Chapter 5 - Gideon Wolf's First Test
Gideon fired first.
The gunman disappeared behind the wall as the shot shattered a lamp.
Rafael shoved Norah down.
"Stay!"
Two more shots tore through the apartment.
Keller screamed.
Gideon overturned a table despite Hart shouting at him.
"Rafael. Hallway."
Rafael moved.
The intruder ran.
A door crashed.
Then silence.
Norah lifted her head.
"Keller?"
The older woman was bleeding from her shoulder.
Hart crawled toward her.
"I'm fine," Keller gasped.
"People who are fine usually aren't bleeding."
Gideon looked toward the recorder.
The tape was still running.
But the next section had been erased.
Someone had known exactly what they were coming to hear.
Rafael returned.
"Gone."
Gideon's fist tightened.
"Again."
"He knew the building."
Norah looked at Gideon.
"Your father?"
"My father has been dead nine years."
"Then what did that man mean?"
Gideon stared at the recorder.
"I don't know."
They returned to the estate before midnight.
Hart began treatment based on the preliminary toxicology results.
The suspicious drink was removed.
Every medication was replaced from independently verified supplies.
By dawn, something unexpected happened.
Gideon's heart rhythm stabilized.
Not completely.
But noticeably.
By afternoon, his blood pressure improved.
The following morning, he ate half a piece of toast.
Norah watched from her chair.
"Don't look so impressed," he said.
"I'm watching a grown man celebrate toast."
"I own twelve restaurants."
"And apparently none taught you how to chew quietly."
He almost smiled.
Their strange routine continued.
Norah checked every seal.
Every bottle.
Every plate.
Gideon trusted nobody else with his food.
Not even Rafael.
Three days passed.
His kidneys stopped deteriorating.
Hart entered on the fourth morning carrying lab results.
"The numbers are improving."
Norah smiled before she could stop herself.
Gideon noticed.
"How much?"
"Enough that I'm willing to say removing the exposure is working."
"Will I recover?"
Hart paused.
"I think you have a real chance."
Norah closed her eyes briefly.
Relief surprised her.
Gideon watched her.
"Why do you care?"
She opened her eyes.
"You're my employer."
"Bad answer."
"You're also incredibly annoying."
"Better."
Hart left.
Gideon motioned toward the chair.
"Sit."
Norah did.
"I need to know something."
"What?"
"Who do you trust here?"
She frowned.
"Why ask me?"
"Because everyone I trusted failed to see someone poisoning me."
"That doesn't mean they're guilty."
"No."
He leaned back.
"But it means my instincts aren't enough."
Norah considered.
"Rafael."
"Why?"
"He gave me gloves."
Gideon stared.
"That's your evidence?"
"When I found the glass, he didn't dismiss me because I was a maid. He listened."
"Anyone else?"
"Dr. Hart."
"Why?"
"Same reason."
Gideon nodded.
"Marco?"
Norah hesitated.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Say it."
"He watches me."
"He's security."
"No."
She shook her head.
"He watches me differently."
Gideon's expression sharpened.
"How?"
"Like he's waiting for me to make a mistake."
That afternoon Gideon arranged a test.
Only four people were told he would be moved to a private clinic at 10 p.m.
Rafael.
Hart.
Marco.
Norah.
But each received a different route.
At 9:40, four vehicles left the estate.
Only one was attacked.
The one following Marco's route.
Gideon watched the security report from his bedroom.
Norah stood beside him.
"That proves someone got his information."
"Or he gave it."
Rafael entered.
"We picked up one attacker alive."
"Talk?"
"Eventually."
"Eventually isn't useful."
"He said one thing."
"What?"
Rafael looked at Norah.
"The maid is next."
Gideon stood.
For the first time in weeks, he managed it without help.
Weakly.
But he stood.
"No."
Rafael understood the tone.
"We'll double her security."
Norah folded her arms.
"I'm standing right here."
Gideon ignored her.
"Nobody approaches her without clearance."
"Stop."
He looked at her.
"I'm not becoming a prisoner."
"You're already a target."
"So are you."
"That's different."
"Why?"
Gideon had no answer.
Norah stepped closer.
"If someone wants me dead because I found your glass, hiding me won't solve this."
"What do you suggest?"
"Use me."
His face hardened.
"No."
"You used four routes to expose a leak."
"You're not a route."
The words came too quickly.
Both of them noticed.
Norah's expression softened slightly.
"Gideon."
"No."
Rafael's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
"We have Marco."
Gideon turned.
"Where?"
"Security room."
"Bring him."
Marco entered ten minutes later.
Unarmed.
Two guards behind him.
He looked furious.
"You think I betrayed you?"
Gideon sat behind his desk.
"I think someone did."
"I've protected you for fourteen years."
"Then help me."
Marco looked toward Norah.
"There."
Norah stiffened.
"She's the problem."
Gideon's voice lowered.
"Careful."
"She arrives less than a year ago. Suddenly your medical supply is compromised. Old secrets surface. Evelyn Blake's daughter conveniently discovers everything."
Norah stared at him.
"You think I poisoned him?"
"I think you're involved."
Gideon watched both of them.
Then Norah noticed Marco's wrist.
No bracelet.
But a pale line circled it.
As though he'd recently removed one.
Her heart accelerated.
"Where's your bracelet?"
Marco froze.
Rafael looked at his wrist.
"What bracelet?"
Norah stood.
"The silver one."
Marco's expression changed.
"I don't wear jewelry."
"You did."
"When?"
"The kitchen reflection."
Gideon leaned forward.
Marco backed toward the door.
Rafael drew his gun.
"Show me your pockets."
Marco didn't move.
"Now."
Slowly, Marco reached inside his jacket.
Norah saw Gideon's hand move toward his weapon.
Marco removed something.
Not a gun.
A small silver bracelet.
A trident charm hung from it.
Nobody breathed.
Gideon stared at the symbol connected to the organization that had killed his mother.
"Explain."
Marco's eyes filled with something Norah didn't expect.
Shame.
"It belonged to my brother."
"Who was your brother?"
Marco swallowed.
"Samuel Vale."
May you like
Gideon stood.
And before anyone could react, the lights in the security room switched off.
