Chapter 3 - The Poisoned Chalice
Arthur’s hand moved beneath his jacket.
Marco stopped.
“Before you pull that gun, let me explain.”
Chloe looked between them.
“Why do you have my ultrasound?”
Marco placed it on the table.
“Because I took it from the man who stole it.”
Arthur didn’t lower his hand.
“What man?”
“Hospital parking garage. He was watching this floor.”
“Where is he?”
“Alive.”
The blood suggested barely.
Arthur stared at his oldest friend.
“You received Chloe’s letter.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t give it to me.”
“No.”
Chloe’s face hardened.
Marco looked ashamed.
“I was trying to keep both of you alive.”
Arthur stepped closer.
“You have ten seconds.”
“The threat wasn’t only against Chloe.”
“Eight.”
“They threatened the baby.”
Arthur stopped.
Marco continued quickly.
“I knew about the pregnancy. Croft knew too. Before you did.”
Chloe whispered, “How?”
“Someone had been following you.”
“Who?”
“I still don’t know.”
Arthur grabbed Marco by the collar.
“You let me walk toward an altar while my child was being hunted?”
“I kept Chloe alive.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the last time you loved someone, Daniel died.”
The name silenced the room.
Arthur released him.
Daniel Romano had been twenty-six when his car exploded.
Arthur had been standing thirty feet away.
The investigation blamed a rival family.
Arthur had spent six years believing it.
Marco said, “Someone resurrected Daniel’s name today.”
Arthur showed him the message.
Marco nodded.
“That’s why I came.”
He pulled a small plastic evidence bag from his pocket.
Inside was a brass key.
“I took this from the man downstairs.”
Stamped into the metal were two characters.
D.R.
Daniel Romano.
Chloe watched Arthur’s face.
“What did your brother have a key to?”
“I don’t know.”
Marco did.
Arthur saw it immediately.
“Tell me.”
Marco exhaled.
“Your father’s old deposit room.”
Arthur’s father, Salvatore Romano, had died three years earlier.
He had taken many secrets with him.
Apparently not all.
Arthur turned toward Chloe.
“You’re coming with me when the doctors release you.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Still bossy.”
“Someone photographed you sleeping.”
That ended the argument.
Chloe’s expression changed.
Arthur showed her.
For several seconds she couldn’t speak.
“When?”
“Last night.”
She looked toward the hospital door.
Fear entered her eyes.
Arthur sat beside her.
“Nobody gets near you again.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“Yes, I can.”
“You couldn’t even tell me why you left.”
Arthur absorbed the blow.
Then he said quietly, “You’re right.”
Chloe hadn’t expected that.
“I thought disappearing would save you. It nearly got you killed instead.”
“And married.”
“I wasn’t going to love her.”
“That makes it so much better.”
“It doesn’t.”
The anger drained from her face, leaving exhaustion.
“Did you love me?”
Arthur stared.
“Did?”
Chloe’s breath caught.
He leaned closer.
“There has not been one day since I left when I didn’t.”
Before she could answer, the fetal monitor changed rhythm.
Chloe looked frightened.
A nurse rushed in.
Then another.
Arthur was pushed aside.
“What’s happening?”
“Her blood pressure is climbing.”
The doctor entered.
“Mr. Romano, outside.”
“No.”
“Arthur,” Chloe whispered.
He looked at her.
“Go.”
He obeyed only because she asked.
Outside, Marco was waiting.
Arthur pressed both hands against the wall.
“What did they put in the chalice?”
“Cyanide compound.”
“Source?”
“We’re tracing it.”
“Croft?”
“No evidence yet.”
Arthur looked toward Chloe’s room.
“Find Vivian.”
Marco nodded.
“And Marco?”
“Yes?”
“If you hide one more thing about Chloe or my child, friendship won’t save you.”
“I know.”
Marco left.
Minutes later, Arthur received another message.
DANIEL DIED BECAUSE YOUR FATHER FOUND OUT THE TRUTH.
Attached was an address.
Arthur recognized it.
Henderson’s Diner.
Beneath the address:
ASK CHLOE WHAT HER FATHER KEPT UNDER THE FLOOR.
Arthur turned toward the hospital room.
Chloe had once told him her father died when she was seventeen.
She had inherited the diner from him.
Arthur entered.
The doctors had stabilized her again.
He sat beside her.
“Chloe.”
She opened her eyes.
“What did your father keep beneath the diner?”
Her face changed.
Arthur noticed.
“You know.”
“No.”
“You do.”
She stared at the ceiling.
“When Dad was dying, he made me promise never to open the storage space beneath the pantry.”
Arthur felt cold.
“Why?”
“He said if a Romano ever came asking…”
She stopped.
Arthur leaned closer.
“What?”
Chloe finally looked at him.
“He said I should run.”
Then the hospital door clicked shut behind Arthur.
A familiar male voice spoke from the other side.
“Your father gave her excellent advice.”
May you like
Arthur turned.
And the man standing there had Daniel Romano’s face.
