Chapter 13 - The Doctor Who Lied
Nico read the signature again.
Then again.
“It’s forged.”
Lorenzo said, “Maybe.”
“What does maybe mean?”
“It passed three independent verification checks.”
“Then the checks were bought.”
“Could be.”
Adeline took the document.
“Who notarized it?”
The name was visible beneath the signature.
Dr. Martin Cole.
She looked up.
“A doctor notarized a corporate amendment?”
Lorenzo nodded.
“Cole was more than Victor’s physician.”
Nico’s hand tightened.
“He knew my father?”
“He treated him.”
Nico went still.
“My father died of pancreatic cancer.”
“That’s what you were told.”
The waiting-room doors opened.
Two detectives entered.
Victor’s arrest had spread fast.
Lorenzo stood.
“I’m leaving.”
Nico said, “No.”
“You want to explain me to police?”
“Yes.”
Lorenzo almost laughed.
“You really did change.”
Nico aimed the pistol lower.
“Sit.”
Lorenzo sat.
The detectives took the documents.
By evening, Cole was in custody.
He denied everything.
Until Mara arrived.
She placed an old external drive on the interview table.
“I took this from the rehabilitation clinic.”
Cole stared at it.
Then at her.
“You shouldn’t have that.”
Nico leaned forward.
“What is it?”
Mara opened a folder.
Scans.
Financial transfers.
Death certificates.
Private treatment logs.
One file belonged to Salvatore Alfieri.
Date of death: nine years earlier.
But the medical entries continued for fourteen months after that date.
Nico stopped breathing.
“Explain.”
Cole said nothing.
Mara clicked another file.
A photograph appeared.
Salvatore Alfieri in a private clinic room.
Date stamped eight years ago.
One year after his funeral.
Nico’s chair rolled backward an inch.
Adeline touched his shoulder.
He did not react.
Lorenzo whispered, “I knew.”
Nico turned.
“You knew?”
“Not where.”
“You knew he was alive?”
“For a while.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I was nineteen.”
“You were my brother.”
“I was scared.”
Nico’s face closed.
Cole finally spoke.
“Your father wanted out.”
Nico turned.
“Out of what?”
“The family.”
“You expect me to believe he faked his death?”
“He didn’t fake it.”
Cole swallowed.
“Victor did.”
Silence.
Adeline heard the fluorescent lights.
Cole continued.
“Your father survived the first collapse. Victor moved him. Sedated him. Kept him legally dead.”
Nico’s hands shook.
“Why?”
“Signatures.”
The word landed.
Trust amendments.
Voting rights.
Transfers.
Victor needed Salvatore alive long enough to authorize changes.
Or appear to.
Mara clicked one final file.
A video.
Salvatore.
Thin.
Older.
Alive.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Nico, if you ever see this, don’t believe Victor is the only one.”
The video glitched.
Then Salvatore said one name.
“Lorenzo.”
May you like
Nico turned toward his brother.
Lorenzo had already reached for the door.
