Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER WHO CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD
His name was Patrick Gallagher.
He was four years older than Desmond.
Twelve years earlier, Patrick had supposedly died during a violent dispute between rival criminal organizations.
There had been a funeral.
A closed coffin.
A grave.
Desmond had spent years blaming himself.
Now Patrick was alive.
And apparently connected to the bombing that nearly killed him.
Desmond stared at the photograph.
"Where is he?"
Frankie hesitated.
"He's in police custody."
Desmond looked up sharply.
"Police?"
"Detective Nora Hayes picked him up after the warehouse search."
Desmond leaned back.
For a moment, he looked relieved.
Then the anger returned.
"Get my attorney."
I watched him carefully.
"You need to eat."
He glared.
"Claire."
"Desmond."
"Not now."
"Especially now."
He looked ready to argue.
Then he sighed.
"Fine."
Later, while he ate breakfast, I asked the question that had been bothering me.
"Why would your brother fake his death?"
Desmond stared at his plate.
"Because our father was going to kill him."
I went still.
"What?"
He looked up.
"Our father believed Patrick was stealing from the family."
"Was he?"
Desmond hesitated.
"I thought so."
"And now?"
He shook his head.
"I don't know."
The Gallagher family had controlled Chicago's underground economy for generations.
Desmond's father, Malcolm Gallagher, ruled through intimidation and ruthless discipline.
Patrick had always been the rebellious son.
Desmond was the loyal one.
When Patrick supposedly died, Desmond inherited responsibility for the organization.
Malcolm died three years later.
Desmond became boss.
But the past had never truly disappeared.
That afternoon, Detective Nora Hayes arrived at the estate.
She was in her forties, sharp-eyed and direct.
She carried a folder.
"Mr. Gallagher, your brother claims he didn't plant the bomb."
Desmond's expression hardened.
"Of course he does."
Nora opened the folder.
"He says he was hired to recover a device from the warehouse."
"By whom?"
She looked at him.
"Someone inside your organization."
Desmond went still.
Nora continued.
"He also claims the explosion wasn't intended to kill you."
I frowned.
"What was it intended to do?"
She looked at Desmond.
"Remove you from control."
Silence.
Then Desmond laughed bitterly.
"Well, congratulations to whoever planned it."
Nora's expression remained serious.
"There's more."
She placed a medical report on the table.
"The bomb contained a secondary component designed to release a sedative aerosol into the vehicle before detonation."
I stared.
"Why?"
Nora looked at Desmond.
"Because whoever planned this wanted you incapacitated before the explosion."
Desmond's face hardened.
"Who?"
Nora hesitated.
May you like
Then said:
"Your fiancée."
