Chapter 4 - THE DEAD BOY“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Gabriel's voice was quiet.
Chloe couldn't answer.
Beatrice was signing too quickly.
Gabriel looked at his mother.
“What did she tell you?”
Chloe remained silent.
Gabriel stepped closer.
“Chloe.”
The way he said her name felt different.
Less threatening.
More desperate.
Beatrice slammed her hand against the table.
Gabriel turned to her.
She signed:
Tell her the truth.
Gabriel stared.
“What truth?”
Beatrice pointed at Chloe.
Then made the sign for brother.
Gabriel went completely still.
Chloe whispered.
“You knew my brother.”
Gabriel didn't answer.
That was enough.
Her eyes filled.
“You knew Leo.”
“Yes.”
The word barely left his mouth.
Chloe slapped him.
Every man in the room reached for his weapon.
Gabriel raised one hand.
“Don't.”
His men froze.
Chloe was shaking.
“You knew him.”
“Yes.”
“He worked for you?”
“No.”
“Then how?”
Gabriel looked away.
“Leo found something.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
Chloe frowned.
Gabriel continued.
“Financial records. Names. Payments. Police officers. Judges. Contractors.”
“And?”
“He came to me.”
“Why?”
“Because someone was trying to kill him.”
Chloe's voice broke.
“You let him die.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“I tried to protect him.”
“Then why did the police say it was a drunk driver?”
Gabriel didn't answer.
Beatrice did.
Her hands moved.
Because Gabriel was twenty years old.
He thought he could fix everything.
Chloe looked at Gabriel.
“You were twenty?”
Gabriel nodded.
“My father told me Leo was dead before I knew anything had happened.”
“And you believed him?”
“I was a son.”
His voice cracked.
“For years, I believed my father was protecting the family.”
Beatrice signed:
He was protecting himself.
Gabriel shut his eyes.
Chloe whispered.
“Who killed my brother?”
Gabriel answered.
“We never proved it.”
“But you suspect someone.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Gabriel looked directly into her eyes.
“My father.”
Silence.
Chloe felt sick.
“You think your own father killed Leo?”
“I know my father ordered something.”
“That isn't an answer.”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“There is one problem.”
“What?”
“He wasn't the only one involved.”
Beatrice suddenly grabbed Chloe's hand.
Her expression was terrified.
She signed one sentence.
Your brother left a message.
“For who?”
Beatrice pointed at Chloe.
Gabriel stared at his mother.
“What message?”
Beatrice reached into her handbag.
She removed a tiny silver key.
Chloe recognized it immediately.
It had belonged to Leo.
Her brother had worn it around his neck.
Always.
Gabriel looked at the key.
“Where did you get that?”
Beatrice signed:
He gave it to me the night before he died.
Chloe's voice disappeared.
Gabriel took the key.
His face went pale.
Because engraved on the back were four numbers.
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11:47.
The exact time the restaurant clock had stopped.
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