"Current issue?"
"Current everything. Current encoding, current authorization, current access levels. Someone programmed this card, Leone. Recently. Within the last week, based on the activation timestamp."
He sets the card down. Carefully. The way you set down something you'd rather throw.
"Who has access to the card system?"
"Five people. You, me, Aurelio, Simone in logistics, and Salvatore."
"Salvatore handles the day-to-day," I say. "Card assignments, access levels, security clearances. He's the one who logs new entries into the system, and he's the one who would have processed Charlotte's intake file when she arrived."
"You're saying Salvatore programmed the card."
"I'm saying Salvatore had the access and the opportunity. I'm not saying he's the mole. But Charlotte saw something inside Marchetti that could help us identify whoever it is."
Leone looks at me. I look at him.
"She can identify him?" Leone asks.
"No idea. She's holding the information because she thinks it's the only thing keeping her valuable."
"Is she wrong?"
"No. But her strategy has an expiration date, and it's approaching fast. If the mole figures out she's a witness, not just a financial analyst, they'll send more than three men next time."
Leone pushes off the table. Straightens. He's a big man, Leone. Not just tall, not just broad. Big in the way that fills a room and makes you aware of every exit. He runs a hand over his face, and for a second I see the exhaustion under the soldier. The man who carries this family on his back and never complains becausecomplaining requires admitting that the weight is too much, and Leone Costa would sooner die than admit that.
"She can't stay here," he says.
"No."
"The compound is compromised. The card system, the camera positions, the corridor layout. They know our infrastructure. When she talks, we will be in contact, until then.."
Leone closes his eyes. Opens them. The decision is already made. I can see it in the set of his shoulders, the way his weight shifts forward, the way his hand moves to the table and taps once. Leone's tap. His tell foryes, this is happening.
"Take her," he says. "Off compound. The safe houses off the record. Aurelio doesn’t need to know yet.”
"He'll be furious."
"He'll understand when we bring him proof."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then I'll handle him. That's my job. Your job is keeping her alive and finding the rat." He pauses. "Take my car. The one under the shell company. Cash, burners, weapons. No Bonaccorso infrastructure. No compound comms. You talk to me, Emilio, or Carmelo. Nobody else touches this."
I nod. Start for the door.
"Claudio."
I stop. He's looking at me with an expression I've only seen twice in twelve years. The first time was when Aurelio told him about Dahlia and the man from Westpoint. The second time was when he brought Alexandra back from the Castillo safehouse with blood on his shirt and her name on his lips.
"Be careful with her," he says. "She's not who you think she is."
"I think she's a witness."
"She's more than that. Alexandra's been talking to her. Late at night, when the guards change and the cameras cycle. Charlotte told her things." He pauses. Chooses his words the way he chooses ammunition: carefully. "She's been through something, Claudio. Before us. Before Marchetti. Something bad enough to make her build a whole new person from scratch."
I stand in the doorway and feel that land somewhere in my chest that I didn't know could still register impact.
