Chapter 5 - The Night Chloe Was Accused
Beatrice survived.
Doctors called it a severe medication interaction.
Gabriel called it something else.
“Someone changed her pills.”
Chloe stood outside Beatrice's hospital room.
“Are you certain?”
“The doctor found twice the prescribed dosage.”
Gabriel's eyes were hollow.
“Who had access?”
“Household staff. Family. My men.”
“And me.”
Gabriel looked at her.
Chloe understood immediately.
“You think I did this?”
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't need to.”
“Chloe—”
“Your mother is practically the reason I'm still signing.”
“I know.”
“Then why are two of your men watching me?”
Gabriel glanced down the corridor.
Chloe laughed bitterly.
“Unbelievable.”
She walked away.
“Chloe.”
She kept going.
Then Gabriel's voice changed.
“Anthony says he saw you near her medication.”
She stopped.
Slowly turned.
“Anthony?”
“Yes.”
“The man your mother warned you about?”
Gabriel said nothing.
Chloe walked back.
“At her birthday party, Anthony threatened me.”
Gabriel's face hardened.
“What?”
“He said people who hear things they shouldn't don't last long around you.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because every problem in your world ends with men disappearing.”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“You should've told me.”
“And you should trust your mother.”
Silence.
Then the hospital-room door opened.
Beatrice was awake.
She raised her hand.
Both entered.
Gabriel sat beside her.
“Ma.”
Beatrice signed weakly.
Chloe watched.
Gabriel understood most of it himself now.
Anthony changed my pills.
Gabriel's expression went blank.
Beatrice continued.
I saw him.
Chloe translated only when Gabriel missed a sign.
“He came into your room?”
Beatrice nodded.
Why?
Gabriel asked.
Beatrice answered.
Because he knows I saw him stealing from you.
Gabriel stood.
Chloe caught his arm.
“No.”
He looked down.
“Move.”
“Think.”
“He tried to kill my mother.”
“And he wants you angry.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“Why?”
“Because angry people make mistakes.”
Beatrice pointed at Chloe.
Listen.
Gabriel looked at his mother.
Then Chloe.
Slowly, he sat back down.
“What do you suggest?”
Chloe stared at him.
“Make Anthony believe Beatrice can't identify him.”
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
“And then?”
“We wait for him to make the next mistake.”
For the first time since Chloe had known him, Gabriel smiled in a way that frightened even her.
“Now you're starting to sound like a Costello.”
May you like
“Don't insult me.”
Beatrice silently laughed.
