Chapter 19 - The Last Name on the List
The federal supervisor, Deputy Director Malcolm Pierce, denied everything. He claimed the signature was forged and ordered Rebecca to surrender the case files.
She refused.
Within an hour, she was suspended.
Lorenzo expected her to walk away. Instead, she showed up at the safe house with a cardboard box of personal belongings and a hard drive.
“They can take my badge,” she said. “They don't get the truth.”
The hard drive contained internal messages linking Pierce to Vale's network. He had not ordered Sofia's death, but he had buried the investigation and redirected witnesses. He had protected the operation because Vale had paid for his son's medical treatment through a shell charity.
It was corruption built out of favors, not threats.
Lorenzo read the final message twice. Pierce had written: The girl must remain unlocated. She is the only living witness to the original transfer.
Mia was coloring at the table. She looked up.
“Is that me?”
Lorenzo closed the laptop. “Yes.”
“Why am I a witness?”
“Because your mother hid something with you when you were little. Something you may not remember.”
Anna came into the room. “The blue bird,” she said.
Mia's eyes widened. “The story.”
Anna nodded. “I used to sing it to you. The last line was different. I told you the bird carried the moon in its pocket.”
Mia thought for a moment. Then she reached beneath the collar of her shirt and pulled out a small silver locket. She had worn it for as long as she could remember.
“My dad said it was from Mom.”
Anna opened it. Inside was a tiny memory chip sealed behind the photograph.
The original transfer records were stored on it. Names, dates, account numbers, and a recorded conversation between Vale and Pierce.
Rebecca stared at the chip.
“This is enough to bring down everyone.”
A knock sounded at the door.
Luca checked the monitor.
No one stood outside.
Only a small package sat on the welcome mat.
May you like
On it, written in careful block letters, were the words:
FOR MIA. FROM THE MAN WHO STARTED IT.
