Chapter 10 - The Compass
Silvio found Ethan’s backpack in the van parked behind the north lodge.
The silver compass was inside.
For years, Ethan had believed it was simply a keepsake from his grandfather.
Silvio turned it over.
The back plate had a small scratch near the hinge.
He pried it open.
Inside was no battery.
No mechanism.
Only a tiny brass key.
Lucinda stared.
“What does it open?”
Silvio looked at the engraving on the key.
M-17.
He knew immediately.
Marina locker seventeen.
Arturo had rented private storage at the old Moretti marina.
Silvio called his investigator.
“Grant wants Dean.”
“We are not handing him over.”
“We may not have a choice.”
“Silvio.”
“He has two children.”
Dean took the phone from the detective.
“Bring me.”
Silvio’s jaw tightened.
“You understand what he’ll do to you?”
Dean’s voice was tired.
“I helped start this twelve years ago.”
“If I can help end it, bring me.”
One hour later, Silvio arrived at the marina.
Police stayed back because Grant had threatened to kill the children if he saw marked vehicles.
Dean sat in the passenger seat.
Silvio kept the compass key in his pocket.
The marina looked almost exactly as it had four years earlier.
Wet boards.
Rusting lamps.
Dark water.
Grant stood at the far end of Pier C.
Ethan and Mia were beside him.
Their wrists were tied loosely in front.
Grant held a pistol.
Silvio stepped from the car.
“Let them go.”
Grant smiled.
“Bring Dean.”
Dean got out.
Grant’s expression darkened.
“You should have stayed loyal.”
Dean laughed.
“I was never loyal.”
Silvio moved one step closer.
Grant raised the gun.
“Stop.”
Silvio stopped.
“What do you want?”
“The key.”
Silvio said nothing.
Grant smiled.
“So you found it.”
“What’s in locker seventeen?”
“Something your father should have destroyed.”
“Then why do you want it?”
“Insurance.”
“Against who?”
Grant’s expression changed.
Before he could answer, Ethan spoke.
“Uncle Silvio.”
Grant jerked the gun toward him.
“Quiet.”
Silvio’s body tensed.
Ethan looked at Silvio anyway.
“Grandpa told Dad the compass was for the truth.”
Grant struck the side of Ethan’s head with his open hand.
Mia screamed.
Silvio moved.
Grant aimed the pistol at Mia.
“Another step and you lose one.”
Silvio stopped instantly.
Dean raised his hands.
“Grant.”
Grant looked at him.
“This was never supposed to be murder.”
Dean’s voice carried over the rain.
“You turned it into that.”
Grant laughed.
“You think Arturo was innocent?”
“No.”
“You think Mateo was innocent?”
“Yes.”
“He was going to destroy everything.”
“So you killed him.”
“I protected myself.”
Grant’s voice rose.
“He was going to prison with evidence that would have put Lucinda away too.”
Silvio looked at Lucinda.
She had remained in a vehicle farther back with security.
Grant continued.
“The money went through accounts in her name.”
“She signed the transfers.”
“She would have lost everything.”
Silvio looked at him.
“So you killed Mateo and convinced Lucinda it was for her.”
Grant smiled.
“She convinced herself.”
Then Dean asked the question Silvio needed answered.
“What is in the locker?”
Grant’s smile faded.
“The original trust.”
Silvio understood.
Not the amended trust.
The original.
The document before Grant’s manipulation.
Grant continued.
“And Mateo’s forensic accounting files.”
Silvio looked at the marina office.
Locker seventeen was inside.
Enough evidence to unravel years of fraud.
Enough evidence to prove motive.
Enough evidence to destroy Grant.
Silvio reached slowly into his pocket.
Grant tightened his grip on the pistol.
“Take it out.”
Silvio showed him the brass key.
Grant smiled.
May you like
Then a second gunshot echoed from somewhere behind them.
Dean collapsed.
