Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN IN THE KITCHEN
Roman had buried his wife on a rainy morning in March.
Her name was Sofia Duca.
She had been twenty-nine when the police told him her car had gone into the Chicago River.
They recovered the vehicle.
They recovered a handbag.
They recovered blood.
But they never recovered a body.
Roman had spent eighteen months searching.
Then the investigation closed.
His son was six.
And Roman had been forced to explain death to a child who kept asking when his mother was coming home.
Now Ethan was eleven.
And he claimed he had seen her.
Roman sat beside his son in the restaurant's private office.
Maya remained nearby at Ethan's request.
"Tell me what happened yesterday," Roman said gently.
Ethan stared at the floor.
Maya waited.
After a while, the boy spoke.
"I was looking for my blue jacket."
Roman nodded.
"You left it here last week."
"Yeah."
Ethan swallowed.
"I went behind the kitchen."
Roman looked at Maya.
She frowned.
"There's a service corridor back there."
Ethan nodded.
"I heard someone crying."
Roman's heart began pounding.
"Who?"
"A woman."
Ethan looked up.
"She was wearing a gray coat."
Roman's hands tightened.
"Did you see her face?"
Ethan nodded.
"She looked like Mom."
Silence.
Then Ethan whispered:
"She said my name."
Roman felt something break inside him.
Maya studied the boy.
"Did she speak to you directly?"
Ethan shook his head.
"She was talking to someone else."
"What did she say?"
Ethan closed his eyes.
"She said, 'Don't bring Ethan into this.'"
Roman stood abruptly.
His chair scraped the floor.
Maya looked at him.
"Mr. Duca."
He stopped.
She spoke quietly.
"Please don't leave without telling him where you're going."
Roman stared.
Then looked at his son.
"I'm going to check something. I'll be right outside."
Ethan nodded.
Roman left.
In the hallway, Marcus Bell, his security chief, waited.
"Boss?"
Roman's voice was cold.
"Pull every camera recording from yesterday."
Marcus nodded.
"And find out who had access to the service corridor."
"Yes, sir."
Roman turned.
"One more thing."
Marcus waited.
"Find the man with the silver watch."
Marcus frowned.
"What man?"
May you like
Roman stared at him.
"The one who knows my wife is alive."
