Chapter 12 - The False Report

Dr. Elaine Ward tried to leave through the hospital laundry entrance.

Mateo found her before she reached the street.

They met in an empty conference room at dawn.

Elaine was fifty, exhausted, and furious at being frightened.

"I did not kill Carlo Costello," she said before anyone asked.

Gabriel placed the red bottle cap on the table.

"Then tell me who did."

Elaine stared at it.

Her face answered first.

"Vincent brought me a blood sample after Carlo died," she said. "He told me the family wanted privacy."

"And you changed the toxicology report."

"I removed one result."

Chloe translated for Beatrice.

Elaine looked at the older woman and seemed ashamed.

"There was a sedative in his blood. A dangerous amount. Combined with his heart medication, it could have killed him."

Gabriel's voice went flat. "Could have?"

"Yes."

"And you hid it."

Elaine looked down. "Vincent had photographs of my daughter buying pills. He threatened to send them to her medical school. I was weak."

Beatrice signed.

Weak people still make choices.

Chloe translated.

Elaine nodded through tears. "I know."

Then she opened her purse and removed a flash drive.

"I copied the original lab result. I have kept it for eight months because I knew one day this would come back."

Gabriel took it.

His phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

Vincent's voice came through clearly this time.

"Cousin. You are making this difficult."

Gabriel's eyes hardened.

"Where are you?"

"Close enough."

"You killed my father."

"Your father was going to destroy everything we built."

Beatrice closed her eyes.

Vincent continued. "Bring me the flash drive and the old woman. You can keep the waitress."

Gabriel went still.

"Say that again."

"Your mother for the evidence. Noon. Pier 26. Come light."

The call ended.

Beatrice was already signing.

I am going.

Gabriel shook his head. "Absolutely not."

She pointed at him.

For once in your life, listen to me.

Chloe translated every word.

Then Beatrice signed something that made Gabriel's face drain.

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Vincent does not want the evidence most.

He wants me because I saw who helped him kill Carlo.