Chapter 2 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
For three days, nothing happened.
Clara almost convinced herself it was over.
Then, Thursday night, she left St. Jude’s and found a black sedan waiting across the street.
She stopped.
The rear door opened.
A large man stepped out.
“Clara Hayes?”
“No.”
He looked at the employee badge clipped to her coat.
Clara glanced down.
“Okay. Poor start.”
“My name is Marco.”
“I don’t care.”
“Mr. Moretti would like to speak with you.”
“I wouldn't.”
Marco blinked.
Most people apparently did not respond that way.
Clara walked toward the bus stop.
He followed.
“He insists.”
“Tell him Nurse says no.”
A familiar voice came from the sedan.
“I already told him you’d say that.”
Clara froze.
Luca Moretti stepped from the car.
He looked very different when he wasn’t half-conscious in an alley.
Black coat. Tailored suit. Expensive watch. Dark tattoos visible above his collar and across one hand.
He also looked healthier.
“You’re walking.”
“Thanks to you.”
“Then we're finished.”
She started walking again.
“Clara.”
She stopped.
“You knew my name?”
“You wore an identification badge.”
She slowly turned.
“You were supposedly unconscious.”
“I notice things.”
“That’s disturbing.”
Luca held something toward her.
An envelope.
“No.”
“You haven’t opened it.”
“Money?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Clara—”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“That sounds like a stupid amount.”
“It is.”
She pushed the envelope toward his chest.
“I already got my hundred bucks.”
His expression changed.
“What hundred dollars?”
“The one you left.”
“I didn’t leave money.”
Clara went still.
Neither spoke.
Luca looked at Marco.
Marco shook his head.
Luca’s entire demeanor hardened.
“Describe the bill.”
“It was a hundred-dollar bill.”
“Anything written on it?”
“I don’t know.”
“You still have it?”
“No. I used it for groceries.”
Luca stared at her.
“Where?”
“Why?”
“Because whoever left it knew where I had been.”
Clara’s irritation disappeared.
Luca opened the car door.
“Get in.”
“No.”
“Clara.”
“I saved you once. That does not give you custody.”
His jaw tightened.
“Someone followed me into that clinic.”
“And?”
“And they may believe you helped me.”
Clara looked toward the dark street.
For the first time, she noticed another vehicle parked farther down.
Engine running.
Luca noticed her looking.
“That isn’t mine.”
The headlights came on.
Luca immediately stepped between Clara and the street.
“Marco.”
“Already saw it.”
The vehicle pulled away.
Clara swallowed.
Luca looked at her.
“Now will you get in?”
She exhaled.
“I hate you.”
“You barely know me.”
May you like
“I’m developing quickly.”
For the first time, Luca Moretti smiled.
