Chapter 12 - Two Men Who Both Lied
David took the photograph from me.
"This wasn't part of my operation."
"You expect me to know what was part of your operation?"
"Catherine."
"Don't."
My mother reached for my hand.
"There was a second program."
We both turned.
Elaine's face tightened.
"Vale tracked bloodlines."
I almost laughed.
"What does that even mean?"
"Families. Inheritance. Leverage."
Nathan entered with Internal Affairs.
I held up the photo.
"Do you know about this?"
He looked once.
Then sat down.
"No."
I believed him.
For once.
David opened the Winters ledger again.
A hidden directory appeared after my mother's old compliance code was entered.
PHASE II.
Locked.
Authentication required two keys.
Logan's medical metadata.
And Romano family credential.
Everyone looked at Alessandro's representative.
I felt cold.
"Why Romano?"
No one answered.
We contacted Alessandro.
He stared at the prompt.
"I have never seen that."
David said, "But it recognizes your family key."
Alessandro's mouth tightened.
"My father's key."
The Romano organization had used genetic identification in inheritance disputes.
Bloodline records.
Private DNA testing.
Old-world paranoia with modern databases.
My stomach turned.
"You're telling me Vale combined federal witness records with mafia family DNA?"
My mother nodded.
"To build leverage."
David entered the Romano key.
The directory opened.
Hundreds of files.
Children.
Parents.
Judges.
Agents.
Organized-crime families.
One folder:
WINTERS, LOGAN D.
I reached for the mouse.
David covered my hand.
"You don't have to open it now."
I looked at him.
"You don't get to decide what I can handle anymore."
I opened it.
Birth record.
Cord blood sample.
Paternity panel.
Result hidden behind encryption.
Before I could open it, the laptop went black.
A remote wipe message appeared.
VALE ADMINISTRATOR ACCESS.
David swore.
Then Alessandro called.
Gunfire sounded behind him.
"They're inside the hospital."
I stood.
"Who?"
"Vale's team."
His camera shook.
Then he looked offscreen.
His expression changed.
"David."
David leaned toward the phone.
"What?"
Alessandro whispered:
"Your wife’s supervisor is here."
Denise stepped into frame holding a gun to Alessandro's head.
May you like
CUT.
