Chapter 4 - the house on the lake
Night fell over Lake Como, wrapping the estate grounds in a thick, cool mist. The waters of the lake were still as glass, reflecting the silver light of a half-moon.
At 11:00 PM, Roman walked down the winding stone path toward the timber boathouse at the water's edge. He had shed his white suit jacket, wearing a simple dark linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing the heavy black tattoos on his forearms.
Standing beside the boathouse door was Marcus, holding a heavy tactical flashlight.
"The perimeter cameras were looped for fifteen minutes yesterday at 3:00 PM, boss," Marcus reported in a low whisper. "Signed off under Graham's administrative clearance."
Roman’s jaw set like iron. "Open the door."
Marcus unlocked the outer timber latch, and they stepped into the damp, cool interior of the boathouse. The smell of aged pine and lake water filled the air. Roman walked to the far corner behind the boat winch, rolling back a heavy wool rug to reveal an iron hatch set into the concrete floor.
He inserted the brass key into the lock, turning it clockwise.
Click.
The heavy iron hatch lifted smoothly, revealing a short flight of stone steps leading down into a small subterranean vault built into the bedrock beneath the lake.
Roman descended the stairs, Marcus following with the flashlight beam.
In the center of the small room sat a heavy iron chest. Roman stepped up to it, lifting the unlocked latch. Inside lay three thick, leather-bound ledgers detailing the Vale family's historic transactions across Europe.
Roman pulled out the third ledger—the one marked 2006.
He flipped to the back pages. Several documents had been neatly razor-sliced out of the binding, leaving only thin paper stubs behind.
"What was taken, boss?" Marcus asked, leaning in.
"The original land grant deeds for the northern harbor accounts," Roman said, his deep voice dropping into an icy register. "And the adoption records for my late brother's estate."
Roman closed the ledger with a heavy thud. Graham wasn't just stealing money or leaking trade routes to rival syndicates. He was removing legal evidence of bloodline inheritance—evidence that directly affected who held title to the entire Vale territory.
"Where is Megan Cole's private file?" Roman asked suddenly, turning to Marcus.
May you like
Marcus blinked in surprise. "The maid? Her file is in the human resources cabinet in the east wing."
"Fetch it now," Roman commanded. "Bring it to my study immediately."
