Chapter 3 - The Debt Marcus Never Mentioned
The next morning, Emma woke expecting everything to feel unreal.
It didn’t.
Her phone contained twenty-seven missed calls.
Fourteen were Marcus.
The rest came from unknown numbers.
One voicemail changed everything.
A rough male voice said:
“Tell Marcus midnight tomorrow. Forty-two grand. We know where you work.”
Emma played it twice.
Then carried the phone downstairs.
Adrian was eating breakfast while reading financial reports.
She put the phone beside his coffee.
“Listen.”
He did.
His expression barely moved.
“Who is that?”
Emma asked.
“Victor Kane.”
“You know him?”
“I know of him.”
“Is he one of your people?”
“No.”
“Can you make him stop?”
Adrian looked up.
Emma hated how desperate she sounded.
“I mean legally. Or however people like you—”
“People like me?”
“That came out wrong.”
“It came out accurately.”
Emma sat.
“I don’t want anyone killed.”
“Your confidence in my conflict-resolution methods is touching.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He pushed the phone back.
“Victor runs illegal card games and private betting rooms. Marcus borrowed money.”
“Forty-two thousand.”
“Originally twelve.”
Emma blinked.
“How does twelve become forty-two?”
“Marcus continued gambling.”
She covered her face.
“Of course he did.”
Adrian’s phone vibrated.
He read the message.
Then frowned.
“What?”
“Your restaurant manager fired you.”
Emma looked up sharply.
“What?”
“Marcus caused a scene last night. Romano’s doesn’t want trouble.”
Emma grabbed her own phone.
There was a message from her manager.
Don’t come in. We’re terminating your employment effective immediately.
Emma stared at it.
“That job paid my rent.”
Adrian took a sip of coffee.
“You can work for me.”
“No.”
“I haven’t told you the job.”
“I don’t care.”
“Why?”
“Because yesterday I didn’t know you existed, and today you know my ex’s debts, my employment status, and probably my Social Security number.”
“I don’t know your Social Security number.”
“Thank God.”
“Luca probably does.”
Emma stared.
Adrian smiled faintly.
“Kidding.”
“I genuinely cannot tell when you’re joking.”
“Neither can Luca.”
The humor disappeared when Rosa entered carrying an envelope.
“This came for Emma.”
Emma’s name was handwritten across the front.
Inside was a photograph.
Emma leaving work three nights earlier.
On the back:
MIDNIGHT. MARCUS PAYS OR YOU DO.
Emma’s fingers trembled.
Adrian took the photograph.
The warmth vanished from his face.
“Where did this come from?”
“A courier left it,” Rosa said.
“Find him.”
Rosa nodded and left.
Emma whispered, “What does ‘you do’ mean?”
“Nothing that will happen.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“How?”
Adrian stood.
“Because you are inside my house.”
Emma shook her head.
“I can’t hide here forever.”
“You won’t.”
“Then what?”
“We solve the problem.”
“We?”
“You climbed into my car.”
“That doesn’t make me your responsibility.”
“No.”
Adrian looked at the photograph again.
“But someone threatened a guest under my roof.”
His eyes hardened.
“That makes them mine.”
That afternoon, Adrian arranged for Emma to retrieve her belongings.
She expected two security men.
He came personally.
When they reached her apartment, the door was already open.
Emma stopped.
“My lock.”
Broken.
Adrian moved in front of her.
“Stay here.”
Two security men entered first.
Minutes later, one returned.
“Clear.”
Emma walked inside.
Drawers had been emptied.
Furniture overturned.
Her small emergency cash envelope was gone.
She opened the kitchen cabinet.
The blue ceramic jar where she had once kept her tips lay smashed on the floor.
Emma stared.
“That was my grandmother’s.”
Adrian stood behind her.
“Was anything valuable inside?”
“No.”
“Then why break it?”
“To scare me.”
Adrian looked around.
“No.”
Emma turned.
“What?”
“They were searching.”
“For what?”
A voice came from the doorway.
“Probably this.”
Marcus stood there holding a small black notebook.
Emma stared.
“Marcus?”
He looked exhausted.
Terrified.
Adrian’s men moved instantly.
Marcus raised both hands.
“Wait!”
Adrian’s voice dropped.
“You have five seconds.”
Marcus held up the notebook.
“Victor isn’t after Emma because of my debt.”
Emma frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Marcus swallowed.
“He thinks I gave this to her.”
“What is it?” Emma asked.
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“Records.”
“Of what?”
“Payments. Names. Judges. Cops. Businesses.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
Marcus continued.
“I stole it from Victor.”
Emma stared at him.
“Why?”
“I thought I could sell it.”
“You stole evidence from criminals to pay criminals?”
Marcus looked ashamed.
“It made sense at the time.”
Emma closed her eyes.
Adrian took the notebook.
Then looked at Marcus.
May you like
“You have managed to make forty-two thousand dollars the least significant part of your problem.”
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