Chapter 5 - The Funeral With an Empty Coffin
Gabriel Falcone’s funeral began forty-eight hours later.
Chicago’s most dangerous men filled St. Michael’s Cathedral.
The coffin was closed.
Because it was empty.
Carmine stood beside it receiving condolences.
Matilda watched from the rear wearing a simple black dress.
Carmine approached her.
“You came.”
“Mr. Falcone was kind to me.”
“He was kind to many people.”
“No.”
Matilda met his eyes.
“He was fair.”
Carmine smiled.
“Fair men rarely survive long.”
Matilda lowered her gaze.
Exactly what Gabriel told her to do.
Let him talk.
After the funeral, Carmine returned to the estate.
At midnight, he entered Gabriel’s office with two men.
Matilda was waiting.
“You?”
Carmine laughed.
She held a piece of paper.
“I know the vault code.”
His expression changed.
“How?”
“I cleaned his office.”
“You expect me to believe Gabriel left his code lying around?”
“No.”
Matilda looked at him.
“But people say things around maids.”
Carmine smiled slowly.
“How much?”
“Five hundred thousand.”
His men laughed.
Carmine didn’t.
“Fifty.”
“Four hundred.”
“One hundred.”
“Three.”
Carmine stepped closer.
“One-fifty.”
Matilda pretended to consider.
“Two hundred.”
“Done.”
He held out his hand.
“The code.”
Matilda gave him the paper.
Carmine crossed to a painting.
Behind it sat the vault keypad.
He entered the numbers.
The lock clicked.
Carmine’s eyes widened.
Inside were folders, drives, financial records, and a small black ledger.
He reached for it.
Matilda quietly stepped backward.
Carmine opened the ledger.
Then frowned.
“What is this?”
A voice answered from the doorway.
“Your obituary.”
Carmine froze.
Nobody moved.
Gabriel Falcone stood there.
Black suit.
White shirt.
No tie.
His face remained pale, but his eyes were fully alive.
Victor stood beside him.
Dr. Mercer behind Victor.
Carmine stared.
“No.”
Gabriel entered.
One slow step.
Then another.
Carmine backed away.
“You’re dead.”
Gabriel glanced toward Matilda.
“Apparently my maid disagreed.”
Carmine’s two men moved toward the door.
Victor blocked them.
Gabriel looked at the ledger.
“You wanted my records.”
Carmine recovered quickly.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Gabriel pointed toward Mercer.
“He found the suppressant in my blood.”
Carmine’s face changed.
Gabriel continued.
“Evelyn documented everything.”
“You have no proof I administered it.”
Matilda spoke.
“But we have your voice.”
Carmine looked at her.
Matilda removed a small recorder from her apron.
She pressed play.
Carmine’s voice filled the office.
“Keep the room cold until transport arrives.”
Then another recording.
“Fair men rarely survive long.”
Carmine stared at her.
“You little—”
Gabriel stepped between them.
The room instantly changed.
“Finish that sentence.”
Carmine stopped.
Gabriel stood close enough that Carmine had to raise his chin.
“You mocked her.”
Silence.
“You humiliated her.”
Gabriel’s voice remained quiet.
“And when everyone else accepted that I was dead, she was the only person who bothered checking.”
Carmine laughed bitterly.
“So this is what you’ve become? A king protected by a maid?”
Gabriel looked at Matilda.
Then back at Carmine.
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“A king who finally learned which people in his house were worth trusting.”
Police sirens sounded outside.
Carmine looked toward the window.
“What did you do?”
Gabriel answered.
“What you should’ve done.”
“What?”
May you like
“Prepared for tomorrow.”
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