Chapter 8 - BLOOD IS A TERRIBLE EXCUSE
Nell looked like she might hit Odette again.
Instead she stepped backward.
“Pike is your son?”
Odette nodded.
“And Calder is your brother?”
“Yes.”
“So this whole thing is your family.”
Odette’s face crumpled.
“I never wanted any of this.”
Nell’s anger exploded.
“Neither did I!”
Emmett shifted in the bed.
“Ellie.”
She turned immediately.
His hand reached for hers.
“Don’t... become them.”
That hurt more than anything.
Nell sat beside him.
“I don’t know what I’m becoming, Dad.”
Carmine watched her.
He knew rage.
It could make a person feel powerful right up until it owned them.
Benny’s phone buzzed.
“Midnight meeting is in ninety minutes.”
Carmine looked at Odette.
“Calder thinks we still don’t know about you.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Odette stared at him.
“What are you thinking?”
“You’re going to call your brother.”
“No.”
“That wasn’t a request.”
“He’ll know.”
“Then lie better.”
Odette stood.
“You think this is easy for me?”
Carmine stepped close.
“No. I think easy is what you chose three years ago.”
She flinched.
“You stayed quiet because the truth cost too much.”
He nodded toward Nell.
“She paid your bill.”
Odette looked away.
Carmine handed her the phone.
“Call him.”
Her hand shook as she dialed.
Calder answered quickly.
“Odette?”
“He knows.”
Carmine’s eyes sharpened.
Calder went quiet.
Odette continued.
“Carmine found the warehouse files.”
“What does he have?”
“The tape. The report. The photograph.”
“And Eleanor?”
“With him.”
“Where?”
Odette looked at Carmine.
He nodded.
“The hospital.”
Calder cursed.
“Emmett?”
“Alive.”
Another silence.
Then Calder asked, “Did he talk?”
“I don’t know.”
“Find out.”
Odette whispered, “Vincent, this has gone too far.”
“It went too far three years ago.”
“You said nobody would die.”
“Nobody did.”
“Walter Doyle?”
Silence.
Carmine looked at Benny.
Calder’s voice changed.
“Why are you asking about Doyle?”
Odette froze.
Carmine mouthed, Keep going.
“I’m scared.”
“You should be.”
She almost dropped the phone.
Calder continued.
“Bring Eleanor to St. Agnes.”
“No.”
“Bring her.”
“Why?”
“Because Emmett isn’t the only Fontaine who saw something that night.”
Nell’s eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?” she whispered.
Odette said into the phone, “What did she see?”
Calder laughed softly.
“She doesn’t remember.”
The line went dead.
Nell stared at Odette.
“I saw something?”
Emmett’s breathing changed.
Nell turned toward him.
“Dad?”
He was trying to speak.
“What?”
His fingers squeezed hers.
“Car.”
“What car?”
“After fire.”
His eyes filled with panic.
“Ellie saw... car.”
Nell’s face went blank.
A memory moved through her.
Smoke.
Sirens.
Her father on the sidewalk.
A dark sedan driving away.
The rear window lowering.
A man inside.
Not Calder.
Someone else.
Someone she knew from newspapers.
Someone who later testified that the fire had been a tragic accident.
Nell whispered the name.
Carmine’s expression changed instantly.
“You’re sure?”
She nodded slowly.
Louis Varrick.
May you like
District Attorney.
The man currently running for governor.
