Chapter 2 - THE MAN OUTSIDE THE WINDOW
Vincent had imagined hearing his son's voice again a thousand times.
He had imagined Luca calling for breakfast, laughing at a cartoon, asking whether his mother could hear him from heaven.
He had never imagined the first words would be an accusation of murder.
Outside, Anthony Bell stood beside the sedan with one hand in his coat pocket.
Vincent remembered the night Catherine died.
Anthony had been the first person to call him.
There's been an accident, boss.
A collision.
A fire.
A car that burned before emergency crews arrived.
Anthony had insisted there was nothing anyone could have done.
Vincent had believed him.
Because Anthony had served the Romano family for fourteen years.
Because Catherine's death had nearly destroyed him.
Because believing an accident was easier than imagining someone had deliberately killed his wife.
Now Luca was trembling.
Emily moved closer.
“Sir,” she said quietly, “I think he needs somewhere he feels safe.”
Vincent looked at her.
She didn't know his name.
Didn't know what kind of men waited outside.
But she had understood something he hadn't.
His son was terrified.
Vincent crouched beside Luca.
“Look at me, buddy.”
Luca's eyes remained fixed on Anthony.
“I'm here,” Vincent whispered. “Nobody is taking you anywhere.”
Luca's lower lip trembled.
Emily crouched on his other side.
“Luca, would you like to see the kitchen?”
The boy looked at her.
She held out her hand.
He took it.
Vincent felt something painful twist in his chest.
His son had not willingly taken a stranger's hand in two years.
“Go with Emily,” he said.
Luca hesitated.
Then Vincent added, “I'll be right here.”
Emily guided the boy toward the kitchen.
At the doorway, Luca looked back.
He was still holding the green crayon.
Vincent waited until they disappeared.
Then he called his driver.
“Where is Bell?”
“Still outside, boss.”
“Don't let him leave. And don't touch him unless he threatens someone.”
Vincent ended the call.
His next call went to Detective Samuel Ortega, a man who had spent years investigating organized crime and had never accepted Vincent's money.
“Ortega.”
“It's Romano.”
A pause.
“What do you want?”
“I have information about Catherine's death.”
Ortega's voice changed.
“Go on.”
“My son just spoke for the first time in two years.”
Silence.
Then Ortega asked, “What did he say?”
Vincent looked toward the kitchen.
“He identified Anthony Bell.”
Ortega took a breath.
“Don't question the child further.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
“Good. I'll arrange a trained forensic interviewer. Keep him safe.”
Vincent looked out the window.
Anthony Bell was smiling.
As if he knew exactly what had happened inside.
And that frightened Vincent more than any threat.
May you like
Because Anthony had not come to the diner to collect money.
He had come because he knew Luca was beginning to remember.
