CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE

CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE
ELENA

The hospital corridor was extremely bright after an unslept night. I held a tray with three coffees, and Alexander had a bag of French bakery pastries he referred to as ‘the sole good one in Chicago.’ Billionaires apparently have a lot invested in their croissants.

"You're quiet today," I told him, nudging him lightly with my elbow as we approached Marco's room.

Alexander swept his hand through his impeccably styled hair, causing it to become untidy and somehow even more handsome.

“I'm recalling what Marco told us last night about Margaret.”

I nodded, remembering Marco's critical information about who had last seen Margaret before she vanished. My stomach churned uneasily with a tangle of curiosity and fear.

"Let's listen to him first before we make up our minds," I said, attempting to sound braver than I actually felt.

We spotted Marco resting against his pillow. He appeared to be better than he had been last night. His cheeks had color, and he no longer had an IV drip hooked into his arm. He smiled the moment he caught sight of us.

"You returned," he stated, glancing at Alexander.

"I brought breakfast," said Alexander.

I distributed the coffees, and Alexander sat down the bag of baked goods on the wheeled table.
The room was hushed and tense while the brothers stared back and forth at each other under the harsh glow of the fluorescent lighting.

I asked Marco, "How are you?"

"Good. The doctor says I can go home tomorrow if everything is okay."

Alexander sat beside the bed, and I sat in the corner chair. This allowed them space but kept me near, just in case.

"You said you'd located the individual who'd seen Margaret before she vanished," he said bluntly. "Tell me about it."

Marco nodded and took a drink of his coffee before speaking. "When I appeared before the judge, I believed that I could not go back to my family. They would not take me back, and Dad did make that clear." He glanced over at Alexander. "So I investigated Vincent Carter. I believed if I could bring him down, perhaps I could rectify what I had done."

"Why him?" I asked

“I had heard enough stories throughout the years to realize he was trouble. I believed announcing it publicly would legitimize our family business.”

Alexander's face stiffened, but he didn't say anything.

"I saw what he did year after year, his companies, and which firm he worked for," Marco said. "I then discovered ties to Margaret. At first, I assumed it was an accident, then I discovered something interesting." He leaned forward slightly. "Margaret was investigating Vincent, too."

Alexander's coffee cup halted mid-air before reaching his mouth. "Really?"

"She was seeing how he was connected to our family. I discovered her research records in an old storage facility that she had rented."

"Why would she be investigating Vincent?" Alexander asked.

Marco took a deep breath. "Maybe because she discovered he was her brother."

The room fell silent. I witnessed Alexander pale when he grasped this news.

Marco continued. "She probably discovered that just before she disappeared. There were documents in her notes--birth records, photographs from years and years before. This could be the reason if father is being truthful."

I attempted to maintain a solemn look, but my thoughts were racing.

"The witness," Alexander spoke quietly. "You told me you knew who had last seen her."

Marco nodded. "One of Vincent's drivers. He came to me after seeing my inquiries. Said he was tired of carrying the secret." He sipped another mouthful of coffee. "He said that Vincent had a meeting with Margaret that evening when she vanished. Their discussion involved her research project and what she had discovered."

"Do you seriously believe him?" Alexander doubted unequivocally.

The hotel across the street has a security camera that shows them entering his building together that evening. She did not leave--at least not through the front entrance.

I watched Alexander clench his fists. "So Vincent knows what happened to her."

"Yes, I'm positive," Marco concurred. "That's why his men have been searching for me ever since I began questioning. That's why I had to leave Italy suddenly when they discovered that I had been there."

"You're actually here because you were attempting to flee?" Alexander asked.

Marco set his coffee cup down and appeared grave. "I wasn't fleeing from Vincent—I was heading to you. I realized I couldn't continue by myself any longer. And no matter what happens, you're still my brother."

Alexander's face softened.

"Why did you really speak out against the family, Marco?" I asked politely. “Tell us the truth.”

I stared back at him, then over at Alexander. "I saw our family disintegrating. Dad had gotten involved with people who would ultimately hurt us all. I would not be able to stand by and watch him get us further into things that would kill us or get us arrested."

"You could have said something to me," Alexander spoke, but his voice did not hold a blaming tone.

"I did try. You didn’t pay attention," Marco said. "You had to do it your way and gradually make the business legal. I could think of an alternative." He took a breath. "I did not speak out against our family, Alexander. I spoke out against what was damaging it."

I watched Alexander's face as he listened to what Marco had to say. The anger that always appeared when anyone spoke Marco's name was transforming into comprehension.

"Different approaches, same goal," I spoke quietly.

The brothers stared back at me.

“What do you mean?” Marco asked.

“Both of you attempted to protect your family.” I said, “Alexander, you attempted to legitimize the business internally. Marco, you approached from the outside and applied the law. You each did it differently, but had the same aim."

The silence that followed was reflective rather than indignant.

Alexander stared for a moment longer at his coffee cup before he spoke to his brother. "Really, is that how it happened? Were you attempting to protect the family, just like you said?"

"Yes," Marco answered straightforwardly. "Always."

I stood up, assuming they needed time to themselves. "I'm going to go find a vending machine," I told them. They did not appear to notice when I slipped silently out of the room.

I leaned back against the hallway’s wall, considering the recent events that had happened in less than 24 hours.

When Alexander found me after a few minutes, his eyes looked slightly red, but he looked happier than earlier.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

He nodded and hugged me. "It will be."

"Marco had said something which has been constantly recurring in my mind," he said.

"If Margaret knew Vincent was dangerous, why leave those breadcrumbs for you to follow? What was she trying to tell us?"

I stared at him, as my own unspoken question echoed back to me.
"I don't know," I replied, "But we should find out."