Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Roarke met Adeline in the foundation's conference room.
She had agreed to the meeting only after Miriam assured her that her new job didn't depend on it.
Roarke arrived without Silvio.
That mattered.
He sat across from her.
"I heard you received threatening messages."
Adeline's eyes narrowed.
"Who told you?"
"Miriam said you wanted to discuss a security concern."
"I told her because someone approached my sister."
Roarke's expression hardened.
"Is she safe?"
"For now."
He nodded.
"Have you reported it?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Adeline placed the folded note on the table.
Roarke read it.
His face changed.
"Where did you get this?"
"It was in my uniform pocket when I left your suite."
He looked up.
"Did you see who put it there?"
"No."
Roarke studied the signature.
SILVIO MARCHETTI.
"Do you know him?" Adeline asked.
Roarke was silent.
"Mr. Castellano."
"Yes."
"Then tell me who he is."
Roarke placed the note down.
"My chief lieutenant."
Adeline felt sick.
"The man who wanted to 'handle' me?"
"Yes."
She leaned back.
"And you're telling me he approved my access to your floor?"
Roarke looked sharply at her.
"How do you know that?"
"The hotel supervisor told me there was an authorization exception. I asked who signed it."
Roarke's jaw tightened.
Adeline continued.
"I didn't request that floor. I didn't know whose suite it was. Someone assigned me there."
Roarke stared at the note.
Then said:
"Someone wanted you in that room."
Adeline's throat went dry.
"Why?"
"I don't know yet."
She shook her head.
"That isn't good enough."
"No," Roarke agreed. "It isn't."
He looked at her.
"Adeline, I need to ask something."
She waited.
"Did your mother ever work for the Castellano family?"
Adeline frowned.
"No."
"Are you certain?"
"She was a nurse."
"Where?"
"Saint Catherine's Hospital."
Roarke went still.
Adeline noticed.
"What?"
He looked away.
"Saint Catherine's was where my father died."
Silence.
Adeline stared.
"When?"
"Three years ago."
She felt the blood drain from her face.
May you like
Her mother had died three years ago.
And suddenly, the timing no longer felt accidental.
