Chapter 8 - Elaine Left Chloe a Recording
The second box contained an old digital recorder.
Chloe recognized her mother’s voice immediately.
“If Chloe hears this, I failed to keep her outside it.”
Chloe covered her mouth.
Elaine explained that Antonio Moretti had discovered Victor siphoning
money through shipping vendors.
But Antonio had problems of his own.
Illegal businesses.
Undeclared cash.
People he could not safely involve.
Elaine gathered evidence anyway.
Then Antonio died of a heart attack before confronting Victor.
Victor remained beside Dominic.
Elaine disappeared from Moretti bookkeeping and raised Chloe quietly.
Years later, after seeing Victor’s name connected to a hospital charity
vendor, Elaine began checking again.
The same shell companies were operating.
Then her voice weakened.
“I don’t know whether my illness is connected to anything. Don’t assume
that. I am sick, and sick people look for patterns.”
Chloe cried harder.
Even dying, Elaine had refused to manufacture evidence.
May you like
Then came the final sentence.
“But if Victor learns Chloe has the ledger, he will come for her.”
