Chapter 3 - The Apartment With the Open Door
Sienna’s apartment door was already open when they arrived.
Nico saw it from halfway down the hallway.
He immediately caught Sienna around the waist and pulled her backward.
“Hey—”
“Quiet.”
Marco moved ahead.
Two security men entered first.
Sienna stared at her doorway.
“My door was locked.”
Nico’s hand remained at her back.
“I know.”
They waited.
Thirty seconds later Marco returned.
“Clear.”
Sienna rushed inside.
Her apartment had been destroyed.
Drawers dumped.
Couch cushions ripped open.
Mattress overturned.
Cabinets emptied.
But the television remained.
Laptop untouched.
Cash still sat inside a ceramic jar near the kitchen.
“They weren’t robbing me,” Sienna whispered.
“No.”
Nico watched her.
“They were searching.”
“For what?”
“The card.”
Sienna shook her head.
“But I had it.”
“They didn’t know that.”
She suddenly moved toward her bedroom.
Nico followed.
Sienna dropped to her knees beside the overturned dresser.
“What are you doing?”
“My dad’s things.”
She pulled loose a wooden panel.
Inside was an old metal box.
Nico crouched beside her.
Sienna opened it.
Photographs.
Her father smiling beside a restored Mustang.
Sienna as a little girl sitting on his shoulders.
Her parents on their wedding day.
Then Nico reached for one photograph.
Two men stood beside a black Cadillac.
One was Daniel Brooks.
The other was Nico’s father.
Sienna stared.
“You weren’t lying.”
“No.”
She turned the photograph over.
Handwritten words covered the back.
If anything happens to us, trust Valente. Not Caruso.
Nico’s jaw tightened.
“Caruso?”
Sienna looked up.
“Who is that?”
“Victor Caruso.”
“Should I know him?”
“He worked with my father.”
“Worked?”
Nico stood.
“He betrayed him.”
Sienna slowly rose.
“You think the crash wasn’t an accident.”
“I’ve known it wasn’t an accident for eight years.”
She stared at him.
“And you never knew my father died with yours?”
“I knew his driver died. I didn’t know Daniel had a daughter.”
Sienna looked at the photograph again.
“Why give me that card tonight?”
“Because someone wants us asking questions.”
Marco appeared in the doorway.
“We identified the old man.”
“Who?”
“Thomas Reed.”
Nico’s expression changed.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Sienna asked, “Who is Thomas Reed?”
Nico answered without looking away from Marco.
“My father’s accountant.”
“Former accountant?”
“He disappeared after the crash.”
Sienna frowned.
“Then tonight he magically appears, gives me a mysterious card, and armed men arrive five minutes later?”
“Yes.”
“That seems excessively dramatic.”
Nico almost smiled.
Then the apartment lights went out.
Sienna froze.
Marco immediately reached for his radio.
Nico caught Sienna’s hand.
“Stay with me.”
Footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Someone hit the apartment door.
Once.
Twice.
Marco shouted, “Back bedroom!”
Nico pulled Sienna with him.
She stumbled.
“Nico—”
“Move.”
They entered the bedroom.
Nico locked the door.
Sienna’s breathing became fast.
“Is this normal for you?”
“No.”
“That answer concerns me more.”
He looked toward the fire escape.
“We’re leaving.”
“Through the window?”
“Yes.”
“I’m wearing one shoe!”
He stared.
Sienna kicked it off.
“Fine. Now I’m equally disadvantaged.”
Despite everything, Nico laughed.
A real laugh.
Then the bedroom door shook.
Sienna grabbed his arm.
The humor disappeared.
Nico opened the window.
“Go.”
She climbed onto the fire escape.
Nico followed.
They descended two floors before Sienna stopped.
“What?”
She pointed through the window of the apartment below.
An elderly man sat inside.
Waiting.
Thomas Reed.
He raised both hands.
Then unlocked the window.
“You took long enough.”
Nico climbed inside first.
Sienna followed.
Thomas looked at her.
“You have your father’s eyes.”
Sienna stepped toward him.
“You knew my dad?”
Thomas nodded.
May you like
“I knew exactly why he died.”
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