Chapter 5
Caleb Mercer arrived at noon.
Vittorio had not summoned him.
That made his arrival useful.
The older capo entered the breakfast room smiling.
Then saw the broken map rack.
The red tube.
Marcus under guard.
Bianca beside the overturned tea cabinet.
Lucy in Vittorio’s arms.
His smile disappeared.
“Bad morning?”
Vittorio looked at him.
“Depends.”
Caleb glanced toward the map.
There.
One second.
Recognition.
“What’s that?”
Vittorio almost smiled.
“You tell me.”
Caleb looked bored.
“Old estate map.”
“Which route?”
“No idea.”
Marcus watched him.
Too intently.
Vittorio noticed.
Caleb continued:
“Why am I here?”
“You tell me.”
He sighed.
“I came because east river security called.”
“About?”
“Gate malfunction.”
Too polished.
Vittorio said:
“They called me.”
Silence.
Caleb recovered.
“They called both.”
“No.”
Vittorio’s voice stayed calm.
“They didn’t.”
Caleb’s expression hardened.
Good.
Vittorio placed the map on the table.
Three circles.
Three capo names.
Caleb looked.
Nothing.
Too nothing.
“Know them?”
“Of course.”
“Why circles?”
“No idea.”
Lucy shifted in Vittorio’s arms.
Caleb looked at her.
The child immediately tightened.
Another reaction.
Vittorio felt it.
Caleb smiled at her.
Too gentle.
“Morning, sweetheart.”
Lucy hid.
He laughed softly.
“Shy?”
Vittorio asked:
“When was the last time you saw my daughter?”
Caleb looked at him.
“Maybe Christmas?”
Lucy whispered:
“Yesterday.”
Silence.
Caleb’s eyes hardened.
Marcus swore under his breath.
Vittorio looked at Lucy.
“Where?”
“Red door.”
Caleb laughed.
“Children dream.”
Vittorio stared.
Caleb continued.
“She probably saw staff.”
Lucy shook her head.
“Star pin.”
Caleb wore a small silver star on his lapel.
Old river-crew insignia.
He touched it instinctively.
Too late.
Lucy pointed.
“That.”
Caleb’s face changed.
Vittorio looked at him.
“Yesterday?”
No answer.
“Under my house?”
Silence.
Caleb’s voice became colder.
“You’re letting a toddler interrogate capos now?”
There it was.
Contempt.
Not denial.
He looked at Lucy.
“Children repeat whatever gets them attention.”
Vittorio’s jaw tightened.
Caleb continued.
“Maybe Bianca should’ve disciplined her harder.”
Bianca turned.
“What?”
Caleb looked at her.
“You heard me.”
Her face changed.
She had believed him her ally.
Not her superior.
Vittorio watched.
Caleb continued:
“You couldn’t silence one little girl.”
Bianca went pale.
Marcus said:
“Enough.”
Caleb looked at him.
Then smiled.
“You too.”
Marcus’s face hardened.
Caleb stepped toward the table.
“You were supposed to open a gate.”
“Not start a domestic circus.”
Vittorio went completely still.
Caleb realized.
Too late.
May you like
The gate plan was no longer inference.
He had just admitted Marcus was part of it.
