Chapter 13 - THE NANNY
Margaret.
Daniel's nanny.
The woman who had raised him since infancy.
The woman who called me when Daniel collapsed.
The woman who knew every doctor.
Every security code.
Every routine.
Every weakness.
I called her.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Vincent looked at me.
“Boss…”
“Find her.”
We searched her apartment.
Empty.
No clothes.
No phone.
No passport.
Nothing.
Then we found a hidden room.
Inside were dozens of photographs.
Daniel sleeping.
Daniel eating.
Daniel playing.
Daniel visiting doctors.
Daniel talking to me.
Every important moment of his life.
Recorded.
Catalogued.
Filed.
Elena stared at the walls.
“She was watching him.”
I found a folder.
Inside was a list of payments.
Millions of dollars.
All transferred through shell companies.
Recipient:
MARGARET HAYES.
I looked at Vincent.
“Who is she really?”
He searched the database.
His expression changed.
“Boss…”
“What?”
“Margaret Hayes was married to a federal prosecutor.”
“Name?”
He swallowed.
“Thomas Hayes.”
I knew that name.
Thomas Hayes had spent twenty years investigating the Black Ledger.
He disappeared eleven years ago.
I opened another file.
A photograph of Thomas.
Beside him stood Margaret.
Then another photograph.
Margaret with my father.
Then one with Matteo.
Then one with Daniel.
This woman had been connected to everyone.
Elena whispered:
“She wasn't the nanny.”
“What was she?”
“A handler.”
“For who?”
“For Daniel.”
My blood turned cold.
A phone rang.
Margaret.
I answered.
Her voice was calm.
“You finally found me.”
“Where is my son?”
“With me.”
My grip tightened.
“If you hurt him—”
“I won't.”
“Where?”
“St. Patrick's old cathedral.”
“You have ten minutes.”
“No.”
“What?”
“You have ten minutes to come alone.”
“I'm not coming alone.”
“You will if you want Daniel alive.”
The line ended.
I looked at Vincent.
“I'll go.”
“No.”
“I said I'll go.”
Elena stepped forward.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“You'll need someone who understands her.”
She looked at me.
“Margaret recruited me years ago.”
I froze.
“What?”
“She wasn't watching Daniel.”
She was watching me.
I stared at her.
“Why?”
Elena's voice broke.
“To find out whether you were like your father.”
I said nothing.
“And I was supposed to kill you if you were.”
Silence.
Vincent raised his gun.
I stopped him.
“No.”
Elena looked at me.
“Gabriel…”
“You saved Daniel.”
“I did.”
“Then I believe you.”
We left.
The cathedral was dark.
Margaret stood near the altar.
Daniel sat beside her.
Alive.
Unharmed.
I stepped forward.
“Let him go.”
Margaret smiled.
“I will.”
“Then why am I here?”
She looked at me.
“Because Daniel is not the only person I needed to test.”
“Who else?”
She turned.
Isabella stood behind her.
Bound.
Margaret smiled.
“Her.”
Then the cathedral doors slammed shut.
And every light came on.
Dozens of armed men surrounded us.
May you like
Margaret whispered:
“Welcome to the final meeting of the Black Ledger.”
