Matteo surged forward, but the second attacker kicked him down.
Nico smiled at Elena, pleased by the pain he had created.
“Did he tell you he knew?”
“He found out six months ago.”
“And waited until tonight to crawl into your diner.
That is Matteo’s gift.
He mistakes delayed guilt for morality.”
Elena thought of her mother’s statement inside the folder and the memory card hidden in her palm.
She also thought of the camera above the register, its red light blinking faintly in the darkness.
“Why kill her?” Elena asked.
Nico shrugged.
“She copied records that did not belong to her.”
“She was going to the police.”
“She was going to a reporter.
The police could be managed.”
The broad man holding Elena loosened his grip, perhaps assuming she had stopped resisting.
She let her shoulders sag.
“And tonight?” she asked.
“You attacked Matteo because he was surrendering?”
Nico’s expression sharpened.
Matteo looked at her and understood.
She was keeping him talking.
Nico stepped closer.
“My cousin planned to hand our family to federal prosecutors in exchange for a comfortable prison cell and a clean conscience.
He recorded a private conversation.
He stole records.
Then he ran.”
“Where is the recording?”
Nico looked toward Matteo.
“That is what you are going to tell me.”
Matteo wiped blood from his mouth.
“You will never leave this diner with it.”
Nico sighed.
“Still pretending you are in charge.”
He drew a pistol from beneath his jacket and pointed it at Elena.
“Give me the card, or Sofia loses her daughter too.”
The diner became very quiet.
Elena heard the wind moving through the broken door.
She heard broth dripping from the overturned table.
She heard Matteo’s uneven breathing.
Then the bell above the entrance chimed.
Rosie walked in carrying a tire iron.
She took one look at Nico’s gun and swung.
The iron struck his forearm.
The shot went into the ceiling, showering plaster over the booths.
Elena drove her heel into the broad man’s foot and tore free.
Matteo pulled Nico’s legs from beneath him.
All three men collided against the counter.
Rosie shouted, “Back hallway!”
Elena grabbed the blue folder and ran toward the kitchen.
Rosie followed, but Matteo stayed behind, struggling with Nico for the gun.
“Matteo!” Elena shouted.
“Go!”
The second attacker blocked the kitchen door.
Rosie threw the tire iron.
