Chapter 4 - The Nights Rico Never Knew About
Rico ordered the restaurant cleared within five minutes.
No screaming.
No threats.
That frightened everyone more.
Customers quietly collected coats while staff disappeared into the kitchen. Soon only Rico, Leo, Clara, Dante, and Marco remained beneath the chandeliers.
Rico crouched in front of his son.
“Leo, listen to Daddy. Uncle Salvatore took you somewhere?”
Leo nodded.
“In a car?”
Another nod.
“Where?”
The boy’s lip trembled.
Clara intervened before Rico’s urgency frightened him.
“Can we make it a game?”
Rico looked irritated, but he stepped back.
Clara found paper and crayons from the restaurant’s family supply drawer.
“Draw what you remember.”
Leo drew a square building.
Then a tree.
Then a red circle.
Dante studied it.
“Could be anything.”
Leo suddenly drew three wavy lines above the building.
Clara understood.
“Steam?”
Leo shook his head.
“Smoke?”
Another shake.
Then he said, “Water.”
Rico stared at the drawing.
“A building near the river.”
Leo pointed excitedly.
“Yes.”
He drew a bridge.
Dante pulled out his phone.
“There are dozens of places along the East River.”
Leo then colored a sign beside the building bright blue and drew something resembling a bird.
Clara’s stomach tightened.
“I know that logo.”
Everyone turned.
“It’s not a bird. It’s a swan.”
She had passed the building every week while visiting her mother.
“St. Catherine’s has a private neurological annex near the river. Their sign is a blue swan.”
Rico stood.
“We’re going.”
Dante blocked him.
“We should check first.”
“I buried my wife because people I trusted told me she was dead.”
His voice cracked for the first time.
“I’m done waiting.”
Clara expected him to leave without another glance.
Instead Leo grabbed her hand.
“Clara come.”
Rico stared at their joined hands.
“You’re coming with us.”
Clara shook her head.
“No. I’m a waitress.”
“Tonight you’re the only person my son trusts.”
Before she could argue, Marco approached carrying Clara’s purse.
Something fell from its side pocket.
A brass key.
Clara frowned.
“That isn’t mine.”
Attached to it was a blue plastic tag.
Dante picked it up.
Printed across the tag were five words:
May you like
ST. CATHERINE’S — PRIVATE ANNEX 4B.
And underneath was Clara’s full name.
