Chapter 11 - THE ABANDONED SITE
Police told Carmine to wait.
He didn't.
He drove with Reyes and tactical officers behind him.
The abandoned property was an unfinished luxury development stopped years earlier over zoning disputes.
One of Vincent Moretti's projects.
Carmine had hated it as a child.
Now he knew why Elena had cared.
They found Leo's shoe near Building C.
Carmine picked it up.
Tiny.
Blue.
Mud on the sole.
Reyes said, "Stay behind us."
They entered the structure.
Concrete walls.
Exposed wires.
Wind through empty window frames.
Then a child's voice echoed.
"Daddy!"
Carmine ran.
Reyes cursed behind him.
He reached the second floor.
Leo was tied to a chair.
Alone.
Carmine dropped beside him.
"Hey. Hey, I'm here."
Leo sobbed into his shoulder.
"She left."
"Who?"
"Helena."
"Did she hurt you?"
Leo shook his head.
"She said she needed you to come."
"Why?"
"She said this place belonged to Grandma Elena."
"My mom?"
"She said Mom found something here."
Reyes cut the zip ties.
Officers searched the building.
No Helena.
But in a utility room, they found a metal case.
Inside were old maps.
Environmental reports.
Photographs.
And a flash drive labeled E.M.
Carmine knew the initials.
Elena Moretti.
He inserted the drive into Reyes's secure laptop.
A video opened.
Elena appeared on screen.
Alive.
Three weeks before her death.
"Carmine," she said, looking directly at the camera, "if you're seeing this, it means I was right to be afraid."
Leo squeezed his hand.
Elena continued.
"Your father is not the only person involved."
Then she said a name.
Helena Voss.
Elena spoke again.
"Helena has been moving money, but she isn't doing it for Vincent."
A sound interrupted the video.
Elena looked off camera.
Then the recording cut.
Another file remained.
May you like
Its title was simple.
BRAKES.
