Chapter 8 - THE SEVEN-YEAR SILENCE
The trial of the Moretti and Reed syndicates was the biggest legal storm the city had seen in a generation. Arthur Reed and Vanessa Reed were sentenced to twenty years in federal penitentiary for grand conspiracy, smuggling, and attempted murder.
Dominic Moretti admitted guilty to all charges without contesting a single count. He refused to name accomplices, taking full responsibility for the entire infrastructure of his former empire. He was sentenced to seven years at the federal correctional facility in upstate New York.
Before he was transported, the court allowed him a single ten-minute meeting in the visitor's room.
Grace brought Sophie.
Dominic sat behind the thick glass partition, wearing an orange jumpsuit, his arm in a cast. Across from him, nine-year-old Sophie sat in a metal chair, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
"Thank you for saving my life, little bird," Dominic whispered into the intercom receiver.
Sophie picked up her receiver. Her voice was clear, calm, and distant.
"I didn't save your life because I was happy with you," she said truthfully. "I saved your life because you have to finish your work."
"My work?" Dominic asked softly.
"You made a lot of bad things," Sophie said, looking directly into his eyes. "Now you have to sit in that room and think about how to make good things. Seven years is a long time, Dad."
"I know, baby. I know." Dominic's voice cracked. "Will you... will you come visit me?"
Sophie looked down at her small hands. Then she looked back up.
"No," she said gently. "I am going to school. I am going to paint pictures. I am going to grow up with Mom. When you come out, I will be sixteen. If you are a different man then, maybe I will meet you. But I won't come to a cage to see my dad."
Dominic felt a tear slip down his cheek, but he nodded. "That is fair. That is completely fair. I will wait for you, Sophie. For as long as it takes."
Sophie placed her hand against the thick glass partition. Dominic pressed his heavy, scarred palm against hers from the other side.
May you like
"Goodbye, Dad," she said.
"Goodbye, my little bird."
