Chapter 8 - The Fall of the House of Vance
By 8:00 AM the next morning, the city of Chicago was waking up to an earthquake.
Every major news network, newspaper headline, and digital news feed was dominated by a single seismic event: Federal Raids Sweep City Hall; Councilman Arthur Vance Indicted on Charges of Extortion, Embezzlement, and Conspiracy.
Live footage broadcasted from the steps of the municipal building showed federal agents carrying boxes of files out of Vance’s offices, while reporters swarmed the steps shouting questions that went unanswered.
Inside the penthouse overlooking the Loop, Carmine Costa watched the news broadcast on a massive wall-mounted screen with a cup of black coffee in his hand. A slow, satisfied smile curled his lips as he glanced at Roman, who was standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Carmine murmured, taking a sip of his coffee. “You actually pulled it off, Roman. You took down Vance without firing a single shot in the streets. Your grandfather would have been proud.”
Roman didn't smile. He stared out at the morning fog rolling over Lake Michigan, his mind elsewhere.
“It wasn't just me,” Roman said quietly.
“No,” Carmine acknowledged, turning to face his son. “It was the girl. Sadi Jenkins.”
Carmine walked over, placing a heavy, warm hand on Roman’s shoulder. “She’s got steel in her spine, that one. Rare to find these days. What happens to her now?”
May you like
“She gets her life back,” Roman said firmly. “And her sister gets her college tuition paid in full, starting this semester. Anonymous donor, of course.”
Carmine chuckled, shaking his head. “Of course. Make sure the paperwork is clean. The Costa family always pays its debts, Roman. Especially to people who know how to clean up a mess.”
