fact.
Someone had taken her.
He reached the staircase just as Marcus appeared.
“We found the service gate open.”
“Cameras?”
“Disabled.”
Roman's voice became dangerously calm.
“Find her.”
“We're tracing the vehicles now.”
“Do it faster.”
For the next twenty minutes, Roman stood in the security room while his men examined footage from surrounding streets.
Then a phone rang.
An unknown number.
Roman answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Mr. Costa. We have something you want.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe for now.”
“If you touch her—”
“You'll do what? Send men? Burn down a building? We know what you can do, Roman.”
A pause.
“That's why we chose her.”
Roman closed his eyes briefly.
“What do you want?”
“The ledger. Every page. Every copy. Bring it to the old freight terminal by midnight.”
“And if I refuse?”
The voice lowered.
“Then Norah Bennett will learn exactly how her father died.”
The line went dead.
Roman stared at the phone.
Marcus approached.
“Boss?”
Roman looked up.
“Prepare the cars.”
“Are you taking the ledger?”
Roman placed the original evidence in a locked case.
“I'm taking what they asked for.”
Marcus hesitated.
“And the real ledger?”
Roman looked toward the dark window.
“They'll never see it.”
May you like
He had spent his life making men fear him.
Now he had to face the possibility that fear alone would not bring Norah home.
