Chapter 5 - Rosa Alvarez Was Alive

Gabriel stared at the photograph.

Older.

Heavier.

Gray hair.

But the eyes were the same.

Rosa.

Alive.

Norah moved closer.

“That’s her.”

Gabriel looked at her.

“You’re sure.”

“Yes.”

His hand trembled.

Not weakness.

Something else.

Leo stared.

“My father said she died.”

Gabriel looked at him.

“So did my mother.”

Norah asked:

“Why would Rosa help Evan escape?”

Gabriel looked at the photograph.

“I don’t know.”

Then his phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

One message.

COME ALONE IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT PAULIE.

Address.

An abandoned church in the South End.

Leo said immediately:

“No.”

Gabriel looked at him.

“Not alone.”

“It says alone.”

“Evan wants you isolated.”

Gabriel looked at Norah.

She said:

“You’re barely standing.”

He frowned.

“That too.”

He almost smiled.

Then the message changed.

A second one.

BRING NORAH BENNETT.

Norah went still.

Gabriel’s expression became lethal.

“No.”

Her phone vibrated next.

Unknown number.

A photograph.

Her mother.

Elaine Bennett.

Leaving a grocery store.

Taken that morning.

Norah stopped breathing.

Gabriel looked at the screen.

Then at her.

“They know your family.”

She whispered:

“My mother has nothing to do with this.”

Gabriel’s voice went flat.

“She does now.”

Norah looked at him.

“What are we doing?”

Leo said:

“Police.”

Gabriel looked at him.

“Not yet.”

“Gabriel.”

“Not yet.”

Norah frowned.

“Why?”

“Because whoever did this used prison transfers.”

“Security footage.”

“Poison.”

“Old neighborhood information.”

“If they have people inside federal systems, I want to know who before we announce where we’re going.”

Leo looked angry.

But did not disagree.

One hour later, Gabriel entered the old church.

Not alone.

He had security outside.

Norah beside him.

Leo stayed in the vehicle.

Because Gabriel no longer knew whether Evan wanted his brother present.

The church smelled of dust.

Old wood.

Rain.

A woman sat in the first pew.

Gray hair.

Brown coat.

Gabriel stopped.

Rosa turned.

For several seconds, he looked ten years old again.

She smiled.

“Piccolo.”

His eyes filled.

Nobody had called him that in twenty-eight years.

“Rosa.”

She stood.

Gabriel did not move.

Then she crossed the aisle and slapped him.

Norah gasped.

Gabriel stared.

Rosa said:

“You got too thin.”

Silence.

Then Gabriel laughed.

Actually laughed.

For the first time since Paulie died.

Rosa hugged him.

His arms wrapped around her.

Hard.

He closed his eyes.

Norah looked away.

When they separated, Gabriel’s face changed.

“Did you free Evan?”

Rosa nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he wrote to me.”

“What did he say?”

“That he had evidence Paulie was going to kill you.”

Silence.

Gabriel stared.

“No.”

Rosa continued:

“That is why Paulie died.”

Gabriel stepped back.

“You poisoned him.”

“No.”

“Did Evan?”

“No.”

“Then who?”

Rosa looked toward the altar.

A man stepped out.

Not Evan.

Older.

Late sixties.

Gabriel went still.

Leo’s father.

Anthony Mercer.

The man everyone believed died ten years ago.

Gabriel stared.

“You.”

Anthony smiled.

“Hello, Gabriel.”

Rosa looked disgusted.

Gabriel turned to her.

“You brought him here.”

“No.”

“He followed me.”

Anthony laughed.

“Still protecting everyone, Rosa.”

She looked at Gabriel.

“He poisoned Paulie.”

Silence.

Gabriel stared at Anthony.

“Why?”

Anthony answered:

“Because Paulie found Evan.”

Gabriel frowned.

“Before the prison transfer.”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“Paulie planned to kill him.”

Leo’s father looked toward the doors.

“On your orders.”

Gabriel’s face hardened.

“I gave no order.”

Anthony smiled.

“That’s what Paulie said you would say.”

Gabriel looked at Rosa.

She nodded.

“Paulie believed he was protecting you.”

Gabriel whispered:

“By killing Evan.”

“Yes.”

Another man.

Another secret act disguised as loyalty.

Gabriel closed his eyes.

Then Anthony said:

“I stopped him.”

Gabriel opened them.

“You murdered him at my table.”

“Yes.”

“And tried to poison me too.”

Anthony’s smile disappeared.

“No.”

Gabriel stared.

“The poison was only in Paulie’s plate.”

Leo had said shared dish.

But perhaps they had been wrong.

Anthony continued:

“The spice packet was planted after.”

Gabriel’s face changed.

“To make me think I was next.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

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Anthony smiled.

“To see who you would blame.”