"Now." The line goes dead.
Twenty minutes later, all three of them are sitting in my office. Marco has the folder I asked for. Ciro looks annoyed about being here. My father walks in last and takes the chair at the head of the table.
My father looks at me. “What’s this about?”
I glance at Marco before looking back at him. "Daire gave me information at the engagement party."
That gets his attention, I continue before he can ask. "A girl called Orla Geraghty died two years ago. Officially, it was ruled a suicide. According to Daire, Quinn was involved."
My father's gaze sharpens. "Involved how?"
"I don't know." It's not an answer I enjoy giving. "I asked Quinn. Twice. She wouldn't explain it."
His attention shifts to Marco. "And?"
Marco opens the folder. "I've spent the morning looking into it."
My father settles back in his chair. "Then let's hear it."
"The death is real, it was ruled a suicide two years ago."
"Convenient," Ciro mutters.
Marco nods. "Very." He turns a page. "The investigation was minimal. Local law enforcement signed off quickly. No meaningful follow-up."
"Delaney influence?" my father asks.
"Everywhere." Marco taps the paperwork. "Southie and Dorchester both fall under Delaney control. Ronan's reach through local politics, law enforcement, and community organizations is extensive."
Meaning if Ronan wanted something buried, it stayed buried.
Marco continues. "I found almost no documented connection between Quinn Delaney and Orla Geraghty."
"Almost?" I ask.
Marco shrugs. "Rumors."
I hate rumors. Rumors are useless, usually false, and easily spread.
"About what?" I ask.
"Depends who's telling the story."
Another reason I hate them.
"They fought," Marco says.
"Over what?" Ciro questions as he leans forward.
"No one agrees." Marco closes the file. "Everything beyond that is hearsay." Then Marco opens a second folder. "This is where it gets interesting."
My father's gaze sharpens. "So tell us."
Marco slides a photograph across the table. Tony Geraghty. I've seen him before, everyone has. He's been standing beside Ronan Delaney for as long as I can remember. "Orla's father, Tony Geraghty has been Ronan's right hand for over thirty years."
I already know that and my father does too.
Marco keeps going anyway. "Every major Delaney operation. Every significant business decision. Every major expansion." He taps the photograph. "He was there for all of it."
