Chapter 14 - Echoes of the Past
Though the storm had passed,
the ripples of Enzo’s betrayal still echoed through the subterranean corridors of the Chicago underworld.
Down in the federal courthouse downtown,
the grand jury hearings for Thomas Vance and Enzo Santoro were underway.
Reporters camped outside the marble steps twenty-four hours a day,
hungry for every scandalous detail of the multi-million-dollar conspiracy.
I sat in my penthouse study,
reviewing the final corporate restructuring documents for Meridian Freight.
My phone buzzed against the polished mahogany desk.
It was Viktor.
“Boss,
” Viktor’s voice came through the encrypted line,
serious and measured.
“Speak,
” I commanded.
“We just received a prison visitation request from Enzo Santoro at the federal penitentiary.
” I paused,
my pen hovering over the signature line.
“Enzo wants to talk to me?
” “He says he has one final piece of information regarding the syndicate capos in the outer boroughs,
” Viktor reported.
“He claims there’s still one mole left inside Meridian Freight.
” A cold,
calculating stillness settled over the room.
“Did he give a name?
” “No,
” Viktor replied.
“He said he will only give it to you face-to-face.
” I leaned back in my leather chair,
staring out at the expansive Chicago skyline.
“He thinks he can play one last game of psychological chess,
” I murmured.
“He thinks he can use a ghost story to buy himself favorable conditions in prison.
” “Should I decline the visit?
” Viktor asked.
“No,
” I replied calmly,
a dangerous edge creeping into my voice.
“Order an armored transport.
” “I’m going to visit our former underboss.
May you like
” “Let’s see if he has anything left to say.
”
