Chapter 5: The Evidence They Wanted Buried
The attorney standing behind the police officers looked exactly like the kind of person Vivian Castellano would hire.
Perfect suit.
Perfect posture.
Perfect expression.
A man who could walk into a disaster and make it sound like a business meeting.
His name was Richard Hale.
Vincent knew him.
Everyone in the Moretti circle knew him.
He was not famous because he won impossible cases.
He was famous because he made problems disappear.
Richard stepped inside with a folder in his hand.
“Mr. Moretti,” he said politely.
Vincent did not move.
“Richard.””
The attorney glanced toward Clara.
Then toward the flash drive on the table.
His eyes stayed there for half a second too long.
But half a second was enough.
Vincent noticed.
“So this is about that.””
Richard’s expression remained calm.
“I’m not sure what you mean.””
“Don’t insult me.””
The police officers exchanged looks.
Richard sighed.
“I understand this situation is emotional.””
“Emotional?””
Vincent’s voice sharpened.
“A young woman was attacked at my engagement party, and twenty minutes later she’s being accused of theft?””
Richard opened the folder.
“The timing is unfortunate.””
“No.””
Vincent stepped forward.
“The timing is intentional.””
Richard looked at him.
“You should be careful with accusations.””
“You should be careful with lies.””
The room became tense.
Clara stood behind Vincent, silent.
But he could feel her shaking.
Not from the police.
Not from Richard.
From the fear that this was happening again.
That powerful people were once again deciding her life.
Richard turned his attention to her.
“Miss Reyes.””
Clara looked up.
“You are being investigated for the unauthorized removal of confidential materials from Castellano Development.””
“I didn’t steal anything.””
Richard nodded slowly.
“Of course you would say that.””
Vincent’s eyes narrowed.
“What exactly is she accused of taking?””
Richard looked at the document.
“Company records.””
“What records?””
“That information is part of the investigation.””
“That means you don’t know.””
Richard’s face tightened.
Only slightly.
But Vincent saw it.
“You came here with police before knowing what was taken?””
Richard remained silent.
A police officer stepped forward.
“Mr. Moretti, we’re not here to argue.””
Vincent looked at him.
“Then tell me what evidence you have.””
The officer hesitated.
“We have a complaint.””
“From who?””
Silence.
Vincent already knew.
“Castellano Development?””
The officer looked away.
That was the answer.
Clara finally spoke.
“I never entered their building.””
Richard turned toward her.
“Miss Reyes, we have security footage.””
Her face changed.
“What?””
“Showing you near the company offices three days ago.””
Clara looked confused.
“I was never there.””
Richard opened another page.
“Then perhaps you can explain why your photograph appears in the building’s security system.””
Vincent looked at Clara.
She looked genuinely shocked.
Not a good actor.
Not someone caught.
Someone confused.
Richard smiled slightly.
“You understand why this looks serious.””
Vincent noticed something.
Richard wanted Clara frightened.
Not questioned.
Not investigated.
Frightened.
Because frightened people made mistakes.
“Show us the footage,” Vincent said.
Richard looked at him.
“That is not necessary.””
“It is if you want us to believe you.””
The attorney’s jaw tightened.
“This is not a trial, Mr. Moretti.””
“No.””
Vincent looked at the officers.
“It’s an accusation.””
The officer seemed uncomfortable.
Finally, he said:
“We can review the evidence at the station.””
Clara immediately stepped back.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
Her voice was quiet.
But desperate.
“No, I can’t go there.””
Vincent noticed.
“Why?””
Clara looked toward the door.
“I told you.””
“What?””
“They found me.””
Richard’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Vincent turned toward him.
“What does that mean?””
Richard said nothing.
Clara’s breathing became faster.
“My mother told me never to let them take me somewhere private.””
Richard interrupted.
“Your mother was unstable.””
The words came out too easily.
Too practiced.
Clara looked at him.
“You knew my mother.””
