Chapter 7 - Midnight at the RiverThe abandoned ferry terminal smelled of rust, rain, and the East River.
By morning, three attorneys had arrived.
None stayed.
The first left after receiving a mysterious phone call.
The second discovered an alleged conflict of interest.
The third simply vanished from the courthouse hallway.
By noon, Marcus finally understood what Lena had realized the previous night.
His employers had abandoned him.
When Lena and Adrien entered the federal interview room, Marcus looked exhausted.
“You can’t be here.”
Adrien closed the door.
“Apparently we can.”
Marcus looked toward the one-way glass.
“This is illegal.”
Lena sat across from him.
“You seemed less concerned about laws yesterday.”
His eyes moved to the bandage above her eyebrow.
For a moment, shame appeared.
Then defensiveness buried it.
“I didn’t mean for things to go that far.”
“They went exactly where you took them.”
Marcus looked away.
Lena placed the photograph of Teresa on the table.
His face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“Who hired you?”
“I told you.”
“You told me Meridian.”
“They did.”
“Who specifically?”
Marcus said nothing.
Adrien leaned against the wall.
“My father?”
Marcus laughed weakly.
“Daniel never trusted me.”
“Vale?”
Silence.
Lena watched Marcus.
“You’re afraid.”
“I’m facing prison.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You’re afraid of someone outside this room.”
Marcus stared at her.
“You should be too.”
“Who?”
“Once I tell you, I’m dead.”
Adrien said, “You’re already disposable.”
Marcus looked at him.
“You think I don’t know that?”
“Then become useful.”
The door opened.
A federal agent entered.
Samantha Ross.
Mid-forties.
Calm.
Sharp-eyed.
Unlike Detective Greene, she wore no jewelry.
“We’ve verified part of the drive,” she said. “Financial crimes, bribery, witness intimidation. Enough to begin making arrests.”
Marcus stared.
Ross placed another file down.
“And enough to charge you with conspiracy.”
Marcus’s face fell.
“You don’t understand what you’re touching.”
“I hear that often.”
“You have people inside your agency.”
“Probably.”
She smiled.
“That’s why only four people know you’re here.”
Marcus looked at Lena.
“What do you want?”
“My aunt.”
“I don’t know where she is.”
“Who took her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who hired you to watch me?”
Marcus swallowed.
“His name is Sebastian Crowe.”
Adrien went completely still.
Ross noticed.
“You know him?”
Adrien’s answer came slowly.
“Yes.”
Lena looked at him.
“Who?”
“A banker.”
Marcus laughed.
“That’s like calling a shark a fish.”
Adrien ignored him.
“Crowe ran private wealth management for several Meridian families.”
“Past tense?” Ross asked.
“He disappeared eight years ago.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No. He became invisible.”
Lena leaned forward.
“What did he want from my family?”
“The archive.”
“Why?”
“Because your brother discovered Crowe wasn’t working for Meridian.”
Adrien frowned.
“Then who?”
“Himself.”
Marcus looked at them.
“Meridian was a machine. Crowe wanted to own the machine.”
Ross folded her arms.
“How?”
“He collected evidence on everyone.”
“Blackmail.”
“Insurance.”
Lena almost laughed at the familiar euphemism.
Marcus continued.
“He built copies of financial records. Affairs. Murders. Bribes. Offshore accounts. Everything.”
“And Michael found out,” Adrien said.
“Yes.”
“Did Crowe order Michael killed?”
Marcus stared at the table.
“Yes.”
Lena closed her eyes.
The answer did not shock her anymore.
It simply hurt.
“And my father?”
Marcus nodded.
“Crowe pushed Vale to authorize the warehouse fire.”
“What about Julian?”
“Vale killed Julian because he thought Julian had Crowe’s evidence.”
Adrien’s hands curled into fists.
“So Crowe used Vale.”
“Yes.”
“And my father protected Meridian from understanding that.”
“Yes.”
Ross looked at Lena.
“Your aunt may be leverage.”
“To get the archive.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
“What?”
