Chapter 4 - The Man at Gabriel’s Table
Gabriel’s penthouse had twelve rooms.
Norah hated all of them.
Everything was too clean.
Too expensive.
Too quiet.
At 6:30 the next morning, she found Gabriel standing in the kitchen staring suspiciously at an unopened carton of eggs.
“You’re ridiculous.”
He looked over.
“Good morning to you too.”
“You brought me here because you trust my cooking.”
“Yes.”
“Then sit.”
Gabriel obeyed.
Norah prepared eggs, potatoes, and toast while Gabriel watched every movement.
Finally, she turned.
“Stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Watching me.”
“I watch everyone.”
“That’s probably why everyone around you looks terrified.”
Gabriel’s expression darkened.
“Fear keeps people loyal.”
“No.”
Norah placed breakfast before him.
“Fear keeps people quiet.”
He stared at her.
“That’s different.”
Before Gabriel could respond, Leo entered.
“We found the key.”
Gabriel put down his fork.
“Who?”
“Victor Salerno.”
Silence.
Norah recognized the name.
“Your cousin?”
Gabriel looked at her.
“How do you know that?”
“Benny talks.”
Leo continued.
“Victor’s access card opened the penthouse service elevator the night Paulie died.”
Gabriel slowly stood.
“He told me he was in Miami.”
“He lied.”
Gabriel walked toward the windows.
Norah watched his shoulders stiffen.
Victor wasn’t merely family.
He had grown up with Gabriel.
Their mothers were sisters.
After Rosa died, Victor had been one of the men who carried her coffin.
“Bring him.”
Two hours later, Victor Salerno entered the penthouse.
He smiled when he saw Norah.
“So this is the famous waitress.”
Gabriel sat at the dining table.
“Sit.”
Victor’s smile faded.
“Something wrong?”
Gabriel pushed a key across the table.
Victor looked at it.
“You recognize that?”
“No.”
“It opened Benny’s rear door.”
Victor shrugged.
“Lots of keys look alike.”
Leo placed a security photograph beside it.
Victor’s expression barely changed.
Barely.
Norah noticed.
“You’re nervous.”
Victor turned toward her.
“Excuse me?”
“You keep touching your ring.”
Gabriel looked at Victor’s hand.
Victor immediately stopped.
“Stay out of family business.”
Norah answered, “I’m trying.”
Victor stood.
“This is absurd.”
Gabriel remained seated.
“Paulie trusted you.”
“So did you.”
“Past tense.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“You’re going to believe some waitress over your own blood?”
Gabriel looked toward Norah.
Then back at Victor.
“My own blood has been trying to kill me.”
Victor laughed.
“You’re paranoid.”
“Yes.”
Gabriel stood.
“And you used that.”
Victor stopped smiling.
Gabriel finally understood.
The poison had not merely been intended to kill him.
It had been intended to frighten him.
Make him stop eating.
Make him weak.
Make his captains question him.
Then an “accident” could finish the job.
“You didn’t need poison in every meal,” Gabriel said.
Victor said nothing.
“You only needed me to believe there might be.”
Leo stepped closer.
Victor looked toward the door.
Two guards blocked it.
Norah watched the room.
Something felt wrong.
Victor wasn’t frightened enough.
She looked toward the table.
Gabriel’s untouched water.
Then toward Victor.
His eyes flicked toward the glass.
Norah moved.
“Gabriel, don’t touch that.”
Everyone froze.
Victor ran.
Leo tackled him before he reached the door.
Gabriel stared at the water.
“Who poured this?”
A young security man near the wall went pale.
Gabriel noticed.
“So there are two of you.”
The guard turned.
The other men seized him.
Victor struggled against Leo.
“You think she saved you?”
Gabriel approached.
Victor laughed bitterly.
“She’s made you weaker.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“No.”
He looked toward Norah.
May you like
“She reminded me what trust feels like.”
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