Chapter 4
Raffaele’s first instinct was to drag Marcus into the study.
Claire stopped him.
“You want truth or another confrontation?”
“Both.”
“You already tried one.”
Raffaele looked at her.
She did not blink.
So they investigated first.
The Corsini fleet system had been replaced eleven months after Anna’s death, but an outside software company still maintained archived backups.
Retrieving them required lawyers, contracts, and several days.
Raffaele hated the delay.
He tolerated it.
Meanwhile, Claire located Peter Sloan.
He agreed to speak only after being assured Marcus would not attend.
Peter had moved to Morristown and now managed service for a commercial delivery company.
When Raffaele entered the conference room, Peter remained standing.
“You finally want to hear what I said?”
Raffaele stopped.
“You said something?”
“To Marcus.”
Peter laughed without humor.
“Of course.”
The day in Anna’s photograph, Peter had inspected her sedan after she complained that the steering felt wrong.
He found nothing dangerous.
But Marcus ordered him to replace part of the steering assembly anyway.
“Why?”
“He said you wanted it done before the charity dinner.”
“I never gave that order.”
Peter nodded.
“I know that now.”
The replacement part arrived through one of Marcus’s preferred vendors.
Peter installed it.
The next morning he noticed the work order had disappeared from the internal system.
He challenged Marcus.
Marcus told him it had been billed elsewhere for privacy.
Then Anna died.
“I asked for the part back from the wreck,” Peter said.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to inspect it.”
“And?”
“Marcus fired me before the insurance company released the vehicle.”
Raffaele sat completely still.
“What reason?”
“Missing inventory.”
“Did you steal anything?”
“No.”
Raffaele believed him.
That did not mean Peter was right about everything.
But it meant Marcus had removed someone who was asking the exact question Raffaele now needed answered.
Peter pushed an old folder across the table.
“I kept my handwritten service notes.”
Inside was the sedan’s mileage.
Reported complaint.
Part number.
Date.
And one line written beside Marcus’s name.
REQUESTED NO ELECTRONIC ENTRY.
Raffaele looked at Peter.
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
Peter’s expression hardened.
“I tried.”
Raffaele said nothing.
Peter continued.
“Your office told me Marcus handled fleet issues.”
May you like
Raffaele knew exactly who had created that rule.
He had.
