Chapter 10 - Bloodlines of the Southern Straits
By early November, the federal trials of Antonio Vance, Camille Vance, and Julian Sterling concluded with devastating, historic finality.
With the unsealed Antwerp manifests, the micro-engraved laser evidence from the ruby, and the encrypted banking ledgers retrieved from the yacht, the jury deliberated for less than ninety minutes before returning guilty verdicts on all counts.
Antonio Vance was sentenced to consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole at ADX Florence in Colorado.
Camilla Vance was sentenced to twenty-four years at the Federal Correctional Institution in Coleman, Florida, for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand larceny, and corporate extortion.
Julian Sterling was sentenced to eighteen years for money laundering, securities fraud, and conspiracy to traffic stolen cultural property, his venture capital firm completely liquidated under Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Their private yachts, their luxury penthouses on Brickell Avenue, and their multi-million-dollar offshore trust funds were completely seized by federal court decree, with seventy-five percent of the recovered capital transferred directly into the Vincent De Luca Memorial Apprenticeship Fund.
On the afternoon following the sentencing, Matteo took Maeve down to the newly restored shipping berths at Dodge Island.
The old, neglected Vance warehouses had been completely demolished.
In their place stood a magnificent, three-story maritime logistics center and gemological laboratory constructed from coral stone, polished steel, and expansive glass windows overlooking the Atlantic shipping lanes.
Above the main entrance, carved in gleaming white Vermont marble, were the words:
THE VINCENT AND MAEVE DE LUCA MARITIME ACADEMY — WHERE TRUTH IS RESTORED AND LIGHT RULES FOREVER.
Matteo stood beside Maeve on the private boardwalk, his hand resting gently on her waist.
“What do you think, my Donna?” he asked softly, looking up at the marble inscription.
“It’s beautiful, Matteo,” she whispered, tears of profound peace stinging her eyes. “My father would have loved it.”
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“He is here, Maeve,” Matteo smiled, pulling her close against his side as the warm sea breeze ruffled their hair. “Every time an honest ship sails into this harbor, he will always be here.”
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