Chapter 7
Malcolm Shaw walked into my hospital suite carrying flowers.
White roses.
He had always preferred lilies.
The change bothered me.
Maybe because killers grow superstitious.
“Emily.”
He stopped when he saw me standing.
For half a second, the mask disappeared.
Shock.
Then warmth.
Perfectly practiced.
“My God.”
He opened his arms.
“You're awake.”
I did not move.
Malcolm lowered them.
His eyes flicked toward Ryan.
Then Claire.
Both under guard.
Then the overturned trolley.
Then my ring.
He understood enough.
“I came as soon as I heard.”
“No.”
His smile weakened.
“You were already downstairs.”
Silence.
The seven capos entered behind him.
Some looked relieved.
Some confused.
Two looked disappointed.
Interesting.
Malcolm smiled again.
“We were gathering for the command council.”
“So Nathan tells me.”
Ryan said:
“Don't turn this into theater.”
Malcolm glanced at him.
“Ryan.”
Not Boss.
Not Acting Head.
Just Ryan.
Another fracture.
I looked at Malcolm.
“Why didn't you visit me?”
He frowned.
“What?”
“Twelve days.”
“Doctors limited access.”
Nathan spoke from the doorway.
“No, we didn't.”
Malcolm's face changed.
Nathan continued.
“You never requested entry.”
Silence.
I almost smiled.
“Flowers don't need to answer questions.”
Malcolm stared.
Claire laughed.
“She's been awake one hour and already performing.”
I looked at her.
She smiled.
“Careful.”
Her voice turned mocking.
“You'll tire yourself out and need another nap.”
One of the capos looked disgusted.
Good.
Public cruelty costs more than private cruelty.
I turned to Malcolm.
“Did you know my brakes were cut?”
“No.”
Too fast.
I held up Ethan's phone.
“Do you know Gavin Rourke?”
“Of course.”
“Did he cut them?”
Malcolm's eyes flicked toward Ryan.
Small.
Enough.
“Ask Gavin.”
“I intend to.”
Ryan sighed.
“This is pointless.”
I turned.
“Why?”
“Because Gavin isn't coming.”
Silence.
Malcolm looked at him sharply.
Ryan realized.
Too late.
I stared.
“Why isn't Gavin coming?”
Ryan said nothing.
Claire closed her eyes.
Malcolm's jaw tightened.
“Where is he?”
Ryan laughed bitterly.
“Ask Claire.”
She turned.
“You coward.”
I watched.
Good.
Claire pointed at Ryan.
“He was your security chief.”
“He answered to Malcolm.”
Malcolm snapped:
“He did not.”
Claire laughed.
“Oh, now?”
She stood.
Bodyguards shifted.
She stopped.
“You picked him.”
Malcolm stared.
Claire continued.
“You told Ryan he could be trusted.”
Ryan added:
“And you gave him the garage schedule.”
There.
Two against one.
Malcolm's polished expression finally cracked.
“You idiots.”
One capo whispered:
“What is this?”
I looked at him.
“Apparently my husband, my sister and Malcolm coordinated with my security chief before my crash.”
Malcolm said:
“That's not what she means.”
I looked at Claire.
“What do you mean?”
She smiled at Malcolm.
Not kindly.
“You want me to say it?”
He stared.
“You won't.”
Claire laughed.
“You were going to replace us anyway.”
The room went still.
Ryan turned.
“What?”
Claire looked at him.
“You really still don't know?”
His face changed.
Malcolm said:
“Claire.”
She ignored him.
“Malcolm never wanted you permanent.”
Ryan stared.
“You said council support was mine.”
Claire smiled cruelly.
“He told you what you needed to hear.”
Ryan looked at Malcolm.
There.
Betrayal within betrayal.
I almost admired the symmetry.
Ryan stood.
“You used me.”
Malcolm laughed.
“Don't become offended by manipulation after trying to murder your wife.”
Several capos looked toward Ryan.
He flushed.
Good.
I turned to Malcolm.
“Who was supposed to take command?”
He smiled.
“You're standing.”
I raised the phone.
“Not the answer.”
He stared.
Then one of the older capos spoke.
“Victor Hale.”
Malcolm's head snapped toward him.
The man continued.
“You approached me three weeks ago.”
Malcolm whispered:
“Frank.”
Frank ignored him.
“You said if Emily died, Ryan would stabilize things.”
Ryan stared.
Frank continued.
“Then once mourning passed, Victor would take permanent command.”
Claire laughed.
Ryan looked sick.
I looked at Malcolm.
“Victor Hale.”
A name I knew.
Fifty-eight.
Old faction.
My father's generation.
Not present.
Of course.
I smiled.
“You planned my death so a man who wasn't even here could inherit the room.”
Malcolm said nothing.
Then Frank added:
“There was one condition.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
He glanced toward the lounge where Ethan waited.
“Victor wanted the boy kept inside the Carter house.”
My blood went cold.
Ryan stopped breathing.
Claire stared at Malcolm.
May you like
Even they hadn't known that.
And suddenly my son's restricted hospital visits looked like preparation for something much larger than grief.
