Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN SPEAKING FOR HIM
The investigation exposed something I hadn't expected.
For years, Rafael had controlled much of Salvatore's public communication.
Not officially.
Not on paper.
But in practice.
At meetings, Rafael summarized conversations.
At negotiations, he interpreted when no qualified interpreter was present.
At family gatherings, he told relatives what Salvatore supposedly thought.
Sometimes he was accurate.
Sometimes he wasn't.
Salvatore had tolerated it because he trusted Rafael.
Because he was busy.
Because fighting every small distortion was exhausting.
Now he began reviewing old records.
And the distortions were no longer small.
Contracts had been altered.
Instructions changed.
Financial approvals misrepresented.
Rafael had used Salvatore's deafness as a tool.
One afternoon, Salvatore showed me a recording from a board meeting.
Rafael stood beside him, speaking confidently.
“Sal agrees.”
But Salvatore's hands had said something else.
I need more information before approving this.
I stared.
“He lied.”
Salvatore nodded.
“How many times?”
He looked away.
Then signed:
I don't know.
I felt sick.
Salvatore sat beside the window.
For a long time, he didn't move.
Then he signed:
People think power means nobody can hurt you.
I sat beside him.
He continued.
Sometimes it means nobody believes you can be hurt.
I swallowed.
He looked at me.
You saw me that first night.
I smiled faintly.
You were hard to miss.
He laughed silently.
Then signed:
No. You saw me.
My heart quickened.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then his phone vibrated.
He read the message.
His expression changed.
He turned the screen toward me.
Detective Velez has located a vehicle connected to Eli's disappearance.
I stood.
“Where?”
Salvatore signed:
South Side.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
There was blood inside.
