Chapter 7 - The Girl They Wanted Arrested
"What murder?"
Nobody answered.
I looked at Matteo.
"Who died?"
His jaw tightened.
"Clara, stay quiet."
"Oh, absolutely not."
Captain Sloane knocked again.
"Mr. Conti. We know you're inside."
Leo leaned close to Matteo.
"Four uniforms in the hall. Two more downstairs."
"Real?"
"Badges check out."
Matteo's expression hardened.
"That doesn't make them safe."
I stared at the door.
"You're telling me actual police officers are here to arrest me for a murder I didn't commit?"
"That's what it sounds like."
I let out a short, hysterical laugh.
"My birthday is officially the worst day in human history."
Matteo looked at me.
"Stay behind me."
"Stop saying that."
"Clara."
"No."
I stepped around him.
"I'm done being carried, hidden, moved, protected, and lied to."
Then I raised my voice.
"Captain Sloane?"
Silence.
Matteo looked murderous.
Leo closed his eyes.
Wonderful.
I was annoying the entire criminal justice system and half the Boston underworld before midnight.
"Who's dead?" I called.
A pause.
Then the captain answered.
"A man named Victor Hale."
The name meant nothing.
"Who is that?"
"He was a guest at the Velvet Room."
I looked at Matteo.
He shook his head slightly.
I faced the door again.
"How did he die?"
"Gunshot wound."
My stomach tightened.
"During the shooting?"
"Yes."
"And you think I killed him?"
"Your fingerprints were found on the weapon."
I stared at the wall.
"That's impossible."
"Then come outside and explain."
Matteo leaned close.
"Don't."
I lowered my voice.
"I never touched a gun."
"I believe you."
That surprised me.
"You do?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I watched you nearly hit an armed assassin with an empty serving tray."
I blinked.
He continued.
"If you had a gun, you would've used it badly."
I stared.
"That is the rudest vote of confidence I've ever received."
His mouth twitched.
Then his expression turned cold again.
"Leo, call our attorney."
"Already done."
A voice came from the hallway.
"Mr. Conti, we can resolve this peacefully."
Matteo stepped toward the door.
"Captain Sloane."
"Yes?"
"My attorney is on his way."
"That isn't necessary."
"It is."
"Miss Bennett is a murder suspect."
"Then you can present a warrant."
A long silence followed.
I looked at him.
"Do they have one?"
"Apparently not."
Sloane's voice hardened.
"Don't make this difficult."
Matteo smiled without warmth.
"Captain, difficult is when you bring six officers to arrest a frightened bartender with evidence I watched someone plant."
My heart skipped.
"You saw them plant it?"
Matteo glanced at me.
"No."
"Then why did you say that?"
"Because I want him to think I did."
I stared.
"You lie very smoothly."
"It's a professional hazard."
A radio crackled outside.
Low voices followed.
Then footsteps.
The officers began moving away.
Leo checked a message.
"They're leaving."
My shoulders sagged.
For three seconds, relief washed over me.
Then Matteo turned toward Jimmy.
"Victor Hale."
Jimmy's face drained.
"You know him?" I demanded.
Jimmy shook his head.
But not fast enough.
Matteo noticed.
"Jimmy."
"I don't know anything."
"Try again."
Jimmy looked at me.
"I'm sorry."
I threw up my hands.
"Could everyone stop apologizing and start explaining?"
Jimmy swallowed.
"Victor was supposed to be the shooter."
Leo frowned.
"That's not what we saw."
Jimmy nodded shakily.
"I know."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"The man in the gray jacket wasn't Victor Hale."
My heart slowed.
"What are you saying?"
Jimmy looked down.
"Victor was supposed to fire one shot into the ceiling, cause a panic, and make Conti's men move you toward the service exit."
Matteo's expression changed.
"Where the second team was waiting."
Jimmy nodded.
"Yes."
I gripped the kitchen counter.
"But somebody fired at my head."
Jimmy looked sick.
"Because someone changed the plan."
Leo swore.
Matteo's jaw tightened.
"Who?"
Jimmy shook his head.
"I don't know."
"Then how do you know it changed?"
"Because Victor called me ten minutes before the shooting."
I stared.
"What did he say?"
Jimmy closed his eyes.
"He said the pickup was canceled."
"Why?"
"Because the order had changed."
I felt my stomach drop.
"Changed to what?"
Jimmy looked straight at me.
"Kill the girl."
The room went silent.
The words hung between us.
Not kidnap.
Not frighten.
Kill.
Matteo turned away.
For a moment, I thought he was angry.
Then I saw his hands.
His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white.
"Leo."
"Boss."
"Get Jimmy somewhere secure."
"Yes."
"Find his sister."
"On it."
"And I want every second of footage from that club."
Leo nodded.
Then his phone buzzed.
He looked down.
His expression shifted.
"What?" Matteo asked.
Leo turned the screen toward him.
"I found something."
Matteo studied it.
Then went completely still.
I stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Leo looked at me.
"Your mother."
My heart leaped.
"Where?"
"Harbor Pines security footage. Two hours before the shooting."
He played the video.
My mother sat in a wheelchair near the lobby.
A man approached.
Tall.
Gray-haired.
Wearing a dark overcoat.
He knelt beside her.
They spoke.
Then he took her hand.
My mother began crying.
Not with fear.
With recognition.
She touched the man's face.
And smiled.
I leaned closer.
The man lifted his head.
For one clear second, the camera captured his face.
The crooked smile.
The dark eyes.
The familiar jaw from the old photograph.
I covered my mouth.
"No."
Because the man on the screen looked exactly like Daniel Bennett.
May you like
My dead father.
And my mother had gone with him willingly.
