Chapter 2 - THE NAME GARRETT NEVER WANTED SPOKEN
By Friday morning, Aurelio had learned three things about Marin Halloway.
She had no criminal record.
She had worked at the Corrant for four years.
And almost every spare dollar she earned went toward the residential care of her younger brother, Desmond Halloway.
What he hadn't learned was why she would risk confronting him.
That troubled him more than the warning itself.
People approached Aurelio for favors, money, protection, or revenge.
They rarely approached him for someone else's safety.
Nell placed Marin's employment file on his desk.
“Dina Rosco says she's reliable. Never steals, never calls out without notice, and remembers orders better than the computer.”
Aurelio looked up.
“And Garrett?”
“Denies everything.”
“Of course he does.”
Nell hesitated.
“He also wants the waitress fired.”
Aurelio closed the file.
“Interesting.”
Garrett Mohei had served the Ferrante family for nearly three decades.
When Aurelio's father was murdered, Garrett had been the first man to arrive at the hospital.
He'd held Aurelio's mother while she cried.
He'd stood beside Aurelio at the funeral.
Later, he'd taught him how to read contracts, recognize a lie, and survive a room full of men who wanted his position.
Aurelio owed him more than he liked to admit.
But gratitude was not blindness.
At least, he'd always believed it wasn't.
That evening, Garrett arrived at Aurelio's office without an appointment.
“What's this nonsense about a waitress?”
Aurelio remained seated.
“What nonsense?”
“She approached you in the parking lot. Now your people are asking questions.”
“Should they not?”
Garrett stared.
“I've protected this family since before you were born.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you investigating me?”
Aurelio folded his hands.
“Because a woman who has nothing to gain says you're planning something.”
Garrett laughed.
“That's your evidence?”
“No.”
“Then what's the problem?”
Aurelio watched him.
“The problem is that you want her fired.”
Garrett's smile disappeared.
Aurelio continued.
“If she's lying, she'll eventually expose herself. Why are you so anxious to silence her?”
For the first time, Garrett had no immediate answer.
At the Corrant, Marin was wiping down table six when Dina approached.
“Office. Now.”
Marin's stomach tightened.
Inside, Dina closed the door.
“Garrett wants you gone.”
“I figured.”
“He says you accused him of plotting against Mr. Ferrante.”
“I warned Mr. Ferrante about something I saw.”
“Marin.”
“I know how it sounds.”
Dina studied her.
“Are you sure?”
Marin looked down.
“No. That's the problem.”
Dina sighed.
Then she placed the next week's schedule on the desk.
“I'm not firing you.”
Marin looked up.
“Why?”
“Because I know you.”
For a moment, Marin couldn't speak.
Dina continued.
“But if you're in danger, I need to know.”
Marin thought of Garrett's expression through the service window.
“I think Pearl might be.”
Dina's face changed.
“Then we keep Pearl off closing shifts until we understand why.”
It was the first practical decision anyone had made since Marin began collecting those fragments.
And it gave her a little hope.
May you like
Until she walked out of the office and found Garrett standing beside the kitchen door.
Watching her.
