Chapter 4 - Unraveling the Ledger
The subterranean vault beneath the Mercer Street building was originally built to store high-value art and negotiable bearer bonds during the mid-twentieth century. Now, it served as a secure interrogation and holding room for individuals who crossed the line of Dante Valenti’s organization.
Arthur sat handcuffed to a reinforced steel chair bolted directly into the concrete floor. His left eye was swelling shut from a neat, efficient strike Julian had delivered during transit, and his breathing came in ragged, shallow gasps.
Dante sat across from him at a metal table, reviewing a leather-bound notebook filled with handwritten financial transactions, names, and phone numbers that Julian had recovered from Arthur’s coat pocket.
“Let’s review, Arthur,” Dante said calmly, flipping a page of the ledger. “You claimed you were collecting on behalf of family debts left by Emma’s late husband. But these aren’t family ledgers. These are high-interest street loans tied to the Higgins Syndicate over on Tenth Avenue.”
Arthur flinched at the mention of the Higgins name. “I... I was just a runner. They forced me to shake her down. I didn't want—!”
“You chose to sneak into my building, bypass my security protocols, and threaten a child,” Dante interrupted, his voice dropping into a dangerous register. “That wasn't running errands, Arthur. That was an execution order on your own future.”
Julian leaned against the concrete wall, spinning a silver pocketknife between his fingers. “Boss, the Higgins crew has been trying to muscle into our shipping lanes over in the meatpacking district for six months anyway. Using this as an excuse to clear them out is practically a public service.”
Dante closed the ledger with a soft slap against the metal table.
“Send a message to Marcus Higgins,” Dante instructed. “Tell him his little debt-collection operation in my sector has been liquidated. And if any of his collectors ever come within three blocks of my residence again, I won't just take their shipping lanes—I’ll take their entire portfolio.”
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“Done,” Julian said with a grim smile.
“As for Arthur,” Dante stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. “Hand him over to the local precinct with a complete, anonymous packet detailing his extortion, trespassing, and narcotics distribution. Make sure the charges stick. He won't be seeing daylight for a very long time.”
