Chapter 21: What Nino Said

Nino went into the back office and came out with a manila folder.

He walked the length of the table with it in his hand, and nobody stopped him.

He slapped it down in front of the old capo.

"Open it."

The old man put on his glasses and opened it.

Inside were photographs.

I saw the top one over his shoulder.

A study with a green carpet, and a man slumped in a leather chair.

A younger man in a grey suit, on his knees beside the chair, with blood on his hands.

"Six years ago," Nino said. "Ferrante's father is dead in his own study, and his son is standing over him. That's your guest of honor, gentlemen."

He pointed at Dominic.

"He killed his own father and ran, and my family showed him mercy."

His voice rose.

"We put him on the far side of the river, and we kept it quiet. Now he marries a Keane to get a vote and calls my mother a poisoner."

A murmur went around the table.

Dominic had not moved.

He stood at my left shoulder with his hands loose at his sides.

He was very calm.

"Say it plainly," he said.

"What?"

"What you just said. That I killed my father."

"The file says it."

"Who made the file?"

Nino hesitated for one second.

"The family."

"Your family," Dominic said. "Your father's own men took those photographs."

He looked at the table.

"Why would they have a camera in my father's study that night?"

"It's evidence."

"It's a stage."

The old capo's hands had gone still on the folder.

I reached into my bag, and I took out the cream envelope with the red wax seal.

I had carried it against my ribs since the old Don died.

"Sir," I said.

He looked up.

"He told me to give you this when his grandson said a thing that wasn't true."

The old capo took it from me.

He turned it over in his big hands and read the writing on the front.

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