Chapter 3 - The Photograph After the Funeral
Rico stared at the photograph long enough for Clara to realize something more frightening than anger had taken hold of him.
Hope.
Dangerous hope.
“Elena was buried six months ago,” he said.
Dante examined the photograph.
“Could be manipulated.”
Rico turned it over again.
Clara noticed something in the background.
“Wait.”
She pointed at a reflection in the restaurant window.
“There.”
A silver delivery truck was reflected behind Elena. Clara recognized the logo.
Marston Medical Supply.
“I’ve seen those trucks,” she said. “They deliver to St. Catherine’s Rehabilitation Center.”
Rico looked at her sharply.
“How do you know?”
“My mother spent her final months there.”
For the first time, some of the suspicion left his eyes.
Leo climbed into Rico’s lap but kept one fist wrapped around Clara’s apron.
Rico appeared not to notice.
Or perhaps he noticed and chose not to fight it.
“Why would Elena be at a rehabilitation center?”
Dante answered carefully.
“If she survived the shooting…”
“She didn’t,” Rico snapped. “I saw her body.”
Clara studied him.
“Did you?”
His eyes moved toward her.
“I saw her in the hospital.”
“After she died?”
Rico hesitated.
That hesitation told Clara everything.
“No,” he admitted. “My uncle Salvatore handled the arrangements. The doctors said her injuries were severe. I saw her before surgery. Later Salvatore told me she died.”
Dante’s jaw tightened.
“Boss…”
Rico stood so abruptly Leo clung to him.
“Get Salvatore here.”
Dante did not move.
“Boss, he left New York this morning.”
“For where?”
“Nobody knows.”
Another silence fell.
Then Clara noticed Leo staring at the photograph.
His little face had gone pale.
“Leo?”
The boy pointed at Elena.
Then he said something that made Rico’s fingers tighten around the picture.
“I see Mama.”
Rico dropped to one knee.
“When?”
Leo looked toward the kitchen again.
“Night.”
“What night?”
Leo struggled for words, growing frustrated.
Clara gently tapped twice on the table.
Tap. Tap.
Leo calmed.
Then he whispered:
“Uncle Sal takes me.”
Rico’s face transformed.
“Salvatore took you to see your mother?”
Leo nodded.
May you like
Then added the detail that turned Rico’s hope into fury.
“He says Daddy can’t know.”
