Chapter 2 - THE NOTE IN THE NAPKINChloe thought the strange evening was over.
She was wrong.
Twenty minutes later, she returned to Table 7 carrying the risotto.
Beatrice smiled before Chloe even reached her chair.
Gabriel was gone.
His men remained.
Chloe placed the plate in front of Beatrice.
Beatrice tasted it.
Her eyes closed in approval.
She signed:
Perfect.
Chloe smiled.
“You're welcome.”
Beatrice suddenly stopped.
Her fingers moved quickly.
Someone is watching me.
Chloe looked around.
The six men were talking quietly.
No one seemed to be paying attention.
Beatrice pointed toward the hallway.
Then she signed:
Not them.
Her hands slowed.
Someone inside this restaurant.
Chloe's smile disappeared.
“Who?”
Beatrice looked directly at the kitchen doors.
Then she signed a name.
Luca.
Chloe frowned.
Before she could ask anything else, one of Gabriel's men approached.
“Everything okay?”
Beatrice immediately lowered her hands.
Chloe smiled.
“She likes the risotto.”
The man nodded.
He walked away.
Beatrice waited until he was gone.
Then she slipped something from beneath her napkin.
A tiny folded piece of paper.
She pushed it into Chloe's palm.
Don't tell my son.
Chloe stared at her.
“What is this?”
Beatrice tapped her wrist.
Ten minutes.
Then she pointed toward the corridor again.
Chloe glanced at the note.
Three words had been written inside.
CHECK THE CLOCK.
She looked at the restaurant wall.
11:42 p.m.
Her pulse quickened.
“What happens at midnight?”
Beatrice grabbed her wrist.
Her fingers moved.
Someone dies.
Chloe froze.
Beatrice continued.
Your fault.
Chloe pulled back.
“What?”
Beatrice shook her head violently.
No.
Then:
Not you.
You witness.
Chloe's breathing changed.
A cold sensation crawled up her spine.
“Who?”
Beatrice didn't answer.
Instead, she looked toward the restaurant entrance.
Gabriel had returned.
His face was expressionless.
But his eyes went immediately to Chloe.
Then to the napkin in her hand.
“What's that?”
Chloe folded it.
“Nothing.”
Gabriel held her gaze.
“My mother doesn't keep secrets very well.”
Beatrice slapped the table.
Gabriel looked at her.
She signed.
Leave her alone.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
“What did you say?”
Beatrice stared at him.
Then turned toward Chloe.
She signed slowly.
Don't trust him.
Chloe's stomach dropped.
Gabriel moved closer.
“What did she say?”
Chloe hesitated.
Then she made the worst decision she could have made.
She lied.
“She said thank you.”
Gabriel watched her.
For several long seconds, he didn't blink.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Yeah?”
A pause.
His face changed.
“Where?”
Another pause.
“Don't touch anything.”
He hung up.
His six men stood immediately.
Gabriel looked at Chloe.
“Stay with my mother.”
Then he walked out.
One minute later, the lights flickered.
Twice.
The restaurant went black.
A scream came from the lobby.
Then a gunshot.
Beatrice grabbed Chloe's hand.
May you like
And in the darkness, she signed three words against Chloe's palm.
They found us.
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