Chapter 6 - A DINER FULL OF LIES|
Emma returned to Brooklyn after midnight, carrying copies of Thomas's documents in her bag.
Murphy's Diner was dark except for the light over the counter. Sal had left the front door unlocked for her.
He was waiting in the kitchen.
“You look like you've seen a ghost,” he said.
“Maybe I have.”
She placed the folder on the counter.
“Did you know my mother worked for the Vale family?”
Sal stopped wiping a plate.
It was a small movement, but Emma saw it.
“You knew.”
“I knew she worked for someone important.”
“You knew about my father, too?”
Sal set down the plate.
“Emma, your mother asked me to promise something years ago. She said if anyone ever came asking about her, I should tell them nothing unless they could prove they were family.”
“I'm her daughter.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
Sal looked toward the dark windows.
“Your mother came here the night before she disappeared. She was frightened. She gave me a key and told me to keep it somewhere no one would look.”
Emma's heart began to pound.
“Where is it?”
Sal reached beneath the counter and removed an old metal cash box. From inside, he took a small brass key attached to a faded blue ribbon.
Emma recognized the ribbon immediately.
Her mother had tied it around the handle of her favorite teacup.
“What does it open?”
“I never knew.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I promised her I wouldn't. She said the day would come when someone would try to use you to get to the truth.”
Emma took the key.
“Someone already has.”
A noise came from the back entrance.
Sal turned.
The door opened, and a man stepped inside wearing a dark baseball cap. His face was unfamiliar, but the gun in his hand was not.
“Give me the key,” he said.
Sal moved in front of Emma.
“You need to leave.”
The man raised the gun.
Emma grabbed a metal tray from the counter and threw it. It struck his wrist, sending the weapon clattering across the floor.
Sal lunged for the alarm beneath the counter.
The intruder struck him hard enough to send him against a shelf. Emma screamed and rushed toward Sal, but the man caught her by the arm.
“Where are the records?”
“I don't know what you're talking about!”
He twisted her wrist.
“Your mother knew. Now you know. Give me the key.”
Headlights swept across the windows.
The man released her and ran through the back door.
Seconds later, Dominic entered with two security men.
He saw the broken shelf, the scattered dishes, and Sal struggling to sit up.
Then he saw Emma's wrist.
His face went frighteningly still.
“Who did this?”
“He wanted the key.”
Dominic crouched beside Sal.
“Can you stand?”
“I've stood through worse,” Sal grunted.
“An ambulance is coming.”
Emma held up the brass key.
“Do you recognize it?”
Dominic stared at the blue ribbon.
“Where did you get that?”
“Sal kept it for my mother.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“Your mother gave my father a key just like that.”
“To what?”
He looked at the ribbon again.
“The old archive beneath the Vale shipping office.”
Emma felt cold.
“Then that's where we're going.”
“No,” Dominic said.
She stepped closer.
“Someone just attacked my family in a diner. You don't get to tell me to stay home.”
He studied her face.
For a long moment, neither moved.
Then Dominic took out his phone.
“Victor, prepare the car. We're going to the old office.”
May you like
He looked at Emma.
“And from now on, you don't go anywhere alone.”
