Chapter 6 - Uncovering Anomalies Inside The State Police Forensic Report
Back in the subterranean vault beneath the DeLuca mansion, Lorenzo tossed the forensic file onto a heavy metal examination table.
Bruno lay curled up by the roaring fireplace in the corner, devouring a large bowl of raw steak supplied by the estate kitchen.
Mason stood opposite Lorenzo, flipping through the glossy crime scene photographs taken in the ravine north of Manhattan two months ago.
“Look at the vehicle frame number stamped in this photo,” Lorenzo pointed a finger at a magnified section of twisted metal.
Mason leaned in close, adjusting his reading glasses as he examined the charred alphanumeric characters under the harsh halogen lamp.
“That’s not Isabella’s Mercedes,” Mason realized aloud, his eyes widening in sudden realization. “That’s a sedan stolen from a rental lot in Yonkers three days prior.”
“Exactly,” Lorenzo said, his voice dangerously low. “The VIN plates were swapped before the car was pushed down the embankment.”
“And the dental records?” Mason asked, flipping to the coroner’s official sign-off sheet bearing Dr. Alistair’s signature.
“Dr. Alistair used dental charts provided by an independent dentist in Boston, not our family records in New York,” Lorenzo stated flatly.
“Which means he never actually examined the remains inside that casket,” Mason concluded, shaking his head slowly in disgust.
“He didn't have to,” Lorenzo added. “He was paid off by someone with enough money and leverage to bypass federal oversight.”
“Who benefits from making Isabella disappear while leaving your empire intact?” Mason muttered, pacing across the concrete floor.
“A rival syndicate trying to destabilize my contracts, or a traitor within our own ranks testing my vulnerability,” Lorenzo answered.
He walked over to his secure wall safe, spinning the combination dial with crisp, rhythmic precision before swinging the heavy steel door open.
Inside sat a encrypted satellite phone used exclusively for communicating with high-level federal contacts who owed him favors.
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“What are you going to do, boss?” Mason asked, watching him pick up the sleek black receiver.
“I’m going to pay a very personal midnight visit to Dr. Alistair,” Lorenzo said grimly. “And he’s going to tell me every single name on his payroll.”
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