Chapter 3 - The Dead Man’s Trap
By the next morning, every major Chicago news station reported the same thing.
RAYMOND CASTELLANO PRESUMED DEAD.
Vivien Castellano remained listed as missing.
Hazel watched the coverage from a secure apartment above one of Raymond’s restaurants.
“This is insane.”
Raymond stood near the window, his bandaged hand resting against his chest.
“It’s useful.”
“You’re pretending to be dead.”
“Temporarily.”
“You have a very relaxed definition of normal.”
Raymond turned.
“And yet you’re still here.”
Hazel’s expression hardened.
“Rosa died because of this.”
His face changed slightly.
“I know.”
“She had two daughters.”
“I know.”
“One is fourteen.”
“I know.”
Hazel stared at him.
“How?”
“I asked.”
That answer stopped her.
Raymond continued.
“The mortgage on Rosa’s house was paid this morning. Her daughters’ education is covered.”
Hazel blinked.
“That doesn’t bring their mother back.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“It’s simply something I can fix.”
For the first time, Hazel saw something beneath the reputation.
Not kindness exactly.
Responsibility.
Frank entered with Daniel Mercer.
“We found Rosa’s backup.”
Hazel stood.
“Where?”
Daniel placed a small flash drive on the table.
“She hid it inside a bottle of floor polish in the janitorial storage room.”
Hazel almost laughed.
“That sounds like Rosa.”
Frank connected the drive to a laptop.
Files appeared.
Bank transfers.
Vehicle registrations.
Messages.
Names.
Hazel leaned closer.
One message was from Vivien to Marcus.
MIDNIGHT. BASEMENT FIRST. MAKE SURE HE CANNOT GET OUT.
Hazel’s stomach tightened.
Raymond read without reacting.
Another message appeared.
THE CLEANERS LEAVE THROUGH EAST HALL. ROSA IS THE ONLY PROBLEM.
Hazel whispered, “She knew Rosa would be there.”
Raymond closed the laptop.
Frank said, “This is enough to prove conspiracy.”
“Not enough.”
“Raymond—”
“I want Marcus admitting it.”
Hazel stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because half the men supporting him will claim these records were forged.”
Frank nodded reluctantly.
Raymond continued.
“Marcus thinks I’m dead. Vivien thinks Hazel died in the fire or knows nothing.”
Hazel narrowed her eyes.
“What are you suggesting?”
Raymond looked directly at her.
“No.”
“That wasn’t an answer.”
“You’re not going near them.”
Hazel laughed once.
“You just said my name.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re involved.”
“I’m already involved.”
“No.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
Raymond’s voice dropped.
“I absolutely do.”
Hazel stepped closer.
“You were pinned beneath a burning door when I found you.”
Silence.
“You told me to leave.”
Raymond said nothing.
“I didn’t listen then either.”
Frank turned away to hide a smile.
Raymond glared at him.
Frank cleared his throat.
“Hazel may actually be useful.”
“No.”
“Marcus knows every face connected to you. He doesn’t know hers.”
“He knows her name.”
“But not that she survived.”
Hazel understood.
“You want me to contact Vivien.”
Raymond looked furious.
Frank said, “We could leak that Hazel found something in the ballroom before escaping.”
Hazel nodded.
“Something Vivien wants.”
Raymond shook his head.
“No.”
Hazel looked at him.
“You want to catch her?”
“Yes.”
“Then let her come to me.”
Three hours later, the bait was released.
A reporter posted a short article online.
SURVIVING CLEANER MAY HOLD EVIDENCE FROM VERONA FIRE.
By sunset, Hazel’s temporary phone rang.
Unknown number.
Raymond stood five feet away while Frank recorded.
Hazel answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a woman spoke.
“Miss Keen.”
Hazel recognized the voice immediately.
Vivien.
Hazel looked at Raymond.
“Yes?”
“I understand you found something belonging to me.”
Hazel forced herself to breathe normally.
“A black case?”
Raymond’s eyebrows lifted.
Vivien paused.
“Where is it?”
“I found it near the parking lot.”
“That belongs to my husband.”
“Your dead husband?”
Silence.
Then Vivien said, “You don’t understand what you’re holding.”
“Then explain it.”
“I’ll pay you.”
“How much?”
“Fifty thousand.”
Hazel looked at Raymond.
He shook his head slowly.
Hazel said, “A hundred.”
Vivien answered immediately.
“Fine.”
That frightened Hazel more than bargaining would have.
“Where?”
“The Lakeshore Hotel. Room 1408. Tomorrow at noon.”
“No.”
A pause.
Hazel continued.
“Public place.”
“Miss Keen—”
“Union Station. Main concourse. Noon.”
Vivien hesitated.
Then:
“Come alone.”
The call ended.
Frank exhaled.
Raymond picked up his coat.
“You’re not going.”
Hazel stared at him.
“We just spent three hours setting this up.”
“Plans change.”
“Because you’re scared?”
His eyes snapped toward her.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised everyone.
Raymond stepped closer.
“You pulled me out of a burning building. I won’t repay that by sending you into another trap.”
Hazel held his gaze.
“Then don’t send me.”
She picked up the flash drive.
May you like
“Come with me.”
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