Chapter 16 - THE BENEFICIARY
Nora pulled the trust records.
Someone had filed an amendment eight months earlier.
It named Leo as beneficiary.
But if Leo died before age twenty-five, the controlling shares moved to the Moretti Family Foundation.
The foundation's acting director was Anthony.
"Did he do this?"
Nora shook her head.
"The signature is yours."
"It isn't."
Forgery.
Again.
The filing attorney had used electronic authorization from Carmine's office.
Helena had accessed the estate server.
But the change benefited Anthony.
Carmine called him.
No answer.
Marcus checked his home.
Empty.
His phone was off.
Carmine felt the floor disappear under him.
He wanted to believe his brother had finally told the truth.
But fear makes people dangerous.
Elena had written that.
Reyes issued a locate request.
Then Rosa called.
"Mr. Moretti, Leo is asking for you."
Carmine rushed home.
Leo sat at the kitchen island drawing.
"I'm okay," he said before Carmine could speak.
Carmine hugged him anyway.
Leo whispered, "Are you mad?"
"At you? Never."
"I told Helena where Mom's box was."
Carmine pulled back.
"What?"
"She asked me about the little key."
"The bank key?"
"Mom gave it to me."
"Your mom?"
"I found a box in my closet last year. It had a note."
"Where is the note?"
Leo went upstairs and returned with a folded piece of paper.
Elena's handwriting.
For Leo, when you're old enough to understand: if Daddy ever forgets that courage is telling the truth, remind him.
Leo had kept the key hidden.
Helena found the note.
That was why she searched his room.
Why she watched his hallway.
Why she targeted him.
Not only for inheritance.
For evidence.
Then Leo said, "Uncle Anthony knew about the note."
"How?"
"I showed him."
"When?"
"Last month."
Carmine's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Anthony's voice.
"Carmine, listen to me. I'm not running from you."
"Where are you?"
"I'm trying to fix what I should have fixed years ago."
"Where?"
A long pause.
May you like
"At Dad's lake house."
Then a gunshot cracked through the phone.
