Chapter 4 - The Busboy Who Was Never Supposed to Spill the Water

Tommy did not come to work the next night.

Mr. Davis said he was sick.

Khloe did not believe him.

Neither did Enzo.

The broken pitcher had become too convenient.

Sal had been at the center booth.

Khloe had been three feet away.

Tommy had turned too quickly.

Water everywhere.

Then Sal switched languages.

The exact dialect Khloe’s mother had taught her.

A test.

Enzo called Tommy’s apartment.

No answer.

Frankie drove there.

Empty.

No clothes packed.

Phone on the kitchen counter.

Enzo’s expression changed.

Khloe watched him.

“You think they took him.”

“Yes.”

“Because he knows the spill was staged.”

“Maybe.”

Khloe crossed her arms.

“Maybe is getting people kidnapped.”

Enzo looked at her.

“So is certainty without proof.”

She hated that he was right.

That night, Enzo moved Khloe off the dining floor.

Not upstairs.

Into the private service corridor.

Her uniform stayed the same.

Tray.

Water.

Wine.

Invisible.

Exactly what he wanted.

Sal arrived at nine.

Carlo at nine-thirty.

Victor Dane at ten.

Father Luca at ten-fifteen.

All three names from the napkin.

Khloe moved between rooms.

No one looked at her.

That was the point.

In the first private room, Victor said:

“The boy panicked.”

Sal answered:

“He was supposed to spill the pitcher and disappear.”

Khloe slowed outside the door.

Victor:

“He disappeared.”

Sal:

“Not like that.”

Khloe kept walking.

Her pulse hammered.

Tommy had been used.

She turned the corner.

Father Luca stood there.

He looked at her.

“Miss Bennett.”

She froze.

“You know my name.”

“I know everyone who works here.”

His smile was gentle.

Too gentle.

Then he spoke Sicilian.

“You sound like your mother.”

Khloe’s blood went cold.

“You knew her.”

“Yes.”

“How?”

The priest looked toward the private room.

“Not here.”

Khloe almost laughed.

“Apparently no truth happens anywhere convenient.”

Father Luca studied her.

Then whispered:

“Your mother did not leave Palermo with nothing.”

Khloe stared.

“What did she take?”

“A ledger.”

Silence.

“Carlo’s ledger?”

“Yes.”

“Where is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“No.”

The priest looked tired.

“I expect you to believe your mother was smarter than all of us.”

Footsteps approached.

Father Luca immediately stepped away.

Sal rounded the corner.

His eyes moved from the priest to Khloe.

Then smiled.

“Waitress.”

Khloe said nothing.

Sal switched to Sicilian.

“Your mother had the same stubborn eyes.”

Khloe’s stomach turned.

He knew.

She answered in English.

“More wine?”

Sal’s smile disappeared.

“Careful.”

Khloe held the bottle steady.

“You asked for wine.”

He leaned closer.

“You think Enzo can protect you?”

“No.”

That surprised him.

Khloe continued.

“I think you’re trying very hard to make me afraid of a dead woman’s secrets.”

Sal’s face changed.

Father Luca whispered:

“Khloe.”

Too late.

Sal grabbed her wrist.

Not hard enough to bruise.

Hard enough to warn.

Then Enzo’s voice came from behind him.

“Take your hand off her.”

Sal released her.

Slowly.

Enzo stood at the end of the corridor.

No raised voice.

No visible weapon.

Still the entire hallway changed.

Sal smiled.

“Boss.”

Enzo looked at Khloe.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

Then at Sal.

“You’re done tonight.”

Sal frowned.

“I have a meeting.”

“No.”

A pause.

“You had one.”

Sal’s expression sharpened.

“With who?”

Enzo smiled faintly.

“Me.”

Frankie appeared.

Two guards behind him.

Sal looked around.

“What is this?”

Enzo held up Tommy’s phone.

Found in Sal’s car.

Silence.

Khloe stared.

Sal’s face emptied.

Enzo said:

“Where is the boy?”

Sal laughed nervously.

“I don’t know.”

Enzo looked at Frankie.

Frankie opened a photograph on his phone.

Tommy.

Tied to a chair.

Warehouse.

Timestamp thirty minutes earlier.

Khloe’s chest tightened.

Enzo’s voice stayed calm.

“Where?”

Sal looked at Khloe.

Then at Enzo.

“You brought her into this.”

Enzo’s eyes went cold.

“You did.”

Sal’s smile disappeared.

He said one address.

River district.

Enzo turned to Frankie.

“Go.”

Khloe stepped forward.

“I’m coming.”

Enzo looked at her.

“No.”

She stared.

“You wanted me because I listen.”

“Yes.”

“I heard the room number Sal gave Victor.”

Enzo paused.

“What room?”

“Warehouse twelve.”

Sal’s face changed.

Enzo noticed.

Khloe continued.

“He only gave Frankie an address.”

Enzo looked at Sal.

“Which warehouse?”

Sal said nothing.

Khloe answered.

“Twelve.”

Enzo’s expression shifted.

Approval.

Then worry.

“Stay here.”

Khloe shook her head.

“If Tommy was used because of me, I’m going.”

“It was not because of you.”

“Maybe.”

She looked at him.

“But maybe is getting people kidnapped.”

Enzo almost smiled.

Then:

“Fine.”

Sal laughed.

“You are making her part of this.”

Enzo looked at Khloe.

“No.”

Khloe picked up her coat.

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