A pause.
Richard did not answer.
Vincent noticed.
“You knew her?””
Richard adjusted his sleeve.
“Everyone involved in that old case knew each other.””
“What old case?””
Richard looked at Vincent.
Then smiled.
“That’s exactly the problem.””
He turned toward the officers.
“Miss Reyes has been manipulated by people who want revenge.””
Clara stared at him.
“Revenge?””
Her voice cracked.
“My mother died trying to expose what happened.””
Richard’s expression remained cold.
“And now you’re repeating her mistakes.””
Vincent stepped forward.
“Enough.””
The word carried through the room.
Everyone stopped.
“You came here with a charge,” Vincent said.
“Then show evidence.””
Richard looked at him.
“You’re protecting her.””
“Yes.””
The answer was immediate.
“Why?””
Vincent glanced at Clara.
Then back.
“Because unlike everyone else tonight, I’m not pretending not to see.””
Richard’s face hardened.
For the first time, his professional mask slipped.
“You don’t know what you’re protecting.””
Vincent smiled without humor.
“That sentence is becoming popular tonight.””
The police officers finally intervened.
“Mr. Moretti, we need to follow procedure.””
Vincent nodded.
“Fine.””
Clara looked at him.
“Fine?””
He turned toward her.
“I’m coming with you.””
“No.””
The answer surprised him.
Clara shook her head.
“You can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because if they take me, they take the drive.””
Vincent looked at her.
“You think they’re after the drive.””
“I know they are.””
Richard’s eyes moved toward her.
And Clara saw it.
The confirmation.
She stepped back.
“He knows.””
Richard frowned.
“Excuse me?””
“You know what’s on it.””
Nobody spoke.
Clara’s voice grew stronger.
“That’s why you came.””
Richard looked at the police officers.
“This woman is making accusations.””
“No.””
Vincent picked up the flash drive.
“This woman is asking questions.””
Richard’s expression changed.
“Mr. Moretti, I strongly advise you to hand that over.””
Vincent looked at the drive.
Then at him.
“No.””
The word was simple.
But it changed everything.
The police officers exchanged looks.
Richard’s patience disappeared.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.””
Vincent stepped closer.
“Actually, I think I do.””
He lowered his voice.
“I think my family spent years protecting the wrong people.””
Richard stared at him.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
He answered quietly.
“Yes?””
A few seconds passed.
Then his eyes lifted toward Vincent.
Something had happened.
Something unexpected.
He ended the call.
And for the first time all night, Richard Hale looked nervous.
Vincent noticed.
“What?””
Richard said nothing.
The police officer asked:
“Is there a problem?””
Richard slowly looked at Clara.
Then at Vincent.
“The investigation has changed.””
Vincent waited.
Richard swallowed.
“The company records we thought Miss Reyes stole…”
A pause.
“They were not stolen.””
Everyone froze.
“What?”” the officer asked.
Richard continued.
“They were leaked.””
Vincent frowned.
“By who?””
Richard looked at the flash drive.
Then said the words that made Clara’s face lose all color.
“By someone inside Castellano Development.””
The room went silent.
Because if the documents were leaked from inside…
Then Clara had not been running from the person who wanted the evidence.
She had been running from the person who created it.
Richard slowly opened another folder.
Inside was a printed photograph.
He placed it on the table.
Vincent looked down.
It was a picture from fifteen years ago.
A group of executives standing outside the construction site before the accident.
Leon Castellano was there.
Vincent’s father was there.
And standing between them, smiling at the camera, was someone much younger.
Someone Clara had known her entire life.
Someone she had never suspected.
Clara whispered:
“No…”
Vincent looked at her.
“Who is it?””
Her hands covered her mouth.
Tears appeared in her eyes.
Because the person in the photograph was not a stranger.
It was the last person she expected.
“My father.””
The room went completely still.
And beneath the photograph was a handwritten note.
May you like
Three words.
*He betrayed us.*
