Chapter 12 - The Man Behind the Restaurant
Anthony Russo had employed Isabella for six years.
He brought Rosa soup when she was sick.
He attended Sofia’s funeral.
He once loaned Isabella money after a plumbing disaster and refused interest.
Now his number sat beneath an order to sabotage her mother’s car.
"No."
Luca did not argue.
"I want to hear him say it."
"Isabella—"
"I need to."
Anthony’s house was already under surveillance.
Grant warned her not to confront him.
She did anyway.
With Grant listening.
Anthony opened the door wearing pajamas.
His face softened when he saw Isabella.
Then he saw Luca.
The softness vanished.
"Isabella."
"Did you kill my mother?"
Anthony’s eyes flickered.
That was enough.
But Isabella needed words.
"Let us inside."
He did.
They sat in the living room where photographs of Anthony’s grandchildren covered the walls.
It made everything worse.
"I loved your mother," he said.
"Do not say that."
"I did."
"Then answer."
Anthony rubbed both hands over his face.
"Dominic called me."
"In 2008."
"Yes."
"He told you to handle her car."
"Yes."
Isabella’s voice shook.
"And you did."
"No."
She stared.
Anthony looked at Luca.
"Dominic didn’t trust anyone. He gave the same job to two people."
"Who was the other?" Luca asked.
"I never knew."
"But you tampered with the car."
"I loosened nothing."
"What did you do?"
Anthony began to cry.
"I put a tracking device under it."
Isabella froze.
"Why?"
"Dominic wanted to know where Sofia was meeting Daniel."
"So you helped him."
"Yes."
"And two days later she died."
"Yes."
"Did you know he would kill her?"
"No."
"Did you suspect?"
Anthony did not answer.
That was answer enough.
Isabella stood.
"You came to her funeral."
"I was ashamed."
"You hugged me."
"I know."
"You hired me."
"Because Rosa asked."
"Did you spend six years watching me for Dominic?"
Anthony looked down.
"At first."
Her stomach turned.
"For how long?"
"Three months."
"And then?"
"I lied to him. Told him you knew nothing."
"Why?"
"Because you were Sofia’s girl."
Isabella laughed bitterly.
"You don’t get points for deciding not to help murder me too."
"No."
Anthony nodded.
"I don’t."
Grant entered with agents.
Anthony did not resist.
Before they took him, he turned.
"The other man."
Isabella stopped.
"What?"
"I remembered his nickname."
Luca looked over.
"What nickname?"
Anthony swallowed.
"The Priest."
Grant froze.
"I know that name."
Everyone turned.
"Who?"
Grant’s expression darkened.
"Frank Caruso."
Isabella frowned.
"Caruso?"
Luca went still.
"Father Michael."
Grant nodded.
"His brother."
The church in Rhode Island.
The priest who helped Elena.
The priest who had conveniently known everything.
They called him.
No answer.
Elena heard the name and nearly dropped her cup.
"Frank Caruso was Dominic’s driver."
"Did Michael know?" Luca asked.
"I don’t know."
They drove to Rhode Island.
The church was locked.
Father Michael’s office had been cleared.
No files.
No recorder.
No personal belongings.
A nun found them.
"Father Michael left this morning."
"Where?"
"He said Rome."
Luca cursed.
"Did anyone visit him?"
"His brother."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"Frank?"
She nodded.
"Do you know him?"
"Of course. He comes every Christmas."
Isabella’s blood ran cold.
Frank had remained hidden in plain sight.
The nun added, "They argued."
"About what?"
"I heard Father Michael say, ‘I will not protect you anymore.’"
Grant arrived an hour later.
He had found Frank’s address.
New Jersey.
By the time agents reached it, the house was empty.
But the basement was not.
Inside were boxes of records Dominic thought destroyed.
Photographs.
Payment logs.
Copies of threatening letters.
And a VHS tape labeled SOFIA.
Isabella watched it with Grant, Luca, Rosa, Elena, and Daniel.
Security footage from a garage.
Sofia’s car.
Frank Caruso kneeling beside the brake line.
Clear face.
Clear timestamp.
Rosa gripped Isabella’s hand.
Daniel left the room.
He could not watch.
Grant paused the tape.
"We have him."
Luca asked, "Where will he go?"
"Family."
"Michael."
Grant nodded.
Back to Rhode Island.
They returned at dusk.
The church lights were on this time.
Father Michael stood at the altar.
Frank sat in the front pew.
A handgun rested beside him.
"Don’t," Michael whispered.
Frank looked toward the door.
At Isabella.
"She looks like Sofia."
Isabella’s chest tightened.
"You killed her."
Frank shook his head.
"Dominic ordered it."
"You still did it."
"Yes."
No excuses.
No denial.
That almost hurt more.
Frank picked up the gun.
Luca stepped forward.
Michael stood between them.
"Frank."
"Move."
"No."
"Michael."
"You have spent fifteen years telling me confession is useless without repentance."
Frank laughed.
"You finally learned something."
"Put it down."
Frank looked at his brother.
Then at Isabella.
"I was supposed to frighten Sofia."
"By cutting her brakes?"
"Dominic said she would discover it before driving."
"What?"
"He told me he wanted proof Daniel was watching her."
Luca frowned.
"That makes no sense."
Frank’s face twisted.
"Because Dominic lied to everyone."
He dropped the gun onto the pew.
"I realized too late."
Agents entered.
Frank raised his hands.
Before they took him, he said, "There is one thing Dominic never knew."
Grant stopped.
"What?"
"Carlo Moretti left a will."
Luca stared.
"My father?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
Frank looked toward Elena.
"Your wife had it."
Elena shook her head.
"No."
Frank smiled sadly.
"Not you."
Everyone froze.
Luca’s face went blank.
May you like
Frank continued.
"Carlo had another wife."
