Chapter 2 - THE DEAD HUSBAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
The first thing Peter Castiglione did after learning my husband's name was apologize.
Not for frightening me.
Not for arriving with armed men.
For something much worse.
“Mara, I think Daniel died because he was trying to help my parents.”
I stared at him.
“Don't.”
Peter stopped.
“Don't what?”
“Don't stand there and turn my husband's death into one of your Mafia stories.”
His expression tightened.
“I understand.”
“No, you don't.”
My voice broke.
“Daniel was a good man. He worked double shifts. He helped strangers. He came home exhausted and still read bedtime stories to our son.”
Leo pressed closer to me.
I lowered my voice.
“He didn't belong in your world.”
Peter looked at Sam and Rose.
“Neither did they.”
That silenced me.
Outside, rain continued striking the windows.
Peter's doctor finished examining the elderly couple and recommended a hospital evaluation. Sam was dehydrated. Rose was exhausted and struggling to stay warm.
Peter asked whether they wanted to leave with him.
Rose nodded.
Sam hesitated.
He kept looking at me.
“Mara,” he whispered, “you fed us when nobody else would.”
I smiled through tears.
“You would've done the same.”
He gripped my hand.
“Your husband did.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Sam's eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel found us before you did.”
I stared at him.
“When?”
“Almost two years ago.”
The room tilted.
Daniel had been alive then.
Still working at the ambulance company.
Still coming home with tired eyes and strange excuses about late calls.
Sam continued.
“He brought us food. Medicine. Blankets.”
I couldn't speak.
Then Rose reached into her coat.
She removed a folded photograph.
It showed Daniel standing beside Sam and Rose outside a church.
My husband.
Smiling.
Alive.
On the back, in his handwriting, were four words.
KEEP THE ELLIS FAMILY SAFE.
My knees weakened.
Peter caught the chair before I fell.
“Why would Daniel write that?” I whispered.
Rose began crying.
“Because he found out what happened to us.”
I looked at Peter.
“What happened?”
Before he could answer, Sam reached inside his coat and removed a small brass key.
“Daniel gave me this.”
My heart hammered.
“What does it open?”
Sam shook his head.
“He said if anything happened to him, I should give it to his wife.”
I stared at the key.
Then noticed the little red train engraved into its head.
Leo suddenly climbed down from the booth.
“Mommy?”
I turned.
He pointed at the key.
“That's Daddy's secret train.”
I froze.
“What secret train?”
Leo swallowed.
“The one he said we're never supposed to open.”
Then he looked toward Peter.
May you like
And whispered:
“Daddy said the bad men would come looking for it.”
