Chapter 1
Luciano did not ask Odessa the question twice.
He turned toward Mabel instead.
His daughter was crouched beside the scattered contents of her purse, trying to collect a small handkerchief, two crayons, a plastic bracelet and a folded piece of blue paper.
Luciano bent down.
“What’s that?”
Mabel immediately covered the paper with both hands.
“Aunt Odessa said not to show you.”
The entire hall seemed to become quieter.
Odessa stood abruptly.
“It’s nothing.”
Luciano looked at her.
“I wasn't talking to you.”
Mabel slowly handed him the paper.
It was not something a four-year-old could understand.
A bank deposit confirmation.
Across the top was the name:
MORETTI YOUTH FENCING FUND.
Luciano’s expression changed.
The charity had been created by his late wife, Catherine, six years earlier to pay fencing fees and equipment costs for children whose families could not afford the sport.
After Catherine died from cancer eighteen months ago, Luciano left administration of the fund largely to Odessa and Grant.
He looked at Mabel.
“Where did you get this?”
She pointed toward the curtained donor office behind the exhibition strip.
“It fell down.”
“From where?”
“Uncle Grant’s papers.”
Grant stopped trying to stand.
Luciano looked toward him.
Mabel continued.
“I said Mommy’s name.”
Catherine’s photograph appeared on the fund’s logo.
“And then?”
“Aunt Odessa said give it back.”
“Did you?”
Mabel shook her head.
“I wanted to show you.”
Odessa moved.
Luciano’s bodyguards immediately stepped between them.
There it was.
The reason for the accusation.
Mabel had picked up something she was never supposed to carry back into the benefit.
Luciano held up the deposit slip.
The amount was $186,000.
The receiving account was not the youth fund.
It belonged to Moretti Athletic Development LLC.
Luciano had never heard of it.
He looked at Odessa.
“You accused a four-year-old of stealing a brooch because she picked up a piece of paper?”
Odessa crossed her arms.
“You don't understand what you're looking at.”
May you like
Luciano handed the document to his attorney, who had been among the guests.
“Then tonight seems like a good time to learn.”
