Chapter 3

I went upstairs to the HR office.

Thomas came straight over and pulled me aside.

"Did you report Santo for stealing your routing plan?

"Did you bring the auditors down on this company?"

I raised an eyebrow.

I hadn't sent that email, but the auditors showing up suited me just fine.

I countered, "Didn't you say the plan belonged to Santo?

"Even if I did take it to headquarters, if it's really his work, I'm the only one who'll be punished. So what are you worried about?

"Or did you know from the start that it was mine?"

That stopped him.

But he recovered quickly. With a warning in his eyes, he said sharply, "The routing plan can only belong to Santo.

"There are powerful people above him. You can't afford to cross them. All they have to do is say the word, and you'll disappear from this city.

"Don't get yourself killed. Go in there and tell them you were jealous of Santo and made the whole thing up.

"I'll do what I can to bury this. Then leave. Go as far away as you can."

I pulled my arm free and smiled.

"I know what to say now."

Inside, the man from headquarters looked me over. "You're Vincent? Someone reported that Santo, the dock supervisor, stole your routing plan.

"My name is Elio Ricci. I came from Rome to investigate. You say you designed the plan. What proof do you have?"

Thomas's head snapped toward me.

I ignored him.

I pulled out the flash drive I'd prepared and plugged it into the computer.

My sketches appeared on the screen, along with my survey notes from the docks and every version of the route.

They were all originals from when I built the plan, complete with timestamps and the full edit history.

Thomas went pale and lunged for the drive.

Elio wasn't a pushover either.

Elio gave Thomas a single look. The two bodyguards behind Elio lifted Thomas off the floor and carried him out.

Elio reviewed the drafts and survey notes, then nodded.

"Vincent, I can confirm that the routing plan is your work. We're going to Santo's office now, and I'll make him answer for it."

I nodded.

"Thank you."

Elio took me down to Santo's office.

At first, Santo assumed I'd come with Elio and was very polite to both of us.

Then Elio explained why he was there, and Santo's face darkened.

"This is an internal matter. There's no need to trouble anyone upstairs."

Elio pushed the flash drive across to him.

"Vincent's evidence is complete. It proves that he designed the plan.

"Now that we know the truth, we'll give Vincent the credit and punish the person responsible. Those are the rules."

Santo flicked the drive aside.

"Mr. Ricci, you haven't been doing this for very long, have you?

"For your own future, think a little harder before you act."

His tone was flat, but the threat underneath it was clear.

Then he turned to me.

"Vincent, I know someone pulled strings to put you here.

"I've worked on these docks for years. I'm good at what I do, and I have connections. It's only natural that you'd be jealous.

"I can live with a little friction. But accusing me of theft breaks the rules.

"Before this goes any further, tell Mr. Ricci you filed a false report, and I'll let you keep one arm."

Elio's face turned cold at Santo's blatant attempt to twist the story around.

"What does any of this have to do with how long I've been on the job?

"The evidence is right here. All we have to do is..."

Before he could finish, Santo threw the drive to the floor and crushed it under his heel.

"What evidence?

"All I see is a useless man who got this job as a favor and bribed someone upstairs to frame the boss who built this place.

"Mr. Ricci, I'll report the bribe you took to the higher-ups. You're in for more than you can handle."

Then he turned back to me.

"Vincent, you've broken the company's rules so badly that there's no place for you here. You should disappear."

When Elio saw the crushed drive, he lunged at Santo, seeing red.

"Are you insane? How dare you destroy the evidence proving that Vincent designed the routing plan!"

Despite Elio's fury, Santo looked completely unbothered.

He was only so calm because he thought he had powerful backing.

He thought having a sister married to the South District boss gave him the ultimate trump card.

He didn't know.

One district boss.

A man who might not even be able to get into the same room as me.

I caught Elio by the arm and shook my head, letting him know it didn't matter.

He got himself under control and patted my hand.

"Vincent, don't worry. That routing plan matters to the future of this entire company. We won't let Santo get away with this."

Before I could answer, Santo sneered, "Vincent, you have no idea who you've crossed.

"My sister is married to the South District boss. Even made men show me respect."

Before I could say a word, Elio stepped in for me.

"Vincent, don't be afraid. We have people on our side too. We don't bend easily.

"Santo, don't forget that we report to the East District boss."