Chapter 2 - The Man Who Heard With His Eyes
The man entering the hallway was not Brett.
He wore Brett’s vest.
He wore Brett’s name tag.
But Tessa had never seen him before.
Salvatore moved before she could react.
He stepped between her and the stranger.
The man stopped.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then the stranger smiled.
“Wrong hallway.”
Salvatore’s eyes narrowed.
The man turned and disappeared through the kitchen.
Tessa started after him.
Salvatore caught her wrist.
She looked down.
He immediately released her.
Don’t chase him.
“My brother could be in danger.”
Exactly.
Tessa’s anger rose.
“You don’t get to tell me to stand here.”
Salvatore studied her face, then signed faster.
I’m telling you that whoever sent that photograph wants you frightened enough to make a mistake.
Tessa hated that he was right.
His associate returned.
He typed something into Salvatore’s phone.
Salvatore read it.
Then looked at Tessa.
Danny is safe.
Her knees almost weakened.
“Where?”
Your neighbor’s apartment. He left through the fire escape when he saw someone enter yours.
Tessa closed her eyes.
Relief came first.
Then rage.
Someone had entered her home.
Someone had photographed Danny.
And somehow it was connected to a man she had met twenty minutes ago.
“Tell me what is happening.”
Salvatore did not answer immediately.
Then he signed.
I don’t know yet.
She stared at him.
“That’s not enough.”
No.
His expression became unexpectedly human.
It isn’t.
Bellamy’s security staff searched the kitchen.
The stranger was gone.
So was Brett.
Carla claimed she had seen Brett receive a phone call and leave through the rear exit.
Tessa did not believe in coincidences anymore.
Salvatore insisted she not return home alone.
She refused his car twice.
The third time, he simply stood beside the restaurant entrance and waited.
“You’re stubborn.”
He raised one eyebrow.
Tessa almost smiled despite herself.
“You know that wasn’t a compliment.”
He signed, I decided it was.
Twenty minutes later, they reached her apartment building.
Danny was waiting upstairs with Mrs. Alvarez from across the hall.
The instant he saw Tessa, he hugged her.
She signed against his shoulder.
Are you okay?
Danny nodded.
He was twenty-two, lanky, restless, with Tessa’s gray eyes and their father’s crooked smile.
Then he noticed Salvatore.
His expression changed.
You brought HIM?
Tessa blinked.
You know him?
Danny looked from her to Salvatore.
Everyone knows him.
Salvatore watched their hands.
Danny noticed.
His eyes widened.
You sign?
Salvatore nodded.
Since childhood.
Danny stared.
Then his suspicion became curiosity.
Tessa interrupted.
Who entered the apartment?
Danny’s expression darkened.
I never saw his face.
The lock had not been forced.
Nothing appeared stolen.
But one thing had been moved.
A framed photograph of Tessa and Danny’s late mother had been taken from the bookshelf and placed on the kitchen table.
Salvatore examined it.
On the back someone had written a date.
October 14, 2008.
Tessa frowned.
“That was the night my mother died.”
Salvatore stopped moving.
Tessa saw it.
“You know that date.”
He looked at her.
For the first time since they met, Salvatore Marquetti looked as if he wanted to lie.
Instead, he signed one sentence.
That was the night I lost my hearing.
Tessa stared at him.
Neither spoke.
Two families.
One date.
One tragedy neither had ever understood.
Danny turned the photograph over again.
Something fell from behind the cardboard backing.
A tiny brass key.
Tessa had never seen it.
Attached to it was a faded paper tag.
BELLAMY’S — 7.
Salvatore looked at the key.
Then at Tessa.
“Table Seven?” she whispered.
He shook his head.
Not the table.
“What, then?”
Salvatore’s hands remained still.
Someone knocked.
Three slow knocks.
Danny looked toward the door.
Mrs. Alvarez was already downstairs.
Salvatore’s men were stationed outside.
Nobody should have reached the apartment unnoticed.
Another knock came.
Tessa approached.
Salvatore stopped her.
The third knock came.
Then a woman’s voice spoke from the other side.
“Tessa Whitlock?”
Tessa froze.
“Yes?”
The woman answered.
“My name is Elena Marquetti.”
Salvatore went completely still.
Tessa looked at him.
“Who is she?”
Salvatore’s face turned pale.
He signed only two words.
May you like
My mother.
Then the deadbolt began turning from the outside.
