Chapter 3

The hall went silent the moment Marco Benedetto stood. He was the Commission's record keeper. He held the evidence and every family's darkest secrets. At least, I had once believed he was neutral.

"The Viscari family has submitted an encrypted recording," Marco said. "The timestamp matches the window when Ella went missing."

He pressed play. A strange man's voice filled the hall. "Hand over the shift key. Don't make me have your mother clean up your mess." The voice was low and deliberately hardened.

Ella clapped her hands over her face and Lucia pulled her in tight. "That's the voice," Ella choked out. "I'll never forget it as long as I live."

I did not look at them. I watched the player and listened all the way through, then listened again. The recording was nine seconds long. In those nine seconds, there were no footsteps, no wind off the water, no roar of a port crane. Only one threat, far too clean.

Marco produced a temporary access badge next. "This was found outside the old elevator shaft. It's registered to Rocco Rossi."

Lucia's eyes sharpened, as if she had finally heard the gavel fall. "Vera, are you still going to tell us it wasn't your son?"

I took the badge and ran my thumb lightly across the back. Every Rossi port badge carried a hair-thin encrypted mark, not for show but to prevent counterfeiting. This one had none. It was blank and unmarked, like a piece of scrap metal fresh from the press.

"Marco," I asked, "where's the registration record for this badge?"

His expression did not change. "Blood debts are urgent. Evidence can be verified later."

"And the original audio file?"

"Also pending verification."

"So," I said, setting the badge back on the table, "you're asking the Commission to freeze the Rossi family's port holdings without a single piece of verified evidence."

Marco's eyes finally went cold. "Vera, are you questioning the Commission's procedure?"

"No," I said. "I'm questioning you."

Lucia let out a short laugh. "Procedure doesn't matter. If you're willing to take responsibility, we can leave you with some dignity." She pushed a document across the table: a transfer of the port charter. "Three million in cash, plus control of the Lakeshore warehouse. Sign it, and Ella won't pursue the matter."

So that was it. The blood debt, the injury, the recording, the badge. All of it was leverage to wrench control of my port away from me.

I looked at her and almost laughed.

"Lucia, do you know your biggest mistake?"

She frowned.

"You assumed Rocco was a man you could define however you liked."

I pushed the document back. "You never even worked out what he is."