Chapter 13 - Helena's Confession
Helena asked to speak to Carmine before prosecutors moved her to county custody.
He almost refused.
Then Leo said, “Maybe she should tell the truth before she forgets it again.”
Carmine did not know whether to be proud or heartbroken.
He chose both.
Helena sat across a metal interview table wearing plain clothes and no jewelry.
Without the estate, the Bentley, or Carmine’s name beside hers, she looked younger.
Not innocent.
Just smaller.
“I am pleading guilty to child endangerment and conspiracy,” she said.
Carmine said nothing.
“I told prosecutors everything I know about Sal and Adrian.”
“Good.”
“You don’t have to forgive me.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
She flinched.
“I did care about Leo.”
Carmine’s expression changed.
“No. You cared about what he could cost you.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I hated that he loved you without being afraid of you.”
Carmine stared at her.
“My father taught me love was leverage. If somebody loved you, you could make them obey. When Leo kept forgiving me, it made me angry.”
“That is not love.”
“I know that now.”
Carmine leaned back.
“Why did Alessia know your name?”
Helena wiped her face.
“Because she found my birth certificate in Sal’s files.”
“Why would she care?”
“Because my mother worked for Hartwell.”
Carmine went still.
“Doing what?”
“She was a court investigator. She built guardianship cases.”
“And Sal?”
“He paid her for information. Then they had me.”
Helena looked down.
“My mother tried to leave Hartwell. She died in a car accident when I was twelve.”
Carmine felt cold.
Another crash.
“Did Sal tell you I caused it?”
“Yes.”
“Did he believe that?”
“I don’t know.”
Carmine stood.
Helena reached into a paper folder and pushed one document toward him.
“I saved this because I thought I could use it against Sal someday.”
It was an internal Hartwell memo.
Two names were highlighted.
ALLESSIA DE LUCA — TERMINATION OF CONTROL MATTER.
MARIANNE RUSK — TERMINATION OF CONTROL MATTER.
Both women had died in car crashes.
Carmine read the authorization line.
No individual signature.
Only a department code.
FAMILY STABILITY DIVISION.
Then he saw the supervising attorney listed underneath.
EVELYN HARTWELL.
Carmine knew that name too.
She had been the private attorney who drafted his father’s will.
And she had attended Leo’s baptism.
---
The next chapters are on the left side of your screen.
May you like
If you enjoyed the story, bookmark my site: https://vibe.treeiq.biz
New stories are posted daily, so check back for updates.
