Chapter 13 - The False Funeral
The transmitter led federal agents to a funeral home on the South Side.
The building had been closed for renovations.
Raymond Cole used the basement to store weapons, cash and people who owed him money.
Agent Shaw entered through the rear loading area.
Victor and Marco followed despite her objections.
They found Mrs. Bell’s daughter locked inside a preparation room.
She was alive.
Two of Raymond’s men had remained behind.
One surrendered.
The other attempted to escape and was arrested in the alley.
Raymond was gone.
On a desk, agents discovered plans for a funeral scheduled the following afternoon.
The deceased was listed as Adrian Montigue.
But Adrian remained alive in federal custody.
“It is a message,” Marco said.
Agent Shaw examined the plans.
“Or a meeting disguised as a funeral.”
The guest list contained judges, union leaders, business owners and several men connected to Gabriel’s remaining network.
Serena’s attorney was included.
So was a prosecutor assigned to Gabriel’s case.
Victor looked at the address.
Holy Mercy Cemetery.
Elena had been buried there.
“This is not random.”
Shaw frowned.
“What are they planning?”
Victor studied the map.
Elena’s grave stood near a private mausoleum owned by the Blackwood family.
The underground structure contained a secondary exit beyond the cemetery wall.
Raymond could bring weapons inside before security arrived.
“He will use the funeral to escape with Serena,” Victor said.
“She is in federal detention,” Shaw replied.
“Her attorney has a hearing tomorrow morning.”
Shaw checked her phone.
Judge Marcus Vale had ordered Serena transferred to county custody for the hearing.
Vale was not listed among Gabriel’s known allies.
But his brother was Nico Vale, the assassin who had attacked Ethan at the hospital.
Shaw’s expression hardened.
“The judge intends to release her.”
Victor looked at the funeral schedule.
“And move her through the cemetery.”
The plan was simple.
Serena would appear at the courthouse.
Judge Vale would dismiss or reduce the charges.
A staged attack would occur during transport.
Raymond would extract her.
The false funeral would provide vehicles, armed men and a route beneath the mausoleum.
Agent Shaw began issuing orders.
“We cancel the transfer.”
Victor shook his head.
“If you cancel it, Raymond disappears.”
“I am not using a prisoner as bait.”
“You used Serena to negotiate with us.”
“That was different.”
“It is never different when you control the cage.”
Shaw stared at him.
Lily’s words returned to Victor.
Protection is not ownership.
He looked away.
“Tell Serena the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That Raymond plans to free her because he needs Elena’s inheritance documents.”
“She will cooperate only if it benefits her.”
“Then show her how little she benefits from remaining loyal.”
Shaw arranged a secure video call.
Serena appeared on the screen wearing an orange detention uniform.
The elegance she once displayed at charity galas had disappeared.
But the cold intelligence remained.
Victor stood where she could see him.
“You came to apologize?” she asked.
“No.”
“Then leave.”
“Raymond Cole is arranging your escape.”
Serena’s eyes flickered.
“I don’t know Raymond.”
“He met your attorney last night.”
“My attorney meets many people.”
Victor placed the false funeral plan before the camera.
Serena recognized the cemetery.
Her expression changed.
Victor continued.
“Raymond intends to move you through the Blackwood mausoleum.”
“Why?”
“He needs your signature to challenge Ethan’s inheritance.”
Serena leaned closer.
“What challenge?”
“Gabriel prepared documents claiming Ethan is not my biological son.”
Lily stood behind Victor.
She had learned of the documents only minutes earlier.
Agents found drafts among the funeral-home records.
Serena smiled.
“Perhaps he isn’t.”
Victor remained still.
“You know he is.”
“Do I?”
“Elena’s medical records prove it.”
“Records can disappear.”
Victor understood what she was doing.
Even now, she wanted to hurt him.
He placed another document before the camera.
It transferred Serena’s claim on the Blackwood estate to Raymond Cole upon her death.
Her face went pale.
“This is forged.”
“So were the guardianship papers you signed with Gabriel.”
Serena looked toward her attorney.
The man avoided her eyes.
Realization entered her face.
Raymond was not rescuing her.
He planned to use her signature.
Then kill her.
Victor spoke quietly.
“You were never Gabriel’s partner.”
Serena’s breathing changed.
“You were an access point.”
“Stop.”
“Adrian called you an investment.”
“Stop.”
“They never intended to give you my empire.”
Serena struck the table.
“I said stop!”
Victor watched her.
For the first time, the woman who had manipulated everyone around her understood that she had also been manipulated.
She looked at her attorney.
“You knew.”
He said nothing.
Serena’s voice became thin.
“You knew Raymond planned to kill me.”
The attorney turned toward the guard.
“I want to end this interview.”
Serena lunged across the table and grabbed his sleeve.
“Sit down!”
The guard pulled her back.
She stared into the camera.
“What do you want, Victor?”
“Testify.”
“Against Raymond?”
“Against everyone.”
Her eyes moved toward Lily.
“And what happens to me?”
“You face what you did to my son.”
Serena laughed bitterly.
“So I receive nothing.”
“You receive the chance to remain alive.”
She studied Victor.
“Would you have killed me that night?”
Victor thought of the foyer.
Of Ethan’s twisted arm.
Of Lily beneath Serena’s heel.
“Yes.”
Lily looked at him.
Victor continued.
“But killing you would have hidden the truth.”
Serena’s expression changed.
“You really are leaving the organization.”
“Yes.”
“Then Raymond will destroy you.”
“Perhaps.”
She leaned back.
“I will testify.”
Agent Shaw moved closer.
“You will provide names, records and details.”
“I want protective custody.”
“You will receive appropriate protection.”
Serena looked at Victor one last time.
“Do not mistake this for remorse.”
“I don’t.”
The screen went dark.
The false funeral proceeded the next day.
Raymond arrived expecting Serena’s transport.
Instead, federal agents surrounded the cemetery.
He fled through the mausoleum tunnel.
Victor waited at the exit.
Raymond emerged carrying a pistol.
“You destroyed your own empire for a nanny and a child.”
Victor stood in the rain.
“No.”
He looked toward the line of federal vehicles.
“I destroyed it because men like you believed my son belonged to it.”
Raymond raised the gun.
Marco appeared behind him.
“Drop it.”
Raymond looked between them.
Then smiled.
“You cannot arrest everyone.”
Agent Shaw stepped from the trees.
“We do not need everyone.”
Serena had provided account numbers, names and dates.
Raymond lowered his weapon.
As agents handcuffed him, he leaned toward Victor.
“You think this ends with me?”
Victor said nothing.
May you like
Raymond smiled.
“Ask Lily why Samuel Harper was investigating you before Elena ever contacted him.”