“If Crowe wanted only the archive, Teresa would already be dead.”
Lena stood.
“Watch your mouth.”
“I’m trying to help you.”
“Then help.”
Marcus rubbed both hands across his face.
“Crowe believes Michael split the archive.”
“Into what?”
“Evidence and access.”
Theo’s cloned index had revealed encrypted accounts but no credentials.
Adrien understood.
“Teresa knows where the access key is.”
Marcus nodded.
“Or Crowe thinks she does.”
Lena thought of her mother’s letter.
The key had opened the wall compartment.
Could there be another?
“What kind of access?”
“An account.”
“How much?”
Marcus gave a humorless smile.
“Last number I heard? Nine hundred million.”
Silence.
Lena stared at him.
“Nine hundred million dollars?”
“Probably more now.”
Adrien’s eyes narrowed.
“Meridian reserve.”
Marcus nodded.
“The money used to bribe, clean up disasters, buy companies, pay people off.”
Ross whispered, “Jesus.”
“Michael found the pathway into it.”
Lena sat again.
“And Crowe thinks my aunt knows the rest.”
“Yes.”
“Does she?”
Marcus shrugged.
“I don’t know.”
Lena stood.
“I’m done.”
Marcus called after her.
“Lena.”
She stopped.
He looked almost desperate.
“I didn’t know they were going to kill Michael.”
She turned.
“You knew someone threatened him.”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
“I was twenty-seven.”
“So?”
“I was scared.”
Lena stared at him.
“I’ve been scared for three years.”
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“And I still never did to you what you did to me.”
He had no answer.
She left.
Outside, Agent Ross was already coordinating a search for Crowe.
Adrien walked beside Lena toward the elevator.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Fair.”
She looked at him.
“What was Crowe to your family?”
Adrien hesitated.
“He was Julian’s godfather.”
Lena stopped.
“You people really need better godfathers.”
Adrien almost smiled.
“You may be right.”
“What else?”
“He taught Julian finance. Helped him get his first job. We trusted him.”
“And then he vanished.”
“After Julian died.”
“Convenient.”
“Yes.”
They stepped outside.
News vans lined the federal building.
Someone had leaked Marcus’s arrest.
Reporters shouted questions.
“Ms. Carter!”
“Is Marcus Blake connected to organized crime?”
“Mr. Viscari, is your father alive?”
Adrien froze.
Lena looked at him.
That information had not been public.
Agent Ross emerged behind them.
“How do they know about Daniel?”
Adrien’s phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Mr. Viscari.”
Adrien’s eyes hardened.
Crowe.
Lena watched.
“Yes.”
“You have something I want.”
Adrien placed the call on speaker.
Crowe continued.
“And I have someone Miss Carter wants.”
Lena stepped closer.
“Put my aunt on.”
A pause.
Then Teresa’s voice.
“Lena?”
“Aunt Tess!”
“I’m okay.”
“Did they hurt you?”
“No.”
A male voice interrupted.
“Enough.”
Lena clenched her jaw.
“What do you want?”
Crowe sounded almost amused.
“I want to meet.”
“Then meet me.”
“Not you.”
Lena frowned.
“Adrien.”
Adrien took the phone.
“Where?”
Crowe named an abandoned ferry terminal near the East River.
“Midnight.”
“What do I bring?”
“Daniel Viscari.”
Adrien’s expression changed.
Lena stared.
Crowe continued.
“Bring your father, and Teresa Carter walks away.”
The call ended.
Agent Ross immediately began tracing it.
Theo shook his head.
“Burner routed through twelve relays.”
Lena looked at Adrien.
“He wants Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“You think your father will come?”
Adrien stared toward the Manhattan skyline.
“No.”
Then another voice spoke behind them.
“You always did underestimate me.”
Everyone turned.
Daniel Viscari stood beside a black sedan.
Alone.
Agent Ross reached for her weapon.
Adrien stared at his father.
May you like
Daniel looked at Lena.
“If Sebastian Crowe wants a reunion,” he said, “I think it’s time we gave him one.”
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