Chapter 9 - THE TRAP IN THE GARDEN
Santiago moved Sophia to a secure residence outside Chicago.
Ruby went with her.
The house belonged to a retired family attorney who had no connection to Matteo's businesses. It was small, quiet, and surrounded by a garden.
Sophia liked it immediately.
She chose the green bedroom.
Ruby helped her arrange the books and sketchpads.
For the first time in years, Sophia laughed without checking who might hear.
Santiago stayed at the mansion to prepare the evidence for the authorities. Tomas coordinated with the independent investigators and the district attorney.
Then Matteo made his move.
A message arrived on Santiago's phone.
I have the original notebook. Come to the east garden at midnight. Alone.
Santiago showed Tomas.
“It's a trap,” Tomas said.
“Obviously.”
“Then don't go.”
“I need him to believe I will.”
They arranged surveillance around the garden and informed the authorities. Santiago wore a recording device and carried no weapon.
At midnight, he entered the garden.
Matteo stood near the old stone fountain.
“You came.”
“You asked.”
Matteo held up the blue notebook.
“You should have left this alone.”
“Why did you kill my mother?”
Matteo laughed without humor.
“She was going to destroy everything.”
“She was trying to protect her children.”
“She was trying to give away control to lawyers and accountants. Your father built an empire. She wanted to turn it into a charity.”
“Maybe she was right.”
Matteo's face twisted.
“You sound like her.”
“Did you poison her?”
Matteo looked toward the dark windows.
“She refused to understand.”
“Did you order Evan Brennan's death?”
A brief flicker crossed his face.
“I don't know who that is.”
“Ruby's brother.”
Matteo shrugged.
“People die every day.”
Santiago felt his anger rise, but he kept his voice level.
“He found the key in your car.”
Matteo's expression changed.
“So you know about the transport records.”
“I know enough.”
Matteo stepped closer.
“You don't know anything. Your mother was going to expose the accounts, the shipments, the doctors, everything. I had to stop her.”
“And Sophia?”
“She saw too much.”
Santiago stared at him.
“So you made everyone believe she couldn't communicate.”
Matteo said nothing.
The silence was an answer.
Then a voice came from behind the trees.
“That's enough.”
Tomas emerged with two investigators. Several officers moved in from the garden entrance.
Matteo dropped the notebook.
“You set me up.”
“No,” Santiago said. “You explained yourself.”
Matteo tried to run.
An officer caught his arm. Another secured his other wrist.
As they placed him in handcuffs, Matteo looked back at Santiago.
“You'll never hold this family together.”
Santiago watched him being led away.
“Maybe it doesn't need to stay together.”
The notebook was recovered and sealed as evidence.
May you like
Inside were the original entries, the names of the companies, and a list of dates that matched the payments to Dr. Voss.
The investigation had finally become impossible to bury.
