Chapter 2 - The Dead Man Moved
At 2:41 a.m., Gabriel Falcone moved one finger.
Matilda nearly screamed.
She grabbed his hand.
“Mr. Falcone?”
Nothing.
Then his fingers twitched again.
Matilda immediately reached for the emergency phone.
Her hand stopped.
Who could she trust?
Dr. Mercer had signed Gabriel’s death certificate.
Carmine controlled security.
Calling either man could finish what the cold room had started.
Matilda looked at Gabriel.
“Okay. Think.”
She remembered a name.
Dr. Evelyn Shaw.
Gabriel’s personal trauma specialist.
Matilda had served her coffee twice.
More importantly, Evelyn had argued with Carmine earlier that evening.
Matilda found Gabriel’s phone among his personal effects.
Locked.
“Wonderful.”
She searched the treatment room.
A clipboard listed emergency contacts.
Dr. Evelyn Shaw.
Matilda dialed from the wall phone.
A sleepy voice answered.
“Hello?”
“Dr. Shaw?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Matilda Higgins. I work at the Falcone estate.”
Silence.
“What happened?”
“They declared Mr. Falcone dead.”
“I know.”
“I don’t think he is.”
Another silence.
This one lasted longer.
“What?”
“I felt a pulse.”
“Are you certain?”
“No.”
Matilda swallowed.
“But I felt it twice.”
Evelyn’s voice sharpened.
“Listen carefully. Do not move him unnecessarily. Do not tell anyone. I’m coming.”
“Why shouldn’t I tell Dr. Mercer?”
“Because Owen called me forty minutes ago.”
Matilda tightened her grip on the phone.
“What did he say?”
“He said Gabriel’s vitals disappeared too suddenly.”
Matilda looked at the freezing room.
“The thermostat was set to thirty-eight.”
Evelyn went silent.
Then—
“Matilda, lock that door.”
“I already did.”
“Good.”
A pounding sound suddenly shook it.
Matilda jumped.
“Housekeeping!”
It was Victor.
“Open up!”
Evelyn spoke quickly.
“Who is that?”
“Security.”
“Do not open the door.”
Victor knocked again.
“Matilda?”
Her stomach dropped.
He knew she was inside.
“How does he know?”
“Matilda!”
She covered the receiver.
“One minute!”
Victor tried the handle.
“Open the door now.”
Matilda looked around desperately.
Gabriel remained motionless.
She disconnected the heater.
Opened a cabinet.
Then she saw a rolling laundry cart.
Ten minutes later, Victor finally entered.
The treatment table was empty.
He stared at it.
Then at Matilda.
“Where is he?”
Matilda held a bundle of sheets.
“Transport came.”
Victor’s face changed.
“What transport?”
Matilda shrugged.
“The men Mr. Rossi sent.”
“I’m the one coordinating transport.”
Matilda said nothing.
Victor stepped toward her.
“Where is Gabriel?”
Behind him, the service elevator dinged.
Victor turned.
That gave Matilda exactly two seconds.
She slammed the medical door shut and locked it.
Victor hit the glass.
“MATILDA!”
She ran.
Down the service corridor.
Around the kitchen.
Through the laundry room.
And into the basement garage.
Dr. Evelyn Shaw was waiting beside an SUV.
Matilda pulled the laundry cart behind her.
Evelyn stared.
“You put him in laundry?”
“I had limited options.”
Together they lifted Gabriel into the vehicle.
Evelyn checked his neck.
Her expression changed.
“You were right.”
“He’s alive?”
“Barely.”
A door crashed open behind them.
Victor appeared.
“Stop!”
Matilda stepped between him and Gabriel.
Victor reached inside his coat.
Then another voice filled the garage.
“Don’t.”
Everyone froze.
Dr. Mercer stood behind Victor.
Victor turned.
Mercer held up both hands.
“I know what happened.”
Matilda stared at him.
“You declared him dead.”
“I declared what the monitors showed.”
“You signed the certificate.”
“Because Carmine was standing behind me.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“What did you give Gabriel?”
“Nothing unusual.”
“Then why did his heart rate collapse?”
Mercer hesitated.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to determine.”
Victor looked toward Gabriel.
“Carmine said transport was coming.”
Mercer’s face drained.
“When?”
“Before sunrise.”
Matilda understood first.
“He wants the body gone before anyone realizes Gabriel might wake up.”
Evelyn opened the SUV door.
“Then we leave now.”
Victor looked toward the garage entrance.
“I can get you through the west gate.”
Matilda stared at him.
“Why should we trust you?”
Victor looked at Gabriel.
“Because twenty years ago, that man pulled me out of a burning car.”
He opened the gate controls.
May you like
“And I haven’t finished paying him back.”
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