Chapter 75 Section five

The small living room fell into silence. "It's a serious crime." Miller bit his lower lip. "Can you prove this?" "No." Decker dared not tell him what happened in the truck. "How did you find out that Beth Dwyer's real name was Diana Scolari?" "I can't tell you." "Why not?" Decker didn't answer. "Listen carefully." Miller stood up. "The information you currently have indicates that there is a serious breach in the security protections of a key government witness. I now order you to tell me how you came to this information."

"I have the right to remain silent." Miller rolled his eyes. "I'll teach you your rights." He picked up the phone. "There will be a long period of time where you will lose your rights until you tell me what I want to know." "No, you're mistaken," Decker said. Miller's eyes widened even more. "It wasn't me who made the mistake." "Put the phone down, I beg you, the most important thing now is to rescue Beth." Miller turned sharply to face Esperanza. "Did you hear the bastard talk?" "Got it. He's been playing mind games with me for the last 24 hours," Esperanza said. It really should come first, and if Decker gets the information in some convenient way, I'm going to deal with it later, as long as it doesn't drag me down."

"The best way to get out of everything," Decker said. "what?" "We used to say that a lot in the intelligence service." "How about calling this an 'accomplice to a felon'?" Miller asked. "Tell me what Beth Dwyer is going to testify about." The subject suddenly changed, and Miller was clearly unprepared. "Did she really hit her husband in the head and walk away with $2 million?" Decker asked. Miller gestured aggressively. "Where did you hear all this nonsense?" But Decker ignored his anger.He was engrossed in recalling what the shooter had said on the phone. (“Nick is going to throw a fit.”)

"A man named Nick was involved," Decker said. "Do you know this man? What's his last name?" Miller blinked in surprise. "It's worse than I thought it would be, and we should have a full review of security measures for relocating witnesses." "Beth's in danger," Decker said briefly. "If we exchange information, we may save her life." "It's Diana Scolari." "I don't know anything about Diana Scolari. The woman I'm concerned about is Beth Dwyer. Tell me about her." Miller looked out of the dark window, then at his hands, and finally settled on Decker. "Diana Scolari was -- or was before someone shot that bastard in the head -- Joey Scolari's wife. Joey Scolari was a New York Joe The chief law enforcement killer of the Dano family. We estimate he was responsible for at least 40 violent murders during his 8 year tenure. He is a restless man, but he doesn't complain. Money is a wonderful thing, Just as importantly, he loves his kind of work."

Decker listened painfully. "Three years ago, Joey met this woman, who you know as Beth Dwyer. Before she got married, her name was Diana Polanti, and she was the department director on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Once, Joey let His column captain took out a troublemaker in New York, and for an alibi, he decided to show his face on this cruise ship for two days, and Diana caught his attention. You know, he's a handsome The young man was smartly dressed and knew what to say to women, so they were mostly attracted to him, so it was no surprise that Diana didn't tell him to keep away when he started courting her. Their relationship developed rapidly, and they were married three months later. Pursuing her provided him with mobility. He arranged for them to return to the Caribbean again and again. This gave him the opportunity to go to a certain place in a logical manner. They visit islands where banks can open unnamed password accounts and are willing to help with money laundering. That’s how their honeymoon was spent.”

Decker felt like throwing up. "One important detail I want to highlight is that, according to Diana, she had no idea of ​​Joey's real occupation. Her claim that he told her he was in the restaurant business - which is entirely true; Joey did A couple of restaurants, which he used as part of his money-laundering scheme. Anyway, as time passed, and—unsurprisingly, Joey’s fascination with the woman didn’t last—he began to tire of her. For a while They lived in his fancy penthouse in the city. But when he needed the place for his amateur underground activities, he locked Diana in a big house across the river in New Jersey. It was a suburban home for the Mafia. The area is surrounded by high walls. There are many guards inside and outside the house. He keeps saying that this is to ensure her safety, but in fact, the task of these people is to prevent her from returning to the penthouse, lest she find him with other women. Fooling around. But there was another equally important reason for having the guards, and that was to make sure she didn't decide to move after he'd beaten her so many times."

Decker's temple throbbed. "I mean he beat her a lot," Miller said, "because Diana started to doubt not only his loyalty, but his business. You know how smart she is. It didn't take long for her to learn, What kind of business is Joey in and what kind of monster is he. So she faces a big problem. If she tries to leave him - with so many guards around, there is little hope of success - she is sure he will kill her if she stays, he will kill her too if he finds she knows too much. Her temporary countermeasure is to pretend to lose interest in his mistresses and his business, and pretend to obey. She borrows painting to pass the time, which would have given her great pleasure under other circumstances. Joy took a pleasure in it, and he made fun of her pictures. Sometimes, after he had hit her, he A fire was lit in the house, forcing her to watch him burn her beloved painting to ashes."

"Jesus," Decker said, "why did that bastard marry her?" "Obviously he's out to take possession of someone he can hurt and have fun with. As I've said, Joey is a monster. Until 9 months ago, in January, when someone popped Joey's head open The problem was solved for her. Maybe she did it. Now there are two conflicting explanations. According to Diana, she was out of the house at the time and went to paint the winter landscape in the backyard. From there she heard A shot was fired inside the house. Not knowing what it meant, she walked in slowly and carefully, thinking that whatever happened, Joey and his guards would take care of it. She was first surprised to find The guards disappeared, and then they were even more surprised to find Joey dead in his study, his brains splattered all over the desk, and his safe was wide open. She knew that there was usually a lot of cash in the safe, and she Having seen bag after bag of cash delivered, glimpsed Joey locking it in a safe, and occasionally hearing them mention the amount, she figured the $2 million must have been lost "At the time, the loss of money didn't shock her much, all she cared about was getting away. She didn't even pack a bag, she just put on a coat, grabbed Joey's keys, and drove off."

"To the Justice Department," Decker said. "Is there anywhere else for her to go? She knew the thugs would come after her after she went into hiding, but she thought their motive was to keep her from speaking out. Until Joy's godfather later blamed Joy's death As for her, she realized that the gang thought she had killed Joey and taken the money. Now, it's about the family's honor, the blood's honor. They want revenge." Decker nodded. "So the DOJ spent months questioning her, relocating her in Santa Fe under a new identity, and ultimately subpoenaing her back to New York to testify."

"Under protection." "You mean under McKittrick's protection." "It's unfortunate." "It's a mess." "You haven't told me who Nick is," Decker said. "Nick Giordano was the head of the family and Joey's godfather. Joey's biological father was Nick's best friend. In a riot that attempted to kill Nick, Joey's parents were killed, and Nick took Joe Eden was raised as her own child. This is what I was referring to as blood honour. For Nick, it involved his personal honour—more strictly his family honour—to find her and punish her. .Now it's your turn," Miller said. "How did what I just told you save Diana Scolari's life?"

For a moment, Decker said nothing. "Looks like I have only one choice." "What are you talking about? What choice?" "I suddenly feel very tired and I have to go home." "How does what I just said help your girlfriend?" "I'll call you when I wake up, and maybe you'll have more news then." Decker turned to Esperanza. "I'll take you back by the way."