Chapter 9
Police interviews uncovered the call.
Clara had contacted local law enforcement anonymously thirty-seven minutes before the assault.
She reported that a “serious family confrontation” might occur at the Romano estate.
She said children could be present.
She requested that officers remain near enough to respond if necessary but did not identify herself.
The call had been recorded through ordinary dispatch procedure.
Rachel played only the legally available summary for Dante and Javier.
Javier looked physically ill.
“She knew.”
Dante remained silent.
“She knew something would happen.”
“Yes.”
“Before I knew.”
“Yes.”
Javier stood.
“What the hell was she planning?”
There was more.
Clara had emailed a copy of the Wisconsin lease to herself the morning of the barbecue.
She also moved two suitcases into her car before leaving home.
She had arranged for a pet sitter.
Stopped mail delivery.
Transferred enough personal cash to live independently for several months.
This was not spontaneous.
Clara had expected not to return home with Javier.
Rachel found one final detail.
Two weeks earlier, Clara had requested a consultation with a lawyer who represented people trying to sever ties with organized-crime families without entering witness protection.
Dante read the sentence again.
Not a prosecutor.
Not an informant handler.
A private attorney helping clients restructure finances, relocate, and establish distance from criminal relatives.
The obvious theory collapsed.
Clara had not been preparing Javier to become more powerful inside the family.
She had been preparing for him to lose his place in it.
Dante thought back through everything.
The chairs moved closer.
The questions about cameras.
The anonymous police call.
The hidden Wisconsin house.
The money.
The bags.
The text messages making Javier angrier and angrier at Dante.
Then he remembered Clara’s face after Javier was put on the grass.
She had not looked shocked.
She had looked frightened only when Dante noticed her phone.
Dante finally understood the shape of what she had done.
The reason still made no sense.
May you like
Until Javier whispered:
“She wanted you to throw me out.”
