Chapter 8: The Truth Between Brothers
Nobody moved.
Razor stared at the letter.
Emily stared at him.
Cole looked from one to the other.
Caruso whispered, “No.””
Emily held up the page.
“Why is your name here?””
Razor did not answer.
“Why?””
He finally looked at her.
“Because your father knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That I had a deal with Victor.””
Emily’s stomach twisted.
“You said you were protecting him.””
“I tried.””
“What kind of deal?””
Razor rubbed his face.
“I gave Victor information.””
“About my father?””
“Yes.””
Emily took a step backward.
“Why?””
“Because Victor had my brother.””
“What?””
“My younger brother was arrested for something Victor arranged.””
Razor’s voice broke.
“He threatened to kill him.””
“So you gave him Daniel.””
“No.””
Razor stepped closer.
“I gave him a location.””
Emily laughed bitterly.
“You gave him my father.””
“I thought Victor only wanted the ledger.””
“And you believed him?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
“Because I was scared.””
Emily wiped her eyes.
“So all of you were scared.””
Razor said nothing.
“You were all scared while my father died.””
His shoulders dropped.
“Yes.””
Silence filled the tunnel.
Caruso stepped forward.
“Emily.””
“No.””
She held up her hand.
“I don't want to hear another excuse.””
Then the tunnel shook.
An explosion above them.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Razor looked up.
“They found the entrance.””
“Where does this come out?””
Caruso pointed.
“Behind the church.””
They ran.
The tunnel opened into a narrow alley.
Police sirens sounded in the distance.
Razor looked toward the road.
“Victor called them.””
Emily frowned.
“Why would he call police?””
Caruso understood.
“To make us look guilty.””
A patrol car turned the corner.
Then another.
Cole grabbed Emily’s hand.
“Move.””
They ducked behind a building.
The police cars stopped at Maria’s house.
Officers entered.
One emerged with a gun.
Then another officer pointed toward the alley.
“They’re over here!””
Emily’s heart hammered.
They ran.
Razor stayed behind.
“Go!””
“No!””
He pushed a metal gate closed behind them.
The police reached him.
Emily watched from across the alley as Razor raised his hands.
He was arrested.
He didn't fight.
He looked directly at her.
Then mouthed:
*Run.*
Emily understood.
Razor was buying time.
They reached a motel on the highway.
Caruso locked the door.
Emily sat on the bed with her father’s jacket beside her.
Cole paced.
“We have the ledger.””
“And the recording.””
“And Maria’s testimony.””
Emily nodded.
“But Razor is gone.””
Caruso looked at the floor.
“I was wrong about him.””
Emily stared.
“You trusted him.””
“Yes.””
“Do you still?””
Caruso hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because guilty men run.””
He looked at the door.
“Razor surrendered.””
Emily thought about that.
The motel phone rang.
Everybody froze.
Caruso picked it up.
“Hello?””
No answer.
Then Victor spoke.
“You're running out of places.””
Caruso hung up.
It rang again.
Emily picked up.
Victor said:
“Your father wasn't special.””
Emily remained silent.
“He was stubborn.””
“You're afraid of what he left behind.””
Victor laughed.
“I'm not afraid.””
“Then why are you chasing me?””
Silence.
Emily smiled without humor.
“That's what I thought.””
Victor's voice changed.
“You have no idea who is behind this.””
“Then tell me.””
“I will.””
“How?””
“Come to the old mechanic shop.””
“Tonight?””
“Now.””
The line went dead.
Caruso shook his head.
“It's a trap.””
“Yes.””
Emily stood.
“I'm going anyway.””
Cole grabbed her arm.
“No.””
“My father spent two years trying to expose them.””
“He also spent two years trying to keep you out of this.””
She looked at him.
“And look where that got me.””
Cole couldn't argue.
They drove to the mechanic shop.
The ruins were still standing.
Burned walls.
Collapsed roof.
Rusting signs.
Emily stepped inside.
She remembered nothing.
Then she saw a faded mural.
A little girl on a motorcycle.
Her father had painted it.
She touched it.
“This was here when I was little.””
Caruso looked at the wall.
“He painted this for you.””
Behind the mural was a metal safe.
The silver medal opened it.
Inside was a black folder.
Emily opened it.
Photos.
Transactions.
Police names.
Business names.
And a final document.
A signature.
She stared.
The person who had funded Victor was not a stranger.
It was Samuel Pike.
The man everyone believed was dead.
Cole whispered, “But why would he fund him?””
A voice answered from the shadows.
“Because I didn't.””
Samuel stepped forward.
He was bleeding.
Emily stared.
“Then why is your signature there?””
Samuel looked at the document.
“That isn't my signature.””
He took the paper.
“It was forged.””
“By whom?””
Samuel looked at the folder.
“I know exactly who.””
The lights came on.
Bishop stood in the doorway.
Gun in hand.
Emily froze.
Bishop looked at Samuel.
“You should have stayed dead.””
Samuel smiled sadly.
“And you should have stayed loyal.””
Bishop raised the gun.
Then Razor’s voice echoed from behind him.
“Drop it.””
Bishop spun.
Razor stood there.
Free.
And wearing handcuffs.
Emily stared.
“How—”
Razor held up his wrist.
“Cop car door wasn't locked.””
Behind him, two officers stepped into the room.
One was Maria’s brother.
The other was a detective.
Bishop dropped the gun.
The detective immediately arrested him.
Emily looked at Razor.
“You knew?””
Razor smiled faintly.
“Your father taught me a few tricks.””
The detective opened the folder.
His expression changed.
“This is bigger than Victor.””
Emily looked at him.
“Where is Victor?””
The detective shook his head.
“Gone.””
A phone began ringing inside Bishop’s pocket.
Everyone looked at it.
The detective answered.
Static.
Then Victor’s voice.
“You still don't understand.””
The call ended.
The detective looked at Emily.
“What?””
May you like
Victor had one final message.
“He said the man behind all this is already inside the police station.””
