Chapter 4 - Someone Wanted Arthur Sick
Dominic entered Arthur’s study before sunrise.
“We have a problem.”
Arthur was already awake.
“What?”
Dominic placed photographs on the desk.
Chef Pascal.
A parking garage.
Another man handing him an envelope.
Arthur stared at them.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“Who is the other man?”
“Victor Salerno.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
Salerno controlled territory south of the river and had spent years pretending to be Arthur’s ally.
“Bring Pascal.”
Ten minutes later, Pascal stood inside the study.
Nora was downstairs preparing breakfast when raised voices carried through the hall.
“You followed me?” Pascal demanded.
Arthur remained seated.
“Sit.”
“I have done nothing.”
“Sit.”
Pascal sat.
Arthur pushed the photograph across the desk.
Pascal went pale.
Dominic said, “Victor Salerno paid you.”
“It wasn't what you think.”
Arthur's voice was quiet.
“What do I think?”
Pascal looked toward the door.
“I want protection.”
“From whom?”
“Salerno.”
Arthur leaned forward.
“Why?”
Pascal’s hands shook.
“Because he told me to keep you weak.”
Silence.
Dominic moved closer.
Arthur asked, “Poison?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Smells. Ingredients. Presentation.”
Arthur stared at him.
Pascal continued quickly.
“Salerno knew what happened at the docks. He knew what you were seeing when you looked at certain foods.”
Arthur went still.
Nora appeared at the doorway.
Nobody had heard her approach.
“What happened at the docks?”
Arthur looked at her.
“Leave.”
“No.”
“Nora.”
“You're starving because someone is deliberately triggering something?”
Pascal nodded desperately.
“He gave me information. Colors. Sauces. Specific dishes.”
Nora stared at Arthur.
The cherry glaze.
The rare meat.
The heavy wines.
All of it designed to remind Arthur of violence.
Not poison.
Memory.
Arthur stood.
“Where did Salerno get the information?”
Pascal lowered his head.
“I don't know.”
Dominic said, “You're lying.”
“I swear.”
Arthur walked toward him.
Pascal recoiled.
Nora stepped forward.
“Arthur.”
He stopped.
“Don't.”
His eyes moved to her.
“You don't know what he did.”
“Yes, I do.”
“He helped someone destroy me inside my own house.”
“And if you lose control now, Salerno wins again.”
Arthur stared at her.
Nobody spoke to him this way.
Nobody except Nora.
Arthur turned toward Dominic.
“Remove Pascal from the estate.”
Pascal looked up.
“That's all?”
Arthur’s expression turned cold.
“You're going to tell Dominic everything you know.”
Pascal nodded rapidly.
“And then?”
Arthur glanced at Nora.
“Then you're leaving Chicago.”
Dominic escorted Pascal away.
Nora remained.
Arthur stood at the window.
“You shouldn't have heard that.”
“I hear lots of things while cleaning.”
“That concerns me.”
“It should.”
Arthur almost smiled.
Then Nora asked, “What happened at the docks?”
His expression closed.
“Nothing you need to carry.”
“You've been carrying it.”
“For years.”
“And apparently it’s killing you.”
Arthur turned.
“Why do you care?”
Nora opened her mouth.
Stopped.
Arthur stepped closer.
“Why?”
She looked at the man who frightened an entire city.
Then at the shadows beneath his eyes.
“Because I don't think you actually want to die.”
Arthur’s voice softened.
“Neither do I anymore.”
Their eyes remained locked.
Dominic suddenly returned.
His expression destroyed the moment.
“Arthur.”
“What?”
“Caleb Reed is missing.”
May you like
Nora dropped the coffee cup in her hand.
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