Chapter 5 - The Price of One Bowl of Pasta
Nora stared at Dominic.
“What do you mean missing?”
“Your brother didn't return home.”
“He works nights.”
“His employer says he never arrived.”
Nora grabbed her phone.
Six missed calls.
One voicemail.
She played it.
Caleb’s frightened voice filled the room.
“Nora, don't come looking for me. Just—”
Static.
Then another voice.
“Arthur Vale knows what we want.”
The recording ended.
Nora looked at Arthur.
“What do they want?”
Arthur already knew.
“Me.”
“No.”
“Nora—”
“This happened because of you.”
The words hit harder than she intended.
Arthur didn't defend himself.
“Yes.”
She looked away.
Dominic said, “Salerno knows Nora matters to Arthur.”
Nora snapped, “I don't matter to Arthur.”
Nobody answered.
She slowly looked at him.
Arthur’s expression gave her the answer.
“Oh.”
Arthur approached.
“Nora.”
“Don't.”
“I will bring Caleb home.”
“How?”
“You don't need to know.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No.”
“Arthur—”
“I won't make you part of this.”
“My brother is already part of it!”
Arthur stopped.
Nora stepped closer.
“You've spent your entire life deciding everything alone, haven't you?”
“Yes.”
“How’s that working out?”
Dominic looked toward the ceiling.
Arthur glared at him.
Dominic shrugged.
“She has a point.”
Nora took a breath.
“What does Salerno want?”
“Territory. Access to the docks. My signature on several companies.”
“And you'll give it?”
“If necessary.”
Nora stared.
“For Caleb?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Arthur looked at her.
“Because you would.”
That evening, Arthur met Salerno in an abandoned restaurant near the river.
Dominic remained nearby.
Nora was supposed to stay at the estate.
She did not.
When Arthur entered the restaurant, Victor Salerno smiled from across a table.
Caleb sat nearby, frightened but unharmed.
Salerno pushed documents forward.
“Sign.”
Arthur sat.
“You release the boy first.”
Salerno laughed.
“You're not negotiating tonight.”
Arthur picked up the pen.
Then the kitchen door opened.
Nora walked out.
Arthur’s face changed.
“What are you doing here?”
“Stopping you from doing something stupid.”
Salerno laughed.
“This is the maid?”
Nora looked at him.
“You must be Victor.”
“You must be the woman who ruined six months of planning with spaghetti.”
“Apparently.”
Arthur stood.
“Nora, leave.”
She ignored him.
“Victor, you made one mistake.”
Salerno smiled.
“Which one?”
“You thought Arthur was weak because he couldn't eat.”
Arthur stared at her.
Nora continued.
“He wasn't weak.”
She looked toward Arthur.
“He was sick of becoming the man everyone expected him to be.”
Salerno’s smile faded.
Nora turned to Caleb.
“You okay?”
He nodded.
Arthur suddenly looked toward the restaurant windows.
Vehicles appeared outside.
Not Salerno’s.
Dominic entered through the side door.
“Police are two minutes away.”
Salerno spun.
“What?”
Dominic smiled.
“Anonymous tip.”
Arthur looked at Dominic.
“You called police?”
“No.”
Everyone looked at Nora.
She held up her phone.
“I clean houses for a living. I'm allowed to believe in law enforcement occasionally.”
Arthur stared at her.
“You called them?”
“I also sent them the voicemail.”
Salerno backed toward the exit.
Arthur stepped aside.
“Go ahead, Victor.”
Salerno froze.
Arthur nodded toward the approaching lights.
“Explain kidnapping to them.”
Caleb ran toward Nora.
She wrapped her arms around him.
Arthur watched them.
For the first time in years, he felt no need for revenge.
Salerno had wanted him angry.
Violent.
Predictable.
Arthur turned away.
“Let's go home.”
Nora looked at him.
“Home?”
Arthur met her eyes.
“The mansion.”
She smiled faintly.
“I know what you meant.”
Arthur realized that was the problem.
May you like
He was beginning to mean something else.
